I've read a lot about things claimed by "Climatologists" but never saw a "Climatologist" college degree. Since a constant refrain of global-warming enthusiasts is to dismiss proffered scientific evidence that refutes man-made global warming as "not being written by a Climatologist," I thought I should do some research and learn about the field of study.
Let me cut to the chase scene for you: It's a job title, not an educational path. Translation: You, too, can be a Climatologist! But act now, and if you call within the next 20 minutes, we'll double the job title to "Climatologist II"! But, wait, there’s more! ...
Some anecdotal evidence, because it makes me happy: From the University of North Carolina, Dr. Charles E. Konrad II, Deputy Director and Regional Climatologist. He received a B.S. in Geophysics in 1985 from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Environmental Science in 1989 from the University of Virginia. In 1993, he earned a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Georgia. William G. Schmitz, Service Climatologist/Meteorologist, A.S. 1998, Canada College, Redwood City, CA, Physics, B.S. 2001, Plymouth State College, New Hampshire, Meteorology.
Hunh. So when someone says to you: “He’s not a climatologist! He’s just a meteorologist!” with a dismissive sniff, tell them to call Bill and apologize.
Well, let's go more specific, shall we? The primary author of an oft-cited study supporting Algore's View of Earth is Dr. Peter Doran. His study is one of the scriptures in the refrain, “There is a consensus among climatologists.” Education: B.Sc., Trent University; M.Sc., Queen's University; Ph.D., University of Nevada-Reno. The degrees are in Geology and Hydrology, but not assigned. His co-writer was Maggie Kendall Zimmerman. She was one of his graduate students. Can't find her degrees - but no Ph.D. Not a “climatology” degree in the lot. Go figure.
So does UIC have a "Climatology" major? Nope. Closest thing is Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering.
I could go through every single paper presented as proof of Algore's Earth View written by "climatologists" searching in vain for a "climatology" degree. Not there. The reason is because the very first such degree program in the world took students in just 2001.
I checked the University of Minnesota site because those were the fools that were going to give Algore an Honorary Doctorate in Climatology. Their "doctorate in climatology" (the real one) is a Ph.D. in Soil Science with two additional required courses: Environmental Biophysics and Ecology; and Biometeorology.
With all the evidence in, it seems the term "Climatologist" is an industry term without much pedagogy behind it.
If this is all industry ad hoc, perhaps they have established some rigor. What's the industry looking for in Climatologists? That's a good question. Thank you for asking it.
I found this advice helpful:
You need to study all of the physical and biological sciences. If you study hard enough in any of these areas, you could be working on with a team of climatologists. Study physics, meteorology, biology, zoology, botany, paleontology, geology, entomology, microbiology, oceanography, astronomy, math, computer science, and of course climatology.
You will be collecting lots and lots and lots of data. Some of the more obvious things you will look for are Ocean water temperatures, ocean current changes, atmospheric conditions, solar conditions, etc. What might not be so obvious is that climatologists also collect information about plant and animal species. For example, if a particular plant is gradually extending its range northward, or higher in altitude, that may be a sign that the climate is warming.
So study hard! Sounds like the target audience is somewhat between junior high school and a post-secondary degree.
Surely NASA is more serious about this. Let's see! Here's the job description to be a Climatologist at NASA:
Job description: A Climatologist collects climate data, investigates climate indicators and makes predictions regarding climate patterns. This individual uses computer models to study how Earth's climate changes with time. They use glacial ice cores, lake sediments, tree rings, and other sources of information to determine the climate in Earth's past. They use sophisticated computer software programs that assist them in modeling the Earth's climate and check that data against known information. They conduct research to determine if humans are affecting Earth's present and future climate. Some Climatologists study climates on other planets in our solar system.
Interests/Abilities: • Do you read and understand charts with special symbols easily? • Can you perform calculations quickly with great accuracy? • Do enjoy getting out a road map and figuring out what route to drive when preparing for vacation? Can you see more than one route to a destination? • Are you curious about your surroundings and what processes shape them? • Are you patient when it comes to completing forms requiring detailed information?
Suggested Courses: • Math (algebra, trigonometry, calculus) • Physics • Meteorology • Statistics • Computer modeling • Geography
Education: The minimum education required for this position is a bachelor’s degree in meteorology or atmospheric sciences from an accredited college or university. Experience in computer modeling techniques is extremely helpful for this job. To do research, at minimum a master's degree is required and a Ph.D. is highly desired for this position.
Hunh. Don't need a "climatology" degree - or even a climatology course - to be a Climatologist at NASA. Go figure.
So, when someone tells you that a climate study with findings adverse to the Religion of Global Warming does not matter because it "wasn't written by a Climatologist" tell him to ... well, I just pulled that punch. Nevermind. You finished the sentence.
Comments
You must be kidding. Are you suggesting that climate science isn't science? What qualifications do you have to say this? Its fairly obvious what a climate scientist isn't -- its someone like you.
Climatologist's generally hold positions with aesthetics management teams, keeping our world looking good but not contributing a dime to benefit society.
Throughout your intensive research process to write this article, did you ever stop to think how incredible complex climate change is? Of course the "climatologists" do not have a degree in that name, as they are Atmospheric Chemists and Geo-Physicists.
um, shawn, no they are not. they are geologists maybe, or any of a bunch of different science-based majors. Atmospheric Chemists? where do you see that in any of the researchers like Mann or those above? the point, shawn, is that complexity does not mean it cannot be a course of study - it is at present an ill-defined title. and that is fine. however, since the definition changes, it is intellectually dishonest to dismiss scientists that arrive at opposing views based upon their own title.
What is being said it that many argue that those from the AGW camp often claim that so and so is not a "climatologist", so cannot be looked upon to provide any useful information. The fact is that you cannot do climatology without physics, mathematics, chemistry, geology etc., but you can do all of these without climatology.
If what you're saying is true. Could you dispute the Wikipedia article on it? Wikipedia only works if people dispute things that are wrong.
what the heck are the 3 branches of climatoligists?i can't find them anywhere!
Please stop wasting your time. Climate science is the same whether you are an atmospheric physicist/chemist, a hydrologist, a meteorologist, or climatologist. Just because there is not a degree in a particular brain surgery procedure, are you going to say that a trained surgeon should not do it? No, because the principles are the same. The science in climatology is the same as all other atmospheric/climate related sciences..the variables of the system do not change. People like you spatter crap like this and misinform the general public who read this drivel. Get a degree in a relevent field then come back.
@aurum79 & Ben:
Re-read Clyde's post about three or four more times, maybe you'll get it then. He isn't saying there is no such thing as climate science, obviously there is.
He's saying dismissing a perfectly qualified scientist because he isn't a "climatologist" is disingenuous, because a "climatologist" is simply a scientist who studies the climate. There is nobody in the world with a "climatology" degree. They have degrees in physics, geology, geophysics, meteorology, etc, but never climatology (it doesn't exist as a degree program, anywhere). They aught to have a degree in statistics, since they use it so much, but that seems to be rare (particularly among AGW folks).
It's not the science that is BS, it's the dismissal of qualified scientists as not being "climatologists" that is BS.
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