Resources

Documents from Scientific Organizations

IPCC 2007 FAQ - This is a set of Frequently Asked Questions with answers that are taken directly from the IPCC Working Group I Reports, but with language that is easily understood by the non-scientist. All persons interested in the latest science of climate change should begin with this document. The IPCC Working Group I (WG I) assesses the physical scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change. The main topics assessed by WG I include: changes in greenhouse gases and aerosols in the atmosphere; observed changes in air, land and ocean temperatures, rainfall, glaciers and ice sheets, oceans and sea level; historical and paleoclimatic perspective on climate change; biogeochemistry, carbon cycle, gases and aerosols; satellite data and other data; climate models; climate projections, causes and attribution of climate change.

America's Climate Choices - At a time when responding to climate change is one of the nation's most important and complex endeavors, the National Research Council of the National Academies provides helpful analysis and advice to policymakers and stakeholders through its expert, consensus reports and other activities. These reports are produced by committees of the nation's top scientists, engineers, and other experts who are convened to address key scientific and technical aspects of climate change and other topics.

Synthesis Report from the Climate Change Congress 2009 - The Synthesis Report adds the latest research to the basis of knowledge on climate change compiled in the IPCC reports. This conference is one of the world's largest ever interdisciplinary conferences on climate change with more than 2,000 participants from around 80 countries. The Congress is the result of a unique cooperation between ten of the world's leading universities; the International Alliance of Re-search universities (IARU), which consists of Australian National University, ETH - Zürich, National University of Singapore, Peking University, University of California - Berkeley, University of Cambridge, University of Copenhagen, University of Oxford, University of Tokyo and Yale University.

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States - The report by The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) summarizes the science and the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future. It focuses on climate change impacts in different regions of the U.S. and on various aspects of society and the economy such as energy, water, agriculture, and health. It’s also a report written in plain language, with the goal of better informing public and private decision making at all levels. In addition to discussing the impacts of climate change in the U.S., the report also highlights the choices we face in response to human-induced climate change.

Surface Temperature Reconstructions for the Last 2,000 Years - In response to a request from Congress, the National Academy of Sciences prepared Surface Temperature Reconstructions for the Last 2,000 Years which assesses the state of scientific efforts to reconstruct surface temperature records for Earth during approximately the last 2,000 years and the implications of these efforts for our understanding of global climate change. Because widespread, reliable temperature records are available only for the last 150 years, scientists estimate temperatures in the more distant past by analyzing "proxy evidence," which includes tree rings, corals, ocean and lake sediments, cave deposits, ice cores, boreholes, and glaciers. Starting in the late 1990s, scientists began using sophisticated methods to combine proxy evidence from many different locations in an effort to estimate surface temperature changes during the last few hundred to few thousand years. This online book is an important resource in helping to understand the intricacies of global climate change.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Science of Climate Change 2008 Update - This FAQ by Atmospheric Science Assessment and Integration Section Science and Technology Branch of Environment Canada covers all the major climate change topics in a very easy to read, illustrated format.

US Climate Change Indicators Report (April 2010) - The indicators in this report present clear evidence that the composition of the atmosphere is being altered as a result of human activities and that the climate is changing. They also illustrate a number of effects on society and ecosystems related to these changes. Topics in this highly illustrated document include: Greenhouse Gases, U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases, Climate Forcing, Weather and Climate, U.S. and Global Temperature, Rate of Temperature Change in the United States, 1901–2008, Heat Waves, Drought, U.S. and Global Precipitation, Heavy Precipitation, Tropical Cyclone Intensity, Oceans, Ocean Heat, Sea Surface Temperature, Sea Level, Ocean Acidity, Snow and Ice, Arctic Sea Ice, Glaciers, Lake Ice, Snow Cover, Snowpack, Society and Ecosystems, Heat-Related Deaths, Length of Growing Season, Plant Hardiness Zones, Leaf and Bloom Dates, and Bird Wintering Ranges.

Other Useful Documents

The Scientific Guide to Global Warming Skepticism is a 16 page booklet that looks at both the evidence that human activity is causing global warming and the ways that climate ‘skeptic’ arguments can mislead by presenting only small pieces of the puzzle rather than the full picture. The science is explained in plain language intended for the layperson. More detailed treatments of the science are available at Skeptical Science.

is a 16 page booklet that looks at both the evidence that human activity is causing global warming and the ways that climate ‘skeptic’ arguments can mislead by presenting only small pieces of the puzzle rather than the full picture. The science is explained in plain language intended for the layperson. More detailed treatments of the science are available at Skeptical Science. A Brief Assessment of the Impact of Large-Scale Climate Change on Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes - A summary of the current scientific understanding of: 1) observed changes in severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and 2) the possible role of human influences in modulating past and future changes in these events. Eight members of the Climate Science Rapid Response Team contributed to this response to an informational request from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Climate Change: What Does It Mean for Our World? - Katharine Hayhoe is a research associate professor at Texas Tech University and expert reviewer for the IPCC who has put together a stunning visual slideshow that explains why humans are causing global warming, the devastating impacts of global warming, and what we can do to mitigate the problem. This is a powerful presentation displayed with simplicity so everybody can understand the importance of addressing climate change.

Building a Green Economy - In a truly phenomenal ten page essay in the New York Times, Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discusses how it possible to make drastic cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions without destroying the economy. Krugman describes the pros and cons of carbon taxes vs cap and trade along with examples of how of these solutions are already effective in other areas. Krugman describes the strong scientific consensus regarding humanity's role in global warming and how most projections are now worse than previously thought. Krugman outlines ways to get China to "play along" with carbon mitigation and why conservatives are abandoning their free-market ideals with regard to the carbon mitigation issue. This is a must-read for those that accept global warming but are worried about the costs invloved with fixing the problem humans have created.

Mind the Gap - Kate, a Canadian high school student and author of the ClimateSight blog, has written a marvelous piece called Mind the Gap where she discusses the issues of science credibility and communication with the public. Coming from a non-scientist, this article will appeal to those of you that are unsure about what to believe but feel as if you are not qualified to question either "side". A must read for all.

- Climate Change and Anthropogenic Greenhouse Warming: A Selection of Key Articles, 1824-1995, with Interpretive Essays - Primary Articles Learning Environment (PALE) NSDL Classic Articles in Context, Issue 1. April 2008. By Dr. James R. Fleming. A selection of research articles on climate change and anthropogenic greenhouse warming presented here appeared in peer-reviewed journals over the course of two centuries, from 1824 to 1995. Each article is significant in its own right. Some are landmark papers. Each is accompanied by a short essay that provides historical context and points the reader to additional readings and citations.

Blogs & News

Books

The Discovery of Global Warming by Spencer R. Weart

This is the first book one should read if new to the subject of climate change (global warming). Spencer R. Weart, director of the Center for the History of Physics of the American Institute of Physics, takes the reader on a journey that begins as a scientific detective story about what caused the ice ages and ends up being the story of how scientists realized that humans were influencing climate more than nature. Excerpt from review by Andrew C. Revkin, New York Times Sunday Book Review, 10/5/2003:

"Debate persists over the extent of human-driven warming and what to do about it. But recognition that in a short span our species has nudged the thermostat of the planet remains a momentous, and sobering, finding. "The Discovery of Global Warming" describes the intellectual journey toward that conclusion, with all of its false starts, flawed hypotheses, inventiveness and persistent uncertainties. It reveals the effort as one of the great exercises in collective sleuthing, with pivotal insights provided by experts in fields as varied as glaciology, physics and even plankton paleontology."

Six Degrees: Our Future On a Hotter Planet by Mark Lynas

This is the second book one should read because it shows degree by degree the impacts of climate change. Lynas has researched hundreds upon hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific articles to show the reader how each degree of future warming will impact droughts, floods, human migration, sea level rise, ice melt, ecosystem changes/extinctions on land and in the sea, human security issues, etc. Given that 3-4 oC warming is likely before the year 2100, read those chapters first and you will quickly see just how catastrophic the road humans are traveling down really is. This book is not for the faint of heart and will be a huge wake-up call to those that think waiting to take action is a viable option.

Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity by James Hansen

This is the third book one should read. Dr. Hansen describes the history and science of global warming and the potential dire consequences of inaction. Hansen also describes how politicians are fooling the masses with their "greenwashing" (talking green but not legislating green), how cap and trade is likely to be ineffective, why new coal plants should be immediately stopped unless they are carbon-free, and why we must use nuclear power as a wedge to buy us time. This book is different in that a well-respected scientist (arguably Dr. Hansen is the most famous climate scientist) has crossed "the line" between science and politics. Hansen shows just how dangerous divorcing politics from science is. It is clear that the science is not convincing the masses so more scientists must become activists. Dr. Hansen is the scientist exception: he states publicly what he says privately. Many scientists are aware of the coming catastrophe that is global warming but few are bold enough to shout this from the rooftops. Kudos to Dr. Hansen. If only the world had more Hansens. Maybe policy-makers would wake up to the reality of climate change.

Dire Predictions: Understanding Global Warming by Michael E. Mann and Lee R. Kump

The IPCC documents are quite heavy for the non-scientist who wishes to learn about the current state of climate change science. This book provides the reader with the most important information of these IPCC documents in an easy-to-read, highly illustrated format. A 7th grade student could easily understand the IPCC reports after reading this book.

Climate Change: Picturing the Science by Gavin Schmidt and Joshua Wolfe

As noted by the authors, this book was structured around a medical metaphor of symptoms, diagnosis, and possible cures. The book is a collection of essays from scientists from many fields: climatology, meteorology, biology, geology, oceanography, chemistry, climate modeling, environmental politics, astrophysics, and other fields, so it becomes clear to the reader how climate change has impacted all aspects of planet Earth. The authors have summarized the latest research in climate science in a style that makes the information very accessible to the non-scientist. The authors also make it clear what is well known vs. what is not well known in the rapidly evolving field of climate science. A very fair representation of the current science.

Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway

The U.S. scientific community has long led the world in research on such areas as public health, environmental science, and issues affecting quality of life. Our scientists have produced landmark studies on the dangers of DDT, tobacco smoke, acid rain, and global warming. But at the same time, a small yet potent subset of this community leads the world in vehement denial of these dangers.

Merchants of Doubt tells the story of how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists and scientific advisers, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. Remarkably, the same individuals surface repeatedly—some of the same figures who have claimed that the science of global warming is "not settled" denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole. "Doubt is our product," wrote one tobacco executive. These "experts" supplied it.

Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, historians of science, roll back the rug on this dark corner of the American scientific community, showing how ideology and corporate interests, aided by a too-compliant media, have skewed public understanding of some of the most pressing issues of our era. Amazon.

Science as a Contact Sport: Inside the Battle to Save Earth's Climate by Stephen H. Schneider

It’s been nearly four decades since scientists first realized that global warming posed a potential threat to our planet. Why, if we knew of the threats way back in the Carter Administration, can’t we act decisively to limit greenhouse gases, deforestation, and catastrophic warming trends? Why are we still addicted to fossil fuels? Have we all just been fiddling for 40 years as the world burns around us?

Schneider, part of the Nobel Prize–winning team that shared the accolade with Al Gore in 2007, had a front-row seat at this unfolding environmental meltdown. Piecing together events like a detective story, Schneider reveals that as expert consensus grew, well-informed activists warned of dangerous changes no one knew how to predict precisely—and special interests seized on that very uncertainty to block any effective response. He persuasively outlines a plan to avert the building threat and develop a positive, practical policy that will bring climate change back under our control, help the economy with a new generation of green energy jobs and productivity, and reduce the dependence on unreliable exporters of oil—and thus ensure a future for ourselves and our planet that’s as rich with promise as our past. Amazon.

Earth's Climate: Past and Future by William F. Ruddiman

As the title suggests, this book describes the cause and effect relationship between climate forcing and climate change from ancient climate to the present. Ruddiman also explains how human activities are likely causing the climate change in recent times and the possible future changes. This book is primarily designed to be a textbook aimed at undergraduates in science or for non-science majors taking an entry-level science course. It is also appropriate for the general public but it is written at a much higher level than the books listed above. Ruddiman uses the scientific method to build his topics. He begins with a hypothesis, explores the data, and then discusses if the hypothesis is valid or not. This writing style shows how scientists approach problems and how they offer possible solutions. The illustrations are superb - quite a few have been used in this site.

Hell and High Water: Global Warming--the Solution and the Politics--and What We Should Do by Joseph Romm

Joseph Romm is a physicist and founder and director of the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions. Romm presents a very sobering outlook on the consequences of failing to act on global warming. His book is divided into two parts. The first, The Science and the Future of Global Warming contains a wealth of information about how human emissions are causing global warming and the likely best-case and worse-case scenarios of action vs. inaction. The notes that go along with this chapter are invaluable. The second section, The Politics and the Solution details how politics have trumped science and why this rhetoric has allowed people to believe that technology will save us so no actions to prevent climate change are required.

Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming by James Hoggan

A real eye-opener for those that wonder why the overwhelming scientific consensus about anthropogenic global warming is not reaching the general public. There has been and still is a well-orchestrated campaign by the fossil fuel industry to deliberately confuse the general public with misleading statements and publications presented by the few scientists that are "on the take" from this industry. Hoggan, who founded DeSmogBlog.com, exposes the individuals and the organizations behind the global warming cover-up. You will be saddened and likely outraged at how the misinformation lobby is willing to sacrifice our children's future to save a few dollars today.

Climate Wars: How Peak Oil and the Climate Crisis Will Change Canada (and Our Lives) by Gwynne Dyer

Climate Wars is a bit different from the other climate change books you may have read. This book's central theme is that dwindling resources, water shortages, and droughts/floods caused by global warming are setting up the possibility of regional and perhaps global wars as the haves and the have nots are further separated. Increased immigration due to expanding regions of drought will heighten political tensions between Mexico, the US and Canada, and will pit southern Europe vs. northern Europe, thus destabilizing the EU. As glaciers recede and drought increases, will countries such as India divert waterways that now run into Pakistan? Will Pakistan use its nukes to secure water for its starving people? Most compelling is Dwyer's research that shows military planners from many countries are already worried that climate change will lead to increased terrorism and wars as we move toward 2100. Wars will have the effect of slowing progress on the climate change mitigation that will be required to solve the problems that created these wars in the first place - a vicious cycle for sure. Although Dwyer presents the worst-case scenarios for many examples in this book, it becomes clear to the reader that climate change isn't just about global temperatures - it may be about global war.

Noise: Lies, Damned Lies, and Denial of Global Warming by Grant Foster

Noise: Lies, Damned Lies, and Denial of Global Warming by statistician Grant Foster should be an essential part of everyone's climate change library. It is a powerful weapon! Grant Foster is a genius at delivering complex statistics to the average person. He explains the statistics (without using equations!) in a writing style that is far more typical of a liberal arts professor or a high school teacher than that of a world-class mathematician. At 120 pages, it is a quick read and it fits in one's back pocket. Armed with the helpful information in this handy guide, any person will be able to shoot down the BS from those that try to mislead with bad analyses. Grant Foster shows the ways these fraudsters are trying to trick unwitting persons with cherry-picked data and outright lies while at the same time, he shows the reader how to look at data the correct way. For a chapter-by-chapter review please read my blog post on this book.

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