Topic: Fresh hockey sticks from the Southern Hemisphere

[sam]

In the Northern Hemisphere, the late 20th / early 21st century has been the hottest time period in the last 400 years at very high confidence, and likely in the last 1000 – 2000 years (or more). It has been unclear whether this is also true in the Southern Hemisphere. Three studies out this week shed considerable new light on this question. This post provides just brief summaries; we’ll have more to say about these studies in the coming weeks.

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2012/05/fresh-hockey-sticks-from-the-southern-hemisphere/

[Clive]

Even if it has been the hottest for the past 2000 years I don't construe that as anything out of the ordinary.  It's still well within minor fluctuations of temperature patterns so I don't think we should start thinking about jumping off cliffs just yet.  If humankind is indeed responsible to climate change then I don't think there is anything we can do about it since the emerging economies just don't care about global warming and neither does the West who seem to have given up on it all.  The planet will sort itself out - we are just temporary passengers. 

[sam]

Still this is proper science explained well. Not just wishy washy stuff. I see it as concerning that this ia happening. In the grand scheme off things you are right it is small but its the gradient of the change that is worrying. Without mans influence I believe that this should take longer.

[Clive]

It's an excellent website to be fair.