Updated 2nd Edition: Al Gore's new movie An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is reviewed for its accuracy in climate science and energy policy. As was the case with Gore's first movie (An Inconvenient Truth), the movie is bursting with bad science, bad policy and some outright falsehoods. The storm events Gore addresses occur naturally, and there is little or no evidence they are being made worse from human activities: sea level is rising at the same rate it was before humans started burning fossil fuels; in Miami Beach the natural rise is magnified because buildings and streets were constructed on reclaimed swampland that has been sinking; the 9/11 memorial was not flooded by sea level rise from melting ice sheets, but a storm surge at high tide, which would have happened anyway and was not predicted by Gore in his first movie, as he claims; the Greenland ice sheet undergoes melt every summer, which was large in 2012 but then unusually weak in 2017; glaciers advance and retreat naturally, as evidenced by 1,000 to 2,000 year old tree stumps being uncovered in Alaska; rain gauge measurements reveal the conflict in Syria was not caused by reduced rainfall hurting farming there, and in fact the Middle East is greening from increasing CO2 in the atmosphere; agricultural yields in China have been rising, not falling as claimed by Gore. The renewable energy sources touted by Gore (wind and solar), while a laudable goal for our future, are currently very expensive: their federal subsidies per kilowatt-hour of energy produced are huge compared to coal, natural gas, and nuclear power. These costs are hidden from the public in increased federal and state tax rates. Gore is correct that "it is right to save humanity", but what we might need saving from the most are bad decisions that reduce prosperity and hurt the poor.
Roy W. Spencer received his Ph.D. in meteorology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981. Before becoming a Principal Research Scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2001, he was a Senior Scientist for Climate Studies at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, where he and Dr. John Christy received NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for their global temperature monitoring work with satellites. Dr. Spencer’s work with NASA continues as the U.S. Science Team leader for the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer flying on NASA’s Aqua satellite. He has provided congressional testimony several times on the subject of global warming.
Dr. Spencer’s research has been entirely supported by U.S. government agencies: NASA, NOAA, and DOE. He has never been asked by any oil company to perform any kind of service. Not even Exxon-Mobil.
A clear, simple and concise dispelling of the myths that Al Gore has been propagating in his movies, especially the second one (which bombed at the box office). Dr. Roy Spencer is an imminently qualified climatologist who is "skeptical" about the effects of man-made climate change. He doesn't deny that warming is taking place, only disputes how much is caused by man and what the long-term effects will be. No one really knows, and all the supposed "science" around the projections are nothing but computer models. The climate changes all the time, and to think man controls mother nature is absurd (how could we accelerate climate change?). This is a short, very worthwhile read.
This is an outstanding book that finally sets the record straight on all the misinformation about Climate Change. It is a must read for anyone and everyone interested in our environment.
This is a concise, understandable and convincing rebuttal of global warming. Regradless of one's position on this subject, this work clearly sets forth the reasons why skepticisim of global warming is firmly grounded and worthy of serious consideration. A must read for everybody desirous of understanding the global warming debate. Clearly, the science IS NOT settled!
It didn't waste my time and it was interesting.Snowflakes should read this (or ask their mothers to read it to them) so they can stop running around making fools of themselves screaming the end of the world is coming. It's a short read. Takes about a hour and it cost about a dollar or maybe three. I don't remember.
Dr. Roy Spencer continues his excellent rebuttal to pop-science and the misinformation around anthropogenic climate change. Easy read for a great price, highly recommended.
Whether you are believer or a skeptic about Anthropogenic Global Climate Change, there is something in this book that you should think about.
While recognizing the existence of climate change, and conceding the possibility that mankind may have some small contribution, Dr. Spencer has shown that man's influence on the world's climate cannot be as large as some people would like us to believe. In a few brief chapters, he has revealed the errors, misrepresentations and/or outright lies that fuel Al Gore's climate change crusade.
The book briefly shows that there have been other times of climate change in the historic record that cannot be attributed to mankind.
Dr. Spencer has hope for the future of alternative fuels, but for reasons he explains does not feel that their time has come. He shows that the people who are trying to force their adoption are not as foresighted as they would like the public to believe.
On the face of it, this could have been a decent critique of public figures speaking of climate policies which they have no knowledge to base their stance on, I thought Spencer's critique of AL Gore was decent, but it's quite telling when the only person Spencer addresses is a non-scientist like Al Gore. Spencer used a model in this book (Temperature anomaly from 1980 to 2005) that he and his college Christe observed themselves and published the results that the temperature rate of increase is only 0.087K/decade, which conflicts with the generally accepted observation of 0.193K/decade. Spencer would later apologize for this "error".
Prior to this egregious mistake on his part, Spencer started admitting, that yes humans are responsibly for global warming (at least somewhat as he would say), but he still kept on the charade that it wasn't a serious issue.
This book is riddled with logical fallacies, and misinformation, from a creationist evangelical Christian. Spencer is a member of Cornwall alliance a religious organization that preaches creationism, and denies climate change. Is it any wonder that Spencer is similarly close minded? Make no mistake, the only reason that Spencer holds his beliefs regarding Creationism and Climate change, is because of his religious views. In much of his writings, concerns regarding the scientific rigor of his conclusions are hand-waved away by comments like "I feel like the earth has a natural cooling system", which is a far-cry form any form of scientific rigor.
If you would like more context regarding the Spencer's misuse of the scientific method, this video provides a great summary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29QDG...
Spencer does a fair but not excellent job of challenging Gore's argument that present day climate challenges are mostly human induced. Spencer believes the cost of renewables to be too high and disregards the scope for massive improvents in technology and in recycling of rare materials from batteries. He does not produce enough numerical facts to support his arguments. He argues that CO2 is plant food without making statements about the delicate balance of ecosystems and food chains and that modern life forms are addapted to certain CO2 levels. Other than that, worth reading.
I liked the simplicity and down to earth explanation about the topic. It should be a must read for all those that don’t understand how the planet really works. For those that don’t understand the impact of government subsidies. For those that follow blindly pretty words and slogans without knowing the facts. Didn’t give it 5 stars because the author didn’t write it in a form that blind Al Gore followers could be refuted as they read the book. Otherwise I enjoyed it very much.
Brief, clear, concise and accessible refutation of the global warming hysteria. The author can by no means be labeled a denier, he presents the science, the facts and makes as many assertions as the combination of the two allow without resorting to the false assumptions and deceptive hyperbole Gore and his ilk often label a "settled science."
A great read. It presented some really good points. Things to look into and stop drinking the kool-aid.
Has man contributed to the increase in CO2? Yes. Is that causing a global catastrophe? Maybe not. The climate has natural cycles of warming and cooling. There have been times in the past when temperatures have been warmer than now. And man wasn't belching CO2 into the atmosphere. Sea levels have risen and fallen. There is much to consider.
I gave five for contrast of mainstream thought and presentation of clarity. The book is meant for novice readers. And though the formatting has much to be desired, the content speaks for itself. I wish it were more in depth in some respects, yet understanding its audience I appreciate it for what it is.
A must read for all who want to be properly informed about climate claims.
Dr. Spencer does an excellent job debunking Al Gore's fallacious claims about CO2 and the world's climate. He is very fair and sticks to supporting his statements with undeniable science. Al Gore should be ashamed!
Nice quick read to provide information on the current debate about global warming. Provide more evidence about world history events that show that temperature where dramatically different then it is today.
Book is well written and very easy to understand. Keeps to the facts and backs up everything he writes. After reading this and researching some of the sources, it is easy to become one of the "deniers".
Nice to know some.people (who actually UNDERSTAND physics, biology and math) are writing about this and other climate pieces whether in documentaries, books or Op-ed articles. An excellent succinct look at Gore et al.
This is a clear-headed analysis of the whole concept of man-made global warming. Easy, quick read that the "believers" should read to honestly understand the issue from a dispassionate perspective.
a refreshing look at what is really going on. book is not too technical, and informs you and educated you. A really good way of understanding another point of view. Such a gentleman, and doesn’t take cheep shots.
A very well balanced and referenced approach. It doesn't deny. it just clarifies what is and what isn't and how not to be manipulated by Mr. Gore's theatrics.