Northern Hemisphere mean temperatures do appear to have cooled over that period, and that contrasts with a continuing increase in CO 2, which if all else had been equal, should have led to warming. One character suggests that “if CO 2 didn’t cause the global cooling between 19, how can you be sure it is responsible for the recent warming?” (paraphrased from p86). The first set of comments relate to the attribution of the recent warming trend to increasing CO 2. Some are real and well appreciated while some are red herrings and are used to confuse rather than enlighten. The issues Crichton raises are familiar to those of us in the field, and come up often in discussions. So for actors and lawyers everywhere, I will try and help out. The issues are raised as conversations and Q and A sessions between him (and other ‘good guys’) and two characters an actor (not a very clever chap) and a lawyer (a previously duped innocent), neither of whom know much about the science. The champion of Crichton’s scientific view is a MIT academic-turned-undercover operative who clearly runs intellectual rings around other characters. I will discuss a selection of the global warming-related issues that are raised in between the car chases, shoot-outs, cannibalistic rites and assorted derring-do. Like the recent movie “The Day After Tomorrow”, the novel addresses real scientific issues and controversies, but is similarly selective (and occasionally mistaken) about the basic science. A lesson for our times maybe? Unfortunately, I think not. The inevitable conclusion of the book is that global warming is a non-problem. Michael Crichton’s new novel “State of Fear” is about a self-important NGO hyping the science of the global warming to further the ends of evil eco-terrorists. In a departure from normal practice on this site, this post is a commentary on a piece of out-and-out fiction (unlike most of the other posts which deal with a more subtle kind).

Michael crichton global warming book