The Non-Expert Problem - Why We Can Be Sure.

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That discussion over there at Dilbert's blog got under my skin and I figured it was time to repost my list of CO2 dependent modern marvels.  For the list itself you'll have to link to the blog post.  

A List of CO2 Science Dependent Modern Marvels proving climate scientists know what they are talking about.

 Recently I got sucked back into my real passion, defending serious climate science against the cynical malicious lie dependent attacks it's been under for decades. It was an odd exposition by Dilbert's Scott Adams aptly titled, "The Non-Expert Problem and Climate Change Science." Although rather than discussing the silliness of under-informed non-experts thinking they are smarter than real experts, Adams launches into a truly delusional attack on the validity of serious scientists and their work. It wasn't a great surprise to find that Adams seems to be a Trump supporter, thus it explains his easy disconnect from objective evidence and facts when they doesn't suit his paranoid outlook.

 Besides writing my own review, "Profiles in Self-delusion - Dilbert's Scott Adams," I also participated in the discussion over there and was again amazed at how many people can in total seriousness claim that there's no valid evidence that CO2 causes our current global warming. As one of the climate science non-experts, (although with pretty near 50 years of interest and active learning under my belt, I like to think I understand it better than your average bear), how do I know that I haven't been lied to for the past fifty years?

 How do I, a man who is incapable of comprehending their formulas or the details of their climate models, be so certain that what they are telling me is true? Well it comes down to acknowledging reality.

 On two levels, for one, having listened to many, many scientists giving talks about their work, I know that they are full-spectrum skeptics. They put themselves under as sharp a microscope as they do others. It is a huge active community of intelligent competing individuals always checking and cross checking each others work. It is the best humans are capable of, sure beats basing your beliefs on Faith and then bending all facts to fit your personal beliefs.

 The second level is the physical reality of being able to master one's numbers and understanding to practical purposes. I believe it is tragic how many citizens don't have the first clue that our precise CO2 science was acquired by Air Force scientists, working independently from many countries, foremost USA, Australia, Russia and others. Everyone came up with the same results - that ought to tell a skeptic something!

 Of course, there is also the physical reality of what we are observing throughout our planet.

 Even more telling is that fundamental understanding out of which all other Climate Science flows, has been transformed into an incredible number of modern marvels that would be utterly impossible if the scientists were bluffing it.

Here, let me show you with a reprint of something I put together a while back.

This post is an interesting sort of one way collaborative effort. You see, over the years I've communicated with a number of scientists and grads. Asking straight forward questions and often receiving informative replies. I try not to over do my welcome, after all these are very busy people with more important things to do.

 But for this post I sent out a grand shout to a number of my correspondence pals and received more responses than I expected including some informative surprises for me. I have taken great liberty slicing and dicing their responses. Rewriting some, leaving other quotes untouched and giving all of it some order.
 
I mention this because I want to be clear the following List of "CO2 science dependent" modern marvels is not my own cleverness and I want to send out a big Thank You! to my informed anonymous heroes!

 Also see: February 21, 2016 Archive, Hanscom AFB Atmospheric Studies, Cambridge Research Lab http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/02/archive-usaf-atmospheric-studies-afcrl.html

For the list, link to http://citizenschallenge.blogspot.com/2016/12/nonexpert-problem-why-we-can-be-sure.html

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Incidentally, for years I've thought this has been a grossly under reported aspect of why we need to trust experts.  It really needs someone that can devote some real time and effort into putting together a real article and list.  I don't have the knowledge, ability, or time.  Stretched too thin and now my gal's patience is starting to wear thin, so yet more mazes to traverse.

What I'm saying is the coolest thing in the world would be for someone to see that list I put together, with the help of some friends, (I think a few that might be looking in here.)  And make something prime time out of it.

What I have there is only the start of a real project that could help some bright right young up and comer make a statement and name in untrodden fields.  Just saying, it's there for the copying and reworking. 

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I heard that pin drop.