Yesterday, I watched a true hero and a true scientist,
Dr. James Hansen, the NASA Climatologist who stood against the Bush Administration's assualt and censorship of science. I attended the
Politics and Science Conference at
The New School in NYC. The President is former
Senator Bob Kerrey (NE-D) who organized this important first ever conference on the politicking of science, particularly by the Bush Administration.
The 2-Day Conference featured many distinguished speakers with expertise from both sides of the debate on science policy issues: government policy makers, industry and academic experts. Everyone agreed that the science community needed communicate more effectively to the general public. But there was also consensual agreement among everyone that the Bush Administration was executing an unprecedented campaign devaluate scientific findings, by deliberately distorting and suppressing scientific evidence into the science policy-making process.
Of course, the guest speaker who captured the most attention was
Dr. James Hansen, NASA's top climatologist, who challenged the Bush Administration against their attempts to suppress the science on global climate changes Dr. Hansen presented evidence that were indicative of rapid and accelerated global warming due to human-based greenhouse gas emissions.
In fact, Hansen charged that the Bush administration would moniter any calls from his peers at the NOAA officials who spoke to journalists. He added thatscientists (his peers) at NOAA could not speak publicly for fear of loosing their jobs. Please read, WaPo Article: "Censorship Is Alleged at NOAA" for details.
Below, I was able to photographseveral slides from Dr. Hansen's presentation. It details the "scientific evidence" that has caused alarm from the Bush administration,..including this 'conclusion', which Hansen had to omit from a "Keeling Meeting" among his peers, which concluded that human-caused greenhouse gases led to an intensification of hurricanes in the southern Atlantic. Aloud, Hansen read,
Tropical Storms (Hurricanes)
"Our climate simulations provided to IPCC, driven by known forcings, predominately increasing greenhous gases, yield a warming of 0.35 degrees Celsius in the tropical Atlantic region of hurricane formation in 1995-2005, relative to the preceding 25 years. ...
"The observed warming in region was 0.45'C. So the categorical contention that recent hurricane intensification is due to a natural cycle of Atlantic Ocean temperature in the region of hurricane formation, and has nothing to do with global warming, is irrational. How could a hurricane distinguish between a natural and greenhouse gas warming? (laughter) ...
I conclude that greenhouse gases are probably responsible for a substantial fraction of the ocean warming that fuels 'stronger hurricanes.'"
Dr. Hansen also made another conclusion. On the effects of paleo forcings that cause global climate change. He wrote,
"Another Ice Age cannot occur unless humans become extinct. Even then, it would require thousands of years. Humans now control global climate, for better or worse.". It is impossible, but it would require an explanation that has not been proffered.
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Dr. Hansen's presentation was entitled, "Can We still Avoid Dangerous Human-Made Climate Change". Below are several slides that he showed, which outlines the evidence for dangerous global climate changes from human-caused greenhouse gas emmissions. He concludes and warns that all climate models clearly predict that this change is accelerating. He further warns that 7 year "window of opportunity" exist. It's closing fast, and our policy makers must take urgent action now!
Slide 1: Antartic Ice Core data
* Global climate changes and cycles are normal, but occurs over thousands of years.
Slide 2: [Surface Temp Anomalies
* Historical data of surface temps from 1850 to Present
Slide 3: Surface Temp to Present
Slide 4: Global Climate Forces
* What are the 'forces" correlated with climate change: Amount of Aerosols, CO2, methane and nitrogen oxide gases to global warming.
Slide 5: Fossil Fuel - CO2 Emissions by Country
* A dramatic spike in CO2 from fossil fuels is evident in this slide. Note that China and "Rest of World" have particularly spiked in emission since 2000.
Slide 6: CO2 Projections
* Climate Change modeling projections of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere by the year 2050 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Slide 7: Global Temp Projections to 2100
* The pictures show heat map comparisons of global temperatures between now versus 2100. It is based on a the following predictive climate change models; 2 from IPCC and 1 from Alternative Scenario. Essentially, at this rate, with no immediate action,.. global temperatures will rise more dramatically than from any previous geological period.
Slide 8: CO2 Forced 1C increase to global warming
* IPCC 2007 Report detailing that surface air temperatures will increase < 1 degree Celcius by 2100.
Slide 9: Greenhouse Gases are "Forcing" Climate Change
* Comparisons of other factors that my contribute or "force" global climate change, such as black carbon, solar irradiation, indirect aerosol use,..etc. Essentially showing the it's greenhouse gases that are forcing recent global climate changes from 1980 - 2000.
Slide 10: Implications of Paleo (Forcings on Global Climate
* "Another Ice Age cannot occur unless humans become extinct. Even then, it would require thousands of years. Humans now control global climate, for better or worse."
Slide 11: More Forced increases predicted in global warming
* Even if we wre to stop at Greenhouse gas forcings now,.. global temperatures will still increase 0.6 degrees Celcius. "Anticipatory actions" are needed NOW to prevent consequences dangerous changes for an acceleration of sea level rise.
Slide 12: CO2 Causes Stronger Atlantic Hurricanes
* This is the 'conclusion" made by Dr. Hansen, which was not allowed in the "Keeling Talks" Meeting. Not sure what this meeting was about, and whether Hansen had no time or was not permitted to present. But the conclusion is that the intensity of the Atlantic hurricanes are attributable to global warming.
Slide 13: Artic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA Report)
* Summary impact assessments onto Artic region from global warming...
Slide 14: Is there still time?
* Hansen warns that a 7 year "window of opportunity", it was closing fast (perhaps less than 7 years), and immediate action must be placed now to instill these measures before that time has elapsed.
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Photos: Dr James Hansen (NASA) Politics in Global Warming
Politics and Science Conference -
The New School, NYC February 9, 2009
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also cross-posted from my blog at;
www.SecuringAmerica.com/ccn