Global Warming In The News

Local authorites dispute the evidence that Amarillo's temperature rises are due to global warming.

By Laura Rice
Posted: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 10:21 PM

AMARILLO -- All have heard about the changes many say global warming is making to our environment: polar ice caps melting and polar bears losing their habitats. Now the hot issue has made its way to the Panhandle.

On Tuesday, an Austin group released a report that says Amarillo's average temperature has increased by one point five degrees. That may not seem like much, but the report says the Panhandle has something to worry about.

Still, not all scientists can agree on the subject.

One point five degrees over 30 years, is that significant?

"I have an 11 month old son and when his temperature goes up one point five degrees, I start to get worried," said Luke Metzger, Director of Environment Texas.

But does the increase point to global warming? Environment Texas says yes, but not everyone agrees.

"There were other droughts, periods that we know were hotter than 30 years ago. Even before that. So there are these long-term fluctuations of a few degrees. To call that global warming probably isn't responsible science," said Bob DeOtte, Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at WT.

DeOtte uses models to analyze and predict weather cycles. He says he is not sure global warming is not happening, but he also is not convinced it is.

"I don't disagree that it's a possibility, I just disagree that the evidence is hard and firm," said DeOtte.

Environment Texas wants Texans to make immediate, dramatic changes to lifestyle to prevent what they see as an increase in the effects of global warming.

"We are reaching a tipping point where if we don't decrease our emissions we'll get past the point of no return where we will have dangerous changes to our climate," said Metzger.

DeOtte does not disagree.

"The bottom line is: are we being as good of stewards of our environment as we can be?" said DeOtte.

The basics like alternative energy, recycling and carpooling are some ways to do that. But how worried should we be?

"What we're trying to do now is stave off what scientists are calling catastrophic climate change," said Metzger.

"Could be, maybe not, use caution, be responsible," said DeOtte.

The answer still seems to be somewhere between cautious and expecting the catastrophic.