Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies That Hurt the Poor

I highly recommend reading this book for anyone even mildly interested in the topic of climate change, and more importantly whether government involvement in attempting to regulate a “solution” is an advisable concept. When the topic of greenhouse gas regulation comes up in conversation, this is the book I always recommend as a great starting point for understanding the underlying issue (and the far reaching consequences of potential governmental solutions). This book is written in an easy to follow manner meant for the lay person to comprehend. By no means, does that insinuate that this work is not thoroughly researched; it is just an indication that Dr. Spencer does an excellent job of considering his target audience. Dr. Spencer’s credentials speak for themselves, so you can pretty much ignore most of the low reviews attacking him personally. In fact, if several of those reviewers actually read the book, they would realize that he does a pretty thorough job of dismantling their shallow attacks of being some “big oil” hack. This book covers quite a few aspects surrounding the subject of climate change as a whole (from the underlying statistics, to the methodology of modeling, to the unknowns of weather and climate), so it works as a substantive primer on the overall concept. Perhaps one of the most significant items of this particular book is his discussion of the jump from the data we have to the Hollywood doomsday scenarios being predicted, and the lack of true scientific data to support the doomsday hypothesis. The topic of climate change is an extremely rhetorically charged topic, but the concept of greenhouse gas regulation affects everyone. The United States already has already waded into the shallow end of greenhouse gas regulation using the back door with the Tailoring Rule and Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (mechanisms that escape the radar of the general populace), but if we are to continue the march toward the deep end of regulation with “Cap & Trade”; we all need to start educating ourselves more fully on the concepts. In short, if you are an inquisitive enough mind to be reading these reviews, you will not be disappointed with this book.

Dr. Spencer's book was a surprise in several aspects. First, I found it to be a very easy read compared with other recent books on climate. He conveys a sense of the complexities involved in unraveling climate forcings and responses, and even if we have them in the right order in current General Circulation Models, without introducing a lot of technical jargon. After having read much on climate and running through the Stefan-Boltzmann greybody calculations of the Earth's expected temperature, I still learned a critical fact about Earth's climate from Dr. Spencer's book. When a convection model by Manabe and Stickler from 1964 includes atmospheric convection into the greybody calculation, the Earth's temperature is expected to be 140 F, or 60 C or 333 K. Dr. Spencer indicates that the Earth's weather systems provide an efficient, self-regulating mechanism of transferring energy from the Earth's surface to the tropopause where it can be radiated away, resulting in sufficient cooling of the Earth's surface to make it a habitable 57 F. When looked at in this light, the contribution from increased infrared forcing due to CO2 and other greenhouse gases, although real, becomes a secondary forcing that is easily compensated by small variations in cloud cover. Indeed, Dr. Spencer's recently published satellite observations of cloud behavior confirm this effect, first put forward by Prof. Lindzen of MIT more than 15 years ago.I found the discussions on technology solutions for replacing fossil fuels to be very thin, but amusing (he introduces a new name for the process of using the output of a fuel cell to electrolyze hydrogen for powering fuel-cells- the perpetual motion machine!). The economic discussions were simple and excellent. Dr. Spencer treads into the return on investment question for Kyoto and similar emission-reduction schemes- all pain for no gain. The discussion of the devastation in Africa caused by banning the use of DDT (based on junk science) can never be repeated enough times. The ban on CFC's to 'save the ozone' and the recent discrediting of the fundamental chemical reaction rates upon which that ban was based could have been included in this chapter.The most important lesson I take away from this book is in the title of this review. Weather cools the Earth's surface by almost 83 F, making it habitable. Every single member of Congress should be required to read this book before even starting to blather about climate change legislation.

Roy Spencer is a climate change skeptic. That does not make him a climate-change denier. His book emphasizes first what some areas of uncertainty exist in the climate change models, and later deals with some of the economic aspects of the political response to perceived threat of anthropogenic (man-made) global warming.Spenser explains some simple facts about the carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is, along with water vapor, the main byproduct of virtually all processes that free energy by burning a carbon based fuel. This includes the human body's burning sugar. It is also one of the so-called greenhouse gasses. These gasses are transparent to the energy from the light of the sun, but opaque to the infrared energy the earth reflects back. For this reason, increasing levels of CO2, by themselves, would lead to increasing global temperatures.The key notion is "by themselves". Spenser, a climatologist by training and specialist in satellite monitoring of global temperatures, asserts that if CO2 levels were the only factor, doubling them would increase global temperatures by about 1° F. The assertion of the promoters of anthropogenic global warming is that the small increase from CO2 increases the amount of an more significant greenhouse gas, water vapor. Higher levels of water vapor in the air then raise the temperature higher, which becomes a self feeding system that spirals out of control.Weather systems, primarily precipitation, serve to cool the earth's surface. Without precipitation, Spenser estimates the earth's surface temperature would be about 140°F! Precipitation and cloud formation, while perhaps the most important factor in surface temperature, is the least understood part of our climate system.So an alternative outcome to a mechanism that spirals out of control is one that self-corrects, so that slightly higher temperatures result in slightly higher levels of precipitation. Between the two likelihoods, Spenser asserts the self-correcting model is more probable, given that IS a role of the weather systems.In addition, he weighs in with more observations on clouds and oceans, and also on the apparent lack of strict scientific objectivity on the part of the climate change acolytes. He also casts some aspersions on the state of the historical data reported by those believers.I found the technical side of his arguments challenging to fully follow, but most of the first half of the book was very readable.The political and economic half of the book was much more simplistic, and much more strident. His arguments follow a relatively straightforward conservative theme, and examines what he considers the relative futility of the various proposed solutions. Any conservative will find he reasoning very sound.In summary, Spenser is quite thorough in his presenting an alternative mechanism of the environmental response to increased levels of carbon dioxide. His reasoning throughout looks sound, and the book is an entertaining read. My personal experience of the book was that I was actually more open to the prospect of an anthropogenic warming problem than before I started, but as convinced as before the current proposed course for the United States is an exercise in futility. This is a very valuable read for anyone opened to a balanced technical view that is at odds with the "settled science" of anthropogenic global warming.

James Hansen, a climate scientist at NASA, where the author of this book also worked in climate science, famously told a Congressional committee that global warming skeptics should be charged with crimes against humanity. I know nothing about the legal merits of such a charge, but it's clear that Dr. Hansen has much too much emotional investment in a particular viewpoint to ever be capable of doing unbiased science in the field. Good science is impossible where emotions rule. Perhaps Dr. Hansen had Dr. Spenser specifically in mind when he made that statement, and one can only imagine the cross agency resentments that must of boiled along for years, Dr. Hansen screaming incessantly about global warming to whatever reporters would listen and Dr. Spenser calmly dismissing it as a crisis problem, not nearly as bad as Hansen was saying according to Spenser's satellite data. The whole specter of two senior scientists in a field in the same agency charged with doing essentially the same thing -- measuring global temperatures --who held very different views of a key question ought to put a stake right through the heart of the idea that there is any scientific consensus on global warming.Dr. Spenser does a good job of explaining how politics and human nature work to produce and sustain global warming hysteria. I would have preferred that he spend some time taking the government controlled system of research funding to task for its role in creating this monster. Far from just providing scientists with a meal ticket, this hysteria threatens to destroy our economic well being with oppressive environmental regulation. Perhaps it's time that the environmentalist bureaucracy is charged with crimes against humanity for attempting to appropriate resources needed to address real problems in effective ways. The NASA bureaucracy wants to take over the whole world, it would seem, or at least share it with the UN climate agency.In any case, as one might surmise, the book spends considerable time where the action really is -- not in science but in politics. The science is not difficult to summarize briefly: we just don't know about future climate and we have no reliable way to predict it. What's harder to explain is how this state of affairs translates to the political situation we find ourselves in, and Spenser does a fine job of explaining that in a tone of detached bemusement, reassuring us that this is the fellow unbiased enough to give us the straight scoop.

As one person who believes we should reduce pollution for the betterment of our lives, but does not believe in the hysteria of Global Warming as the Al Gores of the media and entertainment believe, it is refreshing to FINALLY get a clear understanding of the this MADE-UP religion of lies and scare tactics na dbad political pandering.I always knew from a young age that the environment and its system of controls will always balance out and that man, even though he has the power to alter his environment, does not have as significant an impact as is believed. To assume that we have that kind of power is placing humans on a even level with the universe or God if you want.Roy Spencer takes the reader though a basic understanding of climate models and how they could never acurately model a complex system like the earths due to the shear fact of multiple variables that effect each other, regardless if science was able to model a single elemnt of the system preceisley. He ties the environmental movement to econmic greed and shows how thes environmentalists use gaining more money and power to push junk science and misinfomation to the public in the form of fear and ridicule.Spencer tells the reader how most scientist actually believe that global climate change is not happeneing, but if they stray too far from the dogma, they are ostricized and shuned. He shows how entrenched the environmentalists are with the media, politics and educational system, and how with that power, they control what people hear and think.This is a great read and easy for anybody to understand. I highly recommend this book and have done so already.

Professor Roy Spencer's book "Climate Confusion" (2008 191-page hardback) is a compact study about how "man made global warming is based as much on faith as it is upon knowledge". His meteorologically founded discussion convinces that science has not, yet, settled the news media's climate change dilemma.With nine chapters Spencer suggests how weather works, how the globe warms and cools, why scientists are often biased, how politics informs the global warming debate, some "dumb global warming solutions", and much more. His energetic and entertaining writing style makes Spence's broad scientific analysis interesting and informative. His humor, whit, and meteorological background illuminate various contemporary climate change/global warming philosophies and mythologies. The weather warning here- don't believe everything you hear about global warming!This book teaches but it has a downside (keeping it from earning the fifth star). Spencer offers little, or no, resourcing. There are no footnote nor endnotes in this text. Perhaps, Dr. Roy wants the book portrayed as a novel, (always the result of no resourcing). Give us locations for further research, professor.The book's subtitle embraces its principle point. Spencer's credible science presents viable alternatives and responses for global warming. Citing the Sun as Earth's warming source, Spencer believes (and proves) that climate change is only marginally affected by humanity. Such hard scientific conclusions make this book worth its purchase price.This book is recommended to everyone interested in human made global warming, North American meteorology, and doing good science.

Dr. Roy Spencer is an atmospheric scientist whose wonderful voice has added much to the global warming debate. This is a brief primer on the nature of the battles whose outcome may soon cripple our economy and jeopardize our individual rights. I was excited about the prospects of reading it long before it got released. That the US is currently squandering billion of dollars for no provable reason is indicative of the type of hysteria that has taken hold over the minds of our elites. He, like the 500 Scientists the Heartland Institute published whose research refutes man-made global warming[...]is not a "global warming denier." He is a "man-made global warming" questioner which is a distinction that Al Gore does not acknowledge or appreciate. What's imperative is that we determine how much of our temperature fluctuations are caused by humanity, and, no, there is no "scientific consensus at this time." As Spencer jokes in Chapter One, if you want perfect measurements...take them only once.While Climate Confusion is not long it debunks many myths. First and foremost, the "follow the money" trail leads to government and the side of the climate hysterics not to Big Oil which does not have the type of money the federocracy possesses (it takes in over 20 percent of our GDP on an annual basis). The Leviathan now funnels over $100 million each year to environmental lobbyists. I write this just after the hullabaloo over Hurricane Gustav and the author convincingly refutes the notion that hurricanes are a result of global warming. He notes that there have always been hurricanes which threatened the United States and will continue to be irrespective of fluctuations in temperature. I found his chapter, "How Weather Works," to be the one most educational. Much of it is inside baseball with which laymen like myself are fairly unfamiliar. Overall, this is a wonderfully entertaining book that provides solid arguments to wield against the enemies of capitalism and freedom.

Spencer's approach to illuminating the issues raised by "global warming" seems largely to abandon the scientific jargon and esoteric arguments surrounding the interpretation of climatological data. No graphs or equations jump off every other page (Sorry for the inconvenience, Al Gore). Instead, with a fair amount of wit and humor, and an abundant amount of common sense, he follows the money. The contentious issue of whether or not global warming is caused by humans has been set aside in favor of a less emotional if not dispassionate look at potential consequences and alternate solutions. But there is a wealth of important information that allows the attentive reader reach some important conclusions independently. At the heart of the matter are the true economic costs of the political policies demanded by radical environmentalism -- that we as a society must "doing something now" in order to avert the disaster of global warming (real or imagined). The issues are thoughtfully explored in terms of real costs, benefits and alternatives. These include economic costs to our society, human costs (yes, loss of lives particularly among the word's poor in underdeveloped countries) political consequences (who gains power and who pays), and perhaps most importantly, the likelihood that paying the costs of such political solutions (Kyoto, for example) will make any positive impact on climate change. This is a "MUST READ" for any thoughtful person who feels the need to understand the larger issues surrounding environmentalism and our social and economic responsibility do the right thing. Well done, Dr. Spencer!

An excellent book! It is witty, sarcastic and funny as well as being informative and educational. Finally, a different point of view on Climate Change than what is being thrown at us every day through the media... by someone who really knows what he's doing; he's got a Ph.D. in meteorology.It will give you the tools to understand better the different mechanisms of the Climate and Weather. It does not argue against Global Warming but rather makes a clear distinction between Global Warming and MANMADE Global Warming. It also takes a look behind the science to the politics, motivations and publicity AND ALSO the consequences involved in 'going green'.A MUST READ for anyone subjected to the term Global Warming... which is to say, EVERYONE. Also, it's quite accessible... not too technical.

The climate debate became hysterical: we, mankind, are destroying our earth. I wanted to know is that true, and apparently, a lot of scientists disagree with that statement. It is a pitty that this alternative statement is not communicated by the mainstream media.

面白く読めた。元NASA研究者ならではの、理系的な分かりやすい英文に、たくさんのデータと論評、そして若干のユーモアをまじえた筆致で、なかなか世に受け入れられない「温暖化懐疑論」について縦横無尽に論を転がしている。各章の冒頭のマンガも楽しく、一方で本文中、図表を最小限に絞っている点も好ましい。論点の多い論争に向けた、マイルドな「抵抗の書」とみることも可能。日本語の翻訳版が出ればいいのだが。

Dr. Roy W. Spencer directs climate research at the University of Alabama, has a Ph.D in Meteorology and was Senior Scientist for Climate Studies at NASA. He is also the US Science Team Leader for NASA Aqua satellite and co-developer of the satellite system for precise global temperature monitoring. So he clearly has extensive experience in the science of Climate Change.Spencer’s Climate Confusion puts the global warming hysteria into its rightful place. He explains the general agreement that climate change is occurring through natural causes with some human effect, but also makes clear that the human impact is overstated and implausible.Spencer cuts through the extremes of denial and alarmist statements, and offers clear common sense to help non-scientific readers reach their own conclusions. He examines the various computer models on which the alarmist claims are based, pointing out their intrinsic weaknesses and similarities which generate predictable and repeatable catastrophic results. And he very clearly explains why carbon dioxide really plays such a minor role in climate change.Climate Confusion does not hold back when it challenges the false morals of many environmental groups and individuals – morals often disguising huge profit and power motives. Spencer’s book is an outstanding revelation of the scientific, religious and political problems with the idea that humans are the main cause of global warming.

Excellent insight on this misunderstood and so much manipulated issue. This book shade a light 💡 For all people that want to know the real science for a better world and better decision for future generations.