Climate Change 3
Sir, Geoscientist has long been remarkably open to airing what may be regarded as "minority viewpoints" - for example, as regards the existence (or not) of mantle plumes, the coincidence (or not) of the Chicxulub crater with the K-T impact layer and end-Cretaceous extinctions, and the seriousness (or not) of anthropogenic global warming and ancillary effects such as sea level rise. This has certainly enlivened debate.
I wonder what proportion of fellows consider that anthropogenic global warming, largely caused by greenhouse gas emissions, is likely to take place in the geologically near future (and has probably already started)? I can speak on behalf of the the Geological Society's Stratigraphy Commission, which is some sort of straw poll of professional stratigraphers (chosen for technical expertise rather than environmental fervour). Here, the ratio is currently somewhat in excess of 9:1 in favour of the mainstream - i.e. broadly IPCC - position.
In a recent paper in GSA Today discussing the likely validity of the 'Anthropocene' concept (that humanity has substantially altered the course of surface geological processes on Earth, in which anthropogenic change to atmospheric and ocean chemistry and climate play a substantial part), 21 out of 22 Commission members opted to be co-authors, with one dissenter.
This is not to make any claims of correctness or certainty (as scientists, we are all professional sceptics, after all). I aim simply to point out that the balance of evidence currently suggests - to this subset of geologists - that there is a real, and potentially serious, phenomenon out there.
Thus, it seems appropriate for the Geological Society, and Geoscientist, to reflect that - and of course to offer space to opposing views, much as it has done.