This is in response to the letter “Climate change is just a buzz word” (July 8).
True, Earth surface temperatures are used (as well as satellite measurements) from over 6,000 stations around the globe.
As you know, satellite measurements haven’t been available historically and for some reason you seem to think that satellite data will yield different results.
As it turns out, when temperature data collected by independent scientific organizations, (NASA Goddard institute for Space Studies, Met Office Hadley Center/Climatic Research Unit UK, NOAA National Climatic Data Center and Japanese Meteorological Agency) they do have some slight variances due to locations and computer programs, but graphically they yield almost identical results year after year – the earth is getting warmer, with nine of the 10 warmest years on record occurring since 2005 and the last five years the hottest on record (NOAA).
I know you won’t buy this, and I should know better than to discuss science with someone who chooses not to believe scientific data, but I decided to test your assertion that your driveway is cooler than your lawn on a sunny day and that not knowing that means that one blindly believes global warming.
Not knowing your driveway makeup, I tested the three most common on July 10 at 2 p.m. with an air temperature of 90 F. all locations within 50 yards of each other, in full sun, same orientation and using the same thermometer. Asphalt: 138; gravel: 135; concrete: 133; lawn: 94. Perhaps you won’t believe this either, since I didn’t use a satellite.
Dave Umbarger
Cortez