by Judith Curry
In many large ensembles, the property of the system as a whole cannot be understood from studying the individual entities alone. The past decade has seen important progress in our fundamental understanding of what such seemingly disparate ‘complex systems’ have in common; some of these advances are surveyed here.
Posted in Uncategorized
by Judith Curry
Earth’s “missing heat” might not be missing after all.
That’s the conclusion of a new study that examines how accurately satellites and floating ocean instruments track the flow of energy from the sun to Earth and back again.
Posted in Attribution, Data and observations
by Judith Curry
Naomi Oreskes:
When it comes to climate change, openmindedness is the wrong approach.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted in Communication
by Judith Curry
The drunk notoriously searches for his keys not in the dark where he dropped them, but under the lamp-post where he can see. This is an apt metaphor for much of what is written on the subject of risk management.
Posted in Communication, Uncertainty
by Judith Curry
Earlier today via email, I received the following list of questions on research integrity and scientific responsibility.
Posted in Ethics
by Judith Curry
This past week, two climate scientists have presented different perspectives on communicating climate science: Richard Betts and Gavin Schmidt.
Posted in Communication
by Judith Curry
The Dublin based Livewire Publications has produced a new collection of essays titled Science & Capital – Radical Essays on Science & Technology, with the intention to;
“bring together some of the more radical essays on science and technology written over the years – so as to highlight some of the dangers inherent in the blind trust we are often encouraged to place in science and scientific experts”.
Posted in Scientific method
by Paul Farquharson
From about the fifth century A.D. onwards, the Western tradition of history writing preserves abundant descriptions of weather and climate phenomena in sources such as Chronicles, Annals and Histories. If this material is left out of our understanding and memory of climate, then contemporary extreme events may be mistaken for unique or unprecedented events.
Posted in History
Posted in Uncategorized
by Judith Curry
In many cases, a researcher is more likely to falsely find evidence that an effect exists than to correctly find evidence that it does not.
Posted in Scientific method
by Judith Curry
The most fundamental argument for R&D on geoengineering is that those decision makers should not be put in a position of either letting dangerous climate change occur or deploying poorly evaluated, untested technologies at scale. At the very least, we need to learn what approaches to avoid even if desperate.
Posted in Policy
by Judith Curry
Albert Einstein on thermodynamics:
A theory is more impressive the greater the simplicity of its premises, the more different are the kinds of things it relates, and the more extended its range of applicability. Therefore, the deep impression which classical thermodynamics made on me. It is the only physical theory of universal content, which I am convinced, that within the framework of applicability of its basic concepts will never be overthrown.
Posted in Sensitivity & feedbacks
by Judith Curry
Update: see new cartoon by Josh at the bottom of the post
the massive amounts of data necessary to deal with complex phenomena exceed any single brain’s ability to grasp, yet networked science rolls on.
Posted in Scientific method
by Judith Curry
The rise of digital media has revolutionized the management of information and created opportunities for broader involvement in science’s production.
Posted in Open knowledge
by John C.K. Daly of Oilprice.com
Ever since the global recession began in 2008, suggestions of an imminent trade war erupting between China and its trading partners have been increasingly rising.
Now the first shot in trade disputes has been fired. By China.
Posted in Energy
Posted in Uncategorized
by Judith Curry
In pondering what might happen in 2012 in terms of energy and climate policy, oilprice.com suggests that stove-piped analysis of individual strategic sectors (e.g. energy) is inadequate, and we need to consider the broad global strategic environment.
Posted in Energy
