Lord Monckton: Bring out your Dead! Climate Denial Crock of the Week. Climate Change and National Security. Climate Change Impacts on US Naval Operations – Admiral David Titley. Admiral David Titley, US Navy Chief Oceanographer – “I used to be a climate skeptic” March 5, 2011 Admiral David Titley is no stranger to viewers of the Climate Denial Crock of the Week series. Here he explains his journey from climate skeptic to one of the leading scientific voices warning about the impacts of a warming world, rising oceans, and acidifying seas.
Viewers may wish to compare to the similar journey of Weather Channel senior forecaster Stu Ostro. Admiral Titley has appeared in both videos on the National Security aspects of Climate Change, as well as recent videos on Arctic ice changes. See those videos embedded below the fold. Look for Part 2 of this lecture in the next post, and you can also hear Admiral Titley interviewed on NPR Science Friday, here. Bio: Admiral Titley’s education includes a B.S. in Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University, a M.S. in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography and Ph.D. in Meteorology, both from the Naval Postgraduate School. Additional Information: Climate Change and National Security Part 1 2010 Arctic Ice Update. Chris Mooney: Why Conservatives Don’t Believe in Science.
The Science Muse | Inspiration for Science Educators. The “Temp Leads Carbon Crock” – UPDATED. WSJ: Windbaggers will have a tough time stopping Renewable Power. The Deep Future: An Interview with Curt Stager. The Deep Future: An Interview with Curt Stager. Trailer: The YERT Movie. Unwinding “Hide the Decline” Lethal Radiation now outside Plant Boundary – Multiple Containment Breaches confirmed. More Neutron Damper needed – Japan Calls for more Boron at Plant. Wind Energy Without Turbines – Is this the Model T of Wind? Climate Change Impacts on US Naval Operations – Admiral David Titley. Admiral David Titley, US Navy Chief Oceanographer – “I used to be a climate skeptic” New Crock Video: What Ice Cores Tell Us, and How Deniers Distort it.
Climate Change in a Nutshell-Part 6. Climate Science in a Nutshell: The evidence for Climate Change. How to Pick a Cherry. Harrison “Jack” Schmitt is a former Apollo astronaut, a far right wingnut, and a Tea Party darling. This makes him a perfect tool for the climate denial industry. Skeptical Science explains: In 2009, former astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt submitted a white paper to NASA, Observations Necessary for Useful Global Climate Models.
In this paper, Schmitt crams in an impressive number of skeptic arguments – including the argument that we’re currently experiencing cooling: “How long this cooling trend will persist remains to be seen; however, Greenland glaciers have been advancing since 2006, Artic [sic] sea ice has returned to 1989 levels of coverage, and snowy, cold winters and cool summers have dominated northern North America and Europe” I’m having trouble getting past the brazenness of using Greenland as evidence of cooling, considering over the last few years, Greenland has been losing over 200 billion tonnes of ice per year. Dr. Desmog Blog Prof Mandia NOAA Arctic Report Card Like this: Obama Reaffirms Climate Committment. New Crock Video: What the Ice Cores Tell Us. Judging from comments I get on the YouTube site, many deniers apparently believe that not too long ago, Greenland was green.
Like, really green. In fact, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson gave voice to Tea Party science when he told an interviewer, “There’s a reason Greenland was called Greenland,” he said. “It was actually green at one point in time. And it’s been, since, it’s a whole lot whiter now.” But to find a greenland without glaciers and an ice sheet, you have to go back a little further in time, 65 million years ago, when reptiles swam and hunted there. The more recent past was less idyllic. Ice core data indicates the the greenland ice sheet is at least 400,000 years old. While Greenland ice cores tell us much about the past, they are not the only ice cores available In December of 2010, Ellen Mosley Thompson explained some of their key findings to American Geophysical Union.
More About Medieval Warming: Like this: Like Loading... The Last Mountain: Movie Trailer. Global Warming. Winter Weirding. January 6, 2011 Climate deniers like to claim that cold weather over eastern north america and eurasia somehow contradicts a warming planet. In fact, scientists are now observing what may become a more frequent pattern, caused by declining northern sea ice – of frigid polar air being pushed out of the arctic regions, while warmer air is drawn to northern areas. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric administration makes available graphic temperature anomaly readings for the northern hemisphere on it’s website.
Observations since November 2010 confirm the pattern of extreme cold temperatures in usually temperate zones, as well as a relative heat wave in the arctic. Note especially the red hotspot over Hudson bay, northern canada, and greenland. 2010 was globally, the warmest meteorological year on record. As temperatures rise beyond any that have been seen many millennia, human beings may have to adjust to conditions unprecedented since civilization began…. Like this: Like Loading... The 8 Minute Epoch: 65 Million Years with James Hansen. The 8 Minute Epoch: 65 Million Years with James Hansen. A Natural By-Product of Nature. Richard Alley Dances to Explain Ice Ages. Ben Santer’s Beatdown of Michaels, reposted. December 12, 2010 There were problems with the sound synching on the original video – It took me a while to track down a fix, and some people are still not happy. Take your pick. It’s interesting that these climate hearing videos have become so popular, I originally posted these in the expectation that at least a few wonks would be interested – but they seem to have taken on the air of a sporting event.
I think it shows that people are hungry for men of real accomplishment and authority to be heard directly on this issue – and that the scientists who are now fighting back have a moral authority and powers of persuasion that can affect the debate. It makes me think that if die-hard anti-science republicans want to put climate scientists on trial in the new session, that we should say “bring it on”. I wish I had the popcorn concession. Like this: Like Loading...
Global Warming by any other name « Greenfyre’s. December 26, 2010 by greenfyre Global Warming? Or Climate Change? Peter Sinclair’s latest addition to the Climate Denial Crock of the Week debunks the idiotic “they changed it to “climate change after 1998” meme … “they” being the IPCC … which apparently the paranoid delusionals (aka climate change Deniers) thought stood for ‘Intergovernmental Panel on Coerced Collectivization’ As both the video and Joseph Romm note, the irony is the fact that it was the Republicans & Deniers who made calling it ‘”climate change” a priority because “global warming” was too scary. (foreshadowing - when our collective inaction on climate leads to the inevitable social collapse the Deniers will blame scientists and progressives for the inaction). In Romm’s opinion “I prefer “Hell and High Water,” since is more descriptive of what is to come.” I have always liked Johnny Rooks insistence that we call things by their true names and that we should refer to it as Climaticide.
See also: Ace of spades by thun. Richard Alley Dances to Explain Ice Ages. Orwellian Language of the New World Order? Or just Silly? Late Freeze means Hardship for Polar Bears of Hudson Bay. Ben Santer’s Beatdown of Michaels, reposted. Secret Lives of the Climate Scientists – Gavin Schmidt. December 8, 2010 If we’re going to turn around America’s appalling science illiteracy – we’re going to have to do a better job humanizing science and scientists. One of the highest profile scientists in the world is Gavin Schmidt of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies… They are not helpless geeks, nor are they emperious, all knowing supermen.
They are men, women, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, citizens, employees, bosses, religious and atheist, republican and democrat, (although the republicans seem to be doing what they can to hound science out of public life)- and they have hobbies….. Dr. Here’s Gavin in a more traditional scientist mode. Like this: Like Loading... Did Ben Santer finally Beat the Crap out of Pat Michaels? You Decide. More Climate Testimony: Richard Alley and Ben Santer. December 6, 2010 The clip I posted last week of Richard Alley vastly overmatching Dana Rohrabacher seemed to strike a chord with a lot of people, and I think I know why. Allowing the climate scientists to speak for themselves and explain the details of what they know is a whole lot more credible than when laymen like myself try to do it – but scientists don’t often get enough time on a public platform to tell what they know in plain english.
Last month’s congressional hearings deserve wider exposure, because it was just such an opportunity – and the Science and Technology Committee was doing exactly what it was supposed to do – acquaint citizens and lawmakers with the essential facts of nature and the planet we live on, so as to be able to make informed decisions. I’m looking at more of the hearings, and will try to pull out some further informative bits in future posts. Like this: Like Loading... Tiny Invaders pump Climate Impact on Fresh water. The way climate change interacts with other human changes on environment is well illustrated by the impact of warming on Greats Lakes waters in the US. Parallel environmental problems – pollution runoff from agriculture, and spread of invasive species, both enhanced and accelerated by warmer temperatures, were vividly on display this past summer across the Great Lakes basin – source of 20 percent of the world’s fresh water.
The problem was exacerbated during 2010, one of the warmest summers in the record globally, and discussed in an article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “Blue-green algae — actually the peptides secreted by certain blue-green algae known as microcystis — is a known neurotoxin, meaning that at high concentrations it can severely damage the nervous system, including the brain. Some smaller, inland lakes in Ohio have blown that standard out of the water, at unimaginably high readings of 2000 ppm. Invasive species compound the problem. Like this: Like Loading...
Rohrabacher and Alley: Brain vs Blowhard. Rohrabacher and Alley: Brain vs Blowhard. More on Methane. December 2, 2010 This week’s post of Katey Walters and the Flaming Lakes drew attention to one aspect of the methane feedback problem, the output from melting permafrost areas in northern Canada, Alaska and Siberia. Here are some videos from a variety of resources that illustrate the problem from different points of view.
First, from Greenpeace, a look at indiginous people whose lives are being impacted by climatic changes more extreme than in almost any other part of the world. Next a nearly 3 year old video from Russia Today, that is nonetheless vivid in showing the effects of permafrost melt on the infrastructure of modern people living in the area. And here, from BBC, another look from a team of scientists setting out to measure the dimensions of the problem. and finally, Steven Chu himself and a succinct statement of the issue. The problem is double edged. More on that in the next post. Like this: Like Loading... Late Extra – Steven Chu’s Powerpoint.
December 1, 2010 At the beginning of his address to the National Press Club, Steven Chu noted that he had spent considerable time working on a powerpoint presentation, only to find out that it was not customary to use multimedia at the forum. The ppt is now online, and has several important images, which illustrate the decline in spending on R&D, especially in the energy area.
Like this: Like Loading... Finding the right Climate Crock Video just got easier. November 29, 2010 A viewer writes: “Peter, After debating with a denier in youtube for a couple weeks, I showed him your videos and he’s done a complete 180. Now he believes global warming denial is quite absurd given the science/facts. I was kind of shocked and elated to witness this happen, though I’m sure you’re used to it, but go ahead and pat yourself on the back for it. :D” This wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened. If you’ve just come away from holiday dinner frustrated at having to listen to Aunt Teabag and Uncle Dittohead’s anti-science rants, wishing you had just the right Climate Crock video to send them, your problem is now solved. The In-laws Now Climatecrocks.com has an “Overview” page, which you can access in the menu on the right. Take a look at the list, and see if your favorite video is there, or if your topic of interest is addressed.
Like this: Like Loading... Building a Sustainable Society – Urban Aquaculture. A True Story of Science and Journalism. 2010: Hottest year? Stay tuned. November 26, 2010 Reuters posted the first of what will probably be a spate of articles following the last month of the global temperature record, as 2010 is in a “dead heat” to become the hottest year ever. Even with a possible cool end to the year, 2010 is expected to be no lower than third in a record where 1998 and 2005 are warmest. The U.N. panel of climate scientists says higher temperatures mean more floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels. CRU’s Phil Jones says it’s currently in second place, NASA’s James Hansen says the temps through October put 2010 in the lead.
There are subtle differences between the measurements by CRU, NASA and the other global temperature datasets, which allow for CRU to name 1998 as the hottest year, with NASA claiming 2005 – by a few hundredths of a degree. And for deniers out there, be advised that Dr Roy Spencer also has 2010 as one of the hottest years. Like this: Like Loading... Lively Times at WUWT. We’ll never know how long Anthony Watts would have let the stench of his summer arctic ice predictions hang in the air, had I not prodded him with the most recent video. Within 24 hours of the video upload, Watts finally found the time to admit that he and trusty sidekick Steve Goddard might have been a little too “ebullient” about the sea ice. Anthony Watts and his Trusty Sidekick There are some interesting comments, this one from “Bill the Frog” caught my eye. It is intriguing to observe the continually developing meme that, prior to 1979, no reliable information was available relating to the extent of Arctic sea ice.
This must certainly be perplexing for the scientists at the University of Illinois, many of whom have been at the forefront of polar research for decades. As many readers will know, a considerable portion of the work done by the Polar Research Group at UIUC is publicly available on Cryosphere Today. Click for Larger Image Update: Steve Goddard has joined in.
Like this: Japan is one Step Ahead. Watts Up with Sea Ice? Science Debate Dot Org. November 18, 2010 Science Debate is the organization that speaks to what a lot of us have realized – that the forces of reason are under attack – uniquely and unexpectedly, in the world’s most technologically advanced nation. Acting on the maxim that we get more of what we celebrate, Science Debate is joining in celebrating the rollout of Rockstars of Science, pairing rockstars with science stars. I’d like to see more of this. Like this: Like Loading... The Climate Email Hack: One year out and Still Lame as Hell. Breakthrough: New York Times almost gets real on Sea Level Rise. Hollywood Does Climate Change. Climate Science 1958: The Bell Telephone Science Hour. Climate Change:The Biggest Impact is on the Poor. Resistance to Wind Development – Really? Not in My Back Yard…
This is your Father’s Climate Science: A Climate Crock Blast from the Past. Konrad Steffen – Accelerating Greenland Ice Loss. Still Waiting for Answers in the Gulf. James Cameron and the Governator. Dessler/Lindzen Debate. Climate Change and National Security. Katrina was just a thunderstorm. Konrad Steffen – Accelerating Greenland Ice Loss. The Koch Challenge. Denial Was a River in Africa. Climate Denial Crock of the Week/1998 Revisited. Climate Denial Crock of the Week/Mars Attacks Remixed. Amazing as it Seems, We still have to shoot down the “Medieval Warming” Crock. Astounding Interview with “Oregon Petition” Nutjob – Art Robinson.
Massive Storm on YouTube + Zack Hemsey’s “Mind Heist” “CO2 is Plant Food” – New Paper Further Refutes Sixth Grade Science. Extinction: It’s not just for Polar Bears anymore. 32000 Scientists. WSJ: Windbaggers will have a tough time stopping Renewable Power. The “Temp Leads Carbon Crock” – UPDATED. Wind Energy Without Turbines – Is this the Model T of Wind?
Unwinding “Hide the Decline” The Deep Future: An Interview with Curt Stager. Trailer: The YERT Movie. Lethal Radiation now outside Plant Boundary – Multiple Containment Breaches confirmed. Birth of a Crock. More Neutron Damper needed – Japan Calls for more Boron at Plant. 2010 Sea Ice Update.