Denis Rancourt

Denis Rancourt's Opinions

Science Are climate records (of temperature, CO2, etc.) reliable? Disagree Determining an average of a quantity (Earth surface temperature) that is everywhere different and continuously changing with time at every point, using measurements at discrete times and places (weather stations), is virtually impossible; in that the resulting number is highly sensitive to the chosen extrapolation method(s) needed to calculate (or rather approximate) the average. Edit Pitches 27 Feb 2007    Source Will IPCC climate models make accurate predictions? Disagree There is of course much more wrong with state-of-the-art global circulation models (climate models) than the assumption and implementation of CO2-H2O feedback. Although these models are among the most elaborate predictive models of complex non-linear phenomena, they are nonetheless sweeping oversimplifications of the global climate system and its mechanistic intricacies. The Ignored Evidence Pitch   Edit Pitches 27 Feb 2007    Source Can life adapt to a warmer earth? Agree As a general rule, all life on Earth does better when it’s hotter: Compare ecological diversity and biotic density (or biomass) at the poles and at the equator. Edit Pitches 27 Feb 2007    Source Does atmospheric CO2 cause significant global warming? Mostly Disagree CO2 increases may accompany temperature increases rather than causing them. Indeed, some high resolution studies have suggested that the temperature increases precede the CO2 increases. Interestingly, also, ice core data shows strong temporal correlations between inferred temp. and amount of dust preserved in the ice core. Finally, the older geological record shows several dramatic examples of where CO2 concentration and global average temperature were either unrelated or even anti-correlated. The Cause vs Correlation Pitch   The Ignored Evidence Pitch   Edit Pitches 27 Feb 2007    Source Is global warming caused primarily by humans? Disagree The atmospheric greenhouse effect is a well known natural phenomenon, mostly caused by atmospheric water vapour, that keeps our planet warm and habitable whereas (anthropogenic = human-made) global warming refers to a small extra greenhouse warming (0.5-1 C/33 C; 1-5 %) allegedly arising from an increase in atmospheric concentration of the minority greenhouse effect gas CO2 (carbon dioxide) – the later increase in turn possibly arising from fossil fuel burning. Edit Pitches 27 Feb 2007    Source

Global Warming Is the case for anthropogenic global warming politically biased in its favor? Agree I also advance that there are strong societal, institutional, and psychological motivations for having constructed and for continuing to maintain the myth of a global warming dominant threat. The Bureaucratic Pitch   Edit Pitches 27 Feb 2007    Source Climatology Has CO2 passively lagged temperature in past climates? Agree CO2 increases may accompany temperature increases rather than causing them. Indeed, some high resolution studies have suggested that the temperature increases precede the CO2 increases. Edit Pitches 27 Feb 2007    Source

Comparisons with Other Experts and Influencers

The similarity between Denis Rancourt and each expert and influencer is calculated by looking at how the same questions were answered. These figures are used to calculate conforming, nonconforming, and projected opinions. The accuracy of the analysis depends on Denis Rancourt's coverage, which grows with the number of their opinions entered into TakeOnIt.

Conforming Opinions

Denis Rancourt's conforming opinions are opinions that align with the group of experts and influencers Denis Rancourt typically agrees with.

Nonconforming Opinions

Denis Rancourt's nonconforming opinions are opinions that contradict the group of experts and influencers Denis Rancourt typically agrees with.

Projected Opinions

Denis Rancourt's projected opinions are opinions Denis Rancourt is expected to have if their opinions align with the experts and influencers that they typically agree with.