[electromagnetic]

"Off the scale" is a complete fucking BS term. The carboniferous period had a mean CO2 concentration of around 800ppm and was marked by glaciation and low sea levels - our current correlation between CO2 and "global warming" is off the bullshit scale.

The mean global temperature in the carboniferous period, with CO2 concentrations over double of present day was an astounding, just wait for it... 14C, which is the incredible, * unbelievable* 0C above the mean present day global temperature.

As CO2 levels spiked in the carboniferous period, it is marked by the drop of sea levels by 120m to the present day level, and as the CO2 level subsided, the sea levels rose 80m.

Sorry, but "off the scale" only counts when you actively pick and choose what scale you want to use, which in terms of geological temperature, CO2 and O2 concentrations quite literally means disregarding millions of years of geological time.

[pvxc]

Both CO2 concentrations and the global temperature varied significantly over that period of Earth's history (~400-250 millions of years ago). Around 300 Mya, CO2 was comparable to what it is today and temperatures were likewise comparable. Around 400 Mya, CO2 was in the 4000ppm's and the temperature was likewise higher (by ~ 8 C). No contradiction.

Also, when discussing matters scientific, please cite your scientific sources --- otherwise the discussion is of little value. Like so:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v449/n7159/abs/nature06...

http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/1052-5173(2004)014<4:CAAPDO&#6...

[jselzer]

I have not taken the time to verify your claims here, but don't you think it's fair to use "off the scale" when comparing this to any other time period during the modern human era?

As other people have said, life on earth will go on in one form or another. But "off the scale" is a necessary term in this context to drive home the incredible turmoil and human suffering that will result as we are forced to adjust the local pressures of water shortages, mass human migration, and agricultural failures that will be caused by this...