ESSC: Earth System Science Center

2006 Archived News and Events

Overconfidence leads to bias in climate change estimations
Research by Dr. Klaus Keller and his associates shows that current studies of possible climate outcomes may be overconfident, not including some low-probability events which could have a significant impact. Keller presented this work at the recent American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.
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Shorelines may be in greater peril than thought
A new "semi-empirical" method for forecasting sea level rise primarily due to melting ice sheets has shown that previous forecasts may be too conservative. New Scientist reports on the study and features comments from Dr. Richard Alley on the robustness of this new prediction.
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Global warming link to hurricanes likely but unproven
The New Scientist reports on a statement from 125 experts at a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) workshop that hints at possible influences of cllimate change on rising hurricane activity and destruction. This statement comes after a discussion of recent research, including research by Dr. Michael Mann and collegues.
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Public begins to notice climate change
This article from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty highlights the changes in the public perception of climate change in the past year. Dr. Michael Mann and other scientists explain this attitude shift by citing unusual weather patterns and other perceptible changes.
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Professors warn public of global climate change threat
Dr. Richard Alley joined a panel discussion entitled "Working Together on Energy and Global Climate Change -- What's in it for the US?" as part of The People Speak Forum series held by the Centre County United Nations Association of the USA. This article from Penn State's Daily Collegian summarizes the discussion.
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Climate change and Atlantic hurricane activity
Dr. Michael Mann comments on the link between climate change and increased overall hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin. He posits that increasing sea surface temperatures and hurricane activity may be due to both anthropogenic greenhouse gas increases and decreasing aerosols.
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Climate change skeptics lose vital argument
New Scientist reports on a recent study in Nature which corroborates the "hockey stick" graph of rising global mean temperatures. This graph, initially constructed by Dr. Michael Mann and his colleagues, has been attacked by climate change skeptics for not including a signal from the "little ice age." This new study claims the "little ice age" was a regional effect which would not show up on the global mean temperature record.
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ESSC Scientist featured on NOVA ScienceNOW
Dr. Lee Kump, a geoscience professor and ESSC scientist, is featured in an episode of NOVA scienceNOW broadcast at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, on most PBS stations. During this segment, Dr. Kump will discuss his ideas on the causes of mass extinctions.
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Dr. Richard Alley awarded the Seligman Crystal
At the International Glaciological Society (IGS) meeting in Cambridge, UK, Dr. Richard Alley was honored with one of the most prestigious awards given to glaciologists, the Seligman Crystal. The IGS bestows this award on researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of glaciology.
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Climate change special: State of denial
The New Scientist reports on personal attacks against leading climate scientists by global warming skeptics. Centered around contributors to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, these attacks are no longer confined to debating the science. Dr. Michael Mann and Dr. Richard Alley are two of the scientists discussed in this article.
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Penn State Forum series features ESSC Scientist
Geoscience professor Dr. Richard Alley will present the next talk in the Penn State Forum series. His talk, "It's Worse and Better Than We Thought: The Meaning of Global Warming," will be at 11:30 a.m. on November 6, 2006 in The Nittany Lion Inn Ballroom on Penn State's University Park campus. The Penn State Forum series is a lunchtime speaker series sponsored by the Faculty Staff Club and the Penn State Bookstore.
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Quotes from the Seminar>>

The Weather Channel launches web site dedicated to global warming
The Weather Channel launched in early October a new web site focused on the issues and debates surrounding global warming. Featuring input from several experts, including ESSC Director Dr. Michael Mann, this new "broadband channel" is called "One Degree."
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The Weather Channel One Degree web site >>

Alley and Mann to speak in Harrisburg
The Pennsylvania Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Policy and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council have invited Dr. Richard B. Alley and Dr. Michael Mann, both of the ESSC, to present a program discussing the latest trends in climate change. This event will be at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg on October 5, 2006 at 7:30pm. There is no charge for the program which is open to the public.
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Climate Science on trial
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on the journey of the "hockey stick" graph from articles in science journals to debates in Congress and other political forums. Several climate scientists are quoted, including an extensive interview with Dr. Michael Mann.
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Earth & Sky radio program answers Ice Age question
Earth & Sky, a radio program featured on many public radio stations, answered a listener question about global warming and ice ages on a recent program. Additional information features an interview with Dr. Richard Alley. Transcripts of the program and additional information can be found at the following link:
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National Academy of Sciences report on Global Warming
In response to a request from Congress, the National Research Council released a report on the validity of surface temperature reconstructions from the past 2000 years.
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Richard Alley awarded 2006 Louis Agassiz Medal
Dr. Richard Alley was awarded the 2006 Louis Agassiz Medal by the European Geosciences Union for outstanding scientific contribution to the study of the cryosphere on Earth or elsewhere in the solar system. Alley is the first recipient of this award.
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Climate change responsible for increased hurricanes
In a paper published in EOS, Dr. Michael Mann, director of ESSC, and Dr. Kerry Emanuel of MIT explain that human-induced climate change may be responsible for the increased frequency and intensity of recent North Atlantic hurricanes. Although other scientists have pointed to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscilliation (AMO) as the culprit behind recent increases, this study shows that increasing Atlantic sea surface temperatures, not the AMO, are responsible.
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Arctic once felt like Florida, studies say
This article from the New York Times highlights three new articles from the journal Nature, where scientists have shown that 55 million years ago, the Arctic may have been much warmer than previously thought. This discovery sheds more light on the possibility of future climate change, both natural and human-induced. The article includes comments from several experts, including ESSC geoscientist Dr. Richard Alley.
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Women in the Sciences and Engineering Institute bestow recognition awards
Dr. Jenni Evans, professor of Meteorology and researcher in the ESSC, has won an award for Outstanding Service from the Women in Sciences and Engineering Institute (WISE) at Penn State.
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Earth Day Q & A: Michael E. Mann
As part of its Earth Day coverage, Seed Magazine presents a series of questions and answers from Dr. Michael Mann concerning global warming and what needs to be done to slow or adapt to future changes.
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Is balanced journalism to blame for the lack of action on global warming?
In this article from the Boston Globe, columnist Christopher Shea examines the state of reporting on climate change. He examines the charge that "objective" journalism requires the inclusion of minority viewpoints that may be stalling political action on environmental causes. He includes commentary from several respected scientists, including Dr. Michael Mann, director of the ESSC.
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Documentary featuring Geoscience professors wins Aurora Award
"Geology in the National Parks," a featurette showing the teaching of Dr. Richard Alley and Dr. Sridhar Anandakrishnan, won a gold Aurora award in the self-promotional/demo reel category. This Penn State Public Broadcasting production has won several awards.
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Snowfall unable to keep up with melting ice
In one of several new papers about the impact of climate change on ice sheets and global oceans, scientists using NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellite data have shown that the Antarctic ice sheet is losing ice mass at a rapid rate. This story from the Washington Post summarizes this latest research with comments from leading glaciologists, including Dr. Richard Alley of ESSC.
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Ice dumped by Greenland's glaciers triples in 10 years
A recent study published in the journal Science is summarized in this article from the Los Angeles Times. The study showed that the rate of melting in Greenland's glaciers is increasing, which may lead to a more rapid increase in sea level than previously projected. Dr. Richard Alley, director of PSICE, comments, "This paper is a real wake-up call."
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Current warming period is longest in 1200 years, study says
In an article published this month in the journal Science, two researchers from the University of East Anglia in England show that the current warming period is unprecedented. National Geographic News summarizes the article with comments from Dr. Michael Mann.
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Related article in ScienceNOW >>

Six more weeks? It's hardly begun
Punxsutawney Phil forecast of six more weeks of winter, but this story from Nikki Schwab of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says this year's warm winter in Pennsylvania may become more common based on global warming predictions. Dr. Michael Mann provides some comments on the 2005-2006 winter and implications for the future.
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Daily Kos' Science Friday interviews ESSC Scientist
Darksyde from the weblog Daily Kos interviewed Dr. Michael Mann and his colleagues from RealClimate.org in a virtual chat on the state of the climate and the field of climate science.
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The devil in the deep blue sea
In an examination of research on the current state and variability of the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current, Anthony R. Wood interviews several prominent climate scientists, including Dr. Richard Alley, director of PSICE.
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