Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
These materials produced by the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (or NCEP, an initiative of the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation) might be useful. These multi-component teaching resources for teachers and trainers of conservation professionals - or modules - are available free-of-charge on NCEP's website: http://ncep.amnh.org. Note that in order to download any of the teaching materials you would need to register first (also free of charge). - The Global Carbon Cycle and Climate Change directly addresses your area of interest, discussing past variations in atmospheric carbon and modern human perturbations of the carbon cycle from fossil fuel use to land use changes. - Exploring the Colorado River Basin: An Interactive Water Management Exercise, a simulation-based Exercise newly developed by NCEP, has a Climate Change Unit (see http://ncep.amnh.org/colorado_simulation/climate_change/index.html). Students can explore how changes in temperature and precipitation will change the amount of water that is available for water users and the environment. - NCEP is also planning to release a new module titled Observed Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity in the next three months. - Finally, while not focused on the issued of climate change, several other modules touch upon the topic and could also be useful, including, for example, Threats to Biodiversity: An Overview. NCEP modules all include a Synthesis document bringing together key background information and references for a topic; an easily modified visual Presentation with notes and discussion questions; and a practical Exercise for laboratory or field use. Additionally, interdisciplinary Case Studies highlight key concepts and questions that span the topics of more than one module. Note that NCEP materials are mainly geared towards the undergraduate level, so you may find it necessary to adapt the materials for your specific needs (all files are in Word or PowerPoint format and are easily modifiable). Please feel free to peruse the website for any additional resources that you may find useful. Best, -- Eleanor J. Sterling Director Center for Biodiversity and Conservation American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY 10024
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Warren and forum, Facts and data should rule not abuse of the precautionary principle. Far to often wildlife and environmental extremists (even those in academia or from academia) have abused the precautionary principle. An example would be the use of taking the worse case scenario say for a turtle species age to sexual maturity. By using the oldest age known rather then the average or the most common to push an agenda. This was done in the FL turtle banning agenda by a well known turtle biologist. Take for instance the management of herpetofauna in TX, rather then enacting fair regulations and sustainable harvest management approaches, activities were banned causing private herpers to have to liquidate collections that have taken decades to build. And destroying businesses and breeding programs that contribute to herp conservation through captive propagation of herp species. The precautionary principle is used by agenda pushing academics to scare regulatory biologists (who come from academia) because many of the these experts are anti-wild collection and anti-commercialization. They are preservationists not conservationists. And they look at themselves as animal advocates. They are also exempt, as are zoos and museums, from complying to the regulations so it doesn't affect them. Further many use the precautionary principle and the banning agenda to secure grant funding for continued research. An example of this would be the Burmese python problem in the Everglades and the climate model paper. The more famous a researcher becomes the more grant money they get, the bigger labs they have and the higher fees they can charge for consultations and projects. An example of that would be a well known conservation biologist in FL. I have the facts. I just don't want to throw out names because that wouldn't be appropriate. I say stick to facts and data and not abuse the precautionary principle. Mike Welker El Paso, TX - Original Message - From: Warren W. Aney To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 6:07 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data In the face of uncertainty with potential consequences of great magnitude, the precautionary approach should rule. Under this approach it is safer and more prudent to take effective action to counter climate change than it is to take no action and risk its effects. The costs of taking action are high, but there are also benefits (cleaner air and healthier oceans, for example). The costs of not taking action are potentially catastrophic. Our ancestors will enjoy an improved world and thank us for taking action even if they determine we were wrong. Our surviving ancestors will condemn us if we took no action and this proved to be wrong. I know, this is rhetoric and not science, but I have frequently had to deal with decision making in the face of scientific uncertainty and this is the approach I finally learned to apply or recommend. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, OR 97223 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Hal Caswell Sent: Sunday, 20 March, 2011 15:12 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Wayne, Whether it's a trick question or not depends, of course, on the details. However, if you really want information about the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic causes of climate change you could not do better than to start with the 4th IPCC report. This is freely available to anyone with internet access at http://www.ipcc.ch/ It represents the output of the largest scientific collaboration in history. Each volume is prefaced by a summary for policy-makers which is purposely designed to be accessible to non-specialists. Most policy-makers are not, after all, scientists. As you know, one of the essential aspects of any scientific endeavor, especially one with serious policy implications, is uncertainty. Another advantage of the IPCC reports is that they have developed the most explicit quantification of uncertainty for such a large body of scientific work that has ever been attempted. The disadvantage of that approach is that they tend to be slanted towards underestimating effects rather than overestimating them. So, read it as a conservative assessment. Hal Caswell On Mar 20, 2011, at 8:20 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote: James and Ecolog: No, it's not a trick question, it's an honest plea for better, more convincing information about quantification of the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic causes of climate change. The public at large has an even tougher time sorting out the scientific sheep from the goats, on this and other issues in science. It may be a tough question, but there's nothing tricky about it. The plenitude
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Honorable Forum: I kinda get the impression that some disagreement persists among scientists and scholars, not about whether or not climate change is a fact, not whether or not some pretty radical changes have occurred and are occurring, but, to put it extremely, whether or not the anthropogenic factor is alone, or largely, responsible for the 200 year-old hockey stick (unfortunate metaphor?). Looking back over, say, the last few million years (part 2 of my question implies), have their been other hockey sticks with similar enough blades to be useful for comparison? This is still not to imply that the present blade is largely made up of anthropogenic factors, only that a comparison with similar sticks in the history of the earth might provide some insight on the potential consequences of our persistent generation of extra CO2 that is unmitigated by some (unknown by me) altered carbon sequestration capability of the earth's photosynthetic organisms (kindly correct me if this assumption is in error, inadequate as a first cut on the general position of this issue if not an important principle underlying a reasonable process by which the question can be answered--and to what extent it is necessarily equivocal or not perfect, but good enough and precisely/scientifically enough why). What we have here is a question about how one proceeds from the generality to the specific, or getting a handle on the relationship of the data to the conclusion. I submit that we understand what the generalizations are, if not perfectly well, at least adequately for purposes of getting somewhere (more clearly rather than more muddily) with that question. I have no interest in fomenting an intellectual see-saw, and certainly not any sandbox swapping of the order of my data can lick your data. I'd like to see, for example, Lawrence and Lewis compare notes and give the undecided but not denying an authoritative demonstration of the two extremes of scholarly consideration of this issue. Perhaps that will separate the debunked claims from the claims that claim to refute the debunked claims, leading to, if not a settlement of the issue at the academic level, at least a clear exposition of the process/thinking that led to such diverse conclusions. Given the real and considerable stakes at stake, it would seem that such an exercise would have high priority and be a considerable gift to the less gifted among us. WT PS: I'd like to know if my diesel-powered field vehicle is doing its part to avert a catastrophic global climate catastrophe by filling the stratosphere with particulates that will reduce insolation or whether it would be equally insolent to acquire a petrol-fueled truck (no electrical ones capable of carrying all my junk being not yet available). - Original Message - From: David M. Lawrence d...@fuzzo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 5:58 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Thanks for offering repeatedly debunked claims here. It helps if your data is up-to-date. The physicist who resigned the APS should have boned up on his atmospheric physics before resigning. The physics underpinning anthropogenic climate change is nearly 200 years old -- and it is as well proven as the fact that gravity will pull you toward the ground surface if you walk off the roof of a five-story building. That physics works quite well if anyone bothered to look at atmospheres of other planets, and if anyone tried to figure out what Earth's temperature would be without the natural greenhouse effect. Only a fool would expect greenhouse warming to suddenly stop working because we're changing chemical concentrations in the atmosphere. Dave On 3/20/2011 6:02 PM, Paul Cherubini wrote: Wayne Tyson wrote: The problem is credibility of good science in the eyes and minds of the public. The public is used to hearing rather wildly conflicting information about climate change from the scientific community. In 1974 some claimed that global cooling was a looming problem: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,944914,00.html More recently there have been accusations of fraud: On Oct. 6, 2010 Harold Lewis, emeritus professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara wrote this: http://calderup.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/hal-lewis-quits-aps/ For reasons that will soon become clear my former pride at being an APS Fellow [American Physical Society] all these years has been turned into shame, and I am forced, with no pleasure at all, to offer you my resignation from the Society. It is of course, the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS before it like a rogue wave. It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist. Anyone who has the faintest doubt that this is so should force
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Warren and Honorable Forum: As anyone knows who might remember (no reason they should, hence this reminder) my past postings, I am a big fan of the Precautionary Principle. As long as we get cleaner air and healthier oceans (but not switchgrass monocultures--remember how rubber rabbitbush was going to solve all our rubber problems and eliminate our dependence upon foreign sources and how jojoba plantations were going to make us all rich who could buy a piece of cheap, worthless, undeveloped desert and reduce our dependence upon foreign oil?), and that the actions taken do not themselves exacerbate other problems, I'm all for it. If we're wrong, however, I'm not entirely comfortable that the surviving remnants of our [descendents] will not condemn us for not basing expensive and destructive public policies and actions upon the best possible scientific data, analysis, and conclusions. I do agree with Warren in principle, with this caveat, but I'm not at all sure that the cure will either be effective at all (especially given the scale involved). It may be that the axe will have to fall and the survivors of our profligacy, if any, will have to eke out a living on a greatly impoverished earth. WT (Warren, we gotta have another beer sometime.) - Original Message - From: Warren W. Aney a...@coho.net To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 4:07 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data In the face of uncertainty with potential consequences of great magnitude, the precautionary approach should rule. Under this approach it is safer and more prudent to take effective action to counter climate change than it is to take no action and risk its effects. The costs of taking action are high, but there are also benefits (cleaner air and healthier oceans, for example). The costs of not taking action are potentially catastrophic. Our ancestors will enjoy an improved world and thank us for taking action even if they determine we were wrong. Our surviving ancestors will condemn us if we took no action and this proved to be wrong. I know, this is rhetoric and not science, but I have frequently had to deal with decision making in the face of scientific uncertainty and this is the approach I finally learned to apply or recommend. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, OR 97223 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Hal Caswell Sent: Sunday, 20 March, 2011 15:12 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Wayne, Whether it's a trick question or not depends, of course, on the details. However, if you really want information about the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic causes of climate change you could not do better than to start with the 4th IPCC report. This is freely available to anyone with internet access at http://www.ipcc.ch/ It represents the output of the largest scientific collaboration in history. Each volume is prefaced by a summary for policy-makers which is purposely designed to be accessible to non-specialists. Most policy-makers are not, after all, scientists. As you know, one of the essential aspects of any scientific endeavor, especially one with serious policy implications, is uncertainty. Another advantage of the IPCC reports is that they have developed the most explicit quantification of uncertainty for such a large body of scientific work that has ever been attempted. The disadvantage of that approach is that they tend to be slanted towards underestimating effects rather than overestimating them. So, read it as a conservative assessment. Hal Caswell On Mar 20, 2011, at 8:20 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote: James and Ecolog: No, it's not a trick question, it's an honest plea for better, more convincing information about quantification of the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic causes of climate change. The public at large has an even tougher time sorting out the scientific sheep from the goats, on this and other issues in science. It may be a tough question, but there's nothing tricky about it. The plenitude of data is the problem, not the solution. The problem is credibility of good science in the eyes and minds of the public. Scientists tend to come off as elitist, patronizing snobs who decry the dumbing-down of we, the unwashed (if not unclean) through the only media to which we have access, e.g., TV and the Internet. Scientists sit on their hands and let these media get by with incredible distortions of science. I have tried to raise these issues to the scientific community, only to hear a deafening silence, or at best, diversionary mumbling about how we should accept scientific conclusions uncritically. The minute we ask critical questions (some say this is the root of science), we get condescension and the doors to further enquiry are slammed shut in our faces. With all due respect
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Mike, I appreciate your situation, but the fact is that for every person like you there are many others who have little to no science background, routinely ship and receive animals and plants illegally, and decimate vulnerable populations of organisms, among other things as I am sure you are aware. I don't think it is fair to blame the science community for these problems. Again, I am sorry for any impact to your legitimate business, but surely you can understand these issues and see how they arise. Chris * Dr. Christopher Taylor Professor, Aquatic Ecology Department of Natural Resources Management Texas Tech University Box 42125 Lubbock, TX 79049 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael E. Welker Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 10:17 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Warren and forum, Facts and data should rule not abuse of the precautionary principle. Far to often wildlife and environmental extremists (even those in academia or from academia) have abused the precautionary principle. An example would be the use of taking the worse case scenario say for a turtle species age to sexual maturity. By using the oldest age known rather then the average or the most common to push an agenda. This was done in the FL turtle banning agenda by a well known turtle biologist. Take for instance the management of herpetofauna in TX, rather then enacting fair regulations and sustainable harvest management approaches, activities were banned causing private herpers to have to liquidate collections that have taken decades to build. And destroying businesses and breeding programs that contribute to herp conservation through captive propagation of herp species. The precautionary principle is used by agenda pushing academics to scare regulatory biologists (who come from academia! ) because many of the these experts are anti-wild collection and anti-commercialization. They are preservationists not conservationists. And they look at themselves as animal advocates. They are also exempt, as are zoos and museums, from complying to the regulations so it doesn't affect them. Further many use the precautionary principle and the banning agenda to secure grant funding for continued research. An example of this would be the Burmese python problem in the Everglades and the climate model paper. The more famous a researcher becomes the more grant money they get, the bigger labs they have and the higher fees they can charge for consultations and projects. An example of that would be a well known conservation biologist in FL. I have the facts. I just don't want to throw out names because that wouldn't be appropriate. I say stick to facts and data and not abuse the precautionary principle. Mike Welker El Paso, TX - Original Message - From: Warren W. Aney To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 6:07 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data In the face of uncertainty with potential consequences of great magnitude, the precautionary approach should rule. Under this approach it is safer and more prudent to take effective action to counter climate change than it is to take no action and risk its effects. The costs of taking action are high, but there are also benefits (cleaner air and healthier oceans, for example). The costs of not taking action are potentially catastrophic. Our ancestors will enjoy an improved world and thank us for taking action even if they determine we were wrong. Our surviving ancestors will condemn us if we took no action and this proved to be wrong. I know, this is rhetoric and not science, but I have frequently had to deal with decision making in the face of scientific uncertainty and this is the approach I finally learned to apply or recommend. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, OR 97223 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Hal Caswell Sent: Sunday, 20 March, 2011 15:12 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Wayne, Whether it's a trick question or not depends, of course, on the details. However, if you really want information about the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic causes of climate change you could not do better than to start with the 4th IPCC report. This is freely available to anyone with internet access at http://www.ipcc.ch/ It represents the output of the largest scientific collaboration in history. Each volume is prefaced by a summary for policy-makers which is purposely designed to be accessible to non-specialists. Most policy-makers are not, after all, scientists. As you know, one of the essential aspects of any scientific
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Hello Dr. Taylor, You can not penalize the entire private herp community because of a few bad apples. That is wrong and unfair. I do blame the scientific community for misuse or abuse of the precautionary principle and pushing of the animal rights banning agenda (especially as it relates to herps). Further, for species of concern, bag limits and sustainable harvest principles and other scientifically established management methods can be used to manage harvest. And the private herp community pays to harvest and will pay to harvest so to just ban harvest is robbing herps of much needed dollars. And captive propagation is conservation (locality breeders more so then others); this relieves tax payers for the cost of conserving these species. Right now most are getting virtually no conservation anyway. Actually in most cases the hobbyists are just banned and the real threats of habitat destruction are allowed to continue full steam ahead = protection into extinction. The captive population is a safety net. Again, we are tired of being penalized because of a few bad apples. Most collectors and breeders do not over harvest and do all the bad things you suggest. If we had clearly written legal pathways to conduct our businesses and hobbies then there would be less people getting in trouble. Also over-protecting some species causes some folks to bend or break the rules. I don't condone that but I understand it. If regulatory agencies and their law enforcement divisions would work with the private sector and treat them with respect and value instead of trying to bust people and ban them, things would be a lot better and it would benefit herps. Managing herp harvest properly and fairly as I suggest would create herp jobs. There are just way to many win/wins with my argument - not to mention Constitutional rights and fairness. And finally, it makes researchers and scientists look bad when they stretch the truth for their agenda. And when they skew statistics and when they err on the side caution to such an extent to reveal their true beliefs of no harvest or no commercialization; then they lose creditability. Not to mention that grant money acquisition is becoming harder and harder to get. Thus they use much of what I say above to make the problem seem worse then it is to secure this grant money and carve out a niche for themselves. We will not be your (not you necessarily) scapegoat. We may lose because academics become the regulatory biologists and your agenda mirrors animal rights groups in this regard and they have all the money but it plain and simply isn't right or scientifically sound in today's reality. Mike Welker El Paso, TX - Original Message - From: Taylor, Cm To: Michael E. Welker ; ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 1:29 PM Subject: RE: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Mike, I appreciate your situation, but the fact is that for every person like you there are many others who have little to no science background, routinely ship and receive animals and plants illegally, and decimate vulnerable populations of organisms, among other things as I am sure you are aware. I don't think it is fair to blame the science community for these problems. Again, I am sorry for any impact to your legitimate business, but surely you can understand these issues and see how they arise. Chris * Dr. Christopher Taylor Professor, Aquatic Ecology Department of Natural Resources Management Texas Tech University Box 42125 Lubbock, TX 79049 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael E. Welker Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 10:17 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Warren and forum, Facts and data should rule not abuse of the precautionary principle. Far to often wildlife and environmental extremists (even those in academia or from academia) have abused the precautionary principle. An example would be the use of taking the worse case scenario say for a turtle species age to sexual maturity. By using the oldest age known rather then the average or the most common to push an agenda. This was done in the FL turtle banning agenda by a well known turtle biologist. Take for instance the management of herpetofauna in TX, rather then enacting fair regulations and sustainable harvest management approaches, activities were banned causing private herpers to have to liquidate collections that have taken decades to build. And destroying businesses and breeding programs that contribute to herp conservation through captive propagation of herp species. The precautionary principle is used by agenda pushing academics to scare regulatory biologists (who come from academia) because many of the these experts are anti-wild collection and anti
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Wayne, isn't somewhat of a trick question? I mean, in science, we have a tough time saying that anything except the trivial is unequivocal. Also, is it even theoretically possible to unequivocally demonstrate a difference in climate due to natural or to human causes? Especially when they are operating simultaneously. And, as for prediction, I have yet to see models that based on the past do well at predicting the present, in both, natural and human dominated systems. However, there are plenty of data with plants and animals showing trends that are consistent with climate change, and also, a considerable amount of good logic supports anthropogenic climate change. What more could a realistic person want? Cheers, Jim On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 18:42, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Hi all, Can anyone tell me or direct me to a source that can tell me unequivocally and quantitatively what the direct and indirect effects of human influence are and are projected to be compared to the background or natural influences with respect to global temperature changes and predicted states? Is there any information on the conditions of life in the past which match those states and their probable causes? WT - Original Message - From: Sudhir Raj Shrestha sudhir_...@yahoo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:35 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Hi Steve, In addition to Ben's comprehensive list, I will suggest you to look at NOAA's new (still prototype, we are working on it) climate portal. www.climate.gov Thanks, Sudhir Shrestha --- On Tue, 3/15/11, Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu wrote: From: Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 6:17 PM Steve, Contrary to adopting the approach of utilizing dumbed-down on-line climate tutorials, I find that the easiest way to initially engage interested parties is to refer them to summaries for decision makers and to content-rich web sites. Here you will often find scientific or policy organizations' bottom line ref. findings, data and methods. Consider, perhaps, some climate findings, reports and resources from: - a summary of global environment, including climate: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/GEO4%20SDM_launch.pdf (GEO5 will soon be out and it is my personal expectation that climate change will be cast in a slightly different light) - http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#1 and http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm - Geenhouse gas, etc. data: http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3800.php - CCSP provides an umbrella for US data data on climate change: http://www.climatescience.gov/default.php (e.g. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-2/final-report/default..htm ) - CIESIN and SEDAC provide a wealth of material, particular on the human dimensions of climate change e.g. the Geographic Distribution of Climate Change Vulnerability. A review of their site is will definitely stimulate discussion: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/index.html Some selected readings from the IPCC4 report, along with figures, etc. should be a good place to start. There are always developments in the realm of climate science that are worth consideration (for example, modeling the influence of grassroots climate change mitigation efforts). A review of the some of the contemporary articles in Nature, Science, New Scientist (their ask a climate scientist blog is really cool: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/12/ask-a-climate-scientist.html) etc. will likely provide material for a significantly enriched discussion. You are correct to be wary of data or findings from organizations which lack scientific objectivity. ***I am sure other people on the list will be able to add to the suggested sites above. Cheers, --Ben White Original message Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:01:40 -0400 From: Steven Roes steven.roe...@houghton.edu Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Hi All, I'm preparing to teach few days on climate change to my high school living environment students. We are nearing the conclusion of our ecology unit, and they've been soaking up the material like sponges--I've been incredibly happy to see thier progress as an entire group. I'm working on researching for these few days climate change, and I'm in need of trustworthy data with some discussion that, ideally, my students can understand. If necessary, I can work to translate any discussion to more appropriate language. Could any of you point me in the direction of where to find non-biased information on the issue of climate change and rising CO2 levels that is worthy of presenting? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
rather than tear it down? WT PS: Thanks so much to those of you who have responded with solid references and well-thought-out responses, including James. - Original Message - From: James J. Roper To: Wayne Tyson Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 6:42 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Wayne, isn't somewhat of a trick question? I mean, in science, we have a tough time saying that anything except the trivial is unequivocal. Also, is it even theoretically possible to unequivocally demonstrate a difference in climate due to natural or to human causes? Especially when they are operating simultaneously. And, as for prediction, I have yet to see models that based on the past do well at predicting the present, in both, natural and human dominated systems. However, there are plenty of data with plants and animals showing trends that are consistent with climate change, and also, a considerable amount of good logic supports anthropogenic climate change. What more could a realistic person want? Cheers, Jim On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 18:42, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Hi all, Can anyone tell me or direct me to a source that can tell me unequivocally and quantitatively what the direct and indirect effects of human influence are and are projected to be compared to the background or natural influences with respect to global temperature changes and predicted states? Is there any information on the conditions of life in the past which match those states and their probable causes? WT - Original Message - From: Sudhir Raj Shrestha sudhir_...@yahoo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:35 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Hi Steve, In addition to Ben's comprehensive list, I will suggest you to look at NOAA's new (still prototype, we are working on it) climate portal. www.climate.gov Thanks, Sudhir Shrestha --- On Tue, 3/15/11, Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu wrote: From: Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 6:17 PM Steve, Contrary to adopting the approach of utilizing dumbed-down on-line climate tutorials, I find that the easiest way to initially engage interested parties is to refer them to summaries for decision makers and to content-rich web sites. Here you will often find scientific or policy organizations' bottom line ref. findings, data and methods. Consider, perhaps, some climate findings, reports and resources from: - a summary of global environment, including climate: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/GEO4%20SDM_launch.pdf (GEO5 will soon be out and it is my personal expectation that climate change will be cast in a slightly different light) - http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#1 and http://www.ipcc..ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm - Geenhouse gas, etc. data: http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3800.php - CCSP provides an umbrella for US data data on climate change: http://www.climatescience.gov/default.php (e.g. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-2/final-report/default..htm) - CIESIN and SEDAC provide a wealth of material, particular on the human dimensions of climate change e.g. the Geographic Distribution of Climate Change Vulnerability. A review of their site is will definitely stimulate discussion: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/index.html Some selected readings from the IPCC4 report, along with figures, etc. should be a good place to start. There are always developments in the realm of climate science that are worth consideration (for example, modeling the influence of grassroots climate change mitigation efforts). A review of the some of the contemporary articles in Nature, Science, New Scientist (their ask a climate scientist blog is really cool: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/12/ask-a-climate-scientist.html) etc. will likely provide material for a significantly enriched discussion. You are correct to be wary of data or findings from organizations which lack scientific objectivity. ***I am sure other people on the list will be able to add to the suggested sites above. Cheers, --Ben White Original message Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:01:40 -0400 From: Steven Roes steven.roe...@houghton.edu Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Hi All, I'm preparing to teach few days on climate change to my high school living environment students. We are nearing the conclusion of our ecology unit, and they've been soaking up the material like sponges--I've been
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
supports anthropogenic climate change, I do not agree with his statement (What more could a realistic person want?). A realistic (scientific?) person wants conclusions based on sound analysis supported by solid data (or as solid as possible, revealing the amount of slop or fudge at the outset). For the very reason Roper cites, absolutely firm conclusions without any envelope of uncertainty is ipso facto suspicious. That's where the questioning, not the denying, comes from. James' question is a reasonable one; I tried to avoid elaboration in my perhaps-too-brief initial post, but I was not trying to be tricky. I hope this helps to clarify what seems to me (for the moment) any doubts about any hidden agendas. I am not a climate-change denier, I fully understand that there is an anthropogenic effect on the climate--I just don't know whether the science to date over- or under-estimates that effect, and conversely, how much other factors influence potential outcomes. follow-up questions: What do we need to know that we don't know? Or do we know everything we need to know? What are the solutions? What are the effects of those solutions on ecosystems? How can scientists increase public confidence rather than tear it down? WT PS: Thanks so much to those of you who have responded with solid references and well-thought-out responses, including James. - Original Message - From: James J. Roper To: Wayne Tyson Cc: ECOLOG-L@listserv.umd.edu Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 6:42 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Wayne, isn't somewhat of a trick question? I mean, in science, we have a tough time saying that anything except the trivial is unequivocal. Also, is it even theoretically possible to unequivocally demonstrate a difference in climate due to natural or to human causes? Especially when they are operating simultaneously. And, as for prediction, I have yet to see models that based on the past do well at predicting the present, in both, natural and human dominated systems. However, there are plenty of data with plants and animals showing trends that are consistent with climate change, and also, a considerable amount of good logic supports anthropogenic climate change. What more could a realistic person want? Cheers, Jim On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 18:42, Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net wrote: Hi all, Can anyone tell me or direct me to a source that can tell me unequivocally and quantitatively what the direct and indirect effects of human influence are and are projected to be compared to the background or natural influences with respect to global temperature changes and predicted states? Is there any information on the conditions of life in the past which match those states and their probable causes? WT - Original Message - From: Sudhir Raj Shrestha sudhir_...@yahoo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:35 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Hi Steve, In addition to Ben's comprehensive list, I will suggest you to look at NOAA's new (still prototype, we are working on it) climate portal. www.climate.gov Thanks, Sudhir Shrestha --- On Tue, 3/15/11, Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu wrote: From: Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 6:17 PM Steve, Contrary to adopting the approach of utilizing dumbed-down on-line climate tutorials, I find that the easiest way to initially engage interested parties is to refer them to summaries for decision makers and to content-rich web sites. Here you will often find scientific or policy organizations' bottom line ref. findings, data and methods. Consider, perhaps, some climate findings, reports and resources from: - a summary of global environment, including climate: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/GEO4%20SDM_launch.pdf (GEO5 will soon be out and it is my personal expectation that climate change will be cast in a slightly different light) - http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#1 and http://www.ipcc..ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm - Geenhouse gas, etc. data: http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3800.php - CCSP provides an umbrella for US data data on climate change: http://www.climatescience.gov/default.php (e.g. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-2/final-report/default..htm) - CIESIN and SEDAC provide a wealth of material, particular on the human dimensions of climate change e.g. the Geographic Distribution of Climate Change Vulnerability. A review of their site is will definitely stimulate discussion: http
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Wayne Tyson wrote: The problem is credibility of good science in the eyes and minds of the public. The public is used to hearing rather wildly conflicting information about climate change from the scientific community. In 1974 some claimed that global cooling was a looming problem: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,944914,00.html More recently there have been accusations of fraud: On Oct. 6, 2010 Harold Lewis, emeritus professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara wrote this: http://calderup.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/hal-lewis-quits-aps/ For reasons that will soon become clear my former pride at being an APS Fellow [American Physical Society] all these years has been turned into shame, and I am forced, with no pleasure at all, to offer you my resignation from the Society. It is of course, the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS before it like a rogue wave. It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist. Anyone who has the faintest doubt that this is so should force himself to read the ClimateGate documents, which lay it bare. Paul Cherubini
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
In the face of uncertainty with potential consequences of great magnitude, the precautionary approach should rule. Under this approach it is safer and more prudent to take effective action to counter climate change than it is to take no action and risk its effects. The costs of taking action are high, but there are also benefits (cleaner air and healthier oceans, for example). The costs of not taking action are potentially catastrophic. Our ancestors will enjoy an improved world and thank us for taking action even if they determine we were wrong. Our surviving ancestors will condemn us if we took no action and this proved to be wrong. I know, this is rhetoric and not science, but I have frequently had to deal with decision making in the face of scientific uncertainty and this is the approach I finally learned to apply or recommend. Warren W. Aney Senior Wildlife Ecologist Tigard, OR 97223 -Original Message- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU] On Behalf Of Hal Caswell Sent: Sunday, 20 March, 2011 15:12 To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Wayne, Whether it's a trick question or not depends, of course, on the details. However, if you really want information about the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic causes of climate change you could not do better than to start with the 4th IPCC report. This is freely available to anyone with internet access at http://www.ipcc.ch/ It represents the output of the largest scientific collaboration in history. Each volume is prefaced by a summary for policy-makers which is purposely designed to be accessible to non-specialists. Most policy-makers are not, after all, scientists. As you know, one of the essential aspects of any scientific endeavor, especially one with serious policy implications, is uncertainty. Another advantage of the IPCC reports is that they have developed the most explicit quantification of uncertainty for such a large body of scientific work that has ever been attempted. The disadvantage of that approach is that they tend to be slanted towards underestimating effects rather than overestimating them. So, read it as a conservative assessment. Hal Caswell On Mar 20, 2011, at 8:20 PM, Wayne Tyson wrote: James and Ecolog: No, it's not a trick question, it's an honest plea for better, more convincing information about quantification of the direct and indirect effects of anthropogenic causes of climate change. The public at large has an even tougher time sorting out the scientific sheep from the goats, on this and other issues in science. It may be a tough question, but there's nothing tricky about it. The plenitude of data is the problem, not the solution. The problem is credibility of good science in the eyes and minds of the public. Scientists tend to come off as elitist, patronizing snobs who decry the dumbing-down of we, the unwashed (if not unclean) through the only media to which we have access, e.g., TV and the Internet. Scientists sit on their hands and let these media get by with incredible distortions of science. I have tried to raise these issues to the scientific community, only to hear a deafening silence, or at best, diversionary mumbling about how we should accept scientific conclusions uncritically. The minute we ask critical questions (some say this is the root of science), we get condescension and the doors to further enquiry are slammed shut in our faces. With all due respect to climate change, for example, we, the unscientific, dumbed-down rabble who dare to enquire beyond unconditional faith in accepting what we are told by science are immediately classified as deniers (we of little faith) if we question the dictum of the day. We know a straw-man fallacy when we're hit with one, whether or not we can articulate it. This adversely affects the credibility of science in general and the subset in question in particular. We do not, for example, question whether or not there IS an anthropogenic factor in climate change phenomena, we just want to be able to start at the generalizations and follow a clear trail of the supporting chain of evidence as far as we care to. The scientific conclusions get all mixed up with each other, and we're trying to sort out the well-founded from the unfounded. Are, for example, we being switchgrassed into submitting to a wholesale acceptance of renewable fuels and biofuels and carbon credits, or are these THE solution to switching off our apps? Is our concern that the part of science we are allowed to see is leading us down a gardening path where we destroy more and more complex, diverse ecosystems to plant (and presumably irrigate, fertilize, and maintain) switchgrass or corn or soybeans until now common species are forced onto the endangered species list and habitats are homogenized? So if you mean by trick that you see more than meets the eye, I would have to (just
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Thanks for offering repeatedly debunked claims here. It helps if your data is up-to-date. The physicist who resigned the APS should have boned up on his atmospheric physics before resigning. The physics underpinning anthropogenic climate change is nearly 200 years old -- and it is as well proven as the fact that gravity will pull you toward the ground surface if you walk off the roof of a five-story building. That physics works quite well if anyone bothered to look at atmospheres of other planets, and if anyone tried to figure out what Earth's temperature would be without the natural greenhouse effect. Only a fool would expect greenhouse warming to suddenly stop working because we're changing chemical concentrations in the atmosphere. Dave On 3/20/2011 6:02 PM, Paul Cherubini wrote: Wayne Tyson wrote: The problem is credibility of good science in the eyes and minds of the public. The public is used to hearing rather wildly conflicting information about climate change from the scientific community. In 1974 some claimed that global cooling was a looming problem: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,944914,00.html More recently there have been accusations of fraud: On Oct. 6, 2010 Harold Lewis, emeritus professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara wrote this: http://calderup.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/hal-lewis-quits-aps/ For reasons that will soon become clear my former pride at being an APS Fellow [American Physical Society] all these years has been turned into shame, and I am forced, with no pleasure at all, to offer you my resignation from the Society. It is of course, the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists, and has carried APS before it like a rogue wave. It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist. Anyone who has the faintest doubt that this is so should force himself to read the ClimateGate documents, which lay it bare. Paul Cherubini -- -- David M. Lawrence| Home: (804) 559-9786 7471 Brook Way Court | Fax: (804) 559-9787 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 | Email: d...@fuzzo.com USA | http: http://fuzzo.com -- All drains lead to the ocean. -- Gill, Finding Nemo We have met the enemy and he is us. -- Pogo No trespassing 4/17 of a haiku -- Richard Brautigan
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Here the website on climate from NASA: http://climate.nasa.gov/keyIndicators/ Francesca From: Wayne Tyson landr...@cox.net To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tue, March 15, 2011 10:42:21 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Hi all, Can anyone tell me or direct me to a source that can tell me unequivocally and quantitatively what the direct and indirect effects of human influence are and are projected to be compared to the background or natural influences with respect to global temperature changes and predicted states? Is there any information on the conditions of life in the past which match those states and their probable causes? WT - Original Message - From: Sudhir Raj Shrestha sudhir_...@yahoo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:35 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Hi Steve, In addition to Ben's comprehensive list, I will suggest you to look at NOAA's new (still prototype, we are working on it) climate portal. www.climate.gov Thanks, Sudhir Shrestha --- On Tue, 3/15/11, Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu wrote: From: Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 6:17 PM Steve, Contrary to adopting the approach of utilizing dumbed-down on-line climate tutorials, I find that the easiest way to initially engage interested parties is to refer them to summaries for decision makers and to content-rich web sites. Here you will often find scientific or policy organizations' bottom line ref. findings, data and methods. Consider, perhaps, some climate findings, reports and resources from: - a summary of global environment, including climate: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/GEO4%20SDM_launch.pdf (GEO5 will soon be out and it is my personal expectation that climate change will be cast in a slightly different light) - http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#1 and http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm - Geenhouse gas, etc. data: http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3800.php - CCSP provides an umbrella for US data data on climate change: http://www.climatescience.gov/default.php (e.g. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-2/final-report/default..htm) - CIESIN and SEDAC provide a wealth of material, particular on the human dimensions of climate change e.g. the Geographic Distribution of Climate Change Vulnerability. A review of their site is will definitely stimulate discussion: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/index.html Some selected readings from the IPCC4 report, along with figures, etc. should be a good place to start. There are always developments in the realm of climate science that are worth consideration (for example, modeling the influence of grassroots climate change mitigation efforts). A review of the some of the contemporary articles in Nature, Science, New Scientist (their ask a climate scientist blog is really cool: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/12/ask-a-climate-scientist.html) etc. will likely provide material for a significantly enriched discussion. You are correct to be wary of data or findings from organizations which lack scientific objectivity. ***I am sure other people on the list will be able to add to the suggested sites above. Cheers, --Ben White Original message Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:01:40 -0400 From: Steven Roes steven.roe...@houghton.edu Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Hi All, I'm preparing to teach few days on climate change to my high school living environment students. We are nearing the conclusion of our ecology unit, and they've been soaking up the material like sponges--I've been incredibly happy to see thier progress as an entire group. I'm working on researching for these few days climate change, and I'm in need of trustworthy data with some discussion that, ideally, my students can understand. If necessary, I can work to translate any discussion to more appropriate language. Could any of you point me in the direction of where to find non-biased information on the issue of climate change and rising CO2 levels that is worthy of presenting? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve Roes - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3487 - Release Date: 03/07/11 Internal Virus Database is out of date.
[ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Hi All, I'm preparing to teach few days on climate change to my high school living environment students. We are nearing the conclusion of our ecology unit, and they've been soaking up the material like sponges--I've been incredibly happy to see thier progress as an entire group. I'm working on researching for these few days climate change, and I'm in need of trustworthy data with some discussion that, ideally, my students can understand. If necessary, I can work to translate any discussion to more appropriate language. Could any of you point me in the direction of where to find non-biased information on the issue of climate change and rising CO2 levels that is worthy of presenting? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve Roes
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Steve, Contrary to adopting the approach of utilizing dumbed-down on-line climate tutorials, I find that the easiest way to initially engage interested parties is to refer them to summaries for decision makers and to content-rich web sites. Here you will often find scientific or policy organizations' bottom line ref. findings, data and methods. Consider, perhaps, some climate findings, reports and resources from: - a summary of global environment, including climate: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/GEO4%20SDM_launch.pdf (GEO5 will soon be out and it is my personal expectation that climate change will be cast in a slightly different light) - http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#1 and http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm - Geenhouse gas, etc. data: http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3800.php - CCSP provides an umbrella for US data data on climate change: http://www.climatescience.gov/default.php (e.g. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-2/final-report/default.htm) - CIESIN and SEDAC provide a wealth of material, particular on the human dimensions of climate change e.g. the Geographic Distribution of Climate Change Vulnerability. A review of their site is will definitely stimulate discussion: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/index.html Some selected readings from the IPCC4 report, along with figures, etc. should be a good place to start. There are always developments in the realm of climate science that are worth consideration (for example, modeling the influence of grassroots climate change mitigation efforts). A review of the some of the contemporary articles in Nature, Science, New Scientist (their ask a climate scientist blog is really cool: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/12/ask-a-climate-scientist.html) etc. will likely provide material for a significantly enriched discussion. You are correct to be wary of data or findings from organizations which lack scientific objectivity. ***I am sure other people on the list will be able to add to the suggested sites above. Cheers, --Ben White Original message Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:01:40 -0400 From: Steven Roes steven.roe...@houghton.edu Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Hi All, I'm preparing to teach few days on climate change to my high school living environment students. We are nearing the conclusion of our ecology unit, and they've been soaking up the material like sponges--I've been incredibly happy to see thier progress as an entire group. I'm working on researching for these few days climate change, and I'm in need of trustworthy data with some discussion that, ideally, my students can understand. If necessary, I can work to translate any discussion to more appropriate language. Could any of you point me in the direction of where to find non-biased information on the issue of climate change and rising CO2 levels that is worthy of presenting? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve Roes
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Hi Steve, In addition to Ben's comprehensive list, I will suggest you to look at NOAA's new (still prototype, we are working on it) climate portal. www.climate.gov Thanks, Sudhir Shrestha --- On Tue, 3/15/11, Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu wrote: From: Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 6:17 PM Steve, Contrary to adopting the approach of utilizing dumbed-down on-line climate tutorials, I find that the easiest way to initially engage interested parties is to refer them to summaries for decision makers and to content-rich web sites. Here you will often find scientific or policy organizations' bottom line ref. findings, data and methods. Consider, perhaps, some climate findings, reports and resources from: - a summary of global environment, including climate: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/GEO4%20SDM_launch.pdf (GEO5 will soon be out and it is my personal expectation that climate change will be cast in a slightly different light) - http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#1 and http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm - Geenhouse gas, etc. data: http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3800.php - CCSP provides an umbrella for US data data on climate change: http://www.climatescience.gov/default.php (e.g. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-2/final-report/default.htm) - CIESIN and SEDAC provide a wealth of material, particular on the human dimensions of climate change e.g. the Geographic Distribution of Climate Change Vulnerability. A review of their site is will definitely stimulate discussion: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/index.html Some selected readings from the IPCC4 report, along with figures, etc. should be a good place to start. There are always developments in the realm of climate science that are worth consideration (for example, modeling the influence of grassroots climate change mitigation efforts). A review of the some of the contemporary articles in Nature, Science, New Scientist (their ask a climate scientist blog is really cool: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/12/ask-a-climate-scientist.html) etc. will likely provide material for a significantly enriched discussion. You are correct to be wary of data or findings from organizations which lack scientific objectivity. ***I am sure other people on the list will be able to add to the suggested sites above. Cheers, --Ben White Original message Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:01:40 -0400 From: Steven Roes steven.roe...@houghton.edu Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Hi All, I'm preparing to teach few days on climate change to my high school living environment students. We are nearing the conclusion of our ecology unit, and they've been soaking up the material like sponges--I've been incredibly happy to see thier progress as an entire group. I'm working on researching for these few days climate change, and I'm in need of trustworthy data with some discussion that, ideally, my students can understand. If necessary, I can work to translate any discussion to more appropriate language. Could any of you point me in the direction of where to find non-biased information on the issue of climate change and rising CO2 levels that is worthy of presenting? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve Roes
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data
Hi all, Can anyone tell me or direct me to a source that can tell me unequivocally and quantitatively what the direct and indirect effects of human influence are and are projected to be compared to the background or natural influences with respect to global temperature changes and predicted states? Is there any information on the conditions of life in the past which match those states and their probable causes? WT - Original Message - From: Sudhir Raj Shrestha sudhir_...@yahoo.com To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:35 AM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data Hi Steve, In addition to Ben's comprehensive list, I will suggest you to look at NOAA's new (still prototype, we are working on it) climate portal. www.climate.gov Thanks, Sudhir Shrestha --- On Tue, 3/15/11, Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu wrote: From: Benjamin White bgwh...@umd.edu Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 6:17 PM Steve, Contrary to adopting the approach of utilizing dumbed-down on-line climate tutorials, I find that the easiest way to initially engage interested parties is to refer them to summaries for decision makers and to content-rich web sites. Here you will often find scientific or policy organizations' bottom line ref. findings, data and methods. Consider, perhaps, some climate findings, reports and resources from: - a summary of global environment, including climate: http://www.unep.org/geo/geo4/media/GEO4%20SDM_launch.pdf (GEO5 will soon be out and it is my personal expectation that climate change will be cast in a slightly different light) - http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_and_data_reports.shtml#1 and http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm - Geenhouse gas, etc. data: http://unfccc.int/ghg_data/items/3800.php - CCSP provides an umbrella for US data data on climate change: http://www.climatescience.gov/default.php (e.g. http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-2/final-report/default..htm) - CIESIN and SEDAC provide a wealth of material, particular on the human dimensions of climate change e.g. the Geographic Distribution of Climate Change Vulnerability. A review of their site is will definitely stimulate discussion: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/index.html Some selected readings from the IPCC4 report, along with figures, etc. should be a good place to start. There are always developments in the realm of climate science that are worth consideration (for example, modeling the influence of grassroots climate change mitigation efforts). A review of the some of the contemporary articles in Nature, Science, New Scientist (their ask a climate scientist blog is really cool: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/12/ask-a-climate-scientist.html) etc. will likely provide material for a significantly enriched discussion. You are correct to be wary of data or findings from organizations which lack scientific objectivity. ***I am sure other people on the list will be able to add to the suggested sites above. Cheers, --Ben White Original message Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:01:40 -0400 From: Steven Roes steven.roe...@houghton.edu Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Climate Change Data To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Hi All, I'm preparing to teach few days on climate change to my high school living environment students. We are nearing the conclusion of our ecology unit, and they've been soaking up the material like sponges--I've been incredibly happy to see thier progress as an entire group. I'm working on researching for these few days climate change, and I'm in need of trustworthy data with some discussion that, ideally, my students can understand. If necessary, I can work to translate any discussion to more appropriate language. Could any of you point me in the direction of where to find non-biased information on the issue of climate change and rising CO2 levels that is worthy of presenting? Thanks in advance for your help, Steve Roes - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3487 - Release Date: 03/07/11 Internal Virus Database is out of date.
