Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: cogitator
"I read the link, thanks. We're probably talking past each other. I read it as a prediction of effects that would be observed (and confirmation). For me, a forecast is a defined future state based on a model. Semantics can be troublesome."

The use of relativity corrections to the GPS system is precisely "a prediction of effects that would be observed (and confirmation)" which is again precisely the same as "a defined future state based on a model". There is no semantic problem.

"It's impossible to reproduce 20th century temperatures (modeling, of course) with only natural forcings. By natural, that means volcanic and aerosols."

We don't BEGIN to know what all the "natural forcings" ARE, much less their effects quantitatively.

"I would be FLOORED if said models didn't include water vapor feedback."

Correction. What I meant was the effect of water, not necessarily water VAPOR. Specifically cloud cover. Again, we simply do not know what the effects are sufficiently well enough to model them.

"And if you think that this means CO2 absorption will saturate in the atmosphere, then I have a few links I can provide that explain why it doesn't, because you also have to account for changing atmospheric dynamics."

Yes, I do think precisely that. And as a spectroscopist, I'm also well aware of the effects of particulate scattering and other parameters.

"So, arguments from authority are the only ones that pass muster, huh? If a National Academy of Sciences Fellow makes the same arguments as I do, then you would listen to him, but not to me? If he references a paper in Science, then he knows what he's doing, and I don't? Just because you have a Ph.D. doesn't automatically confer greater knowledge and understanding, and not having one doesn't mean you can't have a decent grasp of a subject.

ROFLMAO. And you don't see that you are using precisely the argument that your fellow warmers have used to beat down virtually all the skeptics.

But if a NAS Fellow made the same arguments you did, I wouldn't believe him either, until I had checked to see if he was full of shit. I've worked with NAS Fellows on occasion, and one Nobel Laureate. And they can be mistaken too. What matters is HONEST science, because the truth WILL eventually be known. And at this point, "climate science" doesn't fit in that category.

"The data from the WMO shows that for large parts of southern Asia and central Africa, it will have been the warmest year on record. But north America experienced conditions that were cooler than normal - although Canadian cities Vancouver and Victoria saw new record temperatures set and Alaska had the second-warmest July on record.""

Your pretty graphic from the last post indicates to me what is probably going on. Simply put, the "warmers" in control of the "corrections" are "cooking the books" to show increased warming in areas in which data are not readily available for fact-checking by skeptics.

Explain to me in simple language how an Arctic that is up to 5 degrees warmer than normal can provide air masses to drive Canadian and US weather that is 5 degrees cooler than normal. This seems to be just "slightly" counterintuitive.

112 posted on 12/09/2009 3:46:33 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies ]


To: Wonder Warthog
The use of relativity corrections to the GPS system is precisely "a prediction of effects that would be observed (and confirmation)" which is again precisely the same as "a defined future state based on a model". There is no semantic problem.

I will let you have the final statement on this particular subject.

"It's impossible to reproduce 20th century temperatures (modeling, of course) with only natural forcings. By natural, that means volcanic and aerosols."

We don't BEGIN to know what all the "natural forcings" ARE, much less their effects quantitatively.

Start with the major ones and work down the list.

"I would be FLOORED if said models didn't include water vapor feedback."

Correction. What I meant was the effect of water, not necessarily water VAPOR. Specifically cloud cover. Again, we simply do not know what the effects are sufficiently well enough to model them.

Good, had me scared there. I'd say one approach might be an ensemble of models using different cloud parameterizations, and look at the range of outputs. (Scientists rarely give up and say, "Too hard! Let's just give up.")

"And if you think that this means CO2 absorption will saturate in the atmosphere, then I have a few links I can provide that explain why it doesn't, because you also have to account for changing atmospheric dynamics."

Yes, I do think precisely that. And as a spectroscopist, I'm also well aware of the effects of particulate scattering and other parameters.

No soup for you.

A saturated gassy argument

"So, if a skeptical friend hits you with the "saturation argument" against global warming, here’s all you need to say: (a) You’d still get an increase in greenhouse warming even if the atmosphere were saturated, because it’s the absorption in the thin upper atmosphere (which is unsaturated) that counts (b) It’s not even true that the atmosphere is actually saturated with respect to absorption by CO2, (c) Water vapor doesn’t overwhelm the effects of CO2 because there’s little water vapor in the high, cold regions from which infrared escapes, and at the low pressures there water vapor absorption is like a leaky sieve, which would let a lot more radiation through were it not for CO2, and (d) These issues were satisfactorily addressed by physicists 50 years ago, and the necessary physics is included in all climate models."

More:

Is the CO2 effect saturated?

Debunking the 'Skeptics Handbook': More CO2 Does Worsen Climate Change

"So, arguments from authority are the only ones that pass muster, huh? If a National Academy of Sciences Fellow makes the same arguments as I do, then you would listen to him, but not to me? If he references a paper in Science, then he knows what he's doing, and I don't? Just because you have a Ph.D. doesn't automatically confer greater knowledge and understanding, and not having one doesn't mean you can't have a decent grasp of a subject.

ROFLMAO. And you don't see that you are using precisely the argument that your fellow warmers have used to beat down virtually all the skeptics.

Really? Didn't see that. If the science community is excluding good research by non-Ph.D.'s, that's a problem. What I see more often is bad science being presented by scientists with Ph.D.'s.

But if a NAS Fellow made the same arguments you did, I wouldn't believe him either, until I had checked to see if he was full of shit. I've worked with NAS Fellows on occasion, and one Nobel Laureate. And they can be mistaken too. What matters is HONEST science, because the truth WILL eventually be known. And at this point, "climate science" doesn't fit in that category.

Blink blink blink blink blink... fine.

"The data from the WMO shows that for large parts of southern Asia and central Africa, it will have been the warmest year on record. But north America experienced conditions that were cooler than normal - although Canadian cities Vancouver and Victoria saw new record temperatures set and Alaska had the second-warmest July on record."

Your pretty graphic from the last post indicates to me what is probably going on. Simply put, the "warmers" in control of the "corrections" are "cooking the books" to show increased warming in areas in which data are not readily available for fact-checking by skeptics.

Which pretty graphic are you referring to? Is the Australian Meteorological Organization a sector of the global conspiracy?

Explain to me in simple language how an Arctic that is up to 5 degrees warmer than normal can provide air masses to drive Canadian and US weather that is 5 degrees cooler than normal. This seems to be just "slightly" counterintuitive.

You should really ask a meteorologist, because my meteorological expertise is minimal. My guess is that unusual circulation patterns are transporting cold air very efficiently into North America from cold climes, even if it is warmer there than previous decades. I.e., I'd finger an unusual circulation pattern, like a deeply-dipping jet stream.

113 posted on 12/09/2009 9:17:34 PM PST by cogitator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson