When the APS simply published a long letter from Lord Monckton, a well known skeptic about AGW, they went so far as to publish a disclaimer that this was not the APS viewpoint - something they have never done about really "out there" quantum physics. (It's at the top of article in that link) As Dr. Giaever says; it's acceptable to talk about the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum theory, which implies that for every decision we make, a parallel universe pops into existence, but it's not acceptable to question computer models about future climates that claim accuracy to even one decimal place?Things look like they might just be changing. The self-correcting tendencies of real science appear to be emerging. Thanks to a link from Sense of Events, I found this article from an Australian journal called Quadrant: Finally, Some Real Climate Science. It opens by saying the APS rules require them to recheck these sorts of support every five years, to make sure they're keeping up with science. In a bold and completely honest move, they staffed the committee doing the review with three very well regarded "climate skeptics", Richard Lindzen of MIT, Judith Curry of Georgia Tech and John Christy of UAH (Alabama Huntsville). The other three are prominent members of the IPCC establishment: IPCC lead author and modeler William Collins, atmospheric physicist Isaac Held, and Ben Santer. The Quadrant article lists some of the questions that they are asking. This is a real breath of fresh air; real science is trying to emerge here. As always, I'll include some samples and say you should go read:
While the Global Mean Surface Temperature (GMST) rose strongly from 1980-98, it has shown no significant rise for the past 15 years…[The APS notes that neither the 4th nor 5th IPCC report modeling suggested any stasis would occur, and then asks] …Out of the gate, they start at one of the major holes in the situation, indeed, the whole crux of the argument: the agreement between the models and reality is abysmal.
To what would you attribute the stasis?
If non-anthropogenic influences are strong enough to counteract the expected effects of increased CO2, why wouldn’t they be strong enough to sometimes enhance warming trends, and in so doing lead to an over-estimate of CO2 influence?
What are the implications of this stasis for confidence in the models and their projections?
Some have suggested that the ‘missing heat’ is going into the deep ocean…This is just pure beauty from where I sit. Over and over, the APS panel asks "You say xyz is going on. How do you know? What are your measurement uncertainties? Don't just tell me it's something else, show me the data or calculations that back that up!
Are deep ocean observations sufficient in coverage and precision to bear on this hypothesis quantitatively?
Why would the heat sequestration have ‘turned on’ at the turn of this century?
What could make it ‘turn off’ and when might that occur?
Maybe I'm a victim of premature congratulations, but this is sounding more like physicists than anything I've heard out of the APS in at least a decade. We obviously don't know what they'll conclude, but they seem to be asking the right questions, and if you don't ask the right questions, you'll never get the right answers.
As a fellow engineer who has to defend his measurements, I agree that this is indeed good news to see scientists asking for quantitative data, rather than just accepting yet another made up hypothesis about "the pause".
ReplyDeleteMaybe next physicists can look askance at the "just-so stories" in biology.
Love your blog, and read it every time you update.
The "models" are all built with the ASSUMPTION that climate is sensitive to CO2, in a directly proportional manner. There is no attempt to test that assumption, just tweak the sensitivity factor.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much to add to this apparent good news in terms of physics, but I would like to share my experiences as a federal contractor performing primary biologic research.
ReplyDeleteWe produced studies regarding the health of marine and terrestrial ecosystems for areas managed by the Navy.
Rarely would a study be submitted that did not warn of climate change-related *potential* damage in the future. Although it featured heavily in the reports, never was any evidence of said change shown.
Climate change hysteria became the go to rationale for arguing for more contracts. It rubbed me the wrong way.
I once was reviewing a coral study for one of the primary researchers, and upon seeing that old chestnut again said, "You're going to put that in there again?" He looked at me indignantly. I replied, "We'll, milk it while you can. Because we both know it's bs." Silence.....
Anon 0306AM - thanks for the that. I've heard similar stories around.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the money and control, when all is said and done. Someone said, "Climate science didn't suddenly get sexy in the mid 1990s and attract lots of students. It's the money being thrown at anyone who signs up".