New government brochure explains climate science

March 18, 2009

(AP) -- Day after day, reports of the dangers of climate and climate change circulate in the news, often filled with confusing data and debate.

In an effort to improve understanding of science, a group of government agencies has combined efforts to produce "Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science."

"There is so much misinformation about climate," said Tom Karl, director of the government's National Climatic Data Center. "We want to provide an easily readable document to help everyone make the most informed decisions. Having one product endorsed by the nation's top federal science agencies, as well as leading science centers and associations, makes this document an essential resource." Karl said.

The booklet is available online at: http://www.noaa.gov/climateliteracy.html and http://www.climatescience.gov .

It is also being distributed to teachers attending the National Science Teachers Association meeting this week in New Orleans.

The guide was organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, parent agency of the climate center, along with the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, State, Transportation and the , , National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Agency for International Development and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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  • GrayMouser - Mar 18, 2009
    • Rank: 1.8 / 5 (5)
    This is flat out lying by Federal agencies!

    "Additional warming of more than 0.25oF (0.14oC) has been measured since 2000."
    The measured temperature change since 2000 has wiped out the entire change for the whole 20th Century! The net has been a negative change.
  • Noein - Mar 18, 2009
    • Rank: 3 / 5 (6)
    This brochure should be required reading in all middle and high schools across the country. It's an excellent weapon against the lunacy of the global warming denialists and their endless string of lies and deceit.
  • TheRogue - Mar 18, 2009
    • Rank: 2.8 / 5 (6)
    If it's authored by the government, it will tell us what the government wants us to think.. Science is not "free" when it's paid for by a political entity. The schools already teach a very limited education in many areas. Name calling of esteemed scientists who disagree with and present other contradictory evidence, is hardly "scientific", either.
  • Velanarris - Mar 23, 2009
    • Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
    Anyone actually read the brochure? It's an abstract for the 1997 climate release from the IPCC.

    It's dated, inaccurate, and faulty science.



    And as for required reading, you mean like the tennets of creationism in some schools? Or maybe like the bible in private religious schools?

    4.7 out of 5 after 84 votes, article hit the site an hour ago with 60 votes 5/5
  • lengould100 - Mar 25, 2009
    • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
    Excellent.

    "departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, State, Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Agency for International Development and the American Association for the Advancement of Science."

    V.S.

    Velanarris and GrayMouser. Who're you going to believe? The scientists or the frothing coal-mine investors?

    Too funny.
  • lengould100 - Mar 25, 2009
    • Rank: 3 / 5 (2)
    Velanarris: "It's an abstract for the 1997 climate release from the IPCC." -- So, your point is....? (he he)


    "4.7 out of 5 after 84 votes, article hit the site an hour ago with 60 votes 5/5" -- I don't believe you. Let's just wait and see after a day, then judge your credibility based on the outcome, ok?
  • Velanarris - Mar 25, 2009
    • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
    Velanarris: "It's an abstract for the 1997 climate release from the IPCC." -- So, your point is....? (he he)
    It'd be the one you conveniently truncated.

    "4.7 out of 5 after 84 votes, article hit the site an hour ago with 60 votes 5/5" -- I don't believe you. Let's just wait and see after a day, then judge your credibility based on the outcome, ok?

    Been a few days now. 88 votes. 4.6 average.

    Yeah, I'd say there's at least a few issues with the rating system.

March 18, 2009 all stories

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