An Open Letter to the Council of the American Physical Society
As physicists who are familiar with the science issues, and as current and past members of the American Physical Society, we the undersigned urge the Council to revise its current statement on climate change as follows, so as to more accurately represent the current state of the science:
Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, accompany human industrial and agricultural activity. While substantial concern has been expressed that emissions may cause significant climate change, measured or reconstructed temperature records indicate that 20th -21st century changes are neither exceptional nor persistent, and the historical and geological records show many periods warmer than today. In addition, there is an extensive scientific literature that examines beneficial effects of increased levels of carbon dioxide for both plants and animals.
Studies of a variety of natural processes, including ocean cycles and solar variability, indicate that they can account for variations in the Earth’s climate on the time scale of decades and centuries. Current climate models appear insufficiently reliable to properly account for natural and anthropogenic contributions to past climate change, much less project future climate.
The APS supports an objective scientific effort to understand the effects of all processes – natural and human -- on the Earth’s climate and the biosphere’s response to climate change, and promotes technological options for meeting challenges of future climate changes, regardless of cause.
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Donald Rapp-Chief Technologist, Mechanical and Chemical Systems, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (retired) USC Space Engineering Research Center,Professor of Physics and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas (1973-1979) Fellow APS
Dr. Sultan Hameed -Professor of Atmospheric Science School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University, New York
Riccardo DeSalvo-Senior Scientist Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) California Institute of Technology
Ami E. Berkowitz-Emeritus Professor of Physics University of California at San Diego Fellow APS
Louis J. Allamandola - Director, Astrochemistry Laboratory NASA Ames Research Center Fellow APS, AAAS Member ACS, American Astronomical Society, International Astronomical Union
Moorad Alexanian-Professor of Physics and Physical Oceanography University of North Carolina -Wilmington Member Mexican Academy of Sciences, American Scientific Affiliation
Mike Gruntman-Professor of Astronautics, University of Southern California, Member American Geophysical Union, Associate Fellow AIAA
Robert H. Austin=Professor of Physics, Princeton University, Fellow APS, AAAS; APS Council: 1991-1994, 2007-2010, Member National Academy of Sciences, American Association of Arts and Sciences
Jens Feder
Professor of Physics of Geological Processes, University of Oslo, Fellow APS
Gregory H. Canavan-Senior Fellow and Scientific Advisor, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Fellow APS
Robert S Knox Professor of Physics-UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER , Member APS Council (1985-1988), Fellow APS
Barry L. Berman-Columbian Professor and Chair, Physics Department, The George Washington University, Fellow APS
Harry I. Ringermacher-Sr. Research Physicist, General Electric Global Research Center, AIP "History of Physics in Industry" Participant at GE, Sir William Herschel Medal (American Academy of Thermology), Copper Black Award (American Mensa) 2003 and 2007
Arie Bodek-George E. Pake Professor of Physics, University of Rochester, Wolfgang K. H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics (APS) 2004 Fellow APS
Dr. John Lindl- chief scientist for the NIF & Photon Science Directorate
James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics (APS) 2007, Fellow APS, AAAS
Dr. Salvatore Torquato
Professor of Chemistry and the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science, Materials Institute and Applied & Computational Mathematics, Princeton University, Fellow APS; 2009 APS David Alder Lectureship Award in the Field of Material Physics
Complete List
APS Names and Affiliations List (Aug 7, 2009)
Harold M. Agnew Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory (1970 -1979) President, General Atomics Corporation (1979 -1984) White House Science Councilor (1982 -1989)
E.O. Lawrence Award 1966, Enrico Fermi Award 1978, Los Alamos Medal (with H.A. Bethe) 2001 Member National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Fellow APS, AAAS
Sol Aisenberg President, International Technology Group Former Staff Member, MIT; Lecturer, Harvard Medical School; Former Visiting Research Professor, Boston University
Ralph B. Alexander Former Associate Professor of Physics Wayne State University President, R.B. Alexander & Associates Technology and market analysis in environmentally friendly materials and coatings Author, Global Warming False Alarm (Canterbury)
Moorad Alexanian Professor of Physics and Physical Oceanography University of North Carolina -Wilmington Member Mexican Academy of Sciences, American Scientific Affiliation
Louis J. Allamandola Director, Astrochemistry Laboratory NASA Ames Research Center Fellow APS, AAAS Member ACS, American Astronomical Society, International Astronomical Union
Eva Andrei Professor of Physics Rutgers University Fellow APS
Robert H. Austin Professor of Physics Princeton University Fellow APS, AAAS; APS Council: 1991-1994, 2007-2010 Member National Academy of Sciences, American Association of Arts and Sciences
Franco Battaglia Professor of Chemical Physics and Environmental Chemistry University of Modena, Italy APS Life-member
David J. Benard Aerospace Scientist (retired) Co-Inventor of the Chemical Oxygen-Iodine Laser
Lev I. Berger President California Institute of Electronics and Materials Science Author, Semiconductor Materials; and Material and Device Characterization Measurements (CRC Press)
Stuart B. Berger Research Fellow and Divisional Time-to-Market Manager Xerox Corporation (retired)
Ami E. Berkowitz Emeritus Professor of Physics University of California at San Diego Fellow APS
Barry L. Berman Columbian Professor and Chair Physics Department The George Washington University Fellow APS
Edwin X. Berry Atmospheric Physicist, Climate Physics, LLC Certified Consulting Meteorologist #180 Member American Meteorological Society
Vladislav A. Bevc Former Associate Professor, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey (retired); Technical Staff Member, The Aerospace Corporation; Physicist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution (Stanford University) Member IEEE
Clifford Bruce Bigham Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd. (retired) Senior Member APS, Sustaining Member CAP
Arie Bodek George E. Pake Professor of Physics University of Rochester Wolfgang K. H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics (APS) 2004 Fellow APS
Lowell S. Brown Emeritus Professor of Physics University of Washington Scientific Staff Member, Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow APS, AAAS
Daniel M. Bubb Associate Professor and Chair Department of Physics Rutgers University -Camden
Timothy D. Calvin President, Bearfoot Corporation (retired) Fabricated rubber products for the DOD, shoe and automobile industries Member ACS
Gregory H. Canavan Senior Fellow and Scientific Advisor, Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow APS
Roger W. Cohen Manager, Strategic Planning and Programs ExxonMobil Corporation (retired) Otto Schade Prize (Society for Information Display) 2006 Fellow APS
Steven R. Cranmer Astrophysicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Karen Harvey Prize (AAS) 2006 Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics Member: American Astronomical Society, American Geophysical Union
Jerry M. Cuttler President, Cuttler and Associates, Inc. Engineering, consulting, and licensing services for the nuclear power industry President, Canadian Nuclear Society 1995-1996 Fellow Canadian Nuclear Society, Member American Nuclear Society
Joseph G. Depp Founding President and CEO, Accuray Incorporated (retired) Stereotactic radiosurgery technology Founding President and CEO, PsiStar Incorporated Life member APS
Riccardo DeSalvo Senior Scientist Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) California Institute of Technology
David H. Douglass Professor of Physics University of Rochester Fellow APS Paul J. Drallos President and CEO, Plasma Dynamics Corporation (retired) Kinetic & fluid dynamic computer simulation services
Albert G. Engelhardt President and CEO, Enfitek, Inc. Environmental control and security systems Senior Life Member IEEE
Hughen Falconer Emeritus Professor of Geology University of Aberdeen Member American Geophysical Union
Jens G. Feder Professor of Physics of Geological Processes University of Oslo Fellow APS
Peter D. Friedman Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Member American Geophysical Union, ASME, American Nuclear Society
Rodger L. Gamblin Inventor Holder of 44 issued U.S. patents
Gary J. Gerardi Professor, Department of Chemistry and Physics William Paterson University
Ivar Giaever Institute Professor, School of Engineering and School of Science Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Nobel Prize in Physics 1973 Fellow APS, Member National Academy of Science, National Academy of Engineering
Albert Gold Associate Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Retired) Harvard University
Laurence I. Gould Professor of Physics University of Hartford Member Executive Board of the New England Section of the APS Chairman (2004), New England Section APS Paul M. Grant EPRI Science Fellow (retired) IBM Research Staff Member Emeritus Senior Life Fellow APS
Howard D. Greyber University of Pennsylvania (retired) Formerly Princeton University, LLNL Theory Group, Northeastern University Member American Astronomical Society, Fellow Royal Astronomical Society
Mike Gruntman Professor of Astronautics University of Southern California Author, Blazing the Trail. The Early History of Spacecraft and Rocketry (AIAA) Luigi G. Napolitano Book Award (International Academy of Astronautics) 2006 Member American Geophysical Union, Associate Fellow AIAA
George Hacken Senior Director, Safety-Critical Systems New York City Transit Authority Former Senior Member of the Technical Staff, GEC-Marconi Aerospace Chair, New York Chapter, IEEE Computer Society Member AMS, SIAM, ANS, AIAA, New York Academy of Sciences
Sultan Hameed Professor of Atmospheric Science School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Stony Brook University, New York
William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University Fellow APS, AAAS Member National Academy of Sciences
Howard C. Hayden Emeritus Professor of Physics University of Connecticut Editor, The Energy Advocate Author, A Primer on CO2 and Climate (Vales Lake)
Jack M. Hollander Professor Emeritus of Energy and Resources, University of California, Berkeley Vice-President Emeritus, The Ohio State University First Head, Energy and Environment Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Fellow APS, AAAS
David B. Holtkamp Scientific Staff Member, Physics Division Los Alamos National Laboratory
Helen Jackson Physicist, U.S. Air Force Wright Patterson Air Force Base Member Materials Research Society, IEEE
James R. Johnson 3M Company (retired) Member Carlton Society (3M Hall of Fame) Member National Academy of Engineering
O’Dean Judd LANL Fellow Los Alamos National Laboratory (retired) Technical Advisor and Consultant Fellow APS, IEEE, AAAS
Andrew Kaldor Distinguished Scientific Advisor Manager of Breakthrough Research ExxonMobil Corporation (retired) Fellow AAAS, Member ACS
Alexander E. Kaplan Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering The Johns Hopkins University Max Born Award (Optical Society of America) 2005 Alexander von Humboldt Award (von Humboldt Foundation) 1996 Fellow OSA
Jonathan Katz Professor of Physics Washington University
William E. Keller Leader. Low Temperature Physics Group 1971-1985 (retired) Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow APS
Robert S. Knox Professor of Physics Emeritus University of Rochester Member APS Council (1985-1988) Fellow APS
Joseph A. Kunc Professor, Physics and Astronomy University of Southern California Fellow APS
Robert E. LeLevier Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (1951-1957) Physics Department, RAND Corp (1957-1971) R&D Associates (1971-1983) Eos Technologies, Inc. (1983-1993)
Robert E. Levine Industrial and Defense Physics and Engineering (retired) Member ACM, IEEE
John D. Lindl James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics (APS) 2007 Fellow APS, AAAS
Alfred U. MacRae President, MacRae Technologies Fellow APS, IEEE, Member National Academy of Engineering
Phillip W. Mange Associate Superintendent, Space Science Division Scientific Consultant to the Director of Research, Naval Research Laboratory (retired)
Jim Mitroy Lecturer in Physics, School of Engineering and Information Technology Charles Darwin University, Australia
Michael Monce Professor of Physics, Astronomy, and Geophysics Connecticut College Member AAPT, American Geophysical Union
Nasif Nahle Scientific Research Director Biology Cabinet, Mexico Member AAAS, New York Academy of Sciences
Rodney W. Nichols President and CEO, New York Academy of Sciences (1992-2001) Vice President and Executive Vice President, The Rockefeller University (1970-1990) Secretary of Defense Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Civilian Service (1970) Fellow AAAS, New York Academy of Sciences
Gordon C. Oehler Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies Working Group Chairman, Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. Corporate Vice President for Corporate Development, SAIC (1998-2004) National Intelligence Officer for Science, Technology and Proliferation (1989-1992)
William P. Oliver Professor of Physics Tufts University Life Member APS
Frank R. Paolini Adjunct Professor of Physics University of Connecticut at Stamford (retired) Senior Member APS, Member IEEE
Thomas E. Phipps, Jr. Physicist (retired) Operations Evaluation Group, MIT US Naval Ordnance Laboratory Senior Member APS
Donald Rapp Chief Technologist, Mechanical and Chemical Systems, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (retired) Professor of Physics and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas (1973-1979) Author, “Assessing Climate Change” and “Ice Ages and Interglacials” (Springer-Verlag) Fellow APS
John E. Rhoads Professor of Physics Midwestern State University (retired) Member SPE
Harry I. Ringermacher Sr. Research Physicist General Electric Global Research Center AIP "History of Physics in Industry" Participant at GE Sir William Herschel Medal (American Academy of Thermology) Copper Black Award (American Mensa) 2003 and 2007
Stanley Robertson Emeritus Professor of Physics Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Berol Robinson Principal Scientific Officer UNESCO (retired) Member AAPT, AAAS, Association des Écologistes Pour le Nucléaire
Nicola Scafetta Research Scientist, Physics Department, Duke University Member American Geophysical Union
Thomas P. Sheahen President/ CEO, Western Technology, Inc. (energy sciences consulting) Member AAAS; APS Congressional Science Fellowship (1977-78) Author, Introduction to High Temperature Superconductivity (Springer)
Joseph Silverman Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland Fellow APS, ANS
S. Fred Singer Professor of Environmental Sciences Emeritus University of Virginia First Director of the National Weather Satellite Service Fellow APS, AAAS, American Geophysical Union
Hermann Statz Raytheon Corporation (retired) Microwave Pioneer Award (IEEE) 2004 Fellow APS
Nick Steph Chair, Department of Physics Franklin College Member AAPT, ACS
Peter Stilbs Professor of Physical Chemistry Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden Life Member APS
Szymon Suckewer Professor of School of Engineering & Applied Sciences Director of Plasma Science & Technology Program Princeton University Fellow APS, OSA
Ronald M. Sundelin Associate Director, DOE Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (retired) Commonwealth Professor Emeritus of Physics, Virginia Tech Fellow APS
Frank J. Tipler Professor of Mathematical Physics Tulane University Coauthor, The Anthropic Cosmological Principle (Oxford University Press) Salvatore Torquato Professor of Chemistry and the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science, Materials Institute and Applied & Computational Mathematics Princeton University 2009 APS David Alder Lectureship Award in the Field of Material Physics Fellow APS
Edward S. Troy Principal Engineer Aerospace Consulting Wireless, RF, microwave, analog/DSP, and GPS circuits and systems Member IEEE
Samuel A. Werner Curators’ Professor Emeritus The University of Missouri Guest Researcher, NIST Fellow APS, AAAS
Bruce J. West Adjunct Professor of Physics Duke University Fellow APS
Peter J. Wojtowicz Group Head, Senior Member Technical Staff (retired) RCA Labs, GE, Sarnoff Corporation Fellow APS
M. John Yoder Principal Physicist The MITRE Corporation Life Member APS
Martin V. Zombeck Physicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (retired) Author, Handbook of Space Astronomy and Astrophysics (Cambridge University Press) Coauthor, High Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy of Cosmic Plasmas (Cambridge University Press)
