The headline at The Drudge Report website,”Group Repping 50,000 Physicists Opens Global Warming Debate…” [linked to dailytech.com] says it all. That headline stems from an article posted in the July, 2008, newsletter of the American Physical Society unit known as Physics and Society. Lord Christopher Monckton of Brenchley wrote the explosive article, ‘Climate Sensitivity Reconsidered,’and the abstract alone is guaranteed to make Al Gore’s blood boil.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) concluded that anthropogenic CO2 emissions probably caused more than half of the “global warming” of the past 50 years and would cause further rapid warming. However, global mean surface temperature has not risen since 1998 and may have fallen since late 2001. **The present analysis suggests that the failure of the IPCC’s models to predict this and many other climatic phenomena arises from defects in its evaluation of the three factors whose product is climate sensitivity:**
1.Radiative forcing ?F;
2.The no-feedbacks climate sensitivity parameter ?;
3.The feedback multiplier ƒ.Some reasons why the IPCC’s estimates may be excessive and unsafe are explained. **More importantly, the conclusion is that, perhaps, there is no “climate crisis”, and that currently-fashionable efforts by governments to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions are pointless, may be ill-conceived, and could even be harmful.**
The APS, hanging onto dogma like a seal with a fish, promptly put up a disclaimer stating essentially the organization’s position remains unchanged—“an article at odds with this statement recently appeared in an online newsletter of the APS Forum on Physics and Society, one of 39 units of APS…This newsletter is not a journal of the APS and it is not peer reviewed.”
Nice try. The newsletter article Climate Sensitivity Reconsidered might not technically be peer reviewed, but there are more than 30 citations from distinguished sources. It took me many attempts to pull up the page at both Daily Tech and APS, a sign both sites were getting tons of traffic.
This dustup is a signal—scientists whose voices have been gagged are beginning to speak up. This follows Lawrence Solomon’s explosive book completely ignored by mainstream media. ‘The Deniers’ cites expert after expert, all with reams of credentials and work cited in numerous scientific journals as well as official government reports about global warming. Solomon makes the case that science was done by consensus rather than logic.
More than 31,000 scientists have signed a petition asking for a debate with Gorian proponents. None would take the challenge. There is a myth that legitimate scientists do not disagree man is causing global warming. They do disagree and those experts have in some cases, according to Solomon, been severely punished for their attitude, with research funding going only to proponents of Gore’s ideology.
There is a complete free-for-all right now at Daily Tech, with Gorians vs. deniers exchanging scientific claims, some of which may be suspect. The article at Daily Tech notes, “Larry Gould, Professor of Physics at the University of Hartford and Chairman of the New England Section of the APS, called Monckton’s paper an ‘expose of the IPCC that details numerous exaggerations and extensive errors.’”
Meanwhile, global warming which the EPA now insists be called ‘climate change’ which the APS is now referring to as ‘climate senstivity’ is costing the United States both money and goodwill. Countries where people don’t have enough to eat are given the impression the U.S., rather than natural events, wars and lack of leadership, is causing food shortages. I predict we’ll see this heat up (pun intended) in weeks to come, and it may emerge as a campaign issue.
[Sources: APS Physics and Society Unit, Daily Tech("Myth of consensus Explodes: APS opens global warming debate), The Heartland Institute]
Note: I have contributed to and participated in environmental efforts for many years, among them, working as technical writer on the program to restore bald eagle populations, the gopher tortoise and the peregrine falcon (SC Dept. Natural Resources) and planting trees as part of my work as the first communications director for the SC Forestry Association. I also rescued a feral chicken who still lives in our back yard in perfect harmony with our hound dog.
This article was edited July 18, 2008, to include the link to the Physics and Society unit of the APS, whose article is at odds with the overall APS policy, as I noted in the second paragraph (after the blockquote). Red State is among the few sites where the story was reported correctly.–Kay B. Day

Where would McCain be on this issue?
Mord Thursday, July 17th at 5:37PM EDT (link)That’s what I would like to know. He is pushing Cap and Trade isn’t he? I don’t see this being much of a Campaign issue, unfortunatly….both guys would mouth platitudes and essentially agree. Too many of the public are convinced Global Warming is real, thanks to an un-ending media assault for the last few years. Public opinion won’t be changed by a few greybeards nobody knows talking at some convention. No politician will risk it either.
The only way public opinion would change before the election is a media blitz like we have never seen. I won’t hold my breath.
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“Republicans never win polls, they win elections,” - Rudy Giuliani
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Wait 'n see.
KBDay Thursday, July 17th at 6:11PM EDT (link)This is going to be big–this organization will have a public disagreement. I just want the truth to come out. Read that book by Solomon and it will make your blood boil.
Don't get me wrong...
Mord Thursday, July 17th at 6:16PM EDT (link)I hope the world has a collective “DUH!” moment and see’s the whole sham of AGW for what it is. Govornment control, and enviornmntalists who want to bring the world bacck to living in grass huts.
Unforunatly, I don’t see it getting much media coverage is part of what I meant.
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“Republicans never win polls, they win elections,” - Rudy Giuliani
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Maybey they should show this Video.
Mord Thursday, July 17th at 6:28PM EDT (link)This is a Blog from MKH. Video of Al Gore arriving at a climate change speaking event in a 3-car fleet. They stayed outside idleing with the AC on so Goracle wouldn’t break a sweat when they left the convention.
conservation for thee, not for me
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“Republicans never win polls, they win elections,” - Rudy Giuliani
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Mord!
KBDay Thursday, July 17th at 7:20PM EDT (link)Thank you so much. I popped that up at my blog. What an incredible video. For Gore, two faces are always better than one.
I didn’t realize M.K. Ham had left Townhall–I’ll bookmark the Washington Examiner now that she’s editor online. best, Kay
The paper in question ...
rbdwiggins Thursday, July 17th at 7:43PM EDT (link)can be viewed here: Climate Sensitivity Reconsidered
Cliffs Notes™ version from Science and Public Policy…
Lord Monckton’s paper reveals that –
Yep. The debate is settled…
The IPCC is a fraud.
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
Computers cause climate change
woodsman Thursday, July 17th at 8:03PM EDT (link)A friend of mine talked to a climatologist some years ago and the professor said climate change was caused by computers! The extrapolation of models based on 50 years of data was beyond any vestige of reasonable expectation.
He said there was a greater possibility of the actual super-computers causing global warming than anything else that might be attributed to mankind.
There’s probably a greater chance of a mini ice age, than the oceans rising 30 feet (or whatever the latest figure is!).
I’m sure there will be more money in the next big scare, if this one doesn’t pan out for big Al.
Not just IPCC
Rod_Patrick Thursday, July 17th at 8:05PM EDT (link)I believe that the UN itself is a broken system. That includes many UN agencies including UNEP, World Bank, FAO, UNIDO, UNDP and even the affiliates like IAEA.
IAEA’s failure results to nuke proliferation.
UNDP has resulted to so many Anti-American NGOs, including those Anti War groups who signed the Anti-War Movement resolution in 2001.
FAO, instead executing its mandate, has become an alarmist of world food shortage.
WB has poorly performed its mandate of financing world development.
UN has become a platform organ for World Federation, whose entire program is pointing to USA as its milking cow.
UNIDO? Industrial development remains at the confines of the first world countries.
The scary thing is that UN has become supportive of communism and socialism around the world in the guise of Human Rights and Civil Liberties.
The entire organization is little more ...
rbdwiggins Thursday, July 17th at 8:30PM EDT (link)than a socialist bureaucracy in search of funding.
It’s only mitigating factor is our veto power at the Security Council.
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
This is red meat for an amateur skeptic
phred Thursday, July 17th at 8:52PM EDT (link)like me. I’ve been waging my personal war on anthropogenic climate change since it was the coming ice age of the 70s. It’s a shame that this side of the argument has only now reached the “dog bites man” status of news, but at least that means it gets inches now where 5 years ago this “blaspheme” and would have never even made a newsletter. It is heartening to finally see the “heretics” numbering in the 10s of thousands. All that is left is to watch for the “Page 14D” retractions over the next decade–fat chance.
Liberalism: Equally shared misery.
gc recommended and more later
Mike gamecock DeVine Thursday, July 17th at 10:04PM EDT (link)nt
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
mobilization of bias
KBDay Thursday, July 17th at 10:26PM EDT (link)There’s been such a concerted effort to shove this down our throats–partly due to Al Gore’s needing a platform and otherwise due to his hedge fund.
I also believe many of these alarmists have never lived close to the land. I grew up in a home where just about everything we ate was raised on less than an acre of land. You learn so much about the real Mother Nature–the quirks, the unpredictables and you also learn even more about the vast power of God.
Science in my opinion seeks to become our new god–dictating everything from what we eat to what we do with our bodies to controlling the planet. I firmly believe no science will ever trump the real God and I believe that is one of our great conflicts at present.
Solomon does a great job of explaining how various scientific disciplines came up with conclusions then merged them into theory that makes no sense (the hockey stick graph, for instance, that sort of started this whole mess and then was disproved).
rdbwiggnins, thank you for going to the trouble to post that information–it really rounds out everything well and adds a new dimension.
The other problem I have with alarmists is that it is costing the poorest more, not only at home but abroad. And Rod you are so right on about the UN.
best, Kay
Well done, I like it
KC Thursday, July 17th at 11:21PM EDT (link)I have long suspected the computer models because in my work computer models have been used to model everything from fuel burning and air flow to explosions, all with limited success. We still needed to do testing every time to validate the model before we based any design on it. Since this is the case with our models and since the climate is far more complex than an explosion or air flow over a defined surface, I had no faith. When the models are matched against the facts, they fail as this article points out. There cannot be a test of something like the earth’s climate except to accurately predict things that have already occurred. Real engineers don’t rely on models that are not validated and so I became a denier.
KC –This is still a free country
What the heck is a feral chicken?
Dave_in_Fla Thursday, July 17th at 11:38PM EDT (link)Other than than that, great post. Recommended.
“If they were merely incompetent, then at least SOME of their actions would have been to the benefit of the country.” - Joe McCarthy
I concur 100%...
Chemical Sam Friday, July 18th at 3:01AM EDT (link)with the assessment laid out in the abstract written by Lord Monckton (see Wiggins’ link above). It’s a tough read, but I read the whole thing. My only regret is that it will fall on deaf ears among the people, because they won’t be able to get through it without a major yawnfest.
The equation he tears apart, variable by variable, is contrived at best, and grossly incorrect at worst. That equation is the basis for all the IPCC claims. For instance, I had no idea that the feedback equation was derived from electrical circuits and have no connection with assessing the atmosphere.
And, as I have told everyone that will listen in the past, the term “radiative forcing” is particular to the concept of anthropogenic global warming. I’ve never heard of it, even as a euphamism for some other observable quantity; only as a proportionality factor between global temperature and CO2 level trends. Monckton has it right, it has no valid basis because its basis is unfounded in the observed data, if you use enough of it.
By the way, all statistical trends between two unrelated variables fail, when enough data is obtained. I’m thinking, that’s what happened with [CO2] and Temp, when you go outside the 1970-1990 AD range.
In an unduly respectful way, Monckton has shown that the IPCC has been relying on incorrect mathematics, and, worse still, a piss-poor understanding of atmospheric chemistry dynamics altogether.
He even went to far as to imply that the IPCC deliberatly exaggerated some numbers in an effort to achieve politicial expediency. Say it ain’t so.
While Monckton supports his attack with century-old thermodynamic equations that still hold true today, he does not supply an alterative theory, largely because he indicates that the accuracy isn’t available right now. Maybe, someday soon. Anyway, that’s also not the focus of the abstract. It’s all enough for me for the moment to say (once, again):
So the IPCC is full of crap. Well, no kidding! to those of us that actually studied chemical kinetics, physical chemistry, and the action of light on molecules. (Hansen and Gore ain’t among us, and neither are their politically ambitious friends. And you can especially count out anyone called “climate scientists”. If anything, they’re the people that ducked everything beyond the first year of chemistry. I defy you to go out and find an place that offered an accredited degree in “climate science” more than five years ago. There may be some now, but only because there is a “demand” for them now, rather than all the nasty complications of dealing with someone with a “real science” degree.)
This is what we get when our children don’t attain meaningful math and science skills throughout their education, while we simultaneously rely on politicians who claim authority in science to feed it to us like so much infant formula gone bad.
Thank you Lord M.
Breathe the free air, my friends…
Sam - AGW denier and proud of it.
My way out of a recession or depression: Start a new company and start making some serious money! The lab is now ready! — http://www.criterionchemical.com
global warming/climate change/climate sensitivity
KBDay Friday, July 18th at 9:32AM EDT (link)KC, I have a dear one who agrees with every word you said–he’s in an energy-related industry and he’s told me many times the American public has no idea what it will cost them and how it will impact their lifestyle if alarmists carry the day. He also shared you can’t even hint at disagreement with the models.
Dave, our feral chickie is truly feral. She flew over our fence one day, flew into a tree and stayed there until we coaxed her down with birdseed. That was several years ago. She has paid for her food with the essays and articles I’ve written about her. If you try to touch her she will shred your hand with a Terminator-level beak. You can see her pic at coveringflorida.blogspot.com in the right-hand column. She sleeps in the trees, except every now and then she heads into the pool house (actually it’s my husband’s man club; he claimed it when we moved here). She likes to lay an egg every now and then on his weight bench and she likes to leave him a very messy surprise every now and then as well. The hound dog does not mess with her.
Sam, take a look at Solomon’s book (I don’t benefit in any way by pushing this book; don’t even know the guy)–the experts he interviewed are highly regarded; some of them actually have contributed to IPCC reports and have seen their research contorted to fit the political consensus. I learned a lot just by reading your post.
Also I noticed NASA plans to send a probe to the sun. I’m thinking that may shed light on what really impacts our climate.
I think this will get bounce. The alarmists have highly annoyed key experts in climatology, statistics, geology and other disciplines. Whether MSM picks up on it is another matter (I heard most of them will take a vacation to Iraq and you know how that will dominate those busy little keyboards and sound bites in weeks to come!)
Thanks all–I’ve learned a lot by reading all these posts.
best, Kay
Ooops. Turns out it's wrong.
Gridlock Friday, July 18th at 1:22PM EDT (link)KBDay,
Check out Goldberg’s mea culpa.
the trouble with our conservative friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so
No, Gridlock.
KBDay Friday, July 18th at 6:08PM EDT (link)The APS as an org didn’t make the statement, the unit did–re-read this part:
To me what’s important is that a unit of the org was brave enough to speak out.
PS
KBDay Friday, July 18th at 6:17PM EDT (link)That’s why I parsed it so carefully. Daily Tech also had it incorrect. But the scientists in that unit are sticking to their guns:
http://aps.org/units/fps/newsletters/200807/monckton.cfm
I always check source docs anytime I write something, esp if it’s controversial (holdover from days of wire service work).
I had to really look hard to find that document yesterday. I’ll edit in the link into my column.
Gridlock, did you even read what I wrote?
KBDay Friday, July 18th at 11:49PM EDT (link)I fail to see (if you read the column) how you could misconstrue the information. Response? Comments? Hello?