What utter bollocks
there are no accurate temperature records past about 150 years ago
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:11, archived)

not actual written records
but fossil evidence can give information that can be extrapolated
( Clairebare Back once again with the Ill behaviour, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:15, archived)

not accurately
and I suspect the timeframe is too short for fossil records and accurate carbon analysis. I mean, you can look at old trees and tell which years were warm/cold/wet/dry but nothing with any degree of accuracy.

Anyway, the last few tens of thousands of years have been us coming out of a major ice age with a few mini ice-age blips. Stands to reason the average temperature will increase

For the record, I believe that human activity is responsible for global warming, no question, but that doesn't mean there is any PROOF, and that's where enviromental groups fall down.

After all, the earth has been a lot lot warmer than this in the past, before we could possibly have had an influence.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:23, archived)

no it hasn't
that's the point. (unless you're talking about just after it was 'created')
(shux, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:29, archived)

erm, yes it has
there have been significant periods where there have been no polar ice caps. I'd classify that as "warmer"
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:36, archived)

What I find sad
is that there are plenty of other reasons not to drive big fuck-off SUVs and emit giant chemical clouds from factories. But because this reason receives all of the attention and can't be proven, people dismiss the whole topic.
( Sexy Picard 2000, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:30, archived)

no but
by looking at relative changes such as ice cores etc, some clever people can get a very good idea of what temperature is doing.
( mazurka wants two's up on your mum., Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:19, archived)

I'm pretty sure they can't do it with nearly enough accuracy
to compare annual highs.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 12 Jan 2007, 13:21, archived)