Detection and Attribution of Climate Change
Why is detection and attribution work important?
Structure of talk
Introduction: Definition of ÒconsensusÓ
Introduction: Do the IPCC AR4 findings constitute a ÒconsensusÓ of climate science experts?
Structure of talk
Where do you believe a consensus has formed?
ÒUnequivocalÓ warming of the climate system
Where do you believe a consensus has formed?
The scientific evidence for a human ÒfingerprintÓ on global climate has strengthened over time
Natural factors alone cannot explain the recent warming of the EarthÕs surface
What is Òclimate fingerprintingÓ?
Human-caused fingerprints have been identified in many different aspects of the climate system
We have made considerable progress in defining the ÒfingerprintsÓ of different forcings
Fingerprint detection explained pictoriallyÉ.
Estimating the ÒnoiseÓ of natural internal variability
Optimal fingerprinting: A brief example
D&A in a Òmulti-modelÓ framework: Use of multiple models to estimate fingerprints and noise
Estimating signal-to-noise ratios and Òdetection timesÓ
Estimating signal-to-noise ratios and Òdetection timesÓ
For water vapor, there is no evidence that Òclimate noiseÓ is systematically underestimated in IPCC AR4 models
Structure of talk
Where can consensus be expected in the near future?
Structure of talk
Where can statistical science provide further assistance to future D&A research?
Future research I: Sensitivity of D&A results to Òmodel qualityÓ
Future research I: Sensitivity of D&A results to Òmodel qualityÓ
Future research II: Improvement of observational datasets with sparse, space- and time-varying coverage
Future research II: The ocean observing network has changed dramatically over time
Future research II: Do models systematically underestimate ÒobservedÓ ocean temperature variability?
Future research II: Sampling model data at locations of ocean observations improves model-data agreement
Future research II: Implications of observational uncertainty for D&A research
Conclusions
A brief history of D&A research: Some important milestones