Wingnuts jumping for joy over forecasters claim that global warming alarm is linked to grant money

[ProSense]

Warming not behind hurricane activity: forecaster

By Jeff Franks Fri Apr 6, 3:53 PM ET

<...>

He said carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere have increased, but periods of hurricane activity preceded the build-up of the gas, which is blamed for warming and is the byproduct mostly of fossil fuel burning.

The changing ocean current "goes back for hundreds of thousands of years," Gray said. "These are natural processes. We shouldn't blame them on humans and CO2."

Gray said the Atlantic current appears to change because of a rise and fall in water salinity.

The combative professor dismissed the work of scientific colleagues who have linked global warming and increased hurricane activity, saying they were simply seeking grant money.

"You've heard a lot of foolishness over the last few years," said Gray.

more

The case against global warming being made throughout the wingnut blogosphere begins at Power Line.

The above report is just what the wingnuts needed to denounce the world's scientists.

[Richard D]

1. Let them jump . . .

. . .they'll be swimming soon.

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2006/04/gray-on-agw/

[Jcrowley]

2. For the record

William Gray is an ass. And take note how often he is trotted out as the anti-global warming spokesman. Some retired hurricane forecaster or the world's most esteemed scientists' hmmm who ya' gonna go with.

[magellan]

3. Gray can't accurately predict hurricane activity

...so he's not a very credible voice on how global warming might affect it.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Yeah, last year was supposed to be apocryphal...

and nothing happened. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. :eyes:

[Contrary1]

7. Here's a chart regarding his "accuracy":

Figure 1. Accuracy of long-range forecasts of Atlantic hurricane season activity performed by Bill Gray and Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University (colored squares) and TSR/Tropical Storm Risk (colored lines). The skill is measured by the Mean Square Skill Score (MSSS), which looks at the error and squares it, then compares the percent improvement the forecast has over a climatological forecast of 10 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 intense hurricanes. TS=Tropical Storms, H=Hurricanes, IH=Intense Hurricanes, ACE=Accumulated Cyclone Energy, NTC=Net Tropical Cyclone Activity. Image credit: TSR.

How good are these December hurricane season forecasts? Unfortunately, they're pretty much worthless. The skill of the December forecasts issued by Dr. Gray and TSR (Figure 1) have averaged near zero since 1992. Not surprisingly, the forecasts get better the closer they get to hurricane season. The June and August forecasts show some modest skill, and are valuable tools for insurance companies and emergency planners to help estimate their risks. The problem with the December forecasts is that the current statistical computer models used to forecast El Nino are not skillful beyond about six months. For example, none of these models foresaw the current El Nino event that began in September--until April. Until we can forecast the evolution of El Nino more than six months in advance, these December forecasts are not worth paying much attention to. I think it's important for these groups to keep trying, though.

http://www.stewartweather.com/

[ClintonTyree]

8. Very telling chart...

Gray is bringing up the ass end, isn't he? :rofl: Yeah, this is the guy I want telling me about Hurricanes and Global Warming. :sarcasm:

[Contrary1]

5. What the hell is wrong with these people?

They claim there is no evidence. What difference does that make? Surely,
these morons have to realize that CO2 is not a good thing to have floating
out in the atmosphere.

At the very least, doing something about it now will improve the quality of
life for future generations, even if it has no effect on the Earth's warming.

These folks are only worried about the $$ amount it might cost them to help
fix the problem. They don't give a damn about anything, as long as they won't
be here to realize the damage.

But their grandchildren will be, and their great-grandchildren too.

And yet, they still don't give a damn.

[krispos42]

6. "Gray said the Atlantic current appears to change because of a rise and fall in water salinity."

Like, say, the ice caps melting and tumbing thousands of cubic miles of fresh water into the oceans?

Lackwit.

Whether or not CO₂ is causing global warming, the Earth is warming up! Whether nor not it is our fault, it is going to affect us! Therefore, we have to prepare for the effects of global warming because it doesn't matter if it's man-made of nature!

Having said that, unless they are about to argue that all the CO₂ we've been busily pumping into the air the last couple of centuries decreases or has no effect on global temperatures, we also have to do something about it!

[cascagraphic]

9. William Gray?? *YAWN* Why am I not surprised?