In the early days of my career in meteorology, which included determining the impact of air pollution emissions using mathematical models, one of my bosses, concerned about the outcome of a computer model I was using to assess a contentious industrial operation, asked me: “What will the model show?” I replied facetiously: “Well, what do you want it to show?” In no way was I going to manipulate a model to get the results I or anyone else wanted. But the point is that models can produce results … [Read more...]
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Letter to the American Church’
Like the German church in the 1930s, the American church in the 2020s is culpable for the pending devastation of human life and the collapse of a great nation. Comparisons could not be more compelling as proffered in “Letter to the American Church” by New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas. “Letter to the American Church” is a culmination of Mr. Metaxas’ in-depth understanding of the decline and fall of Germany under the Third Reich, especially as seen through the … [Read more...]
Science returns to the Middle Ages with a vengeance
Touring Britain's Cotswolds region in Gloucestershire, England, and beyond can be downright inspirational. Castles long ago conquered, now in ruins, recall a cold, hard past — a past that relied on the sun and wood for heat, coupled with wind and water for power. And mostly only feudal lords and royal gentry could comfortably afford even paltry luxuries on a regular basis. Today it's back to the future of medieval times with a vengeance and a modern twist. Not only are we moving … [Read more...]
‘Trust Us, We’re Experts’ Has Returned To A World Of Faith-Based Science
We are living in an era steeped in faith-based science. Deep trust in science, as defined by those perceived to be authoritative scientists in very complex scientific areas, has become blatant with the coronavirus crisis. To make sure we stayed healthy in addition to staying alive, we trusted what the scientific experts were telling us about the deadly disease. Now a certain amount of distrust of such expertise has set in. As the public learns more about the virus and the subsequent … [Read more...]
Pregnant People are Birthing Distrust of Science
There’s a real concern that the public is losing trust in the scientific establishment, and maybe for good reason. A recent news article in one of the world’s most prestigious science journals, Nature, contained an editor’s statement that sadly apologized for being insensitive to a new unscientific norm. The article was titled, “COVID vaccines safely protect pregnant people: The data are in.” The journal editor thought it was necessary to assure readers that, “Nature recognizes that … [Read more...]
The Dangers of Challenging the Climate Change Consensus
One of the easiest things to do is to go along to get along. This is true in so many areas of life, including knowledge of science topics. If you don't have an in-depth knowledge of a particular area of science, the "easiest thing" kicks in rather effortlessly. Alternatively, if you have a depth of knowledge on a particular science topic, things can get a whole lot harder, especially if you challenge the prevailing view on that topic. We find … [Read more...]
Obama official concedes it’s impossible to predict the risks of climate change
But media, politicians, and scientists skew climate data A review of Steven E. Koonin's Unsettled? What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn't, and Why It Matters Mark Twain has supposedly quipped that: “What gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so.” Challenging what we know for sure about climate change is Unsettled? What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn’t, and Why It Matters, by Steven E. Koonin. Dr. … [Read more...]
50th Earth Day: Compassionate concern for humans and their habitat
A measured response to COVID-19 must balance health and economic needs Fifty years of weather have passed since the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. This was the same year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established and the federal Clean Air Act was promulgated. Over the past five decades, since I rode my bike to school celebrating that inaugural day, the nation’s air quality has improved markedly. Particle and gaseous pollutants have been reduced tremendously, and … [Read more...]
The trouble with the political push for climate change activism
The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, as the old song goes, have shoved their way into the fall. And with them, the political push for climate change activism chucked kids out of the classroom and into the streets this past Friday (not that they needed a reason to cut class, especially in nice weather). Not to be outdone by the shouting students, this past Monday, adults from around the globe with their own dreams of climate utopia (and excuse to cut work and party in a fab city), … [Read more...]
‘Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get’
The old adage “Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get” is telling of the reality of weather extremes in the context of “normal” conditions. But in today’s world, this maxim seems to have been turned on its head with political spin. As an atmospheric scientist with 40 years of experience, my job has always been to look at weather and climate situations objectively. This means observing the dynamics of the atmosphere and evaluating long-term trends in an unbiased manner. When … [Read more...]
