User:Alexh19740110/RAP

On climate change
Pielke regards the human addition of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere as a "first-order climate forcing," but he does not believe that it is the only first-order climate forcing, nor even necessarily the most important one.

In his written testimony to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality in June, 2008, he stated:

The role of humans within the climate system must be one of the following three possibilities:


 * The human influence is minimal and natural variations dominate climate variations on all time scales;
 * While natural variations are important, the human influence is significant and involves a diverse range of first-order climate forcings, including, but not limited to the human input of CO2;
 * The human influence is dominated by the emissions into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide.

He went on to give his view that the correct scientific conclusion is that "[w]hile natural variations are important, the human influence is significant and involves a diverse range of first-order climate forcings, including, but not limited to the human input of CO2."

He has reiterated his House Testimony position statement a number of times, both on his weblog and in the peer-reviewed literature, as well as emphasizing elsewhere the need to properly understand the role of natural variability.

Pielke has been a vocal critic of the global average temperature both in terms of its theoretical utility (i.e. he has argued that it is not a useful measure of climate change) and its accuracy (i.e. he has criticized the reliability of the temperature record itself).

Links (not for article)

 * Main article


 * Back to discussion page


 * Climate Science Group's Main Conclusions


 * Roger A. Pielke Sr.’s Perspective On The Role Of Humans In Climate Change


 * Summary of Roger A. Pielke Sr.'s View of Climate Science