ABSTRACT
The final chapter of this book discusses the implications of the WMO extremes work in the context of climate change. The chapter addresses the author’s role in climate science, not as a policy maker or advocate but as a data analyst. The chapter addresses the current state of animosity that often exists in climate research. An example is given of Dr. Phil Jones, one of the foremost climate scientists in the world, as a recipient of death-threats, and argues for reasoned disagreement and debate. The chapter briefly discusses the drivers of climate—from short-term (year-long) influencers like volcanoes to long-term (millennia-long) influencers like orbital changes of the Earth—and points out that anthropogenic-driven climate change exists on a decadal time scale, thereby influencing us, our children and grandchildren. The chapter concludes by addressing future changes to the WMO extremes archive and ends the book on a hopeful note regarding climate scientists: ‘I am optimistic that as long as these very learned people have the ability to do their work—and as long as that the public respects these people’s incredible genius enough to implement that work—that we can find solutions to the problems posed by ongoing decadal climate change.’
