Charen wrong on global warming

Sun., Sept. 4, 2011

Mona Charen (“Like weather, science changes,” Opinion page, Aug. 30) states that it is an “inconvenient fact that there has been no increase in global temperature since 1998.” She also thinks that it is “bizarre” to claim that climate change is accelerating.

Really! Check out the average global temperatures calculated by NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Their charting shows that 2010 topped off the warmest decade in history, tying 2005 as the hottest year in 131 years of record-keeping. Nine of the 10 warmest years happened in the last decade. You will also see that the Earth’s temperature is clearly rising at an increasing rate. Two-thirds of the increase in global temperature since the 1880s has occurred in the last 40 years.

Scott Melville

Spokane

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

No more than 250 words
We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form: Submit your letter here
Mail: Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email: editor@spokesman.com
Fax: (509) 459-3815
Phone: (509) 459-5430