Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies That Hurt the Poor

by Roy W. Spencer

Overview

The current frenzy over global warming has galvanized the public and cost taxpayers billons of dollars in federal expenditures for climate research. It has spawned Hollywood blockbusters and inspired major political movements. It has given a higher calling to celebrities and built a lucrative industry for scores of eager scientists. In short, ending climate change has become a national crusade.

And yet, despite this dominant and sprawling campaign, the facts behind global warming remain as confounding as ever.

In Climate Confusion, distinguished climatologist Dr. Roy Spencer observes that our obsession with global warming has only clouded the issue. Forsaking blindingly technical statistics and doomsday scenarios, Dr. Spencer explains in simple terms how the climate system really works, why man’s role in global warming is more myth than science, and how the global warming hype has corrupted Washington and the scientific community.

The reasons, Spencer explains, are numerous: biases in governmental funding of scientific research, our misconceptions about science and basic economics, even our religious beliefs and worldviews. From Al Gore to Leonardo DiCaprio, the climate change industry has given a platform to leading figures from all walks of life, as pandering politicians, demagogues and biased scientists forge a self-interested movement whose proposed policy initiatives could ultimately devastate the economies of those developing countries they purport to aid.

Climate Confusion is a much needed wake up call for all of us on planet earth. Dr. Spencer’s clear-eyed approach, combined with his sharp wit and intellect, brings transparency and levity to the issue of global warming, as he takes on wrong-headed attitudes and misguided beliefs that have led to our state of panic. Climate Confusion lifts the shroud of mystery that has hovered here for far too long and offers an end to this frenzy of misinformation in our lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594033452
Publisher:	Encounter Books
Publication date:	01/12/2010
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	215
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Roy W. Spencer is a Principal Research Scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he directs a variety of climate research projects. He received his Ph.D. in Meteorology from the University of Wisconsin in 1981, and was formerly a Senior Scientist for Climate Studies at NASA. Dr. Spencer also serves as the U.S. Science Team Leader for the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E) flying on NASA's Aqua satellite. He is co-developer of the original satellite method for precise monitoring of global temperatures from Earth-orbiting satellites. He has authored numerous weather and climate research articles in scientific journals, and has provided congressional testimony several times on the subject of global warming. —This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Paperback Edition vii

Preface xiii

Prologue 1

Chapter 1 Global Warming Hysteria 11

All natural disasters are now caused by global warming.

Chapter 2 Science Isn't Truth 35

What we know isn't necessarily so.

Chapter 3 How Weather Works 45

The Mission: to move heat from where there is more to where there is less.

Chapter 4 How Global Warming (Allegedly) Works 62

The popular explanation, and why it is probably wrong.

Chapters 5 The Scientists' Faith, the Environmentalists' Religion 85

Belief in dangerous global warming is more faith than science.

Chapter 6 It's Economics, Stupid 103

Views on what should be done about global warming are usually related to what we believe about economics and wealth.

Chapter 7 The Politics of Climate Change 124

No other public issue has so much potential for abuse of authority.

Chapter 8 Dumb Global Warming Solutions 139

Are they really serious about fixing global warming, or are they just pulling our leg?

Chapter 9 Less Dumb Global Warming Solutions 160

New energy technologies of the future are the only hope to "save" us from the threats posed by global warming.

Chapter 10 Summary 171

Epilogue 183

Illustration credits 185

Index 187

Editorial Reviews

"If you have an interest in global warming, but are intimidated by equations and scientific terminology, this book is for you. The author explores the philosophy of global warming (and cooling), examines the limitations of global numerical models for which all alarmist statements are based, and discusses the economics of alternative actions that might be pursued. This book is an excellent read!" &mdash Neil L Frank Former Director National Hurricane Center

“Climate Confusion is the best book length treatment of global warming science that is available to the literate citizen. The title says it all. Spencer explains the broad agreement over the existence of some climate change and the existence of some human role, but he also explains why these have little to do with the implausible and overheated projections of environmental disaster. The author thus cuts through all the rhetorical brickbats of “denialism” and “salvationism” to allow the citizen to reach rational conclusions. Despite a light touch, Spencer does not pull punches when it comes to unclothing the moral pretenses of many in the environmental movement—pretenses often disguising some truly immoral agendas.”
&mdas Richard S. Lindzen Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“An outstanding discussion of the many scientific, political and religious problems associated with the acceptance that humans are the primary cause of global warming. A must read for anyone wanting a full and balanced understanding of the global warming debate.”
&mdas William M. Gray Professor Emeritus, Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University

“Roy Spencer’s Climate Confusion is needed to put the global warming hysteria in its rightful place. He has done a yeoman’s job in making the issue understandable and accessible to the general public without a sacrifice in the rigor of his arguments.”
&mdas Walter E. Williams John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics George Mason University

From the Publisher