This is the first in a three-part ramble on global warming, which ironically begins on a day when it was close to 100 degrees here in Virginia.

The other day, Mrs. Krehbiel asked me why I was so resistant to blame global warming on human fossil fuel emissions. I'm paraphrasing a little, but she indicated that I was embarrassing myself by questioning the experts in the scientific community, and generally acting like someone who still thinks the earth is flat. :)

I'd like to emphasize a couple of things here at the beginning. First, I'm not at all opposed to alternative fuels and reducing carbon emissions and so forth. In fact I think those are good ideas. Second, I know that the earth is definitely getting warmer, and it will have unavoidable environmental consequences. I just question whether fossil fuels are the sole reason or even the main reason for it, and inversely, that we can somehow stop it or reverse it by "going green."

I question it because I haven't seen much evidence to support the theory, other than a nebulous, politically dubious "scientific consensus," which isn't even a quantifiable judgment. (Not as quantifiable, as, say, the 4 out of 5 dentists who prefer Trident for patients who chew gum.) Also, perhaps even more importantly, I haven't seen anyone ruling out other obvious explanations that make just as much, if not more, sense.

There is some evidence, of course, which is certainly worth considering. But a couple of graphs and charts from a handful of sources is not much of an argument, if you ask me, especially in a field with so many variables and so much money at stake. (Reputedly, climatologists don't share their data so other people can check it, either.) For example, the graph that shows carbon dioxide levels matching temperature levels doesn't really tell me much. How do I know which one caused the other? Or if there might have been an external cause? How do I know whether that carbon dioxide came from volcanoes or SUVs or excessively panting joggers?

That's some of why I remain skeptical. I'll continue in Part 2 tomorrow.