Rising Sea

Not long ago Watson et al. compared satellite sea-level data to estimates from tide gauges. They concluded that the satellite data show systematic drift, which is satellite-specific, most strongly affecting the first six years’ observations.

We have met the climate champions, and they are young

Chloe Maxmin began climate activism at the age of 12. She formed a Climate Action Club in high school. Later, as a college student, she co-founded Divest Harvard, to persuade Harvard University to divest its endowment from fossil fuels. And she founded First Here, Then Everywhere for youth climate activists.

Houston

…
Back in 1836, Houston said to Travis
“Get some volunteers and go, Fortify the Alamo.”
Well the men came from Texas, And from old Tennessee
And they joined up with Travis, Just to fight for the right to be free.

Those who defended the Alamo didn’t fight for their own freedom; they were free already. They fought for the right to be, for the right of others to be free. They died for that right.

Pacific Island Nations

The WUWT blog has recently had a spate of posts about Pacific Island Nations and the threat of sea level rise. Their common themes are that the threat is overstated, that the Island Nations are trying to swindle us out of money on false pretenses, and any data which show that there is a problem can’t be right. The level of “scholarship” in these posts is perhaps best illustrated by one about the current president of Kiribati, which had to add an “update” after it was published because when he wrote the post, the author didn’t know who the current president of Kiribati is.

I’d rather know what’s really happening with Pacific Island Nations and sea level rise.

Thanksgiving Dinner: How to Talk to “Drunk Uncle”

We’ve been there, most of us. Thanksgiving dinner, lots of family including many you don’t see very often, and at some point somebody says something so terrible, you feel like you have to respond. Maybe it’s about global warming, and you’re a young climate activist (thank you!). Here’s my advice.

Young people: you have a voice. You have power.

Yes, you do have a voice and you do have power — but only if you use it.

If you don’t, the world you grow up in will be a terrible place. If you do, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.

Don’t save the world for me, or any of us old folks. Do it for yourselves. I’ll do what I can to help … but don’t count on “adults” getting it right. We’re the ones who screwed it up.

Cycle Change: Arctic Sea Ice Edition

After my last post, a reader asked:

What’s most noticeable about this is the massive change in variability since 2007. Could you do some analysis of that?

Sure.

How Climate “Skeptics” Misuse Data: Sea Surface Temperature Edition

A fascinating post by Ron Clutz shows how so-called “skeptics” of global warming misuse data, and how they show it.

Understanding Sea Level Rise

Sea level rise is complicated. But some people think its future course is oh so simple, and the recent visit by a certain Mr. Wakefield showed just how determined he is to stick with what I call the “simpleton’s view.”

Boston Sea Level

How one plots the data can have a big impact on whether or not one can “see” acceleration or deceleration of sea level in tide gauge data. Here, for instance, is a plot of sea level at Boston (data from PSMSL, and I’ve removed the annual cycle):