When climate change predictions are right for the wrong reasons

• Main Author: Wally Broecker
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Pacific; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10584-017-1927-y

Abstract Just over 40 years ago, I wrote a paper entitled “Climate change: Are we on the brink of a pronounced global warming?” In it, I attempted to explain why despite a rise in the atmosphere’s CO2 content there had been no significant warming. I predicted that a natural cooling was about to give way to a warming, and that industrial emissions of CO2 would amplify this warming. The paper published in Science in 1975. Warming did follow in 1976–1977. However, a retrospective look shows that my analysis was flawed. What is more—and to my chagrin—based on the words “global warming” in my Science paper, I was given the title “Father of Global Warming.” Not only did I not like this title, I had done little to merit it. Global Warming, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, Camp Century, North Atlantic Oscillation Index