I thought folks might want to know about this. I didn't read the original Nature paper, but it appears that our government is meddling again in the release of scientifically factual information to the public. This time it's information on hurricanes, and what can contribute to their intensity. The FAQ apparently includes comments on the role of global warming.
From the Democratic caucus Committee on Science page:
Ranking Member Gordon has learned that the report was already approved by all NOAA offices at the time the Commerce Department intervened. Science Committee staff also learned that NOAA Administrator Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher had approved the report and it was to be released at the beginning of the hurricane season, which began June 1, 2006. Instead, the report was held at the Department of Commerce until last week. In the wake of the Nature article and a draft of the report being posted online at Science Climate Watch, NOAA rushed out the FAQ, posting it on their web site on September 28, 2006.
More on the flip
This is part of a pattern that has been discussed for quite some time (as a reminder, the statement from the Union of Concerned Scientists can be found
here).
This from Bart Gordon to NOAA (see the full letter here):
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (Ret.)
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
14thStreet and Constitution Avenue, NW
Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Admiral Lautenbacher:
Last week, Nature magazine reported on a troubling situation in your agency involving the suppression of science. This is just the latest in a long string of such stories that have appeared this year in the Wall Street Journal, The New Republic and, just two weeks ago, Salon.com.
I don't have anything profound or new to say about this, except to point out that the pattern continues. Releasing scientifically valid information to the public should not be a partisan issue, but apparently it is to some people.