The argument that global warming is a real and present threat seems to be weakened by cold and harsh winters, as evidenced in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. With parts of Florida and many parts of the southern United States actual experiencing snowfall, it becomes almost impossible to present a compelling argument for global temperature increase.  But the facts remain that the decade stretching from 2000 to 2009 was the warmest in well over 100 years.  We do allow that climate change cycles at a minimum of that same 100 year term.

So if it is snowing in Florida, does it mean that there is no threat of global warming? Not at all, climate abnormalities best exemplified by the harsh winters and scorching dry summers the United Kingdom has been experiencing over the last five years are an obvious indicator that at least for the short term something is wrong. 10 years ago the argument still existed that climate change, as seen by the overall increased surface temperature of the Earth might not be manmade and based.  Today that argument has been completely dismissed and the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community is that emissions from greenhouse gases are making our world hotter.

This heat results in far greater amounts of water evaporating during the warmer months.  This increased precipitation then results in greater snowfall during winter and in instances where arctic air has managed to slip down to the Southern United States, surprise snowfalls.  Climate change as result of global warming does not have to manifest itself as massive drought.  It should be noted however that in areas where water was already to some degree scarce the resultant imbalance does create desertification.

Unfortunately the general public at large does not weigh all of these things in balance.  The public sees a harsh winter as a general cooling trend.  Polling results seem to suggest that there has been a 15 to 20% drop in the overall belief that global warming is a real and as represented through climate change affects the planet on every level.  Animals unable to migrate quickly enough to keep pace with loss of habitats are unable to express their views in the London Times.  Plant species that often require hundreds of years for a simple 60° of latitude migration might literally become extinct before we can even learn of their existence.