Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Skeptics From Around the Globe-APS Letter



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)