Views clash on climate change
OSU expert holds minority view that natural processes are more to blame than humans for global warming
Nick Vardanega
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: News
PORTLAND - George Taylor, who works on the OSU campus and is known as the climatologist for Oregon, shared his view Tuesday night that global warming is caused more by natural cycles than by humans.
His views clash with the mainstream scientific community. Taylor spoke at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Tuesday night along with Phil Mote, Washington's state climatologist, who holds the mainstream view.
Taylor, who directs the Oregon Climate Service in OSU's Strand Hall, has become a controversial figure for challenging the widely held scientific theory that carbon dioxide emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels has created a "greenhouse effect," trapping the sun's rays in the Earth's atmosphere causing an increase in global temperature.
Taylor believes that while human beings do have some influence on the climate, temperature increases can be explained by natural temperature cycles.
He has come under fire from his own colleagues for his views.
Even his title - state climatologist - has come into question. The official position ended in Oregon in 1989, but OSU later gave him the title and the duties he performs are similar to those of a state climatologist.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski told The Oregonian this week that Taylor is not a state appointee. "He's not my weatherman," Kulongoski told the newspaper. Taylor said Tuesday that as far as he knows, his title is state climatologist.
"I have been for a long time," he said.
Mote, a research scientist and public information officer for the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington, discussed the evidence in favor of the mainstream view.
Amanda Thomas, coordinator of adult learning programs at OMSI, introduced the discussion and acknowledge the attention surrounding the event.
"We are aware there has been a lot of talk and we want to set stage: this is not a debate we want to have discussion about science around climate change," she said.
His views clash with the mainstream scientific community. Taylor spoke at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Tuesday night along with Phil Mote, Washington's state climatologist, who holds the mainstream view.
Taylor, who directs the Oregon Climate Service in OSU's Strand Hall, has become a controversial figure for challenging the widely held scientific theory that carbon dioxide emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels has created a "greenhouse effect," trapping the sun's rays in the Earth's atmosphere causing an increase in global temperature.
Taylor believes that while human beings do have some influence on the climate, temperature increases can be explained by natural temperature cycles.
He has come under fire from his own colleagues for his views.
Even his title - state climatologist - has come into question. The official position ended in Oregon in 1989, but OSU later gave him the title and the duties he performs are similar to those of a state climatologist.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski told The Oregonian this week that Taylor is not a state appointee. "He's not my weatherman," Kulongoski told the newspaper. Taylor said Tuesday that as far as he knows, his title is state climatologist.
"I have been for a long time," he said.
Mote, a research scientist and public information officer for the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington, discussed the evidence in favor of the mainstream view.
Amanda Thomas, coordinator of adult learning programs at OMSI, introduced the discussion and acknowledge the attention surrounding the event.
"We are aware there has been a lot of talk and we want to set stage: this is not a debate we want to have discussion about science around climate change," she said.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Abu Kablooie
Abu Kablooie
posted 1/31/07 @ 6:38 AM PST
<<"He has come under fire from his own colleagues for his views...Even his title - state climatologist - has come into question.">>
APOSTATE! BLASPHEMER!! UN-BELIEVER!!! AGENT OF SATAN!!!
Jeff Limon
posted 1/31/07 @ 8:19 AM PST
The argument for man-made global warming might be more sound if its proponents did not continue to use fallacious arguments such as "consensus", "all credible scientists", and "mainstream scientific community". (Continued…)
Johnny
posted 1/31/07 @ 10:52 AM PST
There will most likely be a rash of rebuttals saying that "the proof is in," "the evidence is clear," and such. It is in, and it is clear, to those whose thinking is in step with the post-modern trend to self-flagelation and p. (Continued…)
Matt T
posted 1/31/07 @ 2:56 PM PST
This is a def. controversial topic of which I have very little (VERY LITTLE) knowledge on. But, I will say that anyone who thinks humans have a smaller impact on globale climate than natural forces might want re-examine the graphs, data, and every other mathematical scenario. (Continued…)
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