[LINK] In Retirement on this thread - Was - The meaning of

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Jim writes,
 
> I've got degrees in meteorology and oceanography and I've worked in
> glaciology and coastal oceanography/geomorphology. I know enough about
> climate science to know what some of the questions are and to understand
> the complexity of the problems but I'm not dumb enough to presume I
> know the answers. I know a lot more than most people about biology and
> neurology but when my kids need brain surgery I'll ask the experts;
> ditto for climate science.


One currently doubts that any honest person could truly claim to be an
'expert' in climate science. We don't yet understand our environmental 
systems in play, let alone systemic-interactions, and, even less do we
understand the incremental changes to systems that mankind would cause.

Last week for example, yet another relevant system has been formulated: 

"Climate Models Should Include Waves"

Swinburne University of Technology,  Monday, 18 June 2012 (snip)  

A new field study by researchers suggests that the effect of wave 
activity on oceans should be incorporated in long term climate and 
weather prediction models.

"Large waves that occur in tropical storms and cyclones, can contribute 
in mixing a wider layer of the upper ocean with the cooler deeper parts, 
exchanging heat and carbon dioxide with the atmosphere, which affects 
weather and climate," said lead researcher Dr Alessandro Toffoli from 
Swinburne's Centre for Ocean Engineering, Science and Technology.

The study analysed oceanographic data supplied by the North Rankin A Gas 
Platform over the North-West Shelf about 135 kilometres off the coast of 
Australia between January and April 2006.

The study found that during summer periods, the mixed layer depth and its 
variability is strongly affected by the injection of wave-induced 
turbulence, especially during cyclone seasons.

The analysis of wave activity confirms theoretical modelling that the 
rapid intensification of wave activity in tropical cyclones forces the 
production of wave-induced turbulence twice as deep as the average mixed 
layer depth, producing a quick and substantial deepening of the latter.

"Right now small-scale wave physics and large-scale climate modelling 
exist separately," said Professor Alexander Babanin, Director of the 
Centre for Ocean Engineering, Science and Technology. "To improve 
prediction, wave modelling should be incorporated in larger climate 
models."

> It's hubris to imagine we are having a genuine climate science dialogue
> here; we just chat about such matters.

Agreed. And, compared with any true depth and breadth in environmental
science, even scientists may seem little beyond the chat stage. But we
can and should stop trashing the place, and get stuck into the science.

Cheers,
Stephen

Ref: http://sciencealert.com.au/news/20121706-23484.html

 

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