1. GLOBAL WARMING AND HURRICANES Natural Disasters and/or Political Debacles?

2. What is global warming? Global warming: the gradual increase in the earth's surface temperature. Greenhouse gas: a gas which traps the sun's heat inside the earth's atmosphere. (i.e. carbon dioxide)

3. Is global warming natural or man-made? Human causes: increase in carbon dioxide levels resulting from use of fossil fuels. Natural causes: increasing solar heat; natural course of climate change.

4. How has global warming potentially affected hurricane frequency and intensity? Hurricane Katrina

5. Hurricane Activity Frequency: # of hurricanes that occur Intensity: maximum wind speed of the hurricane Category 3 and above = major hurricane

6. How Do We Measure Hurricanes? Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Category Wind speed (mph) Storm surge (ft) 1 74 - 95 4 - 5 2 96 - 110 6 - 8 3 111 - 130 9 - 12 4 131 - 155 13 - 18 5 > 155 > 18

7. Recent surge in hurricane activity Expected # of hurricanes in 2004: 6 Actual # of hurricanes in 2004: 9 (Florida experienced four major hurricanes that season, most in Florida's history.) Expected # of hurricanes in 2005: 9 Actual # of hurricanes in 2005: 14 (Wilma: the most powerful hurricane ever in the Atlantic basin.)

9. Hurricanes & Global Warming Is global warming responsible for increased hurricane activity? There is a link between higher ocean temperatures and increased hurricane activity. Global warming  higher ocean temperatures Higher ocean temperature  increased hurricane activity Therefore, global warming  increased hurricane activity.

10. Natural Disaster and/or Political Debacle?

11. Scientific Censorship, the NOAA & the Politics of Knowledge

12. Did You Know...? NASA, The National Science Foundation, The National Institutes of Health are all part of the Executive Branch of Government, lead by members who must ultimately answer to the President. NASA, The National Science Foundation, The National Institutes of Health are all part of the Executive Branch of Government, lead by members who must ultimately answer to the President.

13. What is the NOAA? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Government Agency under the Commerce Department National Government Agency under the Commerce Department The NOAA employs scientists and scientific researchers for the production of government funded knowledge and information. The NOAA employs scientists and scientific researchers for the production of government funded knowledge and information.

14. Scientific Censorship Tom Knutson Vs. Chris Landsea Tom Knutson Vs. Chris Landsea Nature Journal Article DebateNature Journal Article Debate Kerry Emanuel Kerry Emanuel MIT Professor censored for citing Global warming as a cause for HurricancesMIT Professor censored for citing Global warming as a cause for Hurricances David Baltimore- President of the AAAS - David Baltimore- President of the AAAS - American Association for the Advancement of Science is quoted as calling "for opposition to the Bush's administration of 'suppression of science.'"American Association for the Advancement of Science is quoted as calling "for opposition to the Bush's administration of 'suppression of science.'"

15. Political Debacle (?)