Modern Climate Change

Below are some sources of information regarding modern climate change. I include material that discusses data extending back a few centuries, generally considered to be historic data. Other material that extends further back in time is on the Paleoclimate page.
Below are links to online resources sorted by apparent credibility. This ranking is subjective.
Just to be clear, I am simply placing sources of information online. I am not writing any commentary or making any points other than applying a basic criteria of credibility. I rank these sources into 3 groups, (1) likely credible, (2) possibly credible, but with uncertainty, and (3) total crap.
This apparent credibility rating is very simple. If the source has some level of review (peer science or editorial board), it falls into category 1 (though if I find problems, I will point them out.). If the source seems correct, but is not under any apparent review, it fits into category 2. If there is any misinformation in a source, it ends up in the last category. There may be credible information in the sources of group 3, but we need to be critical of all of this stuff. In my opinion, if there is any material that is untrue, how can we trust that source of information? I opine that we cannot. Very simple.
For our mutual benefit, I include some links to sources that do debunk a few sources in group 3. That is not what I am doing, I am merely putting this information out there for “you” to make “your” own decision. Believe what you want, but if someone posts something that is clearly based on poorly informed information, that post will quickly fall into group 3.

General Climate Change Resources:

I. These are the possibly more credible sources of information regarding Climate Change

  • Here is the EPA page regarding climate change. Climate Change
  • Here is the NASA page on climate change. Global Climate Change, Vital signs of the planet.
  • Here is World Bank‘s web site on climate change. Climate Change
  • International Panel on Climate Change:
    • Here is the International Panel on Climate Change website. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts. In the same year, the UN General Assembly endorsed the action by WMO and UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC.The IPCC is a scientific body under the auspices of the United Nations (UN). It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change. It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters.
    • There is much material to weed through on the IPCC website, so I put together a summary of resources i find valuable.
  • Here is a page that has a great way to explain the difference between weather and climate.
  • Here is a brief summary of findings made in 2013, written by Joseph Stromberg. This is a blog post (even though it appears under the smithsonian blanket). If someone finds a problem with this blog, it could easily go in group II (since it is a blog). Check it out. Six Things I generally dislike titles that begins with “t6he 6 things,” or “the ten things,” but this really is a great summary of the current state of affairs. With properly referenced links, the author discusses the reasoning behind these discoveries, so people can learn how to discuss these issues with others.
  • This is a blog set up by climate scientists and operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. (so they are not permitted to participate with a political agenda) Climate Change National Forum & Review. From their “about” page: “This fact checker, blog, and forum website — currently in beta form and all but complete — will first be used by scientists to discuss the latest research on climate change, share and debate ideas on aspects of climate change relevant to policymaking, and collectively fact check claims being made in the media. In the second phase of this expert-crowdsourcing journalism project, subject matter and policy experts will be able to join the discussion and use the platform to compare and debate the benefits and costs of possible responses. This “National Forum” will run for two years and be administered by the nonprofit Climate Change National Forum and Review (CCNFR).  A professional journalist will moderate the discussion as needed and provide ongoing coverage.”
  • This is a web site set up by climatologists to defend the attacks from the Climate Change Deniers (CCDs). Real Climate: Climate Change for Climate Scientists There are many excellent resources on this web site. From their site, “RealClimate is a commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists. We aim to provide a quick response to developing stories and provide the context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary. The discussion here is restricted to scientific topics and will not get involved in any political or economic implications of the science. All posts are signed by the author(s), except ‘group’ posts which are collective efforts from the whole team. This is a moderated forum.”
  • This is a another web site set up by climatologists to defend the attacks from the Climate Change Deniers (CCDs). Skeptical Science: Getting skeptical about global warming skepticismFrom their site, “This website gets skeptical about global warming skepticism. Do their arguments have any scientific basis? What does the peer reviewed scientific literature say?”
  • This is the World Meteorological Association (WMO) report discussing the 2012 record measurements of some greenhouse gasses. The State of Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere Using Global Observations through 2012 The Atmospheric Environment and Research Division of WMO’s Research Department publishes the WMO-GAW Annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletins. Each year, these bulletins will report the latest trends and atmospheric burdens of the most influential, long-lived greenhouse gases; carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as a summary of the contributions of the lesser gases. The Bulletins represent the consensus of a consortium of networks operated since the mid 1980s. These three major gases alone contribute about 88% of the increase in radiative forcing of the atmosphere by changes in long-lived greenhouse gases occurring since the beginning of the industrial age (since 1750).
  • This is an article that describes the results of an inquiry into false allegations of Dr. Mann and his “hockey stick” plot: here.

II. These are possibly less credible sources of information

(generally because they use evidence to find the opposite conclusions that original research authors make)

  • This is an excellent example of a web sites that uses self links to make the information appear more credible. Hockey Schtick If you can’t explain the ‘pause’, you can’t explain the cause… From their site, “This site publishes comments containing solely scientific opinions. Comments containing any unscientific emotional vitriol or using any hate speech such as ‘denier’ will be rejected. For the record, this site does not deny that the climate has been changing since the beginning of time; it is only the degree of influence of mankind that is debated.”
    This statement speaks for itself. I rest my case.

III. Here is the crap that we need to avoid.

Generally, these are not credible sources of information. Some of what you might read on these pages may be true, but it may be difficult to tell what is true and what is not.

  • Here is a climate change denier website put forth by an artist in subterfuge, Marc Morano. This site is full of misinformation. Climate Depot: Redefining Global Warming Reporting I just watched him on CNN with Piers Morgan and Bill Nye. Mr Moreno uses raised voice volume and false assumptions (and dishonesty) to make his points. Mr. Moreno is a trained political scientist and does not have any credibility as a climate scientist (as evidenced in his online bio on his web site). We should not be surprised, given his experience as a policy writer for James Inhofe. He is an expert politician, but not a scientist (again, evidenced by his own bio on his own website).

 Specific Topics

Here I list some sources of information regarding specific topics.

  1. Does CO2 change lag or precede temperature change?

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