Climate Science, Weather and Climate Engineering, and Scientific Objectivity

Abstract

My main research areas are in modeling and observation of clouds and storms and how aerosols can influence clouds and storms, and as a result climate. I have recently co-authored two books and a chapter in another book that are relevant to the topic of this chapter. They are “Human Impacts on Weather and Climate, 2nd Edition” (Cotton and Pielke 2007), “Aerosol Pollution Impacts on Precipitation: A Scientific Review” (Levin and Cotton 2008), and “Perturbed Clouds in the Climate System” (Cotton 2009). When writing chapters in these books it became quite apparent to me all scientists walk a tightrope between being objective scientists and being advocates of their particular disciplines. For some if not most, they try hard to remain objective in their presentations and evaluations of their scientific studies. As our science has become more politically relevant, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many scientists to remain objective. The theme of this chapter is “scientific objectivity” and how it has become more difficult for scientists working in areas like climate change and weather and climate engineering to remain objective.