[AsylumWarden]

It seems to me that there really are very few people who actually deny the earth is warming. There may be a very vocal minority in your circles but I don't see it in my travels. The only real question is how much of the warming is caused by humans and how much is part of a natural cycle. You did read the article right? This is part of a cycle. Perhaps there is some human influence on this cycle but how would the researchers know? Maybe in another 150 years when the ice sheet has already reformed and then begun to melt again repeating the cycle? Level heads are needed; not panic and politics.

[jfb]

There's nothing in the article about a cycle. That it happens on average every 150 years is a statistical statement, not a scientific one.

[AsylumWarden]

So, it happens on average every 150 years and that isn't a cycle in your book. That's fine for someone like yourself but for me I feel that we then need to redefine things like solar cycles and seasons which only happen on average as well. All in all, what the article describes sounds like a cycle to me.

[jfb]

The seasons happen for a known, cyclical reason. If it turns out that there's a first cause behind the ice melt, then it would be proper to refer to it as a cycle.