The Alarmist: Fifty Years Measuring Climate Change

by Dave Lowe

Alarmist (pre 2020): Someone who exaggerates a danger and so causes needless worry or panic.
Alarmist (post 2020): Someone who justifiably raises the alarm about a global danger to Earth's biosphere.

His research was urgent fifty years ago. Now, it’s critical.

In the early 1970s, budding Kiwi scientist Dave Lowe was posted at an atmospheric monitoring station on the wind-blasted southern coast of New Zealand’s North Island. On a shoestring salary he measured carbon in the atmosphere, collecting vital data towards what became one of the most important discoveries in modern science.

What followed was a lifetime’s career marked by hope and despair. As realisation dawned of what his measurements meant for the future of the planet, Dave travelled the world to understand more about atmospheric gases, along the way programming some of the earliest computers, designing cutting-edge equipment and conducting experiments both dangerous and mind-numbingly dull. From the sandy beaches of California to the stark winters of West Germany, the mesas of the Rocky Mountains and an Atlantic voyage across the equator, Dave has faced down climate deniers, foot-dragging bureaucracy and widespread complacency to open people’s eyes to the effects of increasing fossil fuel emissions on our atmosphere.

In equal parts adventure and a warning, and with the wisdom and frustration of half a century behind him, The Alarmist is the exhilarating autobiography of a pioneering Kiwi scientist who has dedicated his life to sounding the alarm on climate change.



Cover photograph: Dave Lowe at Baring Head, 1973

Cover design: Keely O'Shannessy

Genres: Science, Ecology, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2021

About the author

Dave Lowe is an atmospheric chemist and a lead author of the 2007 Nobel Prize-winning IPCC Fourth Assessment Report on climate change. In the early 1970s he set up a monitoring station at Baring Head to provide the world’s first evidence of rising atmospheric CO2 in the southern hemisphere mid-latitudes. He has worked in laboratories in the US, Germany and New Zealand, where he developed equipment and methods to determine the sources of methane in the atmosphere. In New Zealand with NIWA, Dave developed an analytical laboratory and helped establish TROPAC, a world-leading atmospheric chemistry group based in Wellington. He has taught atmospheric chemistry at Victoria University of Wellington, where he is an adjunct professor, and between 2012–18 he acted as the government’s German–New Zealand science coordinator. Today, Dave runs an independent business focused on science education and sustainability. He is one of the last surviving attendees of the world’s first atmospheric CO2 conference, in 1975.

Reviews

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

In NZ it often seems like we think all the smart people are overseas and we need to bring them here for their expertise. And yet it's people like Dave that remind me there are sooo many incredibly smart and creative NZers.
This was a fascinating look at the rise of climate change science (quite detailed in parts). Also a fascinating look back at life from the '70s-2000s.
Dave Lowe has had an incredible life doing some amazing, internationally-recognised work...I just wish politicians here around the globe would get a move on and act on what we now know about climate change.

[Gordon Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful personal story of the life of a scientist. It is also about the most important existential threat to humanity. Don't be put off by the title. A must read.

[Ethan Helliwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’t finished but wanted to write how much I love the book as a Wellingtonian who is close to the science industry described. I am also humbled by the lives of those before me and how inspiring they are. Thank you for publishing Dr. Lowe

[Johanna Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book written with wisdom and humour. A journey of growth for the author and a clear message for the world: we have one atmosphere and it needs saving.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

A fascinating book for those interested in climate science, but the real charm was the honest reflection on a lifelong career in science - the ups, the downs, the politics, the relationships, and the challenges both personal and professional. It highlights the stark contrast between the amazing minds, technical skills, dogged determination, and creativity called upon in the fifty years of collecting and analysing atmospheric data that plots the inexorable rise of CO2 (and other greenhouse gases), and the absolute futility of trying to get anyone outside of scientific circles to pay attention to the impending climate crisis. To think that Dave Lowe and his colleagues have been carrying the burden of this knowledge and all that it means since the 1970s, and having their calls for action ignored (until recently) is actually quite heartbreaking. Particularly so when you are presented with a collection of 'characters' who are both super-smart but also real people with all of the usual human emotions, hopes, and fears. A great read - recommended for anyone who is involved in any kind of science, is interested in climate science, or who wants to know more about the life and times of a man who must be one of Aotearoa NZ's most dedicated scientists.

[Sophia Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely does a book come around which not only motivates personal change but enacts it. The Alarmist was one of those books for me. This is a highly informative piece of literature with great detail paid to both science and a life spent exploring and advocating for the science. At times the writing can feel disjointed but the overall message is clear: there is only one right way forward.

This memoir has been short-listed for a NZ Book Award and I truly hope it wins for the story it tells is one every person should read.

Highly recommend!

[Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

very boring and derogatory
the author is also very lame and boring and old

would not recommend 👎👎👎

[Neha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autobiography of a Kiwi climate scientist - his childhood, education, work, family and his passion for the environment. Dave Lowe's interest in surfing sparked his interest to understand the environment. He started his career in INS, Wellington and started working with Charles Keeling in his 20s, to study the effects of an increase in carbon dioxide. His experiments were conducted mainly at Baring head which has the longest recorded CO2 reading in the southern hemisphere. He has worked with Keeling at Scripps, California and later on completed his PhD at Germany in atmospheric chemistry. His works have helped in understanding the effects of increase in greenhouse gases and global warming. This book takes you through Lowe's 50 year old career, his works to create awareness on global warming and his frustration when politics play a role in taking necessary actions to protect our Earth. He managed to explain his complicated technical works and experiments in a very simple way. It was fascinating to know how they worked and the methods they used to collect air samples for their tests. It's quite heartbreaking realizing that great scientists have been giving warnings about global warming from the 70s and even now, a lot hasn't changed. I wish Lowe's hopes and dreams for a better future comes true.

[Harrison Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to have any hope for the world when scientists have been telling us incessantly for decades that we need to make significant changes to the way we treat our planet if we still want to be able to live on it.
This was an interestingly personal recounting of the lives of one of the scientists who has been at the forefront of atmospheric study his entire life.
His insights into the deeper science and developing methods of assessing the state of Earth's atmosphere put to the autobiographical backdrop of his life made for an engaging and intriguing read.
New Zealand mentioned woohoo!!! 🙌

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've surprised myself in giving 5 stars to an autobiography, but what a compelling career-life story of a climate scientist. The science is made accessible and compelling, and the interweaving of his personal life quite generous e.g., exposing his younger chauvinist self.

[Leanne Catchpole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Lowe's life story is engaging as he describes his journey of discovery of human induced climate change. But still, we are failing to take sufficient action to reduce emissions. Despite having little understanding of chemistry, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great long view of climate change from the first person perspective of someone who has spent their life measuring it.

[Jeff Tully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book

[PaulCurry · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best reads I've had in a while. It is very easy to read this well written life story, but the deep message comes through.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hope poor Rosemary is doing okay…