Retorts

CO₂ Queries

C. R. de Freitas' article [Viewpoint, May] on climate modelling and CO₂ emissions, and Rex Stewart's "Contrarians" [Retorts, May] prompt some comments and questions.

The global warming industry is a great gravy train for researchers, bureaucrats and tax-gatherers, so contrarians like me, or disciples like Rex, do not get to see figures which have not been massaged out of shape to some particular and profitable end.

I would like to know how significant are CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels in the natural flux of atmospheric CO₂ -- CO₂ dissolved in water -- carbonates -- carbohydrates -- hydrocarbons, and how do temperature changes affect these. Do increases in atmospheric CO₂ result from rising sea temperatures? What are the lag times to equilibrium states? Do grass-grubs and huhu beetles produce more methane than cows and sheep, or, more generally, is methane produced inevitably in the biological burning of carbohydrates?

Perhaps some of your disinterested readers could enlighten us. I do recall that a few years back, some of the more vociferous proponents of global warming were promoting an ice age!

Pat Palmer, Christchurch