I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
RIO RANCHO — A local research professor is questioning his placement on a list of scientists who do not believe in a man-made effect on global climate change.
The Heartland Institute, a prominent conservative think tank, unveiled a list of 500 scientists with “documented doubts of man-made global warming scares” last September. Recently, the list has come under scrutiny.
Like dozens of others on the list, University of New Mexico research professor emeritus Roger Y. Anderson believes his name does not belong on the list.
Anderson wrote in an e-mail to the Independent:
From what I can tell, the list was compiled mostly from reviewed scientific articles in which authors proposed or identified various sources of natural variability in climate; in my case solar irradiance and cosmic ray flux. I’m not sure of the intent of the compilation of 500 names, but the supplied information seems to suggest 500 authors have questioned human induced variability. This does not hold in my case and probably does not in the case of many others.
The list caught the attention of bloggers at DeSmogBlog.com. The blog e-mailed many of those listed and asked if they agreed with the premise of the list. Many wrote back demanding to be taken off the list — nearly 50 in just one day.
In describing the list, the Heartland Institute wrote, “The key dispute, of course, is whether the recent global warming has been due to humans burning fossil fuels or to the natural, moderate 1,500 year cycle discovered in Greenland and Antarctic ice cares in the 1980s.” Those on the list are deemed to believe the latter.
Anderson explained his work and why the Heartland Institute might be confused. “Natural variability must be recognized before a human contribution can be estimated and is the theme of much of the work cited.”
“Personally,” Anderson wrote, “I lean to the view that some component of the recent rise in global temperature is related to human activity.”
As of this time, no names of scientists have been removed from the list by the Heartland Institute.
