Michael Mann, a distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Penn State and renowned climate expert, discusses the urgent reality of climate change. He explains the science behind the greenhouse effect and the rapid temperature increases he unveiled through the 'hockey stick' graph. Mann addresses the connection between climate change and extreme weather while emphasizing the necessity of strong actions to avert worst-case scenarios. The conversation touches on the inadequacies of political responses and the importance of accurate climate communication and public trust in science.
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insights INSIGHT
Greenhouse Effect: Essential for Life
The greenhouse effect, while often viewed negatively, is crucial for Earth's habitability.
Without it, Earth's temperature would be a frigid -18 degrees Celsius, rendering it a frozen, lifeless planet.
insights INSIGHT
The Physics of Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are transparent to visible light from the sun, allowing it to reach Earth.
However, they absorb infrared radiation emitted by Earth, trapping heat and warming the planet.
insights INSIGHT
Arrhenius and the Greenhouse Effect
Svante Arrhenius, known for his contributions to chemistry, also recognized the greenhouse effect.
He was aware that burning fossil fuels could increase the effect, though he didn't foresee it as a major problem.
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The Tantrum That Saved the World is a cli-fi children's picture book that tells the story of Sophia, a young girl who becomes a leader in addressing the climate crisis. The book emphasizes the power of youth activism and collective action in creating change. It includes both a fictional narrative and non-fictional information about climate change, making it an educational tool for children aged 5 to 9.
We had our fun last week, exploring how progress in renewable energy and electric vehicles may help us combat encroaching climate change. This week we’re being a bit more hard-nosed, taking a look at what’s currently happening to our climate. Michael Mann is one of the world’s leading climate scientists, and also a dedicated advocate for improved public understanding of the issues. It was his research with Raymond Bradley and Malcolm Hughes that introduced the “hockey stick” graph, showing how global temperatures have increased rapidly compared to historical averages. We dig a bit into the physics behind the greenhouse effect, the methods that are used to reconstruct temperatures in the past, how the climate has consistently been heating up faster than the average models would have predicted, and the relationship between climate change and extreme weather events. Happily even this conversation is not completely pessimistic — if we take sufficiently strong action now, there’s still time to avert the worst possible future catastrophe.
Michael Mann received his Ph.D. in Geology and Geophysics from Yale University. He is currently Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Pennsylvania State University, with joint appointments in the Departments of Geosciences and the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. He is the director of Penn State’s Earth System Science Center. He is the author of over 200 scientific publications and four books. His most recent book is The Tantrum that Saved the World, a “carbon-neutral kids’ book.”
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