Realclimate.org

I've found RealClimate.org, a weblog started by several actual climatologists to combat the politically-motivated PR machine that questions the veracity of anthropogenic climate change. One of the primary authors of the site is Dr. Michael Mann, from the University of Virginia Dept. of Environmental Sciences. One of the most vocal critics of anthropogenic climate change (ie, "global warming") is Dr. Patrick Michaels, also of the University of Virginia Dept. of Environmental Sciences. I wonder what they say to each other at the department coffee maker each morning...

Anyway,RealClimate.org is an interesting place to visit. A recent post is an in-depth critique of Michael Crichton's new fictional novel State of Fear. There's another lengthy post taking political columnist George Will to task for a recent column in which he enthusiastically and uncritically endorses the views contained in State of Fear.

Read it all and make up your own mind. Most of the critical comment seem to be along the lines of "You are all just a bunch of tree-hugging dumbass liberals." Not very helpful. One individual commented that she (?) thought George Will probably knows more about science than the scientists know about politics, so the scientists should just shut up and leave George alone. This comment only reinforces my personal opinion that the global warming debate is rooted more in politics than science; the science, while not entirely indisputable, is broadly supported within the scientific community in general and within the discipline of climatology in particular. The notable opponents seem to be motivated by a political agenda rather than the desire for "good science." Not that they will come out an admit it...