The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

March 9, 2013

Your View: No need for alarm over warming

Phil Drietz, Delhi

— I submit these items in response to the Jan. 23 and Feb. 10 anti-carbon dioxide/methane letters from some “global warming” alarmists:

Ice core samples from Vostok and Dome Condordia tell us that today’s carbon dioxide is 30 percent higher and methane is 130 percent higher than during any of the past four interglacial periods. And since those periods are known to be  approximately the same temperature or higher than our current period we should  really be cooking by now, if the global warming warnings are true.

According to CO2science.org and the Dec. 29 issue of Science News, between 1920 and 1940, much of the Arctic Sea melted, even though man-made CO2 was far less than today’s anthropogenic CO2. Same thing happened in 1817.

When a tree opens its leaf pores, it loses about 400 molecules of water in order to capture one molecule of CO2 (plant food). So it would seem to me that a high  concentration of atmospheric CO2 would allow trees to survive on less water because of a reduced pore exposure time. Possibility that might be why we get good crops even in low moisture — note the 2012 yields.

Considering the above, I think that if we were to shut down all our coal fired power plants tomorrow, we would see little or no atmospheric benefit (especially since China burns more coal than the United States, Japan and Europe combined — thanks to our “Made in China” economic/manufacturing  policies).

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Your View
  • mfp dekruifmug DFL budget leaves out reform The 2013 Minnesota Legislature started facing a projected budget shortfall of $635 million and by state mandate must balance the budget. The new DFL controlled government has a "fix" for this shortfall; raising taxes and fees for all Minnesotans by a

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Bell of Honor sign of respect for heroes Recently, I had the opportunity to go to the North Mankato Funeral Home for David Sandmeyer's military visitation. It was a very moving experience. Sandmeyer was the young man who was a 21-year-old Marine from Mankato. He was stationed in North Carol

    May 18, 2013

  • MSU falls while coach Hoffner will win again Attention MSU Alumni You and I have just learned of the decision that the Minnesota State University leadership, i.e. Dr. Davenport, Mr. Kevin Buisman (and probably others) have made concerning Todd Hoffner, the former MSU Football Coach. This firing

    May 17, 2013

  • Minnesota deserves lawmakers with a clue Our senators, Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were part of a group to vote for and pass Obamacare. You know the overwhelming law that the Democratic leadership (Reid and Pelosi) said you'll have to pass it to find out what's in it. Exactly what they did

    May 17, 2013

  • Laws of life essays were inspiring essays inspired What a pleasure it was to read the Laws of Life essays in the May 5 edition. It is this kind of reporting that makes The Free Press our hometown newspaper. And congratulations to Shane Price and Fahad Qureshi. Your writings were a good read. Bruce Bi

    May 16, 2013

  • mfp dekruifmug DFL budget leaves out reform The 2013 Minnesota Legislature started facing a projected budget shortfall of $635 million and by state mandate must balance the budget. The new DFL controlled government has a “fix” for this shortfall; raising taxes and fees for all Minnesotans by a

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Remodeled building serves St. John's well Last weekend my wife and I were in the Mankato area for an extended family event. While in Mankato we participated in a Eucharist celebration at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Last Sunday happened to be the one-year anniversary of the remodeli

    May 15, 2013

  • Marketplace Fairness Act not about fairness The Marketplace Fairness Act is not about fairness. It is about revenue and regulatory capture by Internet giants. It is said that Internet retailers have an advantage in that they don't have to collect sales tax. That may be an advantage, but it do

    May 14, 2013

  • Sand project may taint Coughlan standing In an earlier state Senate committee hearing, one of the of Jordan Sands party waved his arms and proudly proclaimed that Bob Coughlan's family had installed the limestone that prominently adorns the room. The Coughlan Cos. and Kasota Stone have a lo

    May 13, 2013

  • Let's talk about mental illness We talk about our blood pressure, thyroids, hip replacements, etc. We talk about the doctors who treat us. We give advice to friends and family as to the quality of care or lack thereof from our attending physicians. So why then are mental health iss

    May 12, 2013