SEPP Science Editorials

Index of Editorials Climate Science Unsolved Problems	All Editorials for 2020 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Categories Subcategories Antarctic Warming Skepticism [2] Book Review [3] Climate Change CO2 Emissions [1] Climate Models Uncertainty [2] Climate Science Climate Cycles [1] Climate Sensitivity [1] Holes [1] Thermal History [1] Unsolved Problems [1] Energy Issues American Power Act [1] Clean and Sustainable [1] Nuclear Waste Storage [1] Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) [1] Environmentalism Surrogate Religion [1] Foreword Energy Primer for Kids [1] Geo-Engineering Applications [2] Global Climate - International French Academy [1] Global Warming Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) [6] Confusion [1] Economics [1] General [2] Greenhouse Gases [1] Hockeystick [4] Ice Cores [1] Junkscience [9] Oceans' Role [2] Skepticism [1] Sun's Role [2] Health Issues Second Hand Smoke [1] Measurements Arctic Sea Ice [1] Atmospheric Temperature Data [2] Sea Surface Temperature [1] Surface Data [2] Misinformation Statistics Misuse [1] Modern Empirical Science v. Medieval Science [1] NIPCC China [1] Nuclear Fuel Supplies [1] Organizations Climate Research Unit (CRU) [1] International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) [2] Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) [1] UK Met Office [1] World Meteorological Organization (WMO) [1] Political Issues Climate Realism [1] Climategate [3] Independent Cross Check of Temperature Data [1] Report IPCC Assessment Report [2] NOAA State of the Climate 2009 [1] NRC-NAS Advancing the Science of Climate Change [1] Sea-Level Rise West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) [1] Alarmism [1] Types of Energy Nuclear Energy [1]
15-Aug-09 Some Unsettled Problems in Climate Science
SEPP Science Editorial #25-2009 (in TWTW Aug 15, 2009) *S. Fred Singer, Chairman and President , Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)* Some Unsettled Problems in Climate Science Aug 15, 2009 This presentation is directed primarily towards scientists who have some familiarity with climate problems. Our aim is to show (1) that the "science is NOT settled" (2) that NIPCC is in every sense as competent as IPCC (3) that we need help in solving some sticky problems (4) that continued but targeted research support is essential My most recent seminar talk was at the NOAA Research Center in Boulder, CO, on July 31, a Friday afternoon. More than 200 crowded into the lecture room and discussions continued long after my lecture - some still ongoing by e-mail. How goes the dispute about Climate Sensitivity? Is it 3 degC for a doubling of CO2 (IPCC) or 0.3 (NIPCC) Is WV and cloud feedback positive or negative? and how can the right data give the answer How much of 20th century warming is anthropogenic? nearly all (IPCC) or an insignificant percentage (NIPCC) Can solar activity explain decadal-scale climate changes? Or internal atmosphere-ocean oscillations - or both? How much energy does GH radiation impart to SeaSfcTemp? since downwelling IR cannot penetrate beyond a thin skin of water Why the debate about CO2 residence time Is it 5 years, 50-100 years, or millennia? Is there really a temperature increase "in the pipeline"? Will warming continue after GH gases are stabilized? Why such disagreement about Sea Level Rise? Year 2100 estimates vary greatly: 600cm (Hansen), 1200cm (Weaver), 14-53cm (IPCC-2007), or only 18 cm (Singer)? View The Week That Was in which this editorial appeared. Return to Top of Page