What Do Climate Scientists Do?

James Hansen , American climate scientist. Born March 29, 1941 in Iowa, USA. He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Iowa in 1967 and is currently an adjunct professor at Columbia University.

James Hanson

(U.S. Climate Scientist)

James Hanson et al. Published a paper in The Open Atmospheric Science in September 2008, titled: "The Upper Limit of Atmospheric CO2: Where Are the Human Targets?", Stating that the upper limit of carbon dioxide should be 350ppm. View. The paper points out: evidence of paleoclimate and current climate change trends indicate that the concentration of CO2 must be reduced from the current 385ppm to a maximum of 350ppm, preferably lower. If this number is exceeded, it may lead to irreversible disasters, otherwise humankind will be difficult to save the earth's ecological environment.

In a recent interview with the Guardian, James Hanson said: Obama has only four years to fight climate change.

For a long time, Hanson has been calling for leaders to take action quickly. He has now almost transformed from a scientist to an environmental activist. Here are some related reports:

On July 3, 2008, James Hanson wrote to

James Hanson

American physicist Freeman Dyson strongly criticized Hanson's positive actions on climate change. "Earth people have overestimated the effects of global warming, and the one who is really responsible for it is James Hanson. He has been exaggerating all the dangers ... Hanson has turned science into ideology."

After the arrest of Hanson in June 2009, a well-known columnist in the New York Times, Rafkin, wrote: "In this environmental policy dispute, Hansen has far surpassed the traditional role of scientists, especially those working for the government. "

At the same time, Hanson was gradually isolated by what would otherwise be a fellow climate activist because of his opposition to the carbon trade advocated by the Obama administration, which "annoyed many long-term supporters." Clausen, director of the Pew Global Climate Change Research Center, said, "I see James Hanson as a hero scientist ... but I sincerely hope that he can hold on to his fortress of knowledge. Because I feel he is quite politically insecure reality."

Hansen has been criticized for being politically naive. The harsh remarks made at the Copenhagen conference once again proved that Hansen was an unpleasant character. Hanson himself also acknowledged that he was a "poor communicator" and not "well-rounded." "Although interesting, it is difficult to get along"

A reporter who interviewed him was surprised to find that he was "poor-tempered and stubborn". The reporter said that Hanson "although interesting, but difficult to get along with". On the issue of climate warming, Hansen has never been too eager to fire on the power and paid no attention to methods and methods. He has also been a victim of power.

Since giving testimony in Congress in 1988, he has been a guest of the U.S. government and has been frequently invited to participate in various meetings. However, in 2004, the winds changed abruptly as Hansen did not converge on his criticism of the Clinton administration and the Bush administration's stance on climate issues. The US government has begun to clamp down on Hansen's remarks.

At the instigation of the Bush administration, it is alleged that NASA began restricting his access to the media and threatened that if he did not stop spreading unpopular remarks, "the consequences would be serious." NASA also directed personnel to collect and evaluate Hansen's comments in public, and even declined media requests for an interview with Hansen. After the incident came to light, a 24-year-old NASA employee responsible for "sealing" Hansen was forced to resign to calm the anger.

In addition to being politically repressed, academics have questioned Hansen's integrity. The recent "climate gate" incident showed that some scientists have falsified data and falsified scientific processes to support their claims about climate change. This incident undoubtedly exacerbated doubts about Hansen, because its research institution is one of the main providers of relevant data.

In fact, the academic community has long been alert to this. In 2007, pressured by public opinion, Hanson had to correct his data on US surface temperatures. The corrected data indicates that the hottest year in the United States in the 20th century was not the one claimed in the 1990s, but the one in the 1930s.

In addition, a Canadian computer system analyst found that Hanson had lowered global temperature data before 1970 by 0.5 ° C and increased relevant data after 1970.