gdp's Comments

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:35:24 +0000

You're 'aware' that it was warmer then than now, but now aware of its name?

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:34:44 +0000

Wait, are you trying to suggest that because the climate system is complex and dynamical, it is somehow acausal and/or ineffable?

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:36:12 +0000

You are correct, the environment has been different in the past. I have already explained that "best thermostat setting" is a bad way to frame the issue. I don't understand why you keep bringing up the age of the earth. "the earth is old" doesn't imply "geophysics is an ineffable mystery"

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:33:23 +0000

Reread my response.

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:51:11 +0000

"CO2 is destroying our atmoshpere." Don't forget the oceans! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LJFTDHLQyk "the more CO2 there is, the better plants grow" This is an oversimplification. CO2 fertilization exists, but it's one of many competing factors. Here's a more in-depth discussion: http://topologicoceans.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/g... Also, a lot (most?) of photosynthesis takes place in the ocean, and is limited by iron availability, not CO2. Warmer oceans will reduce iron availability by increasing stratification of the water column.

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:44:46 +0000

I'd respond, but that would just make me a part of the conspiracy.

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:31:23 +0000

I think that's a false framing of the issue. The earth system is dynamic; there isn't one single best setting for the thermostat. The issue with current climate change is the rate at which it occurs - it's geologically abrupt. That's a problem, because there are strict upper limits to the speed of adaptation to the change. I explore this issue in the context of ecosystems and infrastructure in more detail here: http://topologicoceans.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/g...

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:20:03 +0000

I don't see how the age of the earth really effects things here. Are you suggesting that, because there may have been climatic events in the past, then current one might not be serious? Or that it might not be caused by people? Here's an example of some of the Deep Time proxy data that exists; this comes from ocean sediment cores: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:65_Myr_Climate_... I'm afraid I don't understand your second paragraph, could you elaborate? In particular, could you explain what you mean by 'proven'? And keep in mind - there's a lot more to climatology than modelling ;)

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:14:32 +0000

You seem upset. What's wrong?

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:59:27 +0000

How can we be sure that HIV causes AIDS? after all.... "It's a big universe, and there are factors that nobody has even considered. " For that matter, how can we be sure of anything? Let's wallow in epistemological nihilism some more; it's certainly politically and economically convenient...

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:49:03 +0000

Do you have evidence for that claim? It's a pretty serious accusation. In this case, the first thing to do would be to download the data Easterling & Wehrner used, and try to replicate their analysis. Have you done that?

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:47:42 +0000

"So the data we have is over a very tiny portion of the the organism which is being studied. " The instrumental data, perhaps. There are proxy records covering much more. Also, just because a system is complicated doesn't mean that it's acausal. If you understand the underlying physics, you can make at least general statements about it's behavior. I don't think your description of how GCMs are used is entirely correct. (where are you getting your 80% figure?) Your claims about their accuracy are also off. Not only do GCMs perform well at describing global temperature (I've given one example above), they can be good at forecasting as well: http://topologicoceans.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/c...

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:41:01 +0000

also, you know that AGW was predicted long before GCMs? And that it has been observed empirically, right?

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:40:03 +0000

Are you sure you understand how global circulation models work?

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:37:59 +0000

Anarchy, common use: Pandemonium. Example: "The cops attacked the protesters, ran over the sound system with their car, and pepper-sprayed a 15 year old. It was pure anarchy!" Anarchy, technical use: Lacking in imposed power structure, ie, without hierarchy. Example: "I went to a vegan potluck with the anarchists. Everyone ate brownies and we played party games." For more detail, check out Anarcopedia, le Guinn's writing, or your local zine collector.,

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:33:50 +0000

The preface was written in desktop publishing software which did not have ambient spellcheck. But hey, at least I didn't mangle a citation so that it pointed to different dataset, in front of congress, amirite? (PS: No one cares. http://achewood.com/index.php?date=07102002 )

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 06:16:54 +0000

You are confusing the common and technical uses of the word anarchy.

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 06:04:13 +0000

Did you just accuse Geophysical Research Letters of 'making shit up'? Seriously?

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 06:02:57 +0000

Translation: "My mind's made up, don't confuse me with the facts! Especially not from that know it all peer-reviewed literature!"

The Powers That Be : Noted Climatologist Asks 'Fellow Republicans': Think Climate Change is Real Now?

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 05:53:01 +0000

Anarchist, dear.