Can Scientists and Journalists Work Together to Improve Coverage of the Hurricane-Global Warming Controversy?
Journalists assigned to cover the April 25, 2006, debate over hurricanes and global warming in Monterey, California, may have been justifiably confused. The panel – part of the American Meteorological Society’s twenty-seventh meeting on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology – pitted two distinguished scientists convinced that global climate change has already intensified the average hurricane against two other distinguished scientists who question the reliability of the data used to draw this conclusion. Chris Landsea of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a skeptic of any strong link between hurricane strength and climate change, memorably captured the state of scientific uncertainty when he said, “Everyone involved in this panel discussion is searching for the truth, and I want to compliment everyone for doing that.” He continued: “I get along personally with everyone involved and I want to continue that – even if they’re wrong.” The debate over whether and to what ext
