Climate Lynx

 My last two columns have focused on two of the largest independent science organizations, the National Academies of Science, (NAS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, (AAAS).   These organizations along with the American Meteorological Society, (AMS) are considered the "Big Three" and are independent of the US Government.   These organizations and their members warn us global warming is real, the result of too much greenhouse gas in our atmosphere, and caused primarily from burning fossil fuels. Increasingly, they warn us we must accelerate our efforts to end carbon pollution.  These three reputable organizations are where you need to go for information on climate change to avoid all the misinformation which is rampant everywhere.     There are also many great governmental science organizations you can rely on for factual scientific information about climate change and it’s causes. These include NOAA, the National Oceanic and A...

  The American Association for the Advancement of Science was founded in 1848 and has served the United States Scientific Community for 176 years. It is the largest general science organization in the world.  When I started my search for reputable science organizations to build knowledge on climate change, the AAAS seemed a wise place to start. It was only a short time before I discovered the scientific consensus. Here is the 2009 letter from the AAAS to the United States Senate on climate change: October 21, 2009. American Association for the Advancement of Science* "As you consider climate change legislation, we, as leaders of scientific organizations, write to state the consensus scientific view. Observations worldwide make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research demonstrates that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver. These conclusions are based on multiple independent lines of evidence, an...

There is a term called "due diligence." It means if a person signs a contract or makes a statement, they have done adequate research.  I did this ten years ago before getting involved in the climate fray.    The first task for a science layman like me was to decide who the reputable sources of climate science information are. I did explore some international science organizations. Their positions on global warming/climate change were the same as their American counterparts. Of the many American organizations, here are what I consider the Big Three: The American Meteorological Society (AMS), the National Academies of Science (NAS), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).    There are, in this newspaper, contributors who feel they know better than the leading science organizations. Have these people done their "Due Diligence"? If not, their opinion is liable to be (dis) or misinformation colored by tribal leanings.  ...

 "Scientists everywhere scored a major victory on Thursday…" was one headline. "Famed climate scientist wins million-dollar verdict against right-wing bloggers," said another. "Embattled Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins 1 Million in Defamation Lawsuit." was the title of the Scientific American Article. Michael Mann is one of the world's most honored and respected climate scientists. He and his team are the ones who, back in 1999, did the detailed analysis of earth systems to calculate and graph the earth's warming. The graph they created looks like a hockey stick lying on the ground with its blade sticking up, graphically depicting our rapidly warming world. In the legitimate science world, all work is respectfully challenged. It is called peer review. To confirm Dr Mann's accuracy, prove him wrong, or add more detail to his analysis, scientists have completed at least two dozen large-scale reconstructions. All reconstructions have prove...

2023 Tops the Charts By Mark Peterson It’s late December. We’re hiking on bare trails, bicycling with a light windbreaker, and the skis, snowmobile and ice-fishing gear are still in storage. Santa had no snow for his sleigh. Is this Christmas in the Carolina’s? No. I’m describing northern Wisconsin as last year came to an end. The numbers are now in, and they are grim. Last year was the hottest year the planet endured since records began in 1850. Day by day, global temperatures didn’t just break records, they surpassed the previous hottest year of 2016 by a wide margin. When scientists examine geologic evidence, 2023 may also be among the warmest in at least 100,000 years. Let that sink in – 100,000 years. And it appears to be accelerating. The 10 warmest years on record have all been since 2010. The economic and personal consequences were devastating. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that in 2023 there were 28 weather and climate dis...