The following is but a tiny excerpt from a very interesting book, The Outline of History, Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind, by H. G. Wells. This is not a work of fiction. It is a history, as known by 1920, of the planet, life on earth, and man. Wells appears to have been in contact with plenty of experts in many different fields and is careful to delineate what is surmised, accepted as fact, or proven. He covers many of the geological theories we know today by idea if they had not been named what we know them as today. For example, he includes a discussion of continental drift, in function, though does not call it that, and admits that it is a likely explanation for the separation of like species and the way South America and Africa "fit" together. He also discusses a number of ideas as to the origin of the planet and includes, again by function, the Big Bang theory, but not by that name.
This book, given it's age, gives me the impression that there are very few new ideas about our planet. Seems that the last 80 years, or more, have mostly just been about proving or disproving this or that theory.
Anyway, in light of the (rather excessive, in my opinion) climate banter and Copenhagen talks, I decided to transcribe a small section from the book concerning climate on Earth as per H. G. Wells' impressions based on the fossil record available to him in 1920.
I did my best to transcribe it exactly as it lies on the yellowed pages before me, including every letter and punctuation mark. Here goes:
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The Record of Rocks is like a great book that has been carelessly misused. All its pages are torn, worn, and defaced, and many are altogether missing. The outline of the story that we sketch here has been pieced together slowly and painfully in an investigation that is still incomplete and still in progress. The Carboniferous rocks, the "coal-measures," give us a vision of the first great expansion of life over the wet lowlands. Then come the torn pages of the Permian rocks (which count as the last of the Palaeozoic) that preserve little of the land vestiges of their age. Only after a long interval of time does the history spread out generously again.
The Permian rocks record an age of harshness and desolation in the world's history. They mark the phase of transition from the Palaeozic age of fish and amphibia to the Mesozoic age of reptiles.
It must be borne in mind the great changes of climate have always been in progress, sometimes stimulating and sometimes checking life. Every species of living thing is always adapting itself more and more closely to its conditions, which are always changing. There is no finality in adaptation. There is a continuing urgency towards change.
We do, however, find certain creatures of a lowly type which early adapted themselves to widespread simple conditions so completely that they have never been greatly modified or exterminated or replaced. For example, there is a little shell-fish called Lingula fitted to an obscure sedentary life in warm seas. This genus has endured without conspicuous change throughout the entire geological record.
On the other hand, geologists show us collections of fossils in which one can trace modification in only a few thousand years, as climate, food and enemies have changed.
About these changes of climate that are always in progress on the earth's surface some explanations are necessary here. They are not periodic changes; they are slow fluctuations between heat and cold. The reader must not think that because the sun and earth were once incandescent the climatic history of the world is simply one of cooling down. The centre of the earth is certainly very hot to this day, but we feel nothing of that internal heat at the surface; the internal heat, except for volcanoes and hot springs, has not been perceptible at the surface since first the rocks grew solid. Even in the Azoic or Archaeozoic Age there are traces in ice-worn rocks and the like of periods of intense cold. Such cold waves have always been going on everywhere, alternately with warmer conditions. And there have periods of great wetness and periods of great dryness throughout the earth. They depend upon astronomical and terrestrial fluctuations of extreme complexity into which we will not enter here.
And in accordance, we find from the Record in the Rocks that there have been long periods of expansion and multiplication when life flowed and abounded and varied, and harsh ages when there was a great weeding out and disappearance of species, genera, and classes, and the learning of stern lessons by all that survived.
It is probable that the warm spells have been long relatively to the cold ages. Our world to-day seems to be emerging with fluctuations from a prolonged phase of adversity and extreme conditions. Half a million years ahead it may be a winterless world with trees and vegetation even in the polar circles. At present we have no certainty in such a forecast, but as knowledge increases it may be possible that our race will make its plans thousands of years ahead to meet the coming changes.
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I stand by my impression of the book. It is generally correct, but some of his statements do conflict with ice core inferred temperatures.
My personal opinion is that little has changed since the time of H. G. Wells. "At present we have no certainty in such a forecast", in my opinion, still applies. It seems that science does come along at a frustratingly slow pace. Over the last 89 years that have passed since Wells penned the words above, we have learned little in the way of verifiable facts about our distant and not-so-distant climate history. We do still have a lot to learn and may not do so anytime soon.
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Comments about H. G Wells, climate change SCIENCE (including data, research, and personal opinions about the science), and geological history are very welcome.
PAY ATTENTION HERE:
Politics, accusatory statements, comments that include even one element literally about other posters will not be tolerated...with a zero-tolerance, zero-warning policy. Generalizations, prejudices, stereotypes, whatever you call it are discouraged. I will be here from time to time to administer swift and brutal enforcement (hopefully not at all necessary).
Cheers!
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On the validity of representing hurricanes as Carnot heat engine
From the Abstract: "It is argued, on the basis of detailed critique of published literature, that the existing thermodynamic theory of hurricanes, where it is assumed that the hurricane power is formed due to heat input from the ocean, is not physically consistent, as it comes in conflict with the first and second laws of thermodynamics. A quantitative perspective of describing hurricane energetics as that of an adiabatic atmospheric process occurring at the expense of condensation of water vapor that creates drop of local air pressure, is outlined."
Does make some sense. Prolific enough condensation of water vapor has to generate a local low pressure through simple reduction of volume consumed, and thus, have a matter displacement-effect.
Our current set of assumptions about the purely thermodynamic driver of hurricane pressure deficit "would imply heat transfer from a cooler object (oceanic surface)
to a warmer object (the radiating upper atmosphere), which is impossible."
Also: "Hurricanes and tornadoes could be compared to an explosion reversed and prolonged
in time. In the ordinary explosion potential energy concentrated in the explosion
center is released in a burst, making local air pressure rise sharply and causing
dynamic air movement in the direction away from the explosion center. Conversely,
condensation of saturated water vapor within the column of ascending air in hurricanes
and tornadoes leads to a sharp drop of local air pressure. This further enhances the
ascending motion of yet accelerating air masses, as well as the compensating radial
fluxes of moist air incoming to the area where the process of condensation is most
intensive. Water vapor contained in the incoming air undergoes condensation in the
same area; this sustains the pressure difference between the hurricane center and
its environment. Hurricane could also be compared to a black hole, which sucks the
surrounding air into the center, where it partially "annihilates" due to condensation of
water vapor and its disappearance from the gas phase. Thus, hurricane is an "anti
explosion". While in explosion the gas phase appears from either liquid or solid phase,
in hurricanes and tornadoes, conversely, the gas phase of water vapor partially disappears
from air due to condensation."
Interesting.
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/17423/2008/acpd-8-17423-2008.html
Another one, same thing really.
This one published in Physics Letters A: http://www.bioticregulation.ru/pubs/absn.php?ref=pla09b&lang=en
With an %u0410%u043D%u043D%u043E%u0442%u0430%u0446%u0438%u044F (abstract in Russian).
The IEA believes that Russian meteorological-station data did not substantiate the anthropogenic global-warming theory.
Analysts say Russian meteorological stations cover most of the country%u2019s territory, and that the Hadley Center had used data submitted by only 25% of such stations in its reports.
Over 40% of Russian territory was not included in global-temperature calculations for some other reasons, rather than the lack of meteorological stations and observations.
The data of stations located in areas not listed in the Hadley Climate Research Unit Temperature UK (HadCRUT) survey often does not show any substantial warming in the late 20th century and the early 21st century.
The HadCRUT database includes specific stations providing incomplete data and highlighting the global-warming process, rather than stations facilitating uninterrupted observations.
On the whole, climatologists use the incomplete findings of meteorological stations far more often than those providing complete observations.
IEA analysts say climatologists use the data of stations located in large populated centers that are influenced by the urban-warming effect more frequently than the correct data of remote stations.
The scale of global warming was exaggerated due to temperature distortions for Russia accounting for 12.5% of the world%u2019s land mass. The IEA said it was necessary to recalculate all global-temperature data in order to assess the scale of such exaggeration.
Global-temperature data will have to be modified if similar climate-date procedures have been used from other national data because the calculations used by COP15 analysts, including financial calculations, are based on HadCRUT research.
Best wishes for the day, and always!
Backatcha. All of yous guys.
Measuring a summer's day,
I only find it slips away to grey,
The hours, they bring me pain.
*Tangerine, Tangerine,
Living REFLECTIONS from a dream;
I was her love, she was my queen,
And now a thousand years between.
Thinking how it used to be,
Does she still remember times like these?
To think of us again?
And I do.
All we have to do
Is go to the Portlight blog,
And watch the vid of that darling little kid,
Smacking the Hell out of AtmoAggie...
With an inflatable sword!
No plowshares there! :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Atmo and Carlena and family!!
Somewhat debatable who had more fun with that, he or myself!
New Year Comments
You guys just proved that good things happen to good people. There is such a thing as karma. Your wife is just darling and you and Pat......... well pretty awesome guys.
UC Berkeley social scientists build case for 'survival of the kindest'
Published: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - 09:26 in Psychology & Sociology
We do still have a lot to learn and may not do so anytime soon.
One can hope, I guess.
Hurricanes and tornadoes could be compared to an explosion reversed and prolonged
in time.
Now that's a WOW. And the comparison to black hole. Sounds like scientists daring enough to examine the outside of the box.
Thanks for posting these!
My pleasure!
It appears you are in luck, it is available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Outline-History-Set-H-Wells/dp/040303082X
And look at the reviews...seems like I am not the only enamored with this history book.
HAVE A GREAT DAY, ATMO!!
View AGLC Questions and Answers
Link
When: Lamb Camp - July 16-18, 2010;
Goat Camp - July 23-25, 2010
Where: College Station, TX - Pearce Pavilion
Cost: $100 per camper and $80 per adult
Hotel Information:
Ramada Inn
1502 Texas Ave South
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 693-9891
$82 per night
Campers and adults do not have to stay at this hotel, but we prefer you try. When making reservations be sure to mention you are with the camp. This is the only way to get the price.
Who: Anyone ages eight years-old and older
Registration: Applications will be available April 1, 2010.
Testimonials:
"I wanted to extend a great thanks on the success that attending lamb camp in July was for my son. His showmanship skills and knowledge of lambs has grown considerably."
-- Chris Stoeltje
"Goat camp is already paying off. Thanks for all the info at camp and we will see you at lamp camp next summer."
-- Stephen, Starla and Kristin Tucker
"Thank you for such a wonderful goat camp. A wonderful experience. Wyatt learned so much and didn't want to leave!"
-- Karen Koch
"Thank you all for a wonderful goat camp. It was a great experience for everybody."
-- Maria Lugo
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Shawn Ramsey, Sheep & Goat Camp Program Coordinator
Phone: 979-845-7616
Fax: 979-458-3294
Joslyn Kotzur at jkotzur@tamu.edu
Phone: 979-845-7616
Fax: 979-458-3294
Texas A&M University Sheep & Goat Center
Colt Sharpton, Assistant Facilities Manager
(979)862-5099
(979)209-9714
*lamb and goat camp...sheeesh*
Who's loco? It's YOUR Alma Mater, LOL! BTW, did you notice on the FAQ's you have to bring your own goat, or you will be referred to a place to acquire one? ROFLMBO!
Yeah, AIM, my alma mater, but there are lots of things going on there that I would call goofy. That goes for any school with a diverse set of subjects, prolly. I'll give you that the Goat pun, with the capricorn birthday was worth a LOL!
Warming up nicely today. A lot faster than the previous few mornings.
Hope it helps me Cold,..aaah-choo!!
Love it, Dan! LOL.
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