Current Events — HabitableZone

Current Events » in reply to Too easy: "He may be a scientist [doubtful actually] but his job is as an manager. "

re: Too easy: "He may be a scientist [doubtful actually] but his job is as an manager. "
gbaikie — (archived)

What specifically has Hansen written that demonstrates to you that he is a scientist?

That he was successful at getting a raft of his papers published? [Some from the joint he manages {"Hey, I got idea let's tell your boss that his article is a piece of crap- no, second thought, I like my job!"}]

I look at first on the list:
http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/1748-9326/2/2/024002/erl7_2_024002.html

"Abstract. I suggest that a `scientific reticence' is inhibiting the communication of a threat of a potentially large sea level rise. Delay is dangerous because of system inertias that could create a situation with future sea level changes out of our control. I argue for calling together a panel of scientific leaders to hear evidence and issue a prompt plain-written report on current understanding of the sea level change issue."

Obviously, scientific.

Next:
http://pubs.giss.nasa.gov/docs/2007/2007_Hansen_etal_2.pdf

"Trace atmospheric gases have played a leading role in climate change throughout Earth’s history. Thus, empirical data on trace gas histories and climate change
provide invaluable information on climate sensitivity. The Earth’s climate history also provides our best indication of the level of global warming that would constitute ‘dangerous interference’ with climate. The empirical data,
abetted by appropriate calculations, imply that control of trace gases must play a critical role in preserving a planet resembling the one on which civilization developed."

I think it's fair to say that trace gases have NOT played a leading role in climate change throughout history.

Dust bowl [a major climate change]. Trace gases caused it? Nope.

Little Ice age- a major climate change. Trace gases caused it? Nope.

Can he/you name any climate change caused by trace gases in last million years?

What has been a cause of major climate change?
Perhaps, Sun's activity? Major volcano events. Cyclic patterns such as El Nino. And other factors [I think an asteroid striking Earth upset some dinosaurs a little bit- and the local climate might have been affected slightly, but I'm not completely certain- though couldn't have been as much effect as .038 % of CO2.]

Regarding Ice ages Wiki says:
"The consensus is that several factors are important: atmospheric composition (the concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide,[citation needed] and various other gases and particulates in the atmosphere); changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun known as Milankovitch cycles (and possibly the Sun's orbit around the galaxy); the motion of tectonic plates resulting in changes in the relative location and amount of continental and oceanic crust on the Earth's surface, which could affect wind and ocean currents; variations in solar output; the orbital dynamics of the Earth-Moon system; and the impact of relatively large meteorites, and eruptions of supervolcanoes."

This is Wiki. The lefty bias wiki, generally Al Gore lovers, saying several factors. Does not say atmospheric composition is the cause or leading cause.
Because,, it obviously isn't, it's more a consequence that a cause.

Wiki continues:

"The most relevant change is in the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There is evidence that greenhouse gas levels fell at the start of ice ages and rose during the retreat of the ice sheets, but it is difficult to establish cause and effect (see the notes above on the role of weathering). Greenhouse gas levels may also have been affected by other factors which have been proposed as causes of ice ages, such as the movement of continents and vulcanism. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age

[Got to love that spin.]

But let's imagine that Hansen isn't a politician.
Let's instead imagine he is a great scientist [who, you know, was one of the first to see the dangers of global warming in a world hopelessly blind to it's dangers. And not in way conceivable as someone who sticks his finger in the wind and spends considerable effort advocating issues].

Couldn't we simply have a modestly good administer spend time doing administering thing and let your great scientist have some time to devote some serious effort to his critically important profession?

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