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A Realty Check on Global Warming Roger A. Pielke Sr. Senior Research Scientist University of Colorado, Boulder Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University January 17, 2008 Four States Irrigation Council 55th Annual Meeting “Irrigation Transitions to the Future” ABSTRACT While the political climate change train has clearly left the station, climate science and global warming in particular are actually less understood than communicated by the 2007 IPCC Report. As one example, despite what is indicated in that report, there has actually been no lower tropospheric warming since the late 1990s, and no upper ocean warming in the last several years. Moreover, while Arctic sea ice cover is at an historic low amount, the Antarctic sea ice cover reached a maximum coverage this past month. This diversity of trends illustrates that the climate, and the human forcings of climate, are much more complex than generally assumed. Conclusions from a 2005 National Research Council Report will be used to frame the diversity of human climate forcings, including forcings that are more spatially and temporally complicated than the radiative forcing of the well-mixed greenhouse gases. Recommendations from a 2004 International Geosphere-Biosphere Progamme (IGBP) will be presented to show how we should move to a bottom-up, resource based approach to reduce the vulnerability of society and the environment to climate change and variability, as well as other types of environmental effects. What Does the Recent Data Actually Tell Us? • • • • • • • Near Surface Temperature Trends Lower Tropospheric Temperature Trends Ocean Heat Content Changes Arctic Sea Ice Areal Coverage Antarctic Sea Ice Areal Coverage Tropospheric Water Vapor Trends Regional Climate Model Downscaling Does Not Provide Added Skill In Propagating Weather Features Beyond What Is Already Present In the Parent Global Climate Model 1. 1. measurement of minimum temperature at just one level ( a significant warm bias when the nocturnal boundary layer is warming; a significant cold bias when the nocturnal boundary layer is cooling); 2. poor siting of the instrumentation (probably mostly a warm bias but needs further study; regardless the data is not spatially representative). 3. effect of multi-decadal trends in near surface absolute humidity (for the same multi-decadal trend in heat content, a drying trend results in a warm bias while a moistening trend results in a cool bias when surface air temperature trends are used by itself in the construction of land averages); 4. the quantification of uncertainties in the homogenization of surface temperature data (results in an uncertainty of an unknown magnitude, but appears to be significant; further study needed); 5. the influence of land use/land cover (LULC) change (primarily a warm bias, with some exceptions - such as when an arid region is irrigated); 6. the completion of the global analysis of multi-decadal surface air temperature trends by the different groups (NCDC, CRU, GISS) are not independent of each other, as they each draw raw data from essentially the same surface observation sites. Only their specific analysis routines are different. Several Of Our Peer-Reviewed Papers on These Issues Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., R.A., R.A., C. C. Davey, Davey, D. D. Niyogi, Niyogi, S. S. Fall, Fall, J. J. Steinweg-Woods, Steinweg-Woods, K. K. Hubbard, Hubbard, X. X. Lin, Lin, M. M. Cai, Cai, Y.-K. Y.-K. Lim, Lim, H. H. Li, Li, J. J. Nielsen-Gammon, Nielsen-Gammon, K. K. Gallo, Gallo, R. R. Hale, Hale, R. R. Mahmood, Mahmood, S. S. Foster, Foster, R.T. R.T. McNider, McNider, and and P. P. Blanken, Blanken, 2007: 2007: Unresolved Unresolved issues issues with with the the assessment assessment of of multi-decadal multi-decadal global global land land surface surface temperature temperature trends. trends. J. J. Geophys. Geophys. Res., Res., 112, 112, D24S08, D24S08, doi:10.1029/2006JD008229. doi:10.1029/2006JD008229. Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., R.A. R.A. J. J. Nielsen-Gammon, Nielsen-Gammon, C. C. Davey, Davey, J. J. Angel, Angel, O. O. Bliss, Bliss, N. N. Doesken, Doesken, M. M. Cai., Cai., S. S. Fall, Fall, D. D. Niyogi, Niyogi, K. K. Gallo, R. Hale, K.G. Hubbard, X. Lin, H. Li, and S. Raman, 2007: Documentation of uncertainties and Gallo, R. Hale, K.G. Hubbard, X. Lin, H. Li, and S. Raman, 2007: Documentation of uncertainties and biases biases associated associated with with surface surface temperature temperature measurement measurement sites sites for for climate climate change change assessment. assessment. Bull. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 88:6, 913-928. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 88:6, 913-928. Fall, Fall, S., S., D. D. Niyogi, Niyogi, R.A. R.A. Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., A. A. Gluhovsky, Gluhovsky, and and E. E. Kalnay, Kalnay, 2007: 2007: Impacts Impacts of of land land surface surface properties properties on on temperature temperature trends trends using using North North American American regional regional reanalysis reanalysis over over the the USA. USA. Int. Int. J. J. Climatol., Climatol., submitted. submitted. Lin, Lin, X., X., R.A. R.A. Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., K.G. K.G. Hubbard, Hubbard, K.C. K.C. Crawford, Crawford, M. M. A. A. Shafer, Shafer, and and T. T. Matsui, Matsui, 2007: 2007: An An examination examination of of 1997-2007 1997-2007 surface surface layer layer temperature temperature trends trends at at two two heights heights in in Oklahoma. Oklahoma. Geophys. Geophys. Res. Res. Letts., Letts., 34, 34, L24705, L24705, doi:10.1029/2007GL031652. doi:10.1029/2007GL031652. Pielke, Pielke, R.A. R.A. Sr., Sr., K. K. Wolter, Wolter, O. O. Bliss, Bliss, N. N. Doesken, Doesken, and and B. B. McNoldy, McNoldy, 2006: 2006: The The July July 2005 2005 Denver Denver heat heat wave: wave: How How unusual unusual was was it? it? Nat. Nat. Wea. Wea. Dig., Dig., 31, 31, 24-35. 24-35. Chase, Chase, T.N., T.N., K. K. Wolter, Wolter, R.A. R.A. Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., and and I.I. Rasool, Rasool, 2006: 2006: Was Was the the 2003 2003 European European summer summer heat heat wave wave unusual unusual in in aa global global context? context? Geophys. Geophys. Res. Res. Lett., Lett., 33, 33, L23709, L23709, doi:10.1029/2006GL027470. doi:10.1029/2006GL027470. Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., R.A., R.A., C. C. Davey, Davey, and and J. J. Morgan, Morgan, 2004: 2004: Assessing Assessing "global "global warming" warming" with with surface surface heat heat content. content. Eos, 85, No. 21, 210-211. Eos, 85, No. 21, 210-211. Davey, Davey, C.A., C.A., and and R.A. R.A. Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., 2005: 2005: Microclimate Microclimate exposures exposures of of surface-based surface-based weather weather stations stations -implications for the assessment of long-term temperature trends. Bull. Amer. Meteor. implications for the assessment of long-term temperature trends. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., Soc., Vol. Vol. 86, 86, No. 4, 497–504. No. 4, 497–504. Poor Microclimate Exposure At Many Climate Observing Sites http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/ Davey, Davey, C.A., C.A., and and R.A. R.A. Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., 2005: 2005: Microclimate Microclimate exposures exposures of of surface-based surface-based weather weather stations stations -- implications implications for for the the assessment assessment of of long-term long-term temperature temperature trends. trends. Bull. Bull. Amer. Amer. Meteor. Meteor. Soc., Soc., Vol. Vol. 86, 86, No. No. 4, 4, 497–504. 497–504. http://climatesci.colorado.edu/publications/pdf/R-274.pdf http://climatesci.colorado.edu/publications/pdf/R-274.pdf Fort Morgan site showing images of the cardinal directions from the sensor (from Hanamean et al. 2003) http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/category/weather_stations/ http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com/category/weather_stations/ As shown in Pielke et al. [2004], the heat content of surface air is given by H=CpT+Lq where H is the heat in Joules, Cp is the heat capacity of air at constant temperature, T is the air temperature, L is the latent heat of vaporization and q is the specific humidity. This equation can be rewritten as Pielke, Pielke, R.A. R.A. Sr., Sr., K. K. Wolter, Wolter, O. O. Bliss, Bliss, N. N. Doesken, Doesken, and and B. B. McNoldy, McNoldy, 2006: 2006: The The July July 2005 2005 Denver Denver heat heat wave: wave: How How unusual unusual was was it? it? Nat. Nat. Wea. Wea. Dig., Dig., 31, 31, 24-35. 24-35. http://climatesci.colorado.edu/publications/pdf/R-313.pdf http://climatesci.colorado.edu/publications/pdf/R-313.pdf Land Use/Land Cover Change Generally Produces A Warm Bias “Temperature trends were primarily insignificant prior to the period during which the greatest single type of LULC change occurred around Normals stations. Additionally, those trends that were significant were generally divided equally between warming and cooling trends (Table 5). However, after periods of dominant LULC change, significant trends in minimum, maximum, or mean temperature were far more common, and 90% or more of these significant trends were warming trends.” Pielke Pielke Sr., Sr., R.A., R.A., C. C. Davey, Davey, D. D. Niyogi, Niyogi, S. S. Fall, Fall, J. J. Steinweg-Woods, Steinweg-Woods, K. K. Hubbard, Hubbard, X. X. Lin, Lin, M. M. Cai, Cai, Y.Y.K. Lim, H. Li, J. Nielsen-Gammon, K. Gallo, R. Hale, R. Mahmood, S. Foster, R.T. McNider, K. Lim, H. Li, J. Nielsen-Gammon, K. Gallo, R. Hale, R. Mahmood, S. Foster, R.T. McNider, and and P. P. Blanken, Blanken, 2007: 2007: Unresolved Unresolved issues issues with with the the assessment assessment of of multi-decadal multi-decadal global global land land surface surface temperature temperature trends. trends. J. J. Geophys. Geophys. Res. Res. in in press. press. Documentation Of A Significant Warm Bias In Long-Term Trends of Minimum Temperatures Climate Feedbacks Cumulatively Must Be Negative So Far • Assess Radiative Imbalance From the Oceans (Pielke Sr., R.A., 2003: Heat storage within the Earth system. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 84, 331-335. • Estimate Global Average Radiative Forcing (IPCC 2007) • These Two Values Provide an Estimate Of the Radiative Feedback 2007 IPCC SPM View Global Radiative Imbalance From Lyman, J.M., J. Willis, and G. Johnson, 2006: Recent cooling of the upper ocean. Geophys Res. Lett., 33, L18604, doi:10.1029/2006GL027033. Correction completed April 2007 which eliminates cooling but finds no warming warming in in recent recent years. 2007 IPCC Total Radiative Radiative Forcing Forcing = = 1.72 (0.66 to 2.7) Watts per meter squared Best Estimate of Total Radiative Imbalance (1993-2005) = 0.33 (0.10 to 0.56) Watts per meter squared If the the IPCC IPCC Forcing is accepted as the current current forcing, forcing, than the the net net global global radiative feedbacks feedbacks are are negative! • ".... a revised estimate of upper-ocean ocean heat content suggests than no significant warming or cooling has occurred in recent years, with ocean heat content increasing by only 1 (± 16) 11 × 1021 J between 2004 and 2006." Lyman, J. and G.C. Johnson, 2007: Estimating Annual Global Upper Ocean Heat Content Anomalies Despite Irregular In Situ Ocean Sampling. Submitted to the J of Climate (Sept 2007). What Do SST and Anomalies and Trends Look Like? Figure by Tom Chase University of Colorado at Boulder What are the Tropospheric and Lower Stratospheric Temperature Trends? . http://www.remss.com/msu/msu_data_description.html Stratospheric Temperature TLS 1979 to Jan 2008 http://www.remss.com/msu/msu_data_description.html Lower Lower Tropospheric Tropospheric Temperature TLT 1979 to Jan 2008 http://www.remss.com/msu/msu_data_description.html http://www.remss.com/msu/msu_data_description.html What About Sea Ice Trends? What Are the Trends In Arctic and Antarctic Sea Ice Coverage? What Is the Trend In Tropospheric Water Vapor? Wang, J.-W., K. Wang, R.A. Pielke, J.C. Lin, and T. Matsui, 2007: Does an atmospheric warming trend lead to a moistening trend over North America? Geophys. Res. Letts., submitted. http://climatesci.colorado.edu/publications/pdf/R-337.pdf “…….the “…….the Tcol Tcol from from 1979 1979 to to 2006 2006 was was significant significant and and positive; positive; however, however, the the PWAV PWAV and and PWAT PWAT were were not. not. This This suggests suggests that that atmospheric atmospheric temperature temperature and and water water vapor vapor trends trends do do not not follow follow the the conjecture conjecture of of constant constant relative relative humidity…..” humidity…..” Is There Value In Dynamic Downscaling with Regional Climate Models • Castro, C.L., R.A. Pielke Sr., and G. Leoncini, 2005: Dynamical downscaling: Assessment of value retained and added using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). J. Geophys. Res. Atmospheres, 110, No. D5, D05108, doi:10.1029/2004JD004721 • Castro, C.L., R.A. Pielke Sr., J. Adegoke, S.D. Schubert, and P.J. Pegion, 2007: Investigation of the summer climate of the contiguous U.S. and Mexico using the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). Part II: Model climate variability. J. Climate, 20, 3866-3887. • Rockel, B., C.L. Castro, R.A. Pielke Sr., H. von Storch, and G. Leoncini, 2007: Dynamical downscaling: Assessment of model system dependent retained and added variability for two different RCMs. J. Geophys. Res., submitted. • Lo, J.C.-F., Z.-L. Yang, and R.A. Pielke Sr., 2007: Assessment of dynamical climate downscaling methods using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. J. Geophys. Res., submitted. Projections of an Imminent Transition to a More Arid Climate in Southwestern North America Richard Seager et al. 2007: Science 316, 1181 ABSTRACT “How anthropogenic climate change will affect hydroclimate in the arid regions of southwestern North America has implications for the allocation of water resources and the course of regional development. Here we show that there is a broad consensus among climate models that this region will dry in the 21st century and that the transition to a more arid climate should already be under way. If these models are correct, the levels of aridity of the recent multiyear drought or the Dust Bowl and the 1950s droughts will become the new climatology of the American Southwest within a time frame of years to decades.” http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/Drought/ Kevin Trenberth Climate Analysis Section, NCAR and Lead Author of Chapter 3 of WG1 of the 2007 IPCC Report “Predictions “Predictions of of climate” climate” 1. 1. “In “In fact fact there there are are no no predictions predictions by by IPCC IPCC at at all. all. And And there there never never have have been.” been.” 2. 2. “None “None of of the the models models used used by by IPCC IPCC are are initialized initialized to to the the observed observed state state and and none none of of the the climate climate states states in in the the models models correspond correspond even even remotely remotely to to the the current current observed observed climate.” climate.” 3. 3. “Moreover, “Moreover, the the starting starting climate climate state state in in several several of of the the models models may may depart depart significantly significantly from from the the real real climate climate owing owing to to model model errors. errors. II postulate postulate that that regional regional climate climate change change is is impossible impossible to to deal deal with with properly properly unless unless the the models models are are initialized.” initialized.” 4. 4. “The “The current current projection projection method method works works to to the the extent extent it it does does because because it it utilizes utilizes differences from one time to another and the main model bias and systematic differences from one time to another and the main model bias and systematic errors errors are are thereby thereby subtracted subtracted out. out. This This assumes assumes linearity. linearity. It It works works for for global global forced forced variations, variations, but but it it can can not not work work for for many many aspects aspects of of climate, climate, especially especially those those related related to to the the water water cycle.” cycle.” 5. 5. “However, “However, the the science science is is not not done done because because we we do do not not have have reliable reliable or or regional regional predictions predictions of of climate.” climate.” Is There Consensus With the 2007 IPCC Report? ABSTRACT. An online poll of scientists' opinions shows that, while there is strong agreement on the important role of anthropogenically-caused radiative forcing of CO2 in climate change and with the largest group supporting the IPCC report, there is not a universal agreement among climate scientists about climate science as represented in the IPCC's WG1. Claims that the human input of CO2 is not an important climate forcing, or that 'the science is more or less settled', are found to be false in our survey. The IPCC WG1 perspective is the mean response, though there are interesting differences between mean responses in the USA and in the EU. There are, also, a significant number of climate scientists who disagree with the IPCC WG1 perspective. Brown, F., J. Annan, and R.A. Pielke Sr., 2007: Is there agreement amongst climate scientists on the IPCC AR4 WG1? Eos, submitted. 1. There There is is no no warming; warming; it it is is aa fabrication fabrication based based on on inaccurate/inappropriate measurement. Human activity is not having any significant effect on Climate. The data on which such assumptions are made is so compromised as to be worthless. The physical science basis of AGW theory is founded on a false hypothesis. 2. Any recent warming is most likely natural. Human input of CO2 has very little to do with it. Solar, naturally varying water vapour and similar variables can explain most or all of the climate changes. Projections based on Global Climate Models are unreliable because these are based on too many assumptions and unreliable datasets. 3. There are changes in the atmosphere, including added CO2 from human activities, but significant climate effects are likely to be all within natural limits. The 'scares' are exaggerations with a political motive. The undue emphasis on CO2 diverts attention away from other, important research on climate variability and change. 4. There is warming and the human addition of CO2 causes some of it, but the science is too uncertain to be confident about current attributions of the precise role of CO2 with respect to other climate forcings. The IPCC WG1 overestimates the role of CO2 relative to other forcings, including a diverse variety of human climate forcings. 5. The scientific basis for human impacts on climate is well represented by the IPCC WG1 report. The lead scientists know what they are doing. We are warming the planet, with CO2 as the main culprit. At least some of the forecast consequences of this change are based on robust evidence. 6. The IPCC WG1 is compromised by political intervention; I agree with those scientists who say that the IPCC WG1 is underestimating the problem. Action to reduce human emissions of CO2 in order to mitigate against serious consequences is more urgent than the report suggests. This should be done irrespective of other climate and environmental considerations. 7. The IPCC WG1 seriously understates the human influence on climate. I agree with those scientists who say that major mitigation responses are needed immediately to prevent catastrophic serious warming and other impacts projected to result from human emissions of CO2. We are seriously damaging the Earth's climate, and will continue to face devastating consequences for many years. The Focus Needs To Be On Vulnerability [A Bottom-Up] Perspective Rather Than On A MultiDecadal Global Model Prediction Downscaled To Regions [A Top-Down Perspective] From: From: Pielke, Pielke, R.A. R.A. Sr., Sr., and and L. L. Bravo Bravo de de Guenni, Guenni, 2004: 2004: Conclusions. Conclusions. Chapter Chapter E.7 E.7 In: In: Vegetation, Vegetation, Water, Water, Humans Humans and and the the Climate: Climate: A A New New Perspective Perspective on on an an Interactive Interactive System. System. Global Global Change Change -- The The IGBP IGBP Series, Series, P. P. Kabat Kabat et et al., al., Eds., Eds., Springer, Springer, 537-538. 537-538. http://climatesci.colorado.edu/publications/pdf/CB-42.pdf http://climatesci.colorado.edu/publications/pdf/CB-42.pdf Schematic Schematic of of the the relation relation of of water water resource resource vulnerability vulnerability to to the the spectrum spectrum of of the the environmental environmental forcings forcings and and feedbacks feedbacks (adapted (adapted from from [3]). [3]). The The arrows arrows denote denote nonlinear nonlinear interactions interactions between between and and within within natural natural and and human human forcings. forcings. From: From: Pielke, Pielke, R.A. R.A. Sr., Sr., 2004: 2004: Discussion Discussion Forum: Forum: A A broader broader perspective perspective on on climate climate change change is is needed. needed. IGBP IGBP Newsletter, Newsletter, 59, 59, 16-19. 16-19. Resource Specific Impact Level with Respect to Water Resources - June 2004 Humans are significantly altering the global climate, but in a variety of diverse ways beyond the radiative effect of carbon dioxide. The IPCC assessments have been too conservative in recognizing the importance of these human climate forcings as they alter regional and global climate. These assessments have also not communicated the inability of the models to accurately forecast the spread of possibilities of future climate. The forecasts, therefore, do not provide any skill in quantifying the impact of different mitigation strategies on the actual climate responsethat would occur. ¾ The needed focus for the study of climate change and variability is on the regional and local scales. Global and zonally-averaged climate metrics would only be important to the extent that they provide useful information on these space scales. ¾ Global and zonally-averaged surface temperature trend assessments, besides having major difficulties in terms of how this metric is diagnosed and analyzed, do not provide significant information on climate change and variability on the regional and local scales. ¾ Global warming is not equivalent to climate change. Significant, societally important climate change, due to both natural- and human- climate forcings, can occur without any global warming or cooling. ¾ The spatial pattern of ocean heat content change is the appropriate metric to assess climate system heat changes including global warming. ¾ In terms of climate change and variability on the regional and local scale, the IPCC Reports, the CCSP Report on surface and tropospheric temperature trends, and the U.S. National Assessment have overstated the role of the radiative effect of the anthropogenic increase of CO2 relative to the role of the diversity of other human climate climate forcing on global warming, and more generally, on climate variability and change. ¾ Global and regional climate models have not demonstrated skill at predicting regional and local climate change and variability on multi-decadal time scales. ¾ Attempts to significantly influence regional and local-scale climate based on controlling CO2 emissions alone is an inadequate policy for this purpose. ¾ A vulnerability paradigm, focused on regional and local societal and environmental resources of importance, is a more inclusive, useful, and scientifically robust framework to interact with policymakers, than is the focus on global multi-decadal climate predictions which are downscaled to the regional and local scales. The vulnerability paradigm permits the evaluation of the entire spectrum of risks associated with different social and environmental threats, including climate variability and change. Roger Pielke Sr. Research Websites http://climatesci.colorado.edu/ http://cires.colorado.edu/science/groups/pielke/ Background Photograph Courtesy of Mike Hollingshead http://www.extremeinstability.com/index.htm PowerPoint Presentation Prepared by Dallas Jean Staley Research Assistant and Webmaster University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado 80309 [email protected]