Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 276 | Gavin Schmidt on Measuring, Predicting, and Protecting Our Climate
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May 20, 2024 
Gavin Schmidt, Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, dives into the urgent realities of climate change. With a background in applied mathematics, he discusses the current rise in global temperatures exceeding model predictions. Schmidt explains the evolution of climate measurement, from historical techniques to modern satellite data. He humorously recounts a serendipitous encounter that led to deeper insights about atmospheric composition. The conversation also tackles the complex global interconnections in climate patterns and the role of individual action in combating climate change.
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Climate Change Evidence and Cause
- The Earth's climate is changing rapidly, evident in rising temperatures, melting ice, and extreme weather events.
- Human activities, primarily greenhouse gas emissions, are the main drivers of this change.
Climate Modeling Success
- Despite climate complexity, scientists have successfully modeled global temperature changes and their impacts for over 40 years.
- These models, though imperfect, have accurately predicted major climate trends, demonstrating their usefulness despite system complexity.
Measuring Past Temperatures
- Scientists use various methods to measure past temperatures, including tree rings, corals, ice cores, and isotopic ratios in shells and ice.
- While uncertainty increases further back in time, the magnitude of past climate shifts allows for meaningful comparisons.