RIP Professor Bill Gray CSU, pioneering climate scientist and tropical weather researcher

ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
...and climate denier to the bitter end, even his colleagues thought some of his positions on the subject were cringe worthy.

Still, he created the hurricane forecasting lab, which continues making important forecasts of severe tropical storms before and during every hurricane season. The man is something of a demigod among Floridians for his forecasts.

Utterly trivial fact; I delivered computer equipment to his lab many years ago when I worked for a wholesale electronics supplier in town.
 
tyler.durden said:
It is interesting how these great minds can be so dead on in regards to some things, and so utterly wrong when it comes to others. It's one reason why it is important to be aware of Arguments from Authority (argumentum ad verecundiam), one of the most common logical fallacies...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority
Click to expand...

Thanks for the morning tidbit of food for thought, I never cease to be impressed with the depth and variety of people's knowledge and experience here.
 
tyler.durden said:
It is interesting how these great minds can be so dead on in regards to some things, and so utterly wrong when it comes to others. It's one reason why it is important to be aware of Arguments from Authority (argumentum ad verecundiam), one of the most common logical fallacies...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority
Click to expand...

After having read the Wikipedia entry you thoughtfully provided, I don't think it's fair to dismiss his arguments so easily. After all, he WAS a pioneering climate researcher; such discussions of climate change were indeed squarely within his area of study.

He looked at the data and just flat came to a different conclusion, one that placed him further and further outside the mainstream of scientific thought the longer it went on.

If there is a logical fallacy at work here, I think it's one of elevating some data above others to explain his position.
 
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ttystikk said:
After having read the Wikipedia entry you thoughtfully provided, I don't think it's fair to dismiss his arguments so easily. After all, he WAS a pioneering climate researcher; such discussions of climate change were indeed squarely within his area of study.
Click to expand...

You're right, the topic of climate change should be well within Gray's area of study. Let's look at the wiki opening paragraph -

The argument from authority (Latin: argumentum ad verecundiam) also appeal to authority, is a common argument form which can be fallacious, such as when an authority is cited on a topic outside their area of expertise, when the authority cited is not a true expert or if the cited authority is stating a contentious or controversial position.[1]

His views on climate change are certainly contentious, despite his expertise in the field. That brings to mind Einstein's initial refusal and strong dislike for quantum mechanics. Bohr proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is how the universe works, but something in Einstein's make up could not accept it, and he put forth beautiful arguments on precisely why Bohr was off. Physics was Einstein's thing, but somehow his conclusions looking at the the same data were incorrect. Fascinating...

He looked at the data and just flat came to a different conclusion, one that placed him further and further outside the mainstream of scientific thought the longer it went on.

If there is a logical fallacy at work here, I think it's one of elevating some data above others to explain his position.
Click to expand...

That is known as Cherry Picking, and I believe you may be right that this is what led Gray to interpret the data incorrectly. You're a smart dude -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_picking
 
tyler.durden said:
You're right, the topic of climate change should be well within Gray's area of study. Let's look at the wiki opening paragraph -

The argument from authority (Latin: argumentum ad verecundiam) also appeal to authority, is a common argument form which can be fallacious, such as when an authority is cited on a topic outside their area of expertise, when the authority cited is not a true expert or if the cited authority is stating a contentious or controversial position.[1]

His views on climate change are certainly contentious, despite his expertise in the field. That brings to mind Einstein's initial refusal and strong dislike for quantum mechanics. Bohr proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is how the universe works, but something in Einstein's make up could not accept it, and he put forth beautiful arguments on precisely why Bohr was off. Physics was Einstein's thing, but somehow his conclusions looking at the the same data were incorrect. Fascinating...



That is known as Cherry Picking, and I believe you may be right that this is what led Gray to interpret the data incorrectly. You're a smart dude -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_picking
Click to expand...

Yeah, cherry picking, for sure. He definitely got caught up in solar cycles and such and didn't think the spike in co2 levels in modern times was significant... in spite of making a point to account for it as a source of warming for hurricane forecasting!

Thanks, man. Not only are you pretty sharp, yourself, but you're a better comic. :clap:
 
ttystikk said:
He looked at the data and just flat came to a different conclusion, one that placed him further and further outside the mainstream of scientific thought the longer it went on.
Click to expand...
A thought comes to mind about outside influences skewing his conclusions...lots of people have miscalculated their theories and conclusions through the ages...1000509261001_1980656760001_BIO-Biography-Sigmund-Freud-LF.jpg
 
RIP, Dr. Gray. I've been a big fan of yours for 20 years... and the fact that someone is admitting that they're a fan of a climatologist should, in and of itself, serve as a testament to what a unique individual you were. May your seas always be restless and your skies always astorm. I suspect that's the way you would prefer it.
 
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