David B. MacNeill David B. MacNeill Fisheries Specialist Fisheries Specialist NY Sea Grant Extension NY Sea Grant Extension SUNY Oswego SUNY Oswego [email protected][email protected]Global Climate Global Climate Change Change and Uncertainty and Uncertainty
Global Climate Change and Uncertainty. David B. MacNeill Fisheries Specialist NY Sea Grant Extension SUNY Oswego [email protected]. Global Climate Change and Uncertainty. Apocalypse. Public perceptions. Kyoto. Heresy. Biodiversity. Al Gore. Greenhouse gases. Conspiracy. IPCC. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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David B. MacNeillDavid B. MacNeillFisheries SpecialistFisheries Specialist
NY Sea Grant ExtensionNY Sea Grant ExtensionSUNY OswegoSUNY Oswego
Global Climate Change and Global Climate Change and UncertaintyUncertainty
Polar bears
Al Gore
Apocalypse
Junk Science
Greenhouse gases
Glaciers
Kyoto
Decision-making
DisasterIPCC
Tradeoffs
Human dimensions
Policy implementation
Human behavior
Public perceptions
Mitigation
Heresy
CommunicationAdaptationScenariosSocial Sciences
Climate models
Biodiversity
Chicanery
Conspiracy
This This Presentation:Presentation:
• Broad-brush overviewBroad-brush overview of climate change of climate change uncertainties, communication etc. from uncertainties, communication etc. from literature sources, extension experience literature sources, extension experience with scientific uncertainty.with scientific uncertainty.
•NotNot an indictment of science or an an indictment of science or an admonishment of scientists, policy admonishment of scientists, policy makers, government or the lay makers, government or the lay community!!community!!
Understanding the concepts of risk and Understanding the concepts of risk and uncertainty with a deck of cards??uncertainty with a deck of cards??
The uncertainty: What poker hand will I draw next?
The risk: What is the probability of drawing it? (<1%)
The Dead Man’s Hand: unlucky for Wild Bill Hickok?
But, the card deck changes But, the card deck changes unexpectedly……unexpectedly……
The Risk ?
Death cards
Other cards
Some Climate Change Some Climate Change PerspectivesPerspectives
• A complex, multidisciplinary issue of long-A complex, multidisciplinary issue of long-term global consequence, that demands:term global consequence, that demands: – Best available information Best available information – New assessment, predictive, decision-making New assessment, predictive, decision-making
toolstools– A carefully planned extension/outreach A carefully planned extension/outreach
strategystrategy– Better PR for scienceBetter PR for science
Uncertainty leads to those nagging Uncertainty leads to those nagging questionsquestions
Is climate change real?, are humans responsible?Is climate change real?, are humans responsible?
• What are the impacts?, What should we do?What are the impacts?, What should we do?
• Why: Why: – is science uncertain?is science uncertain?– do scientists disagree? change their minds?do scientists disagree? change their minds?– don’t scientists always have the answer?don’t scientists always have the answer?– do results contradict?do results contradict?
Uncertainty Uncertainty paradigmsparadigms
•Uncertainty is unwelcome, and needs to be avoided. Science must eliminate uncertainty through more and better research.
•Uncertainty is undesirable, but unavoidable. Science must estimate and quantify uncertainty as well as possible.
•Uncertainty creates opportunities. Science must contribute to more inclusive, understandable discussions.
•Uncertainty is an integral part of decision-making. Science must have more societal influence.
Communicating Science and Communicating Science and UncertaintiesUncertainties
Why even bother ???Why even bother ???
• PR: The process of science.PR: The process of science.
• Restore credibility of science: increased Restore credibility of science: increased transparency.transparency.
• Provide accessible information/knowledge to Provide accessible information/knowledge to decision-makers.decision-makers.
• Decision-making: accurate and collaborative. Decision-making: accurate and collaborative.
• Increase public support/involvement: Increase public support/involvement: decision-making decision-making
• GCC interactions: science and human ecologyGCC interactions: science and human ecology
Three Arguments for Climate Three Arguments for Climate ChangeChange
• Climate is changing: analyses of many Climate is changing: analyses of many indicatorsindicators
• Human activities have contributed to increases Human activities have contributed to increases in green house gas emissionsin green house gas emissions
• Scientific deliberations and large-scale Scientific deliberations and large-scale computer models suggest potential for climate computer models suggest potential for climate change from anthropogenic influenceschange from anthropogenic influences
• High degree of confidence: weight of evidence High degree of confidence: weight of evidence from expert opinionfrom expert opinion
Is climate Is climate reallyreally changing?changing?
Surface temperature record
Sea Ice
Sea level
Glacial record
Sub-surface
ocean
temperatures
Climate proxies
Convincing evidence
BUT..
Contentious Points
Climate cycles
Remote sensing
calibration
Climate proxy
accuracy
Policies:
people or nature
Model predictive power
Climate sensitivity Earth’s resiliency?
Solar activity
Natural vs. anthropogenic
Muir Glacier Alaska, August 1940. photo by W.O. Field
Seeing is Seeing is Believing?Believing?
Muir Glacier Alaska, August 2004. photo by B.F. Molnia
Uncertainty
Scientist Non-scientist
“You just don’t understand.” “It’s too complicated”. “We know what is best.” “It’s not our job to explain it to you”. “We’re scientists, not interpreters”.
“Science is sloppy - a collection of useless facts”. “You’re arrogant, out-of touch and have impractical ideas”. “You’ve been wrong before.”“Prove it.”
An exaggerated An exaggerated view…..view…..
Some major Some major challengeschallenges
• Continuing uncertainties on climate system sensitivity to Continuing uncertainties on climate system sensitivity to various feedbacks (e.g., clouds, water vapor, snow).various feedbacks (e.g., clouds, water vapor, snow).
• Several natural modes of climate variability have been Several natural modes of climate variability have been identified and described, but their predictability is uncertain.identified and described, but their predictability is uncertain.
• Need to improve understanding of whether and how human Need to improve understanding of whether and how human impacts may alter natural climate variability.impacts may alter natural climate variability.
• Do not yet have confident assessments of the likelihood of Do not yet have confident assessments of the likelihood of abrupt climate changes.abrupt climate changes.
• Insufficient understanding of effects of climate variability Insufficient understanding of effects of climate variability and change on extreme events.and change on extreme events.
• Limited capabilities at regional scales.Limited capabilities at regional scales.• Need better means for identifying, developing, and Need better means for identifying, developing, and
providing climate information required for policy and providing climate information required for policy and resource management decisions.resource management decisions.
• SolicitSolicit expert judgments: level of “confidence” expert judgments: level of “confidence”
• Sensitivity analysisSensitivity analysis: range of probable model outcomes : range of probable model outcomes assessed with model using a range of values various inputs, assessed with model using a range of values various inputs, upper and lower boundupper and lower bound
• Quantify:Quantify: probabilistic analysis (Frequentist and Bayesian), probabilistic analysis (Frequentist and Bayesian), probabilistic distributions, deterministic analysis and hybridsprobabilistic distributions, deterministic analysis and hybrids
• Clarify,Clarify, document range and distributions document range and distributions
• Articulate and communicateArticulate and communicate: probabilistic and scenarios: probabilistic and scenarios
Some predicted impacts of climate Some predicted impacts of climate change?change?
Warmer, dryer summersWarmer, dryer summers Warmer, wetter wintersWarmer, wetter winters Increased spring floodingIncreased spring flooding Changes in sea/lake Changes in sea/lake
levels, water currents, levels, water currents, thermal structurethermal structure
What are they What are they really really saying?saying?• Nature: too complex.Nature: too complex.• Conflicting data. Conflicting data. • Models: poor predictors.Models: poor predictors.• Exaggerated impacts.Exaggerated impacts.• Doom/gloom vs. facts.Doom/gloom vs. facts.• Earth’s resiliency.Earth’s resiliency.• Strategies: cost/benefits?Strategies: cost/benefits?• Consensus:Consensus: evidence supports evidence supports
GCCGCC • Less consensus:Less consensus: drivers, drivers,
What is the matter with What is the matter with science?science? The debate The debate
continues……continues……• Dyson (1993)
– Consensus: peer pressure (entrepreneurial science) vs. debateConsensus: peer pressure (entrepreneurial science) vs. debate– Public fear drives funding priorities = politicization of sciencePublic fear drives funding priorities = politicization of science– Science's failure to address global welfare vs. unrealistic expectationsScience's failure to address global welfare vs. unrealistic expectations
• Rubin (2001)Rubin (2001)– Science is not the sole repository of the truthScience is not the sole repository of the truth– Little self-limitation on deliverable truthsLittle self-limitation on deliverable truths– Get the facts straight vs. overselling scienceGet the facts straight vs. overselling science– Scientific authority fosters hidden agendas that short-circuit debateScientific authority fosters hidden agendas that short-circuit debate– Participatory decision making impeded by science education shortfalls Participatory decision making impeded by science education shortfalls
• Commoner (1971)Commoner (1971)– Illusion of scientific objectivityIllusion of scientific objectivity
• Grant et al. (2004)Grant et al. (2004)– Popper’s vs. psychological vPopper’s vs. psychological v– Benedikter (2004) basic ideologies and mechanisms not fully visible Benedikter (2004) basic ideologies and mechanisms not fully visible
(psychologically) (psychologically)
• Malnes (2006)Malnes (2006)– Mixed messages: duplicity vs. extraneous diversionsMixed messages: duplicity vs. extraneous diversions
Classical, Modern & Post-Normal Classical, Modern & Post-Normal ScienceScience