A cold day in Wisconsin and it is just another story about a weather extreme. It does not disprove global warming any more than a hot day in July proves global warming. On any given day we stand a small chance of being 3 standard deviations away from our average daily high, or our average daily low. Those extreme ranges put us at or near record setting temperatures.
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If the daily average moves up (or down) over time at a specific location, the trend reveals a change in climate. Moving the average up over time over a wide expanse of the earth is global warming.
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Weather records and anecdotal observations (ice coverage) tell us the planet is getting warmer especially in the polar regions. Sorting out the long term trend and the causes is entirely a different matter that should be left to objective science.
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I laugh when I read comments about a cold day in Janesville proves global warming is flawed science. All it proves is the writer's limited perspective at that moment in Janesville.

I don't believe you and I won't argue with you localboy. Please understand, I voice my opinion just like you do. That's why were here. We don't have to agree and it's obvious we don't. I believe humans are greatly impacting the earth and depleting natural resources at an alarming rate. I want to use what I know to help resolve some of the issues facing our world; to give back something for my time here. "Be the change you wish to see in the world"-Ghandi.

Wheres good 'ole Al Gore when you need him? What a clown that man is.

greengina (how appropriate)- science doesn't need to fix stupid. If it could, we would all be smart. Just as in statistics, number don't lie, man does. Science can just as easily be manipulated, as the science data (as joeflint intellectually pointed out) output is often created, directed, and intepreted by man. So called "computer models" are simulation software written by man, and therefore open to manipulation. I will say it again. Global Warming is big business, and a lot of money and power is at stake. You mix the two, and you are bound to have manipulation. Period. What is great about our country is you can believe what you want, and I will believe what I want. Just don't use my tax dollars to manipulate Americans in to believing what they don't have the resource or knowledge to verify.

just wait until next tuesday. the one will quiet the earth, slow the rising of the seas, and stop the heating of the planet.
he is the one and only he can do it.
i fully expect things to turn around by next wednesday, thursday at the latest.

P.S. Please provide said "facts" that are being hidden, presumably by some global (oops there's that word again) conspiracy: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Sigh.
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Global warming: the facts are indisputable. It is the interpretation of those facts where politics and ideologies (right *and* left) quickly veer into fantasy. For instance, while some may say that the bitter cold in Wisconsin makes the theory "Gore-Bull" I provide the contrasting data point that it was 61 degrees at 7,000 feet in Sequoia National Park on Sunday. Data points are meaningless; trends are what are important. The interpretation of why a trend is occurring is the "art" of science.
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Indisputable facts:
The earth has been predominantly warming in the past 13,000 years, that is since the "end" of the last ice age that carved those rolling hills east of Janesville and east of Whitewater. Tree ring and ice core data show a strong correlation that the global climate has generally become drier and wetter over the past 13,000 years; these data mesh well with data from ice cores that indicate the climate cycle during the past 800,000 years. There is zero doubt that the polar ice caps and glaciers (from the poles to the equator) are collapsing and vanishing. Do a google image search for some striking comparison photographs over the past century.
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Correlation is not causation; however, there is zero doubt that the burning of fossil fuels has increased global atmospheric CO2 levels. Evidence of this is again seen in the tree ring and ice core data over the past 150 years as well as in the past 50 years with direct measurement and satellite monitoring; however, no one yet knows nor can yet predict what the effect of CO2 loading is on the atmosphere. One discovery in the past two decades has been that the oceans can sequester atmospheric carbon. So there is yet another climatological cycle at play over grander scales than daily / weekly / monthly weather.
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The most salient fact is that the *rate* of warming has suddenly and *indisputably* increased in the past 100 years. An analogy is if I took ten minutes to go from 0 mph to 55 mph and then suddenly was doing 65 mph only a few seconds later.
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Interpretations:
Now, the interpretation of this data is on what some people have (foolishly, amateurishly) staked their professional and/or political reputations. That includes Al Gore and that includes those who claim that it is a hoax.
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Now, continuing the analogy... did I press the accelerator to the floor? Or, was I going up a steep hill and then suddenly in the last few seconds going down a steep hill? Did I do nothing at all and the accelerator got stuck all by itself? Other possibilities?
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If we were outside of the car and could see the big picture, the answer would be obvious.
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So, when you hear someone say we understand global warming or that it does not exist, they are lying and/or trying to sell you something. No one knows. We do not have enough data; we do not have enough knowledge; we do not yet know the big picture.

Is this just another forum for non-believers in science? I guess so. Eratic weather is part of what we'll see in the future. Hold on tight; it's going to be a bumpy ride. Bundle up and slow down out there. I would hate to think people are not pepared for winter in the northern hemisphere. Fattigman has it RIGHT. Unfortunately, my friend, good science still cannot fix stupid.

RAF - well said. Global warming is big business and big government. If we debunk it, a lot of money and peoples reputations are at stake. Any scientist who offers FACTS opposing the current global warming myth, is blacklisted and their reputation is ruined by the fear mongers led by Al Gore. For every fact we have that supports global warming, we also have facts that oppose it. It is not a slam dunk 100% smoking gun. A few powerful people in control are doing what ever they can to defy funding of any project that trys to verify the alarmist propaganda that has so many holes in it factually. It is the perfect ruse. Most Americans have absolutely no idea what they are talking about (most of it is science gobbly gok)and are like sheep following the shephard. I feel for the followers of the greatest scam ever known to man.

fattigman...the global alarmist theories have been going on for centuries. In recent history (past 40 years) we have swung from the coming ice age to catastrophic planet warming to stories today again of another ice age. Current weather models predicting global warming when reversed can not accurately show the weather from the past (unless entered as a data point). A better grasp on swings in climate derive from data points gathered over millions of years, not just the past hundred so many from the current crisis hang too. Ice core data shows that CO2 levels constantly swing in relation to temperature changes, for us to think now the cause (for the current rise) is our fault is drawing a conclusion that many do not agree with. Until we can accurately predict tomorrows and next weeks weather believing the alarmists is something I choose not to do.

"unidentified" links the folly of global warming to that of "threats of terrorism."
amazing what some people believe.
i wonder if the families of the 3,000 killed on 9/11 direct their grief towards the daily temperature, or to the middle-eastern islamists who crashed planes into building, killing their loved ones?

Although I agree with some of what you say fattigman, I think there is a level of exaggeration via Al Gore and media hype. It's not much different that the "threat of terrorism" exaggerations we've listened to the past seven years. People mold public opinions to fit their politics. There is still a lot of unknowns in terms of climate change. Granted, to some extent man affects the climate. However, it's still tough to determine how much and how fast. In addition, it's hard to distinguish what are normal weather cycles and natural events that would occur regardless. Moreover, how much can the earth handle and adjust to? All through our history we've had odd and extreme weather patterns; some even worse that we've seen in recent years. I think it's important to be environmentally aware, but I'm not going to retreat to a cave and live off the land anytime soon either.

localboysince1969 -- It's you who needs to research before spouting your mouth off. The polar icecaps are in fact melting at an unprecedented and alarming rate. More to the point, it is that very melting which is disrupting weather patterns and causing record snow falls mixed with (as in recent years) thunderstorms and 65 degree days in january. Think of it as an icecube melting in a glass. As it melts, it cools down the liquid. That, my friend, is what happens to the planet when we burn 80 million barrels of oil PER DAY in the world (20 million in the US per day alone). You're a fool if you don't think every action has an equal and opposite reaction. That's basic science.

Hm-I was just explaining what I know about the theory. I did actually say I'm no scientist and that this weather could be because of the effects of the theory or just plain ol weather.
-And I didn't believe in the whole Y2K thing.
So sensitive. Someone needs a good snuggle.

Shouldn't you do your research too?

We put on window kits and cut our heating bill by $210 a winter a few years ago. We have replaced all but 3 windows, but those windows still get the window kits. Soon we won't need to do it, but its only 10 min window with the included tape and a hair dryer.

Climate change now due to man, is no more than climate change 10,000 years ago due to man. It is all a big hype generated by a few who gain to profit largely. I am sure the wholly mammoths are still upset at man for detroying their habitat. It is nothing more than institutionalized hysteria. Perpetual Promotion. I am sure you thought the world was going to fall apart due to Y2K scam also. What we are having is just good old fashion weather. Mother Nature is in control, and no man made objects are going to control her. Keep in mind, you only hear about the Artic cap, you don't hear about the Antartic ice cap which is growing to record size. You need to do your research before you start shooting your mouth off.

Global warming causes the caps to thaw. More water from that equals more water in the ocean. More water area on earth causes cooler temps-like the cool breeze from a lake. That is the theory anyway-global warming preceding an ice age.
I'm no scientist-don't know the truth to the theory-but know the theory before you bash it. Maybe these last few winters are a fluke, maybe the beginning of a different climate-all I know is I hate snow and cold.

Oh, and the cost varies depending on how many windows the kit covers or how large. If I remember it's like 4.99-15.99.

chemical_6: I'm not sure exactly what he was referring to as a window kit, but I'm thinking its the clear plastic kits you can buy. I get mine at Menard's, but any hardware store sells them and probably Walmart. simply put the double face tape around the window molding (peels off real easy at the end of winter) cover with plastic, cut to fit, then hit it with a blow dryer. I have double pane windows, yet I still use the plastic on one of my windows. Makes a HUGE difference for very little cost. It only takes about five minutes to do one window.

OK. Here goes. There will be extra ice out there because of the cold. Sooooo, when you're out walking, SLOW DOWN!

Pretty much any hardware story (Ace, Menards, etc) or even Wal-mart sells window kits. They are pretty cheap for the most part unless you have a lot of windows or very large ones.

Have fun with that. I'll be still living in the South!

janesvillean - do you know a good place to purchase those? and how much do they cost usually?

Can you say "Gore-bull Warming? I have sent out an invite to Al to stay in Wisconsin this week, but he is in Florida promoting his big business/government global warming scare tactics.

welcome to a typical WI winter... I wondered how long before we felt a TRUE winter again... I guess this answers my question...

This is a good time to remember to put up a window kit, if you don't have double-pane windows. You'll notice the difference immediately. And the icy air slipping in will be a good way to find all those leaks you've been meaning to seal up (with weatherstripping, foam, or spring rail).