To the editor:

Following up on Les Blevins’ letter (“Climate crisis,” Jan. 18), scientists in recent decades have discovered, in examining ice cores, ocean sediment layers and tree rings, that climate changes can and do happen in a few short years. Caution would be prudent, instead of current attitudes of “full speed ahead” polluting the environment and exhausting CO2, methane and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

It is at least possible (although no one knows if or when it might happen) that the current global warming will result in a “cold snap.” The current melting of glaciers, arctic ice cap and tundra could shut down the warm water oceanic conveyor that warms northern Europe and northeastern North America. The last time this happened it took roughly 1,000 years for the warm water conveyor to recover.

In some areas, drought is associated with cold spells. Over past centuries there have been long droughts. The 1930s dry spell was minor, compared with the 25-year drought at the end of the 13th century. In California, there have been 100-year periods when the Sierras received scant snow cover.

Our president, senators and Congress generally are supporting oil and coal consumption as usual. This is all too like Nero fiddling while Rome burned. What a wonderful conflagration! Won’t it be wonderful to watch – if you’re not starving, or dislocated from your home!

Mark Larson,

Lawrence