Climate Research Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What's a good website to research climate that has graphs? I need to research northern brittanys climate for geography homework and a graph would really help

Answer: www.wunderground.com Just put in any city for any time of the year and for any year. The graphs and information is extensive.

Question: Would you support the passing of a tax that went directly to global warming and climate research? why or why not?

Answer: I'd gladly support a "global warming tax" if it taxed the hot air coming out of Washington. We could call it a "wind bag" tax.

Question: Can global climate change research boost agricultural productivity? For instance, according to projections made by the IPCC, anticipated changes in the medium-term future will adversely affect the farmers of the developing countries. Toward this end, scientists have initiated research that they hope will breed varieties and hybrids that will overcome the adverse impacts. Will this proactive approach stave off projected impacts, or even possibly lead to breakthroughs that help boost production throughout the world? Could a lack of research have a chilling effect on future agricultural production in the next few decades?

Answer: Without question, research pays for itself many times over. Pure unfettered research has produced amazing breakthroughs - Bell Labs in the 1950's for example. Any time research is restricted by making sure it can be "applied" or must conform to a particular political view, it is diminished. Fine and good for a commercial enterprise or political entitity, but wrong for governments. We are being short changed by those who think research can be "directed". edit: Gee, look what turned up in the news today. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/opinion/27tue2.html?partner=EXCITE&ei=5043

Question: I need help finding a thesis statement for my research paper which is on climate change.? Im doing a research project on climate change and now im having trouble finding my thesis statement for it. Any ideas. Thank You.

Answer: "Climate Change Science Missing Critical Data" Hard to imagine academia of the world being blind to climate change and missing critical data but it is the reality. Buildings and development on the surface of the planet are designed with temperature except we couldn't see it so we use a calculator. Building are designed, insulated and insured based on compliance with codes except none of it can be seen. Solar radiation is in effect burning buildings and causing them to generate extreme heat the building isn't designed, insulated or insured for. We are reacting to the symptoms with more emissions, wasted resources, generating heat and California gets knocked off the electrical grid treating symptoms. Here is a link to precedent setting temperature information being lectured internationally. http://www.thermoguy.com/globalwarming-heatgain.html Your other option for a thesis statement could be "Climate Change Polluting Newborns Before Their First Breath" go to http://www.thermoguy.com/medical.html and scroll down to the picture of the fetus where you can link to the study on polluted babies.

Question: I've been assigned to do an interview on climate change research. How can I find a scientist interested? I'm required to find someone with a researchable background, who may easily be contacted through email.

Answer: Your best option would be to contact your local State Climatologist Office. Some even offer telephone #, addresses and email. There's also the local media that may be of service as well as Universities. Certain sites such as realclimate, and the weather channel have blog postings and forums. http://www.stateclimate.org/publications/files/2003stateclimatologist.pdf This is a old listing and may have been updated since then.

Question: Where can someone autonomously research "global warming" and climate change data? I would like to know where I can read and research articles and scientific data without the data being skewed one way or the other. There are countless sites on either side of the argument regarding human effects on global climate trends. Unfortunately, most of these sites seem to offer lofty and impressive data as "proof" of their position being the correct one. Where can one go to legitimately look up data without the arrogance of righteousness clouding the findings.

Answer: Use unbiased scientific organizations like NASA, NOAA, NAS, etc. Some links provided below.

Question: How are glaciers helpful in climate research?

Answer: They can be used to for ice core samples to determine the earth's climate record. They are also considered a demonstration of the "extreme" of climate change for a number of reasons, as the temperature changes at the poles are more extreme than those closer to the equator.

Question: Who else has done extensive research in climate change? I was curious becasue I have been doing some research lately and I was wondering what other peoples findings were?

Answer: Don't ask Al Gore. He hasn't done any scientific research.

Question: If there is so much research money for climate, why is this problem happening? http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080430//full/453007a.html Oceanography is a key subject in climate change. If so much money is being spent on climate change research and it is so profitable for scientists, why is the U.S. research fleet in such trouble financially?

Answer: That's not the only research funding problem, either. "NASA is canceling or delaying a number of satellites designed to give scientists critical information on the earth's changing climate and environment. The space agency has shelved a $200 million satellite mission headed by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor that was designed to measure soil moisture -- a key factor in helping scientists understand the impact of global warming and predict droughts and floods. The Deep Space Climate Observatory, intended to observe climate factors such as solar radiation, ozone, clouds, and water vapor more comprehensively than existing satellites, also has been canceled." http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/06/09/nasa_shelves_climate_satellites/ The answer is of course that this 'skeptic' conspiracy theory that scientists are perpetrating a global warming hoax in order to get grant money is completely absurd.

Question: Is the argos float data accurate and usefull for climate research? http://www.argo.ucsd.edu/

Answer: "One advantage oceanographers have over other planetary scientists is less chaotic measurement conditions. There is only a single phase of matter to worry about..." Do oceanographers not bother themself with ice or oceanic evaporation? The more information that can be gleaned from as many sources as possible can all be fed back and assimilated, cross referencing one another to provide the most accurate source of data. Taking data from purely one source wouldn't be wise.

Question: Does anyone know where I can find a list of university funded climate change research? i.e. waht are the program costs, funding level, # of people, etc.

Answer: SCIENCEDAILY.COM

Question: Canadians contribute technology and research expertise to international programs dealing with climate change.? Canadians contribute technology and research expertise to international programs dealing with climate change. Give an example of such a contribution made by a team of climatologists working in Canada, and briefly describe what they do.

Answer: Climate Change Programs The Government of Canada is putting in place a made-in-Canada plan for reducing greenhouse gases and ensuring clean air, water, land and energy for Canadians. As part of developing the made-in-Canada approach, 15 programs that have completed their work or which require a different approach are being wound down. Work completed Name of Program: Urban Transportation Showcase Program** Department: Transport Canada Description: The program showcased projects that demonstrated, evaluated and promoted cost-effective strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger transportation in urban areas. Name of Program: Concrete Roads Program Department: Natural Resources Canada Description: This program was designed to raise awareness of the benefits of concrete roads for emissions reductions in the transportation sector. Name of Program: Electricity Reduced Trade Barriers Part II Department: Natural Resources Canada Description: This program assessed regulatory and economic issues related to interprovincial electricity trade. Name of Program: Electricity Reduced Trade Barriers Part III — Consumer Information Department: Natural Resources Canada Description: This program provided an analysis and reporting of environmental information associated with electricity generation. Name of Program: Environmental Supply Chain Management Pilot Project Department: Industry Canada Description: This project was one of the industry cross-cutting measures to encourage Canadian industry to become more energy-efficient. Name of Program: Feasibility of Afforestation for Carbon Sequestration Initiative Department: Natural Resources Canada Description: This initiative was designed to explore the feasibility of afforestation for carbon sequestration to help offset greenhouse gas emissions. Name of Program: Federal House in Order Leadership Measures — Built Environment Department: Natural Resources Canada Description: This program provided one-time demonstration funding for energy-efficient practices and renewable energy technologies in Government of Canada facilities. Name of Program: Forest 2020 Plantation Demonstration Assessment Department: Natural Resources Canada Description: This initiative was designed to explore options to attract investment in fast-growing tree plantations for carbon sequestration to help Canada offset its greenhouse gas emissions. Name of Program: Off-road Vehicle and Equipment Initiative*/Off-road CO2 Initiative Department: Environment Canada Description: This initiative examined a series of tools to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from off-road vehicles and equipment such as lawnmowers, power boats, mining trucks, bulldozers, snowmobiles and farm tractors. Name of Program: On-Site Generation at Federal Facilities Department: Natural Resources Canada Description: This program promoted the adoption of renewable energy technologies for on-site electricity generation in federal operations. Name of Program: Pilot Emission Removals, Reductions and Learnings Initiative** Department: Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada Description: This initiative provided Canadian companies and organizations with an economic incentive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects in areas such as methane emissions from landfills, renewable energy and carbon sinks. Through this initiative, the Government of Canada purchased greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removals from qualified projects on a lowest-cost-per-tonne basis.

Question: Good news in the world of global climate change research? From the site below: "A team of researchers led by a first-year UC Davis faculty member has resolved a longstanding paradox in the plant world, which should lead to far more accurate predictions of global climate change." http://www.verticalnews.com/articles/754608.html Your thoughts?

Answer: The issue of terrestrial biogenic uptake of anthropogenic CO2 is *huge* in determining the long-term atmospheric burden of CO2, which of course impacts radiative transfer and climate. Currently, it is estimated the oceans take up about half of the CO2 produced anthropogenically, but the terrestrial uptake is very poorly quantified. Understanding the entire nutrient cycle of plants is key in predicting how they will respond to elevated CO2 levels, and whether land-based productivity will increase to mitigate rising CO2 levels. The article addresses these issues, although I'm not a plant biologist so I don't know how great an impact nitrogen-fixing trees have globally. The fact they are found in tropical rain forests suggests it might be large. Interesting news blurb, but they could have brought out these issues a little better so as to not confuse people.

Question: Does Lord Monckton of Brenchley have the scientific training to properly research climate change? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Monckton,_3rd_Viscount_Monckton_of_Brenchley Is he qualified to reverse the findings of the National Academy of Sciences, APS, AGU, GSA, NASA, NOAA, The Royal Society (amound many others)?

Answer: eric c - Actually, he does not have more credibility than Gore. His academic training is in journalism (same as Gore) and he was a politician (as was Gore). I'd say that puts his scientific "credibility" on an even par with Gores. So since you don't accept Gores proclamations about science, if you are intellectually honest you also will not accept Monckton's. Stick to what real climate scientists say, if you have any interest in the truth. A reasonable person would clearly agree that this list of individuals (all active Climate Scientists from respectable Universities and/or research organizations) are far more credible than any journalist or politician: http://www.ccrc.unsw.edu.au/news/2007/Bali.html/ "The amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere now far exceeds the natural range of the past 650,000 years, and it is rising very quickly due to human activity. If this trend is not halted soon, many millions of people will be at risk from extreme events such as heat waves, drought, floods and storms, our coasts and cities will be threatened by rising sea levels, and many ecosystems, plants and animal species will be in serious danger of extinction." Edit: bob - I'm not sure what question you're referring too when you mention my comment about the Swartz article being better written, but I do know that polish is far less valuable than accuracy and truth. And the Swartz article is in agreement with a heck of a lot more climate science research than Monckton's op-ed piece. Perhaps you like it so much because it agrees with you?

Question: Where can I find actual research relating to the world climate report.? I'd like to see actual research, not just scientists giving their opinion on the bleak outlook of our future in order to recieve more funding for their research. You know, METHODS, CONCLUSIONS, DISCUSSION. Was the report based on hard scientific research or just opinions?

Answer: Keep checking the two references over the next weeks. As stated, they killed many trees and used lots of petroleum to make this report, so it will take sometime for the data to be analyzed.

Question: what do you think of my thesis for my research paper on hurricanes/climate? "Mother Nature has incessantly thrown storms at us, but none as damaging and deadly as Hurricane Katrina. Katrina showed us that this country is not ready for a cataclysm such as the one it besieged upon New Orleans. " tell me what you think and make suggestions please

Answer: It's well written, but I think you'd have a hard time backing up your first sentence. There have been far worse natural disasters than Katrina. It just hit home for Americans because it was right here. If you just cut off the first sentence, you could write a really great essay about how Katrina showed us that America wasn't ready for such a disaster.