cOMATE.
042,
9Z
•

June 30, 1993

1.4 1 r.
4.013A1-t

Global Climate Coalition
1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Suite 1500 - North Tower
Washington, DC 20004-1703
Tel: 202.637.3158
Fax: 202.638.1043
Alt. Fax: 202.638.1032

Dear Journalist:
"Greenhouse Effect' Seems Benign So Far." That was the headline in a recent
front page Washington Post article by science correspondent Boyce Rensberger. Mr.
Rensberger writes "Global warming .is turning out to be relatively benign, scientists say."
The article is based, at least in part, on information contained in the June issue of National
Geographic's journal, Research and Exploration, which is dedicated to the climate change
issue.
According to the article, summer temperatures are no warmer than they were in
the 1860s and 1870s. The observational evidence indicates that the approximately one
degree of warming that has occurred over the last century has been at night and during the
winter months, significantly reducing any potential threats to polar ice caps or heat
sensitive ecosystems.
James Hansen of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City is
quoted in the article saying he "agrees that the warming observed so far has been mainly at
night." Mr. Rensberger also reports on the disagreement between Virginia state
climatologist Dr. Patrick Michaels and Dr. Hansen concerning the accuracy of computer
models that have been used to predict potential warming in the next century. Dr. Michaels
concludes from his examination of the data that the computer models overestimate
greenhouse warming. According to the article, "Hansen acknowledges that when his
computers are asked to estimate today's temperature, they say it should have risen twice as
much as has been measured over the last century."
I thought you might be interested in the latest scientific analysis so I am enclosing
a copy of Dr. Michaels' article from Research and Exploration, "Benign Greenhouse."
Upon receiving permission of other authors, the Coalition hopes to forward to you
additional articles from this important issue of Research and Exploration.

Sincerely,

1 . PLIV6L°

John Shlaes
Executive Director