Earth Matters

National Research Council Video Series Summarizes the State of Climate Science Research

June 29th, 2012 by Adam Voiland

new video series from the National Research Council  summarizes what scientists have learned about global warming and climate change.  It’s difficult to pack decades of complex research into short video snippets, but the makers of these videos have done an excellent job. As you watch, keep an eye out for mentions of the key role that remote sensing has played in advancing climate science. Also, look for the numerous data visualizations produced by the Scientific Visualization Studio at Goddard Space Flight Center that made the cut.

6 Responses to “National Research Council Video Series Summarizes the State of Climate Science Research”

  1. Attila Bruncsak says:

    Nice videos, really needed. Everybody should see them.

    I am not from the climate research area just scientifically minded but let me share my toughts here.

    As far as I know at that moment of stage of the global warming not the avarage earth temperature is the proper indicator but the loss of the solid form of water (ice). The energy needed of melting of a given quantity of ice is equivalent of raising the same quantity of water with 80 degrees Celsius so near to boiling temperature. There is a huge quantity of energy of the global heat excess is absorbed by the loss of icecups. Until the two phase of water (solid and liquid) are present on the Earth we may observe temperature increase but this is mostly due to the decrease of the heat exchange surface between the ice and sea+atmosphere and due to the delay/slowness of heat transfer from the equatorial to the polar areas of the earth. The avarage global temperature value is going to became the main indicator of climat change at the time of full loss of the solid phase of water on the surface of the earth. At that time will start the sharp increase of the Earth avarage temperature.

    I have many questions I do not know the answer but may be a hint where my tought process is leading.

    Is there any human activities going on which will stablize the CO2 level at least for long term? A maximum estiamation can be drawn imagining that we burn all the fossile reserves. What is the ratio of that estimated value to the maximum value known record in the history of the Earth?

    During the life of the Sun was there significant increase of its emission power especially compared to the period when the CO2 quantities of atmosphere on the Earth were comparable to that maximum?

    What is the radiation temperature at the distance of Venus and at the distance of Earth from the Sun? (Imagine fast spinning black bodies orbiting high level Earth and Venus what is their temperature?)
    Since Venus orbites at 0.72 AU my rough estimates is that the space radiation temperature is half at the Earth than at the Venus but I do not know the absolute value.

    During the short term history of human civilization there were many example when a civilization has collapsed due to its negative effect on his supporting environment (Easter Island, Aztec civilization…).
    I have no worry about the global human civilization (It will get what it is worth of), but I am worrying about the biosphere itself.

  2. Cynthia Carlson says:

    Hi –
    I’m trying to view the videos but get a message that says, “This video has been removed by the user.”

  3. Amoeba says:

    Pray do please explain why the videos have been removed?

  4. Adam Voiland says:

    @Amoeba

    I’m not sure why the videos were temporarily taken down, but they should be working now.

  5. Cynthia Carlson says:

    Excellent videos. Thank you.

  6. Sheila says:

    Love the video! informative, up to date & sticks to the facts. am using it in my High school Earth Science class.