People get busy when questions get raised, and they send me things. I got an email today with a link and quote that read:
The student dissertation the IPCC used in AR4 doesn’t even support their claims. The student states in his dissertation: “In how far the changes observed indicate a global change of climate can only be guessed and will show in the future.”
Huh.
In our last story, referencing the work of the Telegraph, we touched on the what many consider inappropriate citations in the 2007 IPCC AR4 report. See here: IPCC Gate Du Jour: UN climate change panel based claims on student dissertation and magazine article One citation was an article in Climbing Magazine issue 208, while another was a student dissertation. Some said that there’s nothing wrong with citing a student dissertation. Perhaps, but hold that thought until after reading this story from “ClimateQuotes”: (Note – for those who can’t delineate what part is my writing and what part is from ClimateQuotes, that website’s portion is everything after this – you know who you are 🙂 )
The story of the Geography Major’s Dissertation
A big story in climate science right now is the fact that the IPCC relied on a mountain magazine and a graduate student’s dissertation as their citations for a specific claim in their Fourth Assessment Report. However there are few details, so I decided to do some digging. I found out a bit about the dissertation.
I believe this is the dissertation. It is written by this man, Dario-Andri Schwörer, also here. He was a student at the Geographical Institute of the Universities of Berne and Zurich, which is where he wrote his dissertation in or before 1997. He is now an avid outdoors-men, and a self-described ‘well known expert on the impact of climate change in the Alps’. Right now he is engaged in the TOPtoTOP program to promote climate protection.
The dissertation itself is titled:
An Inquiry into Possible Effects of Climatic Change on the Mountain Guide Trade in the Bernina Region
Subtitled:
Geography Major Dissertation
by
SCHWÖRER DARIO-ANDRI
carried out at the Geographical Institute of the Universities of Berne and Zurich
The dissertation itself is not entirely about climate change. In fact, he mentions the number one reason that mountain guides give for decreased climbs is not climate change, but:
“They attribute this decrease in the first place to the recession and the high exchange rate of the Swiss franc in relation to the German mark. In the second place they mention changes of the natural environment.”
That wasn’t mentioned in the AR4. The ambiguity continues:
Read the rest at ClimateQuotes.
This is the link: The story of the Geography Major’s Dissertation
(for those that have trouble following links to referenced sources, click on the bold portion, you know who you are :-))
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Daniel H: you are indeed confused. Geography is really not all about knowing the names of capital cities. It encompasses physical geography (geology, tectonics, climatology etc) and human geography (crops, industries, population, whatever).
It’s so circular I’m still dizzy.
Daniel H (20:21:31) :
“I didn’t even know that geography was a major. […] As for the relationship between climate and geography, how does knowing the names and locations of different capital cities qualify someone as an expert in Alpine glacial retreat? Maybe I’m confused.”
Yes, you are confused. Learning the difference between physical geography and human geography would lessen your confusion. Geography is far more useful than “art history, communications, or dance.” If you are planning to invade a country it helps if you have some idea of where it is and what you will find there.
The fact that they have to cherry pick from a student dissertation actually sounds more like desperation on finding enough supporting information for the IPCC report.
Indeed, this is not a dissertation, but a thesis. Here is the related index entry from the University of Bern, reachable via http://aleph.unibas.ch/F?con_lng=ENG&func=find-b-0
Author Schwörer, Dario-Andri
Title Bergführer und Klimaänderung : eine Untersuchung im Berninagebiet über mögliche Auswirkungen einer Klimaänderung auf den Bergführerberuf / von Dario-Andri Schwörer
Imprint Link [S.l. : s.n.], 1997
Descr. VIII, 167 S. : Ill. ; 30 cm
Thesis Diplomarbeit phil.-nat. Fak. Univ. Bern, 1997
Library Bern UB Geographie, Archiv. Sign.: GIUB ARCH 1673
Library Bern UB Geographie, Freihandbereich. Sign.: GIUB XT 68
Link Graubünden
Link Klimawandel
Link Tourismus
Sys. no. 001419230
There are only two copies listed:
keine Ausleihe Bern UB Geographie Archiv GIUB ARCH 1673
nicht verfügb. Bern UB Geographie Freihandbereich GIUB XT 68
“keine Ausleihe” means that you need to read it on-site, no loan, no inter-library loan.
“nicht verfügb.” means the copy isn’t available any more.
Sharon (19:37:56) :
(…)
But hey, he is raising two Klimatically Korrect Kinder. (…)
He is raising his KKK? Say what?!
Daniel H (20:21:31) :
I didn’t even know that geography was a major. It seems about as useful as majoring in art history, communications, or dance.
Ooooo, harsh! I resemble that remark! I wonder if Anthony allows dueling here?
Sir! Swords or pistols?
Daniel H, 20:21:31, re geography as a major:
when the US implemented its federal education act to require that subjects be taught from an environmental perspective, I read (in the late 90s) an article with the transcripts of a National Geographic conference with educators about this.
Much glee, and consensus that geography was the subject to begin with, as it would no longer be dry old maps but exciting coverage of the cultures present, the people, their history, THEIR ENVIRONMENT, and how this was all changing.
Add in the popular rise and availability of GIS, and you have lots of kids plugged into computers who could say “rainforest” (but not anymore, now that chocolate tasting parties are popular for “80% cacao SUSTAINABLE” chocolate) but couldn’t necessarily find one on a map, even while they called in coordinates of an Amazon village and wrote to their penpal there.
People have gotten much stupider (on purpose!) as they have technologically “advanced”.
And geography is so much much more than it used to be.
A local university here offers a degree in “Environmental Psychology”.
Is the IPCC and its effects a case study in the pathology?
Nowadays, the geography department usually includes GIS studies. GIS is how almost all geography is stored in computers (Garmin GPS, Google Earth, etc) are all based on GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and map projection technology. As are all of the “gridded” climatology information. The climatology “grids” are GIS related.
I suspect economics. Cheaper travel also means it’s easier to go further afield and explore new climbs which may be less crowded and less spoiled. Climbing can be environmentally damaging in itself with gear damaging cracks and holds on rock. Ice climbing knocks lumps off but presume that’s a low amount compared to the mass of a glacier.
My favorite line:
“He is now an avid outdoors-men, and a self-described ‘well known expert on the impact of climate change in the Alps.'”
Self-described “well-known expert?”
At least his adjective is now factual.
I really do think this contribution is important:
” BernieL (18:14:58) :
O/T The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is maintaining its distance from climate alarmism if these two stories are anything to go by:
A highlight of this story about predicted cool Feb for Melbourne is that recent ecord overnight temp is accounted for by UHI effect:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/city-set-to-button-up-for-fresh-february-20100130-n5js.html
Here William Kininmonth (former Deputy Head of the Bureau of Meteorology and head of that body’s Climate Centre) highlights distortion of temp data:
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2010/01/the-ipcc-s-flawed-data”
The contents of this blog post by Des Moore headed “The IPCC’s flawed data” (second link) really deserves its own posting here on WUWT. The temperature analysis by Messrs Kininmonth and Quirk really needs to be highlighted and distributed further.
Please also note the other circle, IPPCC makes Statement>Dario-Andri Schwörer Backs Up Statement>IPCC quote Dario-Andri Schwörer>Dario-Andri Schwörer gest plush job on Cliamte Protection.
Ring any Bells
IPPCC>Syed Iqbal Hasnain>Rajendra Pachauri>TERI>Plush job for Syed Iqbal Hasnain at TERI
Sorry,
Andri Schwörer>Dario-Andri Schwörer gest plush job on Climate Protection even.
Hugo M (04:39:28) :
That was before the time Europe adopted the bachelor/master-system (PISA).
After the change a “Diplom” from a university got translated into a Master (here: Master of Science in Geography).
A dipl. Bergführer is not an academic title, but probably more difficult to get. It assures the tourist that the guy leading him knows what he is doing.
I am wondering how much of the IPCC report is what might one might call “2nd tier” speculation. Use the Google tool suggested above and look for “simulation” and “projection”.
If we can strip those out, and also the unrefereed magazine articles, we might actually get a better handle on the “overwhelming evidence” that we keep on hearing about.
Daniel H,
I was going to pile in as well on your comment about geography, but others have already pointed out the errors of your ways. Suffice it to say that geography encompasses the WHOLE world and how it ‘operates’ physically, spatially and humanly. You can’t get more relevant than that!
The Guardian finally remembers that it’s a newspaper:
Front page lead:
Leaked climate emails scientist ‘hid’ data flaws
Exclusive: Key study by East Anglia professor Phil Jones was based on suspect figures
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/01/leaked-emails-climate-jones-chinese
This just gets better and better:
(Referenced from AR4 report))
http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/allianz_rep_0605.pdf
“Climate Change & the Financial Sector:
An Agenda for Action”
A publication of Allianz Group and WWF
“Climate change poses a major risk to the global economy: It affects the wealth
of societies, the availability of resources, the price of energy and the value of
companies.
At the same time, the need to revolutionize the way we use energy opens up a
new universe of options for economic development and social benefits.
The financial industry has a two-fold responsibility. On the one hand, it needs
to prepare itself for the negative effects that climate change may have on
its business and on its customers. On the other hand, it can significantly help
mitigate the economic risks and enter the low-carbon economy by providing
appropriate products and services.”
Hello anyone, is this a peer reviewed science paper??
In re the IPC’s use of WWF as a reference source, there’s an interesting piece over at PJM
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/wwf-the-para-governmental-organization-at-the-epicenter-of-climategate/
It discusses how the Eu is a substantial source of WWF funding. Some highlights
“According to European Commission data, WWF was awarded nearly €9 million in EU support in 2008 alone. In 2007, the figure was over €7.5 million. Most of this support came in the form of ostensibly project-linked grants to WWF-International or its national affiliates. It is typical for the EU to provide support to so-called NGOs in the form of project grants. The largest single grant — bizarrely, for €3,499,999 — went to WWF-International in 2007. Its ostensible purpose was for a project on “Strengthening Indigenous Community Based Forest Enterprises (CBFEs) in Priority Ecoregions in Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa.””
“Not all of the EU’s funding to WWF, moreover, is project-linked. Most significantly for present purposes, the WWF European Policy Office in Brussels receives an annual “operating grant” from the EU. As revealed in the Commission’s “Financial Transparency” database, in 2008 this contribution amounted to €642,600, representing, according to the EU’s estimate, 17.10% of the office’s total budget. In 2007, it was €632,675, representing 15.52% of the budget. In 2006, the numbers were €591,413 and 16.44%; in 2005, €768,731 and 22.48%. And so on. WWF’s Brussels Policy Office has been awarded an annual “operating grant” from the EU every year since at least 2003.”