Climate scientist John Christy presented a series of charts and data at a recent scientific conference showing global warming is proceeding at a modest pace and is not causing significant harm.
Christy, a climate scientist at the University of Alabama at Huntsville who oversees NASA’s satellite instruments precisely measuring global temperatures, presented objective records debunking many of the most frequently asserted global warming claims. Christy also made his charts, data, and accompanying explanations available to the public. Links to the charts, data, and accompanying explanations are in the sidebar to this story.
Decline in Extreme Weather
Christy’s first chart presented National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data documenting a long-term decline in powerful tornadoes. Data during the past 50 years show tornado activity peaked in the early 1970s and has been in gradual decline for the past 40 years.
In his second chart, Christy provided tropical storm data since 1970 showing a gradual decline in tropical storm and hurricane activity.
His third chart presented Northern Hemisphere snow cover data showing no trend in snow cover for the past 45 years.
Next, Christy provided NOAA data since the late 1800s showing no trends in drought and extreme wetness.
Christy then presented U.S. Historical Climatology Network data showing no recent increase in the frequency of record-high temperatures. The data showed more high temperature records were set between 1900 and 1955 than between 1955 and 2013.
Models Predicted Too Much Warming
Next, Christy presented satellite temperature readings showing climate models referenced by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted far more warming during the past 20 years than occurred in the real world.
Ineffective U.S. Emissions Cuts
Finally, Christy presented data showing a 50 percent cut in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions would reduce global temperatures by merely 0.07 degrees Celsius by 2050 and cause little additional reductions after that. An 80 percent reduction in U.S. emissions would not accomplish much more than a 50 percent reduction, Christy showed.
“We are not evil people for emitting CO2, we are good people because we recognize the direct and powerful benefits to human life that carbon-based energy supplies,” Christy summarized.
James M. Taylor ([email protected]) is managing editor of Environment & Climate News.
Internet Info:
Global Warming in a Few Slides, PowerLine, http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2013/06/global-warming-in-a-few-slides.php
John Christy, Explanation of Global Warming Slides, http://www.globalwarming.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ChristyJR-McKinley_Text1.pdf
