Remember all that nonsense about polar bears disappearing, even though their numbers kept growing? Yeah, about that.A federal wildlife biologist whose observation in 2004 of presumably drowned polar bears in the Arctic helped to galvanize the global warming movement has been placed on administrative leave and is being investigated for scientific misconduct, possibly over the veracity of that article.H/T.
Charles Monnett, an Anchorage-based scientist with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, or BOEMRE, was told July 18 that he was being put on leave, pending results of an investigation into "integrity issues." But he has not yet been informed by the inspector general's office of specific charges or questions related to the scientific integrity of his work, said Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.
Another scam bites the dust.
In the peer-reviewed article, the researchers said they were reporting, to the best of their knowledge, the first observations of polar bears floating dead offshore and presumed drowned while apparently swimming long distances in open water. Polar bears are considered strong swimmers, they wrote, but long-distance swims may exact a greater metabolic toll than standing or walking on ice in better weather.These people should be brought up on charges.
They said their observations suggested the bears drowned in rough seas and high winds and "suggest that drowning-related deaths of polar bears may increase in the future if the observed trend of regression of pack ice and/or longer open water periods continues."
The article and presentations drew national attention and helped make the polar bear something of a poster child for the global warming movement. Al Gore's mention of the polar bear in his documentary on climate change, "An Inconvenient Truth," came up during investigators' questioning of Gleason in January.
" long-distance swims may exact a greater metabolic toll than standing or walking on ice in better weather"
ReplyDeleteCouldn't we just give the bears little rubber boats?
Seems like all the old classics from the global warming scare days are coming unstuck. And yet the IPCC abides and the UN persists...
ReplyDeleteThe general public should really know what "peer reviewed" means! The math is scanned and they check your spelling! That is it people! The words your looking for in science is always replicated. If someone can replicate your findings then you know you're on to something. You know global warmings a scam because no one gets the same answer twice.
ReplyDeleteBamftiger, you've got the chronology gone. The IPCC did their report first, and told the scientist what research they should present to back it up.
ReplyDeleteThey were never depending on any science, and I'm sure they can find other scientist that will provide the research they want. It's a profitable business, and not that bad consequences for being caught.
It is with relaxed nostalgia for the uncomfortable "good" old days when being a skeptic was risque that I post this, now that the war is won even though the other side didn't get the surrender memo.
ReplyDeleteA telling graph of polar bear population is here, that shows the tonic effect of hunting regulations in the 60s:
http://oi53.tinypic.com/9fny9y.jpg
A full appreciation of polar bears can only be had from old photos, however:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E_o_0Bdm4GA/S-GLKxeXuSI/AAAAAAAAyA8/jvjekWmXVWY/s1600/mm-rug.bmp
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_E_o_0Bdm4GA/TF2i2_Gb4XI/AAAAAAAA8i8/o0YF3Kh3JyY/s400/AnnMillerPearls.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cktMI1Ex8w/Tc52by9BV7I/AAAAAAABRtE/XIye_6f23v0/s400/Patty%2BEllwood%252C%2BI.L.%2BEllwood%252C%2BJohn%2BEllwood-in-living-rm.48120222_std.gif
http://data.whicdn.com/images/2502697/tumblr_l3lu0tVVUQ1qavi9wo1_500_thumb.jpg?1275939430
Wait.
ReplyDeleteYou mean the whole "polar bears are dying because of AGW" hand-wringing was sparked by ONE instance of drowned polar bears (after a frickin' STORM) and an assumption that was the equivalent of CSI done by Ouija board?
And these are the people screaming "how dare you question SCIENCE?"
Well, when you demonstrate time and time again you've abandoned scientific method, we can bloody well question you.
Instead of bringing them up on charges we should simply force the university they work for to refund the money they recieved in grants and loans to students that attanded any classes (if they taught at all). Plus a reasonable interest rate. That would force colleges to actually self-police for fraud just like every other business in the world
ReplyDeleteSo he's a member of the BOEMRE? Funny how that works. The BOEMRE has been a key for 16 oil drilling rigs leaving the Gulf of Mexico since May - they won't issue drilling permits even though a Federal Judge, Martin Feldman, told them to issue at least 8. Getting those rigs back will be close to impossible - they're multimillion dollar rigs sitting around doing nothing.
ReplyDeletePerhaps investigating the whole BOEMRE would be appropriate. Between faking polar bear research and chunking the oil drilling, they've got a pattern.