Email 1150, Dec 2004, Chris Landsea to Pachauri: "Dr. Trenberth in representing the IPCC has successfully promulgated into the media his own opinion that the 2004 hurricane season was caused by global warming, which is in direct opposition to research written in the field and is counter to conclusions in the TAR"

Email 1150

Dr. Pachauri, you mentioned earlier that "individual scientists can do what they wish in their own rights", which is certainly true. Differing conclusions and robust debates are crucial to progress in climate science. However, what we have here is not in this case an honest scientific discussion. Instead, Dr. Trenberth in representing the IPCC has successfully promulgated into the media his own opinion that the 2004 hurricane season was caused by global warming, which is in direct opposition to research written in the field and is counter to conclusions in the TAR. Yet, I have been asked to provide the writeup about observed hurricane activity variations for the FAR with, ironically, Dr. Trenberth as Lead Author. Because of Dr. Trenberth's pronouncements, the IPCC process on our assessment of these crucial extreme events in our climate system is compromised and its objectivity lost. While no one can "tell" scientists what to say or not say (nor am I suggesting that), the IPCC did select Dr. Trenberth as a Lead Author and entrusted to him to carry out this duty in a non-biased, objective point of view. To this, he has failed. I personally cannot in good faith continue to contribute to a process that I view as not being scientifically sound. As long as this structure remains, I will no longer participate in the IPCC FAR. Sincerely, Chris Landsea