Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Patrick J. Michaels is the most famous global warming skeptic, but he is not alone. The book consists of ten chapters written by ten different scientists who focus on specific aspects of global warming including: temperature and precipitation forecasts, volatility of weather patterns, the impact of El Nino, impact of rising temperature on human health, impact of CO2 concentration on rising temperature. The second chapter outlines how a scientist manipulated the underlying variables to create the "hockey stick" suggesting temperature levels are highest for the past millennium. The scientist who created this hockey stick pattern refused to share the data and explain his methodology when he was asked. This scientist purposely overweighed a variable to create the hockey stick effect. The author of the chapter uncovers how the scientific peer review process is bankrupt. A scientist is free to manipulate the data so as to create a fictitious hockey stick that is at the foundation of the global warming paradigm. In the business world, such behavior (manipulation of financial record) would get a CFO in jail. The author makes the case that due diligence requirements (audits) should apply to the scientific world as well. The third chapter on the poor quality of global temperature record is also excellent. Global temperatures have risen by 0.7 degree Celsius over the past century. But, nearly half of this increase may be due to several upward biases that have caused temperatures to be underestimated during the first half of the 20th century. These biases include the change in thermometer technology and their physical casing that captured ambient heat differently and the urban heat island effect. The fourth chapter explaining how the cooling of the stratosphere is totally inconsistent with the CO2 global warming hypothesis is fascinating. Chapter 10 expands on the inconsistency of the relationship between CO2 concentration and rise in temperature. In Earth's recent history, we have had periods with much warmer temperatures (6 degree Celsius higher than now) yet with CO2 concentration 20% below current levels. We also have had global cooling with rising CO2 levels. So, at this stage we have no scientific reason to believe there is a reliable relationship between CO2 levels and temperature. Elsewhere in the book, the scientists explain how the climatic system is extremely sensitive so as to be impossible to model with current knowledge. An error in precipitation of only 0.1 inch equates to an error of 1.77 degree Fahrenheit. Yet, our models are all over the place on precipitation predictions. Similarly, just a 4% increase in stratus clouds formation would counteract any effect from a doubling in CO2 concentration. Yet, we can't model cloud formation so far. Thus, global circulation models (GCM) are incredibly unreliable. Surprisingly, you don't read any of the above in the press. The science is nuanced and uncertain. The press conveys just the opposite. They suggest our fate is certain and sealed in a toaster unless we change our civilization as we know it. But, that's politics. You got to study the science to counter the daily media obfuscating noise. If you like this book, I also strongly recommend Patrick J. Michaels "Meltdown."