SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19, 2007
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID AP Science Writer
(AP) A top scientist in the study of climate change says she is optimistic about public understanding of the dangers of global warming."I'm incredibly encouraged," Susan Solomon beamed after speaking to the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.Solomon, a scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was instrumental in developing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released earlier this month in Paris.That report reaffirmed ongoing global warming, said it is 90 percent likely to have been caused by human activity and added changes in rain and snowfall to the hotter climate expected with continuing change."Evidence of climate change is now unequivocal," she said.Changes already under way will require adaptation in the short term, Solomon said, while efforts to reduce or reverse change will only occur on a long term."I am personally an optimist" about increased governmental and public understanding of the problem, Solomon said.But, she added, "It is complicated. You can't see it, you can't smell it, you can't taste it."She likened understanding of global warming to that of the ozone hole a few years ago. Once scientists were able to tell the story clearly, the public understood it, she said. Now science is on the same track with climate change.Global warming has seen the planet's average temperature rise by more than 1 degree Fahrenheit over the last century, largely due to the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere."We are forcing the climate system in a new way, outstripping the sun," Solomon said.Overall there are more warm nights and fewer cold ones, a change that affects crops and animals as well as people.Detecting change can be difficult in one place, she said, because local changes one way or the other can vary widely from the average changes around the world."It requires you to think beyond your own backyard," she said.Solomon discussed the climate change reported so far, noting that further studies due out in the spring will address the effects of the change and what actions could be taken to reduce those effects or slow or reverse change.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Global Warming Scientist Is Encouraged
AN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19, 2007By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID AP Science Writer
(AP) A top scientist in the study of climate change says she is optimistic about public understanding of the dangers of global warming."I'm incredibly encouraged," Susan Solomon beamed after speaking to the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.Solomon, a scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was instrumental in developing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released earlier this month in Paris.That report reaffirmed ongoing global warming, said it is 90 percent likely to have been caused by human activity and added changes in rain and snowfall to the hotter climate expected with continuing change."Evidence of climate change is now unequivocal," she said.Changes already under way will require adaptation in the short term, Solomon said, while efforts to reduce or reverse change will only occur on a long term."I am personally an optimist" about increased governmental and public understanding of the problem, Solomon said.But, she added, "It is complicated. You can't see it, you can't smell it, you can't taste it."She likened understanding of global warming to that of the ozone hole a few years ago. Once scientists were able to tell the story clearly, the public understood it, she said. Now science is on the same track with climate change.Global warming has seen the planet's average temperature rise by more than 1 degree Fahrenheit over the last century, largely due to the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere."We are forcing the climate system in a new way, outstripping the sun," Solomon said.Overall there are more warm nights and fewer cold ones, a change that affects crops and animals as well as people.Detecting change can be difficult in one place, she said, because local changes one way or the other can vary widely from the average changes around the world."It requires you to think beyond your own backyard," she said.Solomon discussed the climate change reported so far, noting that further studies due out in the spring will address the effects of the change and what actions could be taken to reduce those effects or slow or reverse change.
(AP) A top scientist in the study of climate change says she is optimistic about public understanding of the dangers of global warming."I'm incredibly encouraged," Susan Solomon beamed after speaking to the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.Solomon, a scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was instrumental in developing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released earlier this month in Paris.That report reaffirmed ongoing global warming, said it is 90 percent likely to have been caused by human activity and added changes in rain and snowfall to the hotter climate expected with continuing change."Evidence of climate change is now unequivocal," she said.Changes already under way will require adaptation in the short term, Solomon said, while efforts to reduce or reverse change will only occur on a long term."I am personally an optimist" about increased governmental and public understanding of the problem, Solomon said.But, she added, "It is complicated. You can't see it, you can't smell it, you can't taste it."She likened understanding of global warming to that of the ozone hole a few years ago. Once scientists were able to tell the story clearly, the public understood it, she said. Now science is on the same track with climate change.Global warming has seen the planet's average temperature rise by more than 1 degree Fahrenheit over the last century, largely due to the addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere."We are forcing the climate system in a new way, outstripping the sun," Solomon said.Overall there are more warm nights and fewer cold ones, a change that affects crops and animals as well as people.Detecting change can be difficult in one place, she said, because local changes one way or the other can vary widely from the average changes around the world."It requires you to think beyond your own backyard," she said.Solomon discussed the climate change reported so far, noting that further studies due out in the spring will address the effects of the change and what actions could be taken to reduce those effects or slow or reverse change.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
FOX news tries to discredit UN report over Global Warming
Wow.... Yesterday I turned on the TV just in time to catch FOX news addressing the latest UN report regarding global warming. Though I can't really say that I am all that shocked, they actually were trying to discredit the findings by saying that they were put together by hundreds of politicians and not by thousands of leading scientists. To be fair, I've come to expect this type of rhetoric, having spent most of my life here in Texas, but it still is tough to swallow when you realize that your neighbors are some of the most ignorant people on the planet.
The good news though, is that the general public is starting to realize that the debate over climate change is no longer taking place, and that action must be taken soon if we want to avoid the worst case scenarios.
I'd call today's UN report a small step in the right direction, even if FOX news remains in complete denial.
The good news though, is that the general public is starting to realize that the debate over climate change is no longer taking place, and that action must be taken soon if we want to avoid the worst case scenarios.
I'd call today's UN report a small step in the right direction, even if FOX news remains in complete denial.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
No kidding!
International panel agrees global warming 'very likely' caused by humans
PARIS (AP) - Officials from 113 countries agreed Thursday that a much-awaited international report will say that global warming is "very likely" caused by human activity, delegates to a climate change conference said.
Dozens of scientists and bureaucrats are editing the new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in closed-door meetings in Paris. Their report, which must be unanimously approved, is to be released Friday.
Two participants, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meetings are confidential, said the group approved the term "very likely" in Thursday's sessions. That means they agree that there is a 90 per cent chance that global warming is human-caused.
The last report, in 2001, said global warming was "likely" caused by human activity.
There had been speculation that the participants might try to change the wording this time to "virtually certain," which means a 99 per cent chance.
However, wording of the consensus document requires approval from all countries, including the United States and others that have rejected the Kyoto accord aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Still, the report is considered authoritative and can influence government and industrial policy worldwide.
© The Canadian Press 2007
PARIS (AP) - Officials from 113 countries agreed Thursday that a much-awaited international report will say that global warming is "very likely" caused by human activity, delegates to a climate change conference said.
Dozens of scientists and bureaucrats are editing the new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in closed-door meetings in Paris. Their report, which must be unanimously approved, is to be released Friday.
Two participants, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meetings are confidential, said the group approved the term "very likely" in Thursday's sessions. That means they agree that there is a 90 per cent chance that global warming is human-caused.
The last report, in 2001, said global warming was "likely" caused by human activity.
There had been speculation that the participants might try to change the wording this time to "virtually certain," which means a 99 per cent chance.
However, wording of the consensus document requires approval from all countries, including the United States and others that have rejected the Kyoto accord aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Still, the report is considered authoritative and can influence government and industrial policy worldwide.
© The Canadian Press 2007
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