Someone cast Wolven Winter on New Orleans!

[llamabeast]

Heat is a different story, though. Heat ("q" from thermo) can only added to the planet from a) cosmic (specifically Solar) radiation, and b) terrestrial release (e.g. burning the Cretaceous period). q can only be shed by radiation.

Atmospheric [CO2] decreases q radiation losses. Since solar q intake has been relatively stable, terrestrial q release has been increasing, and atmospheric [CO2] has been increasing, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize total planetary q is increasing.

The effect of that increased q is (obviously) quite debatable, however.

Thanks, that's exactly what I've been meaning to say. i.e. regardless of the (enormously complex) details, we are definitely trapping more heat in the atmosphere (non-controversial I think?) and one way or another, that's bound to have some big effects. Big effects are most likely bad news.