Changes on the way

Department unanimously endorses climate report

By: Kristin Leveille

Issue date: 7/10/07 Section: News

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Media Credit: Spencer Selvidge

Atmospheric sciences faculty members Andrew Dessler and Gerald North stand outside of the O&M Building Monday evening. Dessler and North were among the faculty that endorsed the climate change.

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With concerns about global warming and the impact humans have on the climate, the faculty of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M has unanimously endorsed the recent reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In accordance with the IPCC report, Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change, the atmospheric sciences faculty said in their statement, which is posted on the atmospheric sciences website, that it is virtually certain the climate is warming and it is very likely humans are responsible for this change.

The faculty members also said the temperature of the earth will rise at least two degrees Celsius over the next century if nothing is done to curb carbon dioxide emissions, and climate change will bring a "risk of serious adverse impacts on our environment and society."

The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The panel's job is to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.

Richard Orville, a professor and department head of atmospheric sciences, said his department is in a position to have an opinion on this subject and that they have a responsibility to provide guidance for the public about this issue.

"We hope that this is a way of getting the truth out," Orville said. "We want to provide a source for the truth that people can trust."

The A&M atmospheric sciences department is the second largest of its kind in the nation, with 23 faculty members. There are about 45 such departments throughout the country, Orville said.

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Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 10

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Don Bullock '57

posted 7/10/07 @ 5:33 AM CST

The kicker here is in the second paragraph where the word 'virtually' is, disclaimer like, inserted before the word 'certain'. We may be warming, but the earth has been warming and cooling in cycles for millenia. (Continued…)

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TomT

Tom Theimer

posted 7/10/07 @ 7:25 AM CST

Don ! YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT !! The department has not done their homework...or they are afraid to speak out against what has been popularized and thus losing countless dollars in future government funds. (Continued…)

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Anonymous

posted 7/10/07 @ 7:46 AM CST

You guys couldn't be more wrong. While top scientists, experts, from all over the world continue to realize the reality and the gravity of this problem, you morons continue to give idiot politicians here an excuse to not do anything about it. (Continued…)

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A. Brannon Kroll '01

posted 7/10/07 @ 9:02 AM CST

Don and Tom,

I couldn't agree with you more. It is all about getting those almighty research dollars and federal grants. They are willing to sell their soles to the devil in order to keep the federal gravy train rolling. (Continued…)

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Jordan Michel

posted 7/10/07 @ 10:09 AM CST

When is the last time you heard a scientist say they were certain about anything? They don't! Scientists come up with the best explanation they can given everything they know and always leave room to reevaluate their position in the future. (Continued…)

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Robert Jacobson

posted 7/10/07 @ 4:06 PM CST

It is truly bizarre that so many people are so ready to believe in a conspiracy theory involving THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT here at A&M. Essentially the argument (displayed by the commenters above) is that we cannot trust the very people who are charged with studying this problem scientifically, that is, we should not listen to climate scientists. (Continued…)

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