Results: This survey is about myths deliberately created and spread to support government policy, to promote a product, to manipulate public opinion/behaviour or other reasons.
There is a saying along the lines of "It isn't what we don't know that harms us. It is what we think we know for sure (when it is wrong). " Some of today's examples help get us to do the right thing even if the science base for them is not 100% accurate.
1.
1.
The headline said "A23a: World's biggest iceberg on the move after 30 years" It split from the Antarctic coastline in 1986 but swiftly ran aground becoming an ice island. At almost 4,000 sq km (1,500 sq miles) in area, it's more than twice the size of Greater London. Recently it broke free and it is now drifting at speed and is now beyond Antarctic waters. It's a trillion tons of ice so there was concern that, when it melts, all that water will raise the ocean level. Here are some other situations that could do or have done the same. Which of them should worry climate scientists the most?
The trillion tons of ice Iceberg A23a
28%
•
644 votes
Lantau Tomorrow Vision, Hong Kong Project. | Land to be reclaimed: 18km2
12%
•
272 votes
South-to-North Water Diversion Project The aims of the project are to divert 44.8 billion cubic meters of water per year from the Yangtze River in southern China to the Yellow River Basin in arid northern China.
20%
•
448 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
29 votes
Not Applicable
51%
•
1164 votes
- No
- no
- yes, Florida
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.86% | 12 | |
| All of the above | 0.22% | 3 |
| none | 0.14% | 2 |
| nothing to worry about, the iceberg has already displaced its weight and mass. | 0.07% | 1 |
| all | 0.07% | 1 |
| Every thing. It's not just scientists who are concerned. | 0.07% | 1 |
| the backhanded wealth redistribution scheme that globalclimatewarmingchagne mania supports | 0.07% | 1 |
| Wouldn't be that much of an issue, it's water, frozen or not. | 0.07% | 1 |
| Not sure | 0.07% | 1 |
| No clue but one might think all of them | 0.07% | 1 |
| unsure | 0.07% | 1 |
| other | 0.07% | 1 |
| I DON'T KNOW | 0.07% | 1 |
| none of the above | 0.07% | 1 |
| Absolutely nothing | 0.07% | 1 |
2.
2.
In 1940, RAF night fighter ace, John Cunningham, nicknamed "Cat's Eyes", shot down an enemy plane. He'd later rack up an impressive total of 20 kills—19 of which were at night. The Air Ministry told newspapers that the reason for their success was because pilots like Cunningham ate an excess of carrots. Carrots were promoted as a sweetener in desserts in the absence of sugar. The Food Ministry's "War Cookery Leaflet 4″ was filled with recipes for carrot pudding, carrot cake, carrot marmalade and carrot flan. The Ministry of Food encouraged so much extra production that by 1942, it was looking at 100,000 ton surplus of carrots. Were carrots Britain's secret weapon against German night fighters?
Carrots, by virtue of their heavy dose of Vitamin A (in the form of beta carotene), are good for your eye health and can reverse poor vision among those with a Vitamin A deficiency.
21%
•
473 votes
During 1940, the Luftwaffe often struck under the cover of darkness. In order to make it more difficult for the German planes to hit targets, the British government issued citywide blackouts. The Royal Air Force were able to repel the German fighters in part because of the development of a new, secret radar technology. It had the ability to pinpoint enemy bombers before they reached the English Channel. The Ministry provided another reason for their success: carrots.
16%
•
363 votes
The use of carrots to help with eye health was already well ingrained in the German psyche. There are tales that the Germans started feeding their own pilots carrots, as they thought there was some truth in it."
7%
•
155 votes
Whether or not the Germans bought it, the British public generally believed that eating carrots would help them see better during the citywide blackouts. Advertisements with the slogan "Carrots keep you healthy and help you see in the blackout" appeared everywhere.
7%
•
153 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
15 votes
Not Applicable
49%
•
1102 votes
- I still think carrots are good for me.
- No
- poor and yes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.86% | 10 | |
| bs | 0.09% | 1 |
| All of the above | 0.09% | 1 |
| unsure | 0.09% | 1 |
| the answers do not fit the question | 0.09% | 1 |
| all | 0.09% | 1 |
3.
3.
Recently methane has become a bigger concern than CO2 as a greenhouse gas and has become part of the recent agreement at the COP28 climate conference (panned by some environmental groups). The pledge, back by 49 oil and gas companies, aims to dramatically reduce methane leaks to "near zero" by 2030. Which of the following do you think is the biggest emitter of methane?
Agriculture (from animal "crackers")
19%
•
432 votes
The energy industry (from oil and gas production)
25%
•
562 votes
The Arctic Tundra (from melting permafrost)
12%
•
276 votes
Decomposition of landfill waste (from biomass)
23%
•
511 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
•
37 votes
Not Applicable
40%
•
910 votes
- Yes. It's pretty spectacular..
- None
- no
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.72% | 13 | |
| I don't know | 0.11% | 2 |
| Politicians | 0.11% | 2 |
| All of these | 0.06% | 1 |
| Crap that spews from politicians | 0.06% | 1 |
| volcanoes emit the most both above ground and under water. for 4.5 Bililon years now and all you kids think you can stop this. | 0.06% | 1 |
| I have heard from several scientists who say methane is NOT a greenhouse gas. Just being used yo further the agendas of the government and their donators, like Bill Gates who is a Vegetarian, so wants everyone to quit eating meat! | 0.06% | 1 |
| I'm no specialist in this, I don't know the biggest source. Why are you asking me? | 0.06% | 1 |
| None | 0.06% | 1 |
| BS | 0.06% | 1 |
| unsure | 0.06% | 1 |
| coal in China and India | 0.06% | 1 |
| I don't know which one is worse! | 0.06% | 1 |
| who cares | 0.06% | 1 |
| Anonymous | 0.06% | 1 |
| ALL OF THE ABOVE!! | 0.06% | 1 |
| Vegetarians | 0.06% | 1 |
| Democrats | 0.06% | 1 |
| the backsides of the politicians promoting globalclimatewatmingchange and their surrogates | 0.06% | 1 |
| All the above. | 0.06% | 1 |
| The largest emission of methane occurred when the USA sabotaged the Nord Stream pipeline | 0.06% | 1 |
| not sure of the main source. | 0.06% | 1 |
| human flatulence | 0.06% | 1 |
4.
4.
Here are the answers are far as I am able to ascertain. First is what we are led to believe is the answer when it is not. Then I will give the actual answer.
When the article about the iceberg first came out, climate scientists were quoted as saying it could raise the ocean level by up to 1.5 inches when it melted. This was soon retracted when it was pointed out that an iceberg does not raise the water level when it melts (try it with a scotch on the rocks). Or check Archimedes' Principle.
12%
•
279 votes
Carrots can improve vision in general but not specifically night vision in cases of vitamin deficiency and only up to the normal level. They do not improve night vision above the norm.
22%
•
500 votes
Coal fired power generation, oil and gas production and other industries have been blamed for methane production but they are not the biggest culprits and are already onside with the COP28 reduction targets (any methane these industries produce has a dollar value so they don't mind capturing it and making money from it).
10%
•
234 votes
Correct answers are all #2 Land Reclamation, War Propaganda and Agriculture
10%
•
220 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
22 votes
Not Applicable
56%
•
1266 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 1.04% | 13 | |
| All of the above | 0.08% | 1 |
| I'm glad some people know about these things. | 0.08% | 1 |
| It's all bad. | 0.08% | 1 |
| Not true | 0.08% | 1 |
| dont understand the questions | 0.08% | 1 |
| unsure | 0.08% | 1 |
| knew none of this | 0.08% | 1 |
| Is there a question? | 0.08% | 1 |
| DON'T KNOW SORRY | 0.08% | 1 |
5.
5.
Here are some footnotes that suggest that, even though the popular view is not the scientifically correct one, there is something to be gained by holding on to these ideas. Which are welcome news?
Q1: Even though this huge iceberg may not raise sea levels directly, the huge amount of fresh water released will dilute the salt levels in the ocean causing more ice to melt. If some of the ice that is currently on land flows into the ocean at an accelerated rate, that ice will raise the sea level until the diluted water refreezes establishing a new equilibrium..
14%
•
316 votes
Q1: There are many land reclamation projects around the world and all of them collectively are raising the sea level significantly. The deeper the sea level is where the land is reclaimed the more water is displaced to increase sea levels. I have yet to see any push back about this in the media. It is like a tsunami only amortized over several years while the reclamation gradually takes place.
15%
•
334 votes
Q1: The huge river diversion project in China takes water from the south and sends it north. Less water will flow into the ocean - a plus. Just as well it wasn't the other way around.
8%
•
190 votes
Q1: A huge water supply, more than three times all the oceans on the surface of the earth combined, is buried under the earth's crust 400 miles down. Who owns it? Whoever does better leave it there or that will increase the oceans by every gallon accessed. https://www.unilad.com/news/world-news/ocean-beneath-earths-crust-science-discovery-124811-20231024
6%
•
145 votes
Q2: Carrots (raw) are good for your teeth and oral health should not be ignored.
17%
•
378 votes
Q3: The Arctic tundra holds huge potential releases of methane in the permafrost. As long as it remains frozen in place like it is now, we can focus on more manageable problem areas. But if we start industrializing the north without protecting the Tundra then cows faffing are the least of our problems.
8%
•
189 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
•
19 votes
Not Applicable
56%
•
1265 votes
- Diesel trains and boats and all those trucks are a huge source of pollution and are easier to improve.
- None
- Climate change doesn’t have any hand in individual’s right or freedom
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
| 0.95% | 15 | |
| All of the above!⁹ | 0.06% | 1 |
| unsure | 0.06% | 1 |
| SORRY BUT I'M SO CONFUSED WITH THIS SURVET. | 0.06% | 1 |
| What do bombs and radiation do to our environments and earths’ elements? | 0.06% | 1 |
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