Global temperature data collected for more than 100 years clearly shows average temperatures are increasing. The 1980s had a significant temperature increase over previous decades, and the average temperature of the 1990s exceeded that of the 1980s. Furthermore, the average temperature of each year in the period of 2001 to 2012 exceeded those during the 1990s. During this same period, scientific data shows the energy emitted by the sun has remained relatively constant, ruling out the possibility of the sun’s responsibility.

So yes, the consensus is Earth is warming, and humankind is responsible. That consensus comes from thousands of scientific personnel who collect billions of data, and the data provides a picture that Earth is now warmer than it was a quarter century ago. This data and the reports generated from its analysis can be easily obtained through a number of sources. Two in particular are the International Panel on Climate Change and the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

Still open for debate is the lead source of emissions responsible for climate change. The leading candidates are the burning of fossil fuels and the emissions from agricultural activity. Pick your favorite, but either way, the source is anthropogenic – that is, we humans are the cause.

Hopefully Thompson and those with similarly misinformed views of climate issues will take the time to read some of the research readily available.

Eric Ryba

Durango