Could Global Warming Precipitate Peace?

Growing interest in the social consequences of climate change has fueled speculation that global warming could lead to an increase in various forms of political violence. Surprisingly, analysis at the system level suggests that global warming is associated with a reduction in interstate conflict. Ironically, stagnating economic development in middle-income states caused by efforts to combat climate change could actually realize fears ofclimate-induced warfare.

Lonnie Thompson, Climate Scientist, Battles Time and Mortality - NYTimes.com

Some scientists have challenged Dr. Thompson’s analysis of the signals in his ice cores, saying that the chemical changes he interprets as temperature swings probably reflect a more complicated mix of changes in temperature, precipitation and atmospheric circulation patterns. Mathias Vuille, an atmospheric scientist at the State University at Albany, who admires Dr. Thompson’s achievements, said that his analysis on this point “is hard to reconcile with other evidence.”

And an especially intense controversy has erupted about Dr. Thompson’s interpretation of ice he recovered atop Mount Kilimanjaro. Though Dr. Thompson sees the rapid disappearance of ice there as a reflection of climate change, his critics cite more regional than global factors, like precipitation.

While Dr. Thompson has defended his interpretations on these points, he does have some regrets. One is that those years of frenzied drilling led him to fall behind in publishing his data, so some of the evidence he has gathered is not yet available to the broader scientific community.

Twitter / MichaelEMann: "RT @leohickman: By me: Is

"RT @leohickman: By me: Is it now possible to blame extreme weather on global warming?" My response, in short: "YES"! http://gu.com/p/38mq9/tw

Twitter / MichaelEMann: @BobFishell @Guardian @Leo

Bob Fishell  @MichaelEMann @Guardian @LeoHickman Hansen uses the same analogy. Did you guys collaborate on it?

[Mann] @BobFishell @Guardian @LeoHickman We're not that imaginative. We all borrow our colleagues' analogies, e.g. Baseball/steroids/home runs, etc

Nice Try AP, But Americans Aren't Buying It

But the usual suspects will continue trying to drum up global warming hysteria in an attempt to gain Americans' support - but we wouldn't count on Al Gore coming out of hiding to help them, at least not before the election. They're on their own.

Twitter / MichaelEMann: @mims Indeed. Busy time ri

@mims Indeed. Busy time right now to be a climate scientist--in very good way. 'Teachable moments' perfect description of what we have here.

Twitter / MichaelEMann: @mims "smaller their numbe

@mims "smaller their number, nastier the deniers have become". Indeed, its the story of my life--literally: http://bit.ly/sRasaq  ‪#HSCW

Twitter / HeidiCullen: Heat wave expands again b4

Heat wave expands again b4 retreating west next week. Should get some more records out of this yet http://bit.ly/MTKsac  ‪#heat‬ ‪#climate

If Cullen really thinks that this warm weather will kill lots of people, why does it sound like she wants more of it?