EXTREME WEATHER

A presentation to the DC-AMS

Wednesday

January 30, 2008

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Humble Beginnings

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The Project Begins

• I know a lot about weather• I can write well (finally)…book is like a journal • I have pix (10,000++) and so does web, organizations and

colleagues• I could write the book in my sleep

Oops….and Double Oops

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6 month deadline

Researched and wrote book in 6 months!!!

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• Also, edited manuscript after editors did their work• Recommended images (including finding images in my files)• Reviewed layouts and galleys• Coordinated publicity• Recommended reviewers…

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Publisher in New York City

Publicist / agent in London

Writer in Florida

Truly an internationalproject

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But I learned a lot!!!• Incredibly large numbers of new contacts• Incredible learning curve

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Climate Change

• Publisher wanted me to address “global warming” / climate change

• Was easy to do throughout the book

• Goal - get folks to think, not just follow

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Sea surface ups and downs

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Temperature … CO2

Direct relationship betweenAtmospheric Carbon Dioxide and

Temperature

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In The News…

• Los Angeles rainfall in one week exceeds all of last rain year…

• Boston almost matches record December snowfall (newspaper article same day that New England winters are less snowy…

• Hurricane season activity linked to global warming except when something works against it…

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Media….

• • TWC thrives on “panic”

• • Newspaper stories and headlines often mismatched

• • I’m a liberal and I’m offended by how the “liberal” media investigates science and conservative radio counters…

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A Cycle Ofttimes Overlooked

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Conclusions

• We know a lot, but we also know oh, so little.• Have to examine all aspects of the issue as

scientists, not simply adopt a “camp.”• Have to provide needed input to political leaders so

they’ll make more intelligent decisions.

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The End of the Beginning…