Whole Earth Seems To Be Warming Up. 06 Jun 1947. Sounds like some scientists in those days considered events rationally rather than jumping to the conclusion that everything’s man made climate change.
“Whole Earth Seems To Be Warming Up” The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954) 6 June 1947: 4. Web. 16 Dec 2019https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49326442?searchTerm=earth%20warming&searchLimits=#
NEW YORK, June 5
(Special).—A gradual rise in temperatures throughout the world, with results that so far cannot be foreseen, is believed by American scientists to have been going on for at least 50 years.
When this cycle will end, and even what is causing it, are still subjects of speculation, but scien-
tists think the earth may be slowly moving away from the last ice age towards climatic conditions comparable with those of a million years ago, when the North Pole was a temperate region.
American scientists say that records taken in North America over the last 50 years show there
has been an average annual increase of three one hundredths of a degree, equal to 1½ degrees in 50 years.
Snowline Rise
It is believed that a similar rise in temperatures is occurring throughout the world.
Observations in the eastern ranges of Peru from 1921 to 1943 showed there had been a vertical
recession of glaciers totalling 70 metres. In 33 years there has been a rise in the snowline of 50
metres.
New Zealand glaciers have been receding, losing their thickness, since the first observations
were made in the 60’s of last century, and since 1934 they have been wasting at an “abnormal”
rate.
The lower edges have been reduced up to 200 feet in thickness.
Similar changes have been noted in the glaciers of the European Alps and in North America.
Two theories are advanced for this temperature rise. One is that the sun is a “variable star,” and is giving off greater heat in some periods than in others.
The second theory is that there are small variations in the elements of the earth’s orbit round the sun which, with slight alterations in the angle of the earth to its own orbit, cause changes in the length of winters and summers.
According to this second theory, the earth is now moving into a period of warmer summers,
which exercise a dominating influence on the earth’s climate.
Polar Melting
Scientists are unwilling to commit themselves about the results of this climatic change.
There is general agreement, however, that large scale melting of the Polar icecaps must cause a rise in the sea level, possibly the result of other changes on the earth’s surface as the result of lifting the pressure at the poles and an increase in the weight of water in
the oceans.
Any changes are likely to be very gradual, and it is impossible to indicate with any accuracy
when the warmer cycle might end.
There is no body of scientific agreement on the available facts.
CONFERENCE.—The Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia executive will meet in Brisbane on July 22 and 23. Delegates from all States will attend the two-day conference.