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Bob Ryan on Global Warming, Part 1

Is climate really changing?

By BOB RYAN

Updated 8:33 AM EDT, Mon, Mar 9, 2009

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Is the Weather Changing?

Is the Earth Changing?

Is the Climate Changing?

Is Human Activity Causing Global Warming?

Well, if you are reading this, I hope I have your attention for the next few minutes and the next few days.

I’m breaking up this entire tome on our changing environment into six sections, because reading all this stuff at once would put me to sleep, so I can only imagine what it would do to you.

I hope you might read this first section, think about it and let me know what you think. I am also interested in your comments after each section, and I will try to respond to every comment and idea, without telling you too much about what the next section has to say. Ready? Here we go...

For many years I have been a bit reluctant to venture into the topics in the title (which I frankly did pick to get your attention) because of the many political, emotional and even faith-based reactions that these discussions and articles generate. These are topics and issues that probably should be, but rarely are, separate from the discussion of the science of weather and climate and, very broadly, earth sciences.

But with the exciting and historic election now over (we’re also nearing the end of winter), the topics above are and will be among the most important things to understand to really participate with our elected leaders in order to collectively make the best informed decisions in the years ahead.

Indeed, I have written that we broadcast meteorologists have an obligation to help you have a better understanding of critical issues in my science (such as climate change), so I am finally following my own advice. : >)

I recognize that now having made the decision to open this box of topics and issues (and including the third-rail phrase “global warming”), that I, as a former skier, am about to go over the precipice of a double black diamond trail and hope for the best. However, what I propose is that we head down this very tricky path, a journey if you will, together.

So, you ask, why the heck should I follow Ryan? Well, I did begin my professional career as a science researcher (Examples: Click here and here).

It was a brief few years in research before I really found my calling in broadcast meteorology, but I hope you, if you have read this far, will share my natural curiosity and see where we end.

In Washington maybe it is impossible to take politics, policy and opinion out of any discussion. I may be nuts, but I am going to try.

In addition, in the comments and answers that follow, please keep me on my toes if I venture from the science and objectivity of these topics and issues. So off we go...

What is science?

If we are going to try and discuss the science of climate, weather, global change and “global warming” (by the way fill, in the comments section what you think that means), and keep politics, policy and “what should we do” decisions out of this (can we make any decisions before we understand something?), then let’s see if we can gather under a scientific umbrella.

Can we define science?

Astronomer Steve Maran in a recent article about Galileo in Sky and Telescope magazine put forward this wonderful thought:

“Science is the radical idea, quite foreign from human nature, that an objective

reality exists, quite apart from our own internal whims, conceits, and made-up

stories — and that this reality, huge beyond imagining, can be revealed and endlessly

unfolded by carefully examining evidence”

One key thing about “science” is that it should be objective; we should try and remove our personal biases as much as possible in studying or practicing science.

Or how about this?

"According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, the definition of science is “knowledge attained through study or practice,” or “knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method [and] concerned with the physical world.”

Thanks to “Science Made Simple” for that “umbrella.”

And science and its “language” mathematics, really are “simple.”

E=mc²

What could be simpler? Better yet, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Why? Because there is only one Einstein.

But maybe we can all think and discuss the critical issues of what I call “global change” as pretend scientists.

First, the dreaded “Scientific Method.” Please stay with me.

Science at its heart is seeking to understand and explain the physical/observable world by collecting data/observations, describing an idea or theory or hypotheses of what has been observed and the testing of that theory. An example is Isaac Newton’s legendary observation of an apple falling and then developing his theory of “Universal Gravitation.”

Is this theory, or “law,” a “fact?” So far, it works for us every day. Later we will have some fun with scientific “laws,” “facts” and “theory,” but for now we are going to make some observations.

Let's Observe Earth, Climage and Weather

“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I will go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” -- Scarlett O’Hara

OK, we’ll observe Earth, weather and climate next week. Look for Part 2 of the series on Monday.