Re: [Phys-l] Prof. Hal Lewis resigns from APS

[marx@phy.ilstu.edu]

> John Mallinckrodt wrote:
>
> > 1. CO2 levels in the atmosphere are higher by at least 30% or so
> > than we have seen in at least a million years and that rise (over
> > the last hundred or so years) is very clearly due to human activity.
> >
> > 2. CO2 is a greenhouse gas with very well known radiative forcing
> > potential and predictions can be made about the resulting decrease
> > in upward radiation at the wavelengths that CO2 absorbs.
> >
> > 3. We do, indeed, see very close to that expected decrease in upward
> > radiation in satellite observations.
> >
> > 4.  We know the sensitivity of the climate in terms of degrees of
> > increased equilibrium temperature per watt per square meter of of
> > increased radiative forcing.
> >
> > 5. Over the past twenty years we have seen roughly the amount of
> > warming to be expected from all of the above.

I think most people will certainly agree with points 1 and 2.  The other 3 points are less well 
established, particularly number 5.  The actual dynamic processes are much more complex than your 
simple model indicates.  It doesn't take into account the numerous positive and negative feedbacks 
that exist (most of which are porrly understood at best).

Since the land and sea temperature data is very inaccurate and the historical measurement record is 
somewhat incomplete and unreliable, we are left with the satellite temperature measurements since 
1979.  These are updated monthly from UAH.  Please see this website for this data. Are you saying 
that the  continuous increase in CO2 correlates well with the observed global temperature changes 
observed?

http://www.drroyspencer.com/latest-global-temperatures/