The International Pacific Research Center is hosting yet another global climate change gathering, beginning this morning at the East West Center’s Jefferson Hall. While this is an invitational meeting (meaning there is a galaxy of these scientists in attendance from the world over), IPRC has opened it up to campus faculty and students (and anyone interested, for there is no one checking name tag badges—just walk in and find any seat you want—plus, there is a generous buffet of breakfast foods, coffee and tea, also free).
The format is one where a bunch of authors gives three minute talks at the beginning, then, after an hour or so, these presenters move to their poster located at the back of the room so small groups of interested participants can personally interact. The next session begins at 2PM this afternoon, and continues each morning (through Friday) at 9AM. A particularly useful presentation is the final one from noon to 1PM on Friday, when John Houghton, Susan Solomon and Thomas Stocker talk about IPCC Assessments of the Physical Climate System: A View from the Past to the Future.
Several observations:
1. The presenters are very international, and, as my hearing is beginning to go, I had difficulty truly understanding what was being said, although it is more probable that the arcane graphs and terms were the greater hurdle.
The format is one where a bunch of authors gives three minute talks at the beginning, then, after an hour or so, these presenters move to their poster located at the back of the room so small groups of interested participants can personally interact. The next session begins at 2PM this afternoon, and continues each morning (through Friday) at 9AM. A particularly useful presentation is the final one from noon to 1PM on Friday, when John Houghton, Susan Solomon and Thomas Stocker talk about IPCC Assessments of the Physical Climate System: A View from the Past to the Future.
Several observations:
1. The presenters are very international, and, as my hearing is beginning to go, I had difficulty truly understanding what was being said, although it is more probable that the arcane graphs and terms were the greater hurdle.
.
2. It is ironic that these climate change scientists have probably the worst carbon footprint of any profession.
2. It is ironic that these climate change scientists have probably the worst carbon footprint of any profession.
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3. Our sea level is continuing to rise at about 3 mm/year, or, if this pace is maintained, that would be about a foot increase a century from now.
3. Our sea level is continuing to rise at about 3 mm/year, or, if this pace is maintained, that would be about a foot increase a century from now.
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4. The permafrost is melting, sea ice over the North Pole is contracting at record rates and glaciers are shrinking, everything you already know, but still important in view of recent counterarguments that the globe has cooled since 2000.
4. The permafrost is melting, sea ice over the North Pole is contracting at record rates and glaciers are shrinking, everything you already know, but still important in view of recent counterarguments that the globe has cooled since 2000.
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5. The available data suggest that there is a 90% probability that global climate warming is real,
5. The available data suggest that there is a 90% probability that global climate warming is real,
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6. 90% of greenhouse gas induced heat escape into space. Of the 10% captured, 90% is in the ocean, and, interestingly enough, one third of that energy is in the deeper ocean. This means that the effect on marine methane hydrates at the sea bottom, now in dynamic equilibrium, could possibly be affected by serious climate warming. The Venus Syndrome?
6. 90% of greenhouse gas induced heat escape into space. Of the 10% captured, 90% is in the ocean, and, interestingly enough, one third of that energy is in the deeper ocean. This means that the effect on marine methane hydrates at the sea bottom, now in dynamic equilibrium, could possibly be affected by serious climate warming. The Venus Syndrome?
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7. Susan Solomon gave me a pin of Planet Earth with the statement: Warming is Unequivocal. She had just presented a detailed analysis of why “unequivocal” was adopted by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the group with Al Gore receiving the Nobel Peace Prize), essentially, because the dictionary apparently prevailed. I wanted to tell her that “unequivocal” might be accurately descriptive of reality, but a poor choice because, aside from academics like her, the masses don’t know what that word means. But I had already reached the limit of her patience with my inquisition about those 90% probability issues above, so I did not have the heart to bring this up.
7. Susan Solomon gave me a pin of Planet Earth with the statement: Warming is Unequivocal. She had just presented a detailed analysis of why “unequivocal” was adopted by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the group with Al Gore receiving the Nobel Peace Prize), essentially, because the dictionary apparently prevailed. I wanted to tell her that “unequivocal” might be accurately descriptive of reality, but a poor choice because, aside from academics like her, the masses don’t know what that word means. But I had already reached the limit of her patience with my inquisition about those 90% probability issues above, so I did not have the heart to bring this up.
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Well, was this akin to preaching to the choir? Mostly, but you can make your own assessment if you have any interest in the subject by participating. Tomorrow, for example, there is a poster on “Is the Climate Warming or Cooling?” and on Wednesday is one on the significance of methane.
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The Dow Jones Industrials experienced a rollercoaster ride today, opening at plus 89, dropping to minus 80, jumping to plus 80, and ending minus 37 at 6726. World markets also all declined. Oil rose $1.42/barrel to $41.65 and gold went up $11/toz to $928.
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Well, was this akin to preaching to the choir? Mostly, but you can make your own assessment if you have any interest in the subject by participating. Tomorrow, for example, there is a poster on “Is the Climate Warming or Cooling?” and on Wednesday is one on the significance of methane.
-
The Dow Jones Industrials experienced a rollercoaster ride today, opening at plus 89, dropping to minus 80, jumping to plus 80, and ending minus 37 at 6726. World markets also all declined. Oil rose $1.42/barrel to $41.65 and gold went up $11/toz to $928.
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