It might (or not) be worth noting that the linked article from NYT was first published in 2007. Rather a long time back in the debates about human influence on global temperatures, but quite relevant as showing that early concerns have changed little over a time span that is approaching significance in separating fossil fuel emmission influences from "normal weather fluctuations."

Unfortunately it looks very similar to the articles relating to the same climate dynamics being published right now, although for arctic regions the most recent concerns have been somewhat more over melting in large parts of the permafrost areas.

Similar to kendall's note, armadillas recently not seen north of the Texas border are now thriving in Nebraska and have been reported even farther north. Perhaps of more concern to some, a number of nasty insects have made similar northward migrations within the last decade or so, killing large forest areas. Loss of the carbon sequestering capabilities of the forests is accompanied by decay of the dead wood and release of additional greenhouse gases.

It's very much a dynamic problem, and one can only guess which processes will run away fastest. We're apparently not winning in any of the races, even just in the ones we've figured out we're signed up in.

John