Dennis Horne (Times, May 17), still unable to answer any concerns I’ve raised over several months, repeats his demand: “…Ryan Price…: Explain why adding CO2 to the atmosphere does not cause Earth to retain more energy from the Sun”.
I cannot accede to his demand because it makes no sense.
Ignoring the silliness of wanting to know “why” CO2 doesn’t do something, it appears to be about radiative forcing.
I have only mentioned radiative forcing in relation to Richard Feynman’s 1963 lecture, which Dennis is studiously avoiding, where Feynman demonstrated that neither CO2 nor radiative forcing are required to explain the greenhouse effect.
This was in response to Dennis Horne’s previous claim that Feynman must have believed in Arrhenius’ radiative forcing theory because, and to quote Dennis, “why did he not say so?”.
There is a big difference between claiming “CO2 is not necessary” and claiming “CO2 has no effect”, the former illustrated by one of the finest minds of the 20th century, the latter being made by nobody I know. Nor by me.
As for SkepticalScience.com. Their ‘science’ is more sketchy than skeptical. A truly ‘skeptical’ blog would have more than just “gotcha” “fact checks” for dissenters writing to your local newspaper.
Personally, I’d recommend everythingclimate.com.
Their articles offer both sides of the debate, with references, on key climate-related subjects, leaving conclusions and further research to the reader.
Ryan Price
Half Moon Bay
