Sir, Tim Hames (“Let’s look on the sunny side”, Aug 28) likens the consensus of scientists, concerning the human influence on climate change, to the dogma of the Catholic Church opposing Galileo. In fact the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2001 report is based on vast amounts of observations and many powerful computer simulations. It is notable for its lack of dogma.
The predictions are deeply worrying and uncomfortable for all of us. Indeed, there are other influences upon the climate than Man, but these have been taken into account by the IPCC. Its 2001 report shows that, while non-human factors (solar variability, volcanoes, etc) cause climate changes, they cannot fully explain what has been happening, particularly the warming in the past 15 to 20 years.
Mr Hames remarks on the colossal energy in the total solar irradiance compared with all human activity. It is not the heat energy generated by mankind that contributes to climate change, but Man’s enhancement of greenhouse gases, which trap more of that huge solar irradiance.
P. H. G. DICKINSON
Wantage, Oxon