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New satellite data casts doubts on global warming models
IPA REVIEW ARTICLE
New NASA data from their Aqua Satellite throws doubt on the validity of climate change models currently being used by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For the first time scientists have found a strong negative cloud feedback when there is warming in the lower atmosphere. This is significant as most climate models have always suggested a strong positive feedback.
The findings were presented at the 2008 International Climate Change Conference held in New York in March by Roy Spencer-the scientist who heads up a team analysing temperature and cloud data from NASA's Aqua satellite.
These findings, published late last year, are still being digested by the meteorological community but overhauled climate models would show greatly reduced warming projections.
Dr Spencer said that natural climate variability has been neglected in much of the research and associated discussion on climate change to date.
President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, also spoke at the conference about the ‘robust relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth'. The President said that ‘the dream' to reduce emissions in the EU by 70 per cent in the next 30 years could only be achieved if there was a dramatic de-industrialisation of Europe-likely associated with a dramatic drop in GDP, or a significant drop in population or a technological revolution.
Given current technologies, a large cut to emissions in developed countries including Australia is possible, but only if the government is prepared to risk a fall in GDP and limit the individual's ability to make choices about their energy use.