A lot of hot air?

Dear editor, Gee, I appreciate Mr. Snyder's efforts to educate us on the science of the complex issue of climate change (“Global warming is a hoax,” Feb. 13).

Apart from the fact that he lives in Napa — perhaps the epicenter of opinions masquerading as fact — I wish the Register would inform us what other qualifications Mr. Snyder has for making his assertions that global warming is a fabrication?

There is certainly a lot of bloviating in the press on both sides of the issue following the release of the alarming U.N. IPCC report. Certainly, there will be elements of that report that will be scoffed at 10 years from now — science and the theories it generates evolve constantly as we accumulate data. However, to suggest that the best consensus of a majority of experts in the field is bunk strikes me as wrongheaded. Skepticism needs to be backed up with something more than opinion. In the meantime, arguing for inaction in the face of scientific consensus seems a bit like feeling an earthquake and running down to the beach to see if a tsunami is coming.

Register readers might find it interesting to take a look at the Web site www.realclimate.org, where scientists share resources and responses to published commentary and skepticism regarding climate change. The more I read and understand, the more I am convinced that we need to react to what the science is telling us.

Matthew Stone / Napa

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