In the current politcal environment where even questioning the science is tantamount to adovcating the worst thing possible, it is all but impossible to discuss the scientific reality. I applaud JDJeffrey in the post a couple of pages previous to this post and suggest that those who might consider yourselves heretical or at least open minded, as does the worlds leading expert Freeman Dyson, on whose models these extrapolated abberations have taken precedence over the actual science, has advocated. There are relatively easy solutions to the carbon budget question, should the kind of research that realy needs to be done take place. Doubtfull in the current politically charged environment, but those who fail to understand history and socio economic forces, especially as applied to "scientific dogma" are really creating a barrier to effective measures to address the pollution, developement and over population with poor planning that really is causing enormous damage to our planet's biological endowment and sustainability.

...have any of the candidates suggested a plan by which agribusiness begins a selection process to naturally have plants increase the amount of root mass that is left i the ground after harvest increased by 25%? I seem to recall that the worlds leading expert, the polymath responsible for the original concepts of world climate modelling upon which our current ones are based (Freeman Dyson) has suggested that as a great way to begin.

Maybe they'll discusse it at the upcoming AAAS sponsored "debates" in which our candidates reveal something of their understanding on the scientific and technological issues that our modern world will be facing in the coming decades. No?

Mr Romm...can you help here?

...and underscores how counterintuitive this issue can be particularly from our limited view...limited largely by our own unwillingness to look at various perspectives and to allow instead our opinions to be informed by the media.

For instance, if one really wanted to make the arctic produce even more food for the polar bears, you'd want to see a reduction in summer sea ice, so solar energy could act upon the nutrient and oxygen rich cold waters which would feed plankton, which feed fish which feed seals which feed bears...but we don't get that, do we? Only the tragic story of drowning We bears who we see more frequently now that we're looking. We don't see the increasing incidence of bear cannibalism caused by a shortage of food...what? Shortage of food?

In fact, historically, the single greatest assualt to the arctic has not been global warming but the commercial harvest of birds and sea mammals, fish and crustaceans, the very substance of the food web that supports life there, for the world's hungry markets. It's been going on with all too familiar short-sightedness and adamant blindness as to its effects (out of sight and out of mind is hard to be more applicable than the Arctic) since the 1600s and earlier! We know the great Auk is gone...but what else have we never even documented in modern times? The Shrag whale? The sea mink? The oceanic bear? The eskimo curlew? What else have we lost?

Global warming may or may not be the big risk we are always hearing about, but our adamant ignorance is most definitely a risk. Explore one's philosophical opponents concerns and views on the history that's transpired and we might find out a thing or two...I for one would take the opinion of Freeman Dyson over the hundreds of opinions of researchers struggling for research dollars who may not know much about the multivariable world of climate modelling but can clearly see which side of the bread is buttered. Do not cut-short the opinions of the wise merely because they are old, or are in disagreement with the majority whose experiences are short...or driven by politics and fear of standing out or loosing support...a very common human behavioral trait...fear weakens us.

Clarke effected so many writers and creative types it's no surprise that so much has been written about him now that he's gone. This one, Andrew Leonard, is the best so far, in my opinion, because it reflects the sense of respect that our generation had for Clarke and his vision; to know that what he saw as a good story contained not just good hard science but an excellent and somewhat subversive take on humanity. I almost wish I believed in a god so I could honestly mean it when I say "god rest his soul" but even more so that the English tabloid writer who attempted to smear him by accusing him of being a child molester could fry in hell.

Just kidding. No sense in carrying baggage you wont need. Thanks for helping us Arthur, where ever you are, in what ever form or energy you last eddying bit of electomagnetic energy is being manifest.