<div>Some on Vision2020 have suggested we should leave climate science to the "experts" and let them solve the problems of climate change. The subject is too difficult for any but PhDs. in climate science to really comprehend. However, given the complex and daunting political, economic and personal changes needed to address anthropogenic climate change, and the aggressive efforts to spread misinformation about climate science to cloud the issue, it is very important for people to have a basic understanding of this subject. Those who are resisting the changes needed to address climate change know that if they can convince a large segment of the public that global warming is not human caused, or is not happening to any significant degree, or if human caused is mostly beneficial, that politicians will not be as inclined to push for action to lower human sourced greenhouse gas emissions, nor will people be inclined to make changes in consumption patterns or personal lifestyle to address the issue.</div>
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<div>It is amazing (read at bottom) that 40 years ago the U.S. National Academy of Sciences was warning of significant impacts from human greenhouse gas emissions. The science involved in this issue is well established, having been studied since at least as far back as 1896 by Nobel Prize winning scientist Arrhenius. Website immediately below from NASA focuses on Arrhenius and his work on determining one of the fundamental questions of climate science, "climate sensitivity," or the increase in global temperature from a doubling of atmospheric CO2: </div>
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<div><a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Arrhenius/arrhenius_2.php">http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Arrhenius/arrhenius_2.php</a><a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Arrhenius/"></a></div>
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<div>Info on "<em>Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science" at website below:</em></div>
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<div><a href="http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090318_climateliteracy.html">http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090318_climateliteracy.html</a></div>
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<p>“As climate policy is being discussed, it is very important for the citizens of our nation to have an appreciation for some of the fundamental aspects of climate and climate change,” said <a href="http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/about/welcomefromdirector.html">Tom Karl</a>, director of <a href="http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html">NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center</a> in Asheville, N.C., and lead for NOAA's climate services. “This guide is a first step for people who want to know more about the essential principles of our climate system, how to better discern scientifically credible information about climate, and how to identify problems related to understanding climate and climate change.” </p>
<p>“There is so much misinformation about climate. We want to provide an easily readable document to help everyone make the most informed decisions,” said Karl. “Having one product endorsed by the nation’s top federal science agencies, as well as leading science centers and associations, makes this document an essential resource.” <br>
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<p><a href="http://climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=/education/edu_index.jsp&edu=literacy">http://climate.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=/education/edu_index.jsp&edu=literacy</a></p></div>
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<div>From website above:</div>
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<div>During the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-1958, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences published a pioneering science education publication, <em>Planet Earth: Mystery with 100,000 Clues</em>. The brochure pointed out that Earth's natural greenhouse effect was being altered as "our industrial civilization has been pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at a great rate." The brochure went on to warn that if this continued, the result "would have a marked warming effect on Earth's climate" that could "cause significant melting of the great ice caps and raise sea levels in time." </div>
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<div>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</div>