h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ok, well last evening when I should have been revising I had a look through some Antarctic ice core data, and this afternoon when I should be revising I thought I'd ask some questions of this, so here goes:

I admit that the equilibrium model does seem the one to use for gas exchange and a near constant flow of energy through the system, and that with the effects of life added, a general "acts against change" effect would be intuitive. However, can we be sure this is the correct model? For example, weather, being an important component of climate, is entirely chaotic in its operation. Meanwhile, if the system is one tending towards equilibrium, it is a very large and complicated one. Surely there would be significant latencies involved in its postulated reaction against change, perhaps it would come too late to help humans? Perhaps climate change has enough momentum to it that it could oscillate rather than returning to a comfortable norm?

It is very clear that humans have made significant changes to various aspects of the environment, and thus a bit rich to call it arrogance to suggest we might do more of it. According to the ice core data (available freely on the internet), carbon dioxide has been rising at 200 times the rate it ever has before. Meanwhile, atmospheric methane is at more than double what it has been before in these records, which do cover hundreds of thousands of years.

It does seem moreover that global temperature is very closely tied to carbon dioxide levels. However, temperature change does appear to be leading carbon dioxide change more often than not.

See:
ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/icecore/antarctica/vostok/co2nat.txt
CO2 from the Vostok core - current levels are approx. 370 ppm/v
ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/icecore/antarctica/vostok/ch4nat.txt
CH4 from the Vostok core - current levels are approx 1700 ppb/v

"Meanwhile, if the system is one tending towards equilibrium, it is a very large and complicated one."

Precisely my point. Those arguing that human CO2 is responsible for climate change are guilty of massively simplifying the system. That fact that Earth has been a life-supporting planet for the best part of 2 billion years is one of the greatest supporters of a renewable equilibrium that we have.

"According to the ice core data (available freely on the internet)"

With thy own spade, thy doest bury ones self.

B