Chris de Freitas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This biographical article or section is written like a résumé. Please help improve this article by revising it to be neutral and encyclopedic. (help) |
Chris de Freitas is an Associate Professor in the School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
Contents |
[edit] Education & Professional Career
Professor de Freitas received both his Bachelors and his Masters at the University of Toronto, Canada, after which he earned his PhD as a Commonwealth Scholar from the University of Queensland, Australia. During his time at the University of Auckland, he has served as Deputy Dean of Science, Head of Science and Technology, and for four years as Pro Vice Chancellor. He is Vice President of the Meteorological Society of New Zealand and is a founding member of the Australia-New Zealand Climate Forum as well as serving on the Executive Board of the International Society of Biometeorology from 1999-2001. Widely known for his extensive writings in popular media, Dr. Freitas's interests cover a vast array of environmental and climate-related issues. Consequently, the New Zealand Association of Scientists have made him a four-time recipient of their Science Communicator Award. [1]
[edit] Global Warming & Skepticism
Dr. de Freitas has been a frequent critic of the theory of global warming, writing that carbon dioxide emissions themselves may not necessarily be the source of recent increases in global temperature. In the New Zealand Herald (9 May 2006), Prof. de Freitas writes:
"There is evidence of global warming. The climate has warmed about 0.6C in the past 100 years, but most of that warming occurred prior to 1940, before the post World War II industrialisation that led to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. But warming does not confirm that carbon dioxide is causing it. Climate is always warming or cooling. There are natural variability theories of warming."
Dr. de Freitas has expressed similar distrust of the global climate models developed and used by scientists as they "do not adequately handle key aspects of the climate system, such as the role of clouds and aspects of heat transfer in ocean circulation." Until such models are more reliable, argues Dr. de Freitas, they cannot be made the basis for sound public policy. [2]
Dr. de Freitas has been particularly skeptical of the claims made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as to the "catastrophic" severity of rises in global temperatures. On the contrary, writes Dr. de Freitas, "global temperature has not risen appreciably in the last 20 years. Most surface temperature data free from the influence of surrounding buildings and roads show no warming. Data from satellites support this. Sea level has been rising since the end of the last ice age, long before industrialization, but historical records show no acceleration in sea level rise in the twentieth century. Increases in carbon dioxide appear to pose no immediate danger to the planet. The gas is not a pollutant."
Assuming man is causing the earth's atmosphere to heat, he further writes, the predictions made by the IPCC overstate the case. He instead posits that the average increase in global temperature will be no more than 1 degree Celsius over the course of the next 100 years. This, in fact, may prove beneficial to the environment, leading to "milder winters and, coupled with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, [...] a more robust biosphere with greater availability of forest, crops and vegetative ground cover. This is hardly a major threat." He writes, "A more likely threat is policies that endanger economic progress. The negative effect of such policies would be far greater than any change caused by global warming." [3]
Dr. de Freitas has expressed criticism of the Kyoto Protocal, stating that the long-term effects of its enactment will not only be minimal on the environment, but it will consequently lead to a severe economic burden: "Adherence to the Kyoto Protocol will mean far-reaching industrial changes and billion dollar decisions. Given that the financial stakes are extremely high, surely the validity of these models should be more carefully assessed. Compare this to businesses which must thoroughly audit their financial statements and forecasts." [4]
Dr. de Freitas was one of several scientists who offered an amicus brief organized by the Competitive Enterprise Institute on 25th October, 2006. [5]
[edit] Climate Research and the Soon & Baliunas Article (2003)
Dr. de Freitas played a notable role in a controversy surrounding the January 2003 publication of a study in the journal Climate Research, of which de Freitas is an editor.
The article, conducted by two Harvard astronomers, Dr. Willie Soon & Dr. Sallie Baliunas, surveyed over 240 scientific studies detailing the trends in climate change. As reliable thermometers do not predate the 19th century, "proxy records" (i.e. tree rings, sea sediments, and glacier layers) were consulted. The study revealed that the case for radical increases in global temperature was unsubstantiated: "When you compare the 20th century to the previous nine centuries, you do not see the change in the 20th century as anything unusual or unprecedented."
The paper was given to de Freitas who gave it to five others for peer-review. De Freitas has asserted, "None were from what some might [term] 'the other side' or are individuals who might be known for their opposition to the notion that humans are significantly altering global climate." The paper was peer-edited, returned to authors for corrections, and approved by de Freitas for publication.
The study was used by the Bush Administration as a source of revisions to an Environmental Protection Agency report. Dr. Michael Mann's infamous "hockey stick" theory of global temperature increase was stricken from the report and replaced by the Soon & Baliunas findings. An "unofficial memo" from EPA scientists considered the latter "a limited analysis that supports the administration's favored message." The White House maintained that the revisions had been determined by an interagency review process.
Dr. Mann, along with 13 other scientists, published a rebuttal to the Soon & Baliunas article in the American Geophysical Union that July [6]. The rebuttal claimed that not only was the methodology of the two Harvard astronomers flawed, but that their results were "inconsistent with the preponderance of scientific evidence." Further skepticism of the article arose after it was revealed that both Soon & Baliunas were paid consultant fees from the George C. Marshall Institute, known for its skeptical position on global warming, as well as having received $53,000 in underwriting (5% of costs) from the American Petroleum Institute.
Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Otto Kinne, the publisher of Climate Research, requested from Dr de Freitas that the files on the two papers be sent to Kinne for review. Kinne evaluated the review process that governed the publication of the two Soon-Baliunas papers and reported his findings on July 3, 2003. Kinne adjudged that the four reviewers consulted for each manuscript “presented detailed, critical and helpful evaluations,” that the editor, de Freitas, “properly analyzed the evaluations and requested appropriate revisions,” and that the authors had “revised their manuscripts accordingly.” Kinne further concluded that de Freitas “has done a good and correct job as editor.” [7][8][9]
On July 24, 2003, von Storch indicated to all editors and review editors of Climate Research that he had received a request from the Environment and Public Works Committee of the United States Senate for the Journal’s peer review guidelines before the upcoming hearing on July 29. It was at this point that von Storch drafted and circulated a hurriedly written editorial in which he, as Editor-in-Chief and writing for all editors, declared that the review process had failed with respect to the Soon-Baliunas manuscripts and that they should not have been published due to ‘methodological flaws’. Von Storch’s intent was to publish the editorial before the hearing on July 29, 2003, but several editors balked at publication of the editorial.[10]
The publisher, Kinne, argued that the editorial should not be rushed but published when the editorial board could be consulted. This would not have allowed von Storch to publish the editorial in time for the US Senate hearing. Von Storch subsequently resigned.[11]
[edit] Selected Publications
Air Quality
Power, H.C., C.R. de Freitas and J.E. Hay, 1992: Relative effects of climate and source strength on atmospheric lead concentrations in Auckland, New Zealand. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 45, 127-138.
Bioclimate
Auliciems, A., C.R. de Freitas and F.K. Hare, 1973: Winter Clothing Requirements for Canada. Climatological Studies, No. 22, Atmospheric Environment Service, Environment Canada, Toronto, 80pp.
Auliciems, A. and C.R. de Freitas, 1976: Cold stress in Canada: a human climatic classification. International Journal of Biometeorology, 20, 287-294.
de Freitas, C.R., 1979: Human climates of northern China. Atmospheric Environment, 13, 71-77.
de Freitas, C.R., N.J. Dawson, A.A. Young and W.J. Mackey, 1985: Microclimate and heat stress of runners in mass participation events. Journal of Climate and Applied Meteorology (Journal of Applied Meteorology), 24, 184-191.
de Freitas, C.R., 1985: Assessment of human bioclimate based on thermal response. International Journal of Biometeorology, 29, 97-119.
de Freitas, C.R., 1986: Human Thermal Climates of New Zealand. New Zealand Meteorological Service, Ministry of Transport, Misc. Pub. 190, Wellington, 84 pp.
de Freitas, C.R. and L.V. Symon, 1987: A bioclimatic index of human survival times in the Antarctic. Polar Record, 23 (147), 651-659.
de Freitas, C.R., 1987: Bioclimates of heat and cold stress in New Zealand. Weather and Climate, 7, 55-60.
Dawson, N.J., C.R. de Freitas, W.J. Mackey and A.A. Young, 1987: The stressful microclimate created by massed fun-runners. Heat Stress: Physical Exertion and Environment, J.R.S. Hales and D.A.B. Richards (eds.), Excerpta Medica, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 77-82.
de Freitas, C.R. and M.G. Ryken, 1989: Climate and physiological heat strain during exercise. International Journal of Biometeorology, 33, 157-164.
Climate Change
de Freitas, C.R., 1987: Perspectives on the impact of short-term climatic change in New Zealand. New Zealand Geographer, 43, 169-176.
de Freitas, C.R. and A.M. Fowler, 1989: Identifying sensitivity to climatic change at the regional scale: the New Zealand example. Proceedings of 15th. Conference New Zealand Geographical Society, R. Welch (ed.), New Zealand Geographical Society Conference Series, No. 15, Dunedin, 254-261.
Fowler, A.M. and C.R. de Freitas, 1989: Research methods in climate change impact assessment: coping with inadequate forecasts of future climate change. Proceedings of 15th. Conference New Zealand Geographical Society, R. Welch (ed.), New Zealand Geographical Society Conference Series, No. 15, Dunedin, 262-270.
Fowler, A.M. and C.R. de Freitas, 1990: Climate impact studies from scenarios: help or hindrance? Weather and Climate, 10, 3-10.
de Freitas, C.R., 1991: The greenhouse crisis: myths and misconceptions. Area (Institute of British Geographers), 23 (1), 11-19.
de Freitas, C.R., 1994: A critical appraisal of the global warming debate. New Zealand Geographer, 50 (1), 30-33.
de Freitas, C.R., 2000: Greenhouse: a diversion from environmental needs. PESA Bulletin. 12.99/01.00, 57-60.
de Freitas, C.R., 2000: Global Warming as a classroom topic: New perspectives on the climate change debate. New Zealand Journal of Geography, 110, 16-23.
de Freitas, C.R., 2002: Are observed changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere really dangerous? Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 50 (2), 297-327.
de Freitas, C.R., 2003: Greenhouse predictions versus climate realities. New Zealand Geographic, 64, July-August, 6-8.
Carter, R.M., de Freitas, C.R., Goklany, I.M., Holland, D. and Lindzen, R.S., 2006. The Stern Review: A Dual Critique. Part I: The Science. World Economics, 7 (4), 165-232. http://www.staff.livjm.ac.uk/spsbpeis/WE-STERN.pdf
Conceptual
de Freitas, C.R. and E. Woolmington, 1980: Catastrophe theory and catastasis. Area (Institute of British Geographers), 12 (2), 191-194.
Health and Climate
Frost, D.B., A. Auliciems and C.R.de Freitas, 1992: Myocardial infarct death and temperature in Auckland, New Zealand. International Journal of Biometeorology, 36, 14-17.
Historical Geography
Harris, R.C., P. Roulston and C.R. de Freitas, 1975: The settlement of Mono Township. Canadian Geographer, 19, 1-17.
Microclimate
de Freitas, C.R., R.N. Littlejohn, T.S. Clarkson and I.S. Kristament, 1982: Cave climate: assessment of airflow and ventilation. International Journal of Climatology, 2, 383-397.
de Freitas, C.R. and R.N. Littlejohn, 1987: Cave climate: assessment of heat and moisture exchange. International Journal of Climatology, 7, 553-569.
Enright , N.J. , R.M. Bartlett and C.R. de Freitas, 1993: Patterns of species composition, recruitment and growth within canopy gaps in two New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) forests. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 31, 361-373.
de Freitas, C.R. and N. J. Enright, 1995: Microclimate differences between and within canopy gaps in a temperate rainforest. International Journal of Biometeorology, 38, 188-193.
de Freitas, C.R., 1998: Cave monitoring and management: The Glowworm Cave, New Zealand. In: Cave and Karst Management in Australasia XII. Proceedings of the Twelfth Australasian Conference on Cave and Karst Management, Waitomo, Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association, Carlton South, Victoria, 55-66.
de Freitas, C.R. and K. Banbury, 1999: Build up and diffusion of carbon dioxide in cave air in relation to visitor numbers at the Glowworm Cave, New Zealand. In: Cave Management in Australasia XIII. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Australasian Conference on Cave and Karst Management, Mount Gambier, South Australia. Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association, Carlton South, Victoria, 84-89.
de Freitas, C.R. and A.A. Schmekal, 2003: Condensation as a microclimate process: Measurement and prediction in the Glowworm Tourist Cave, New Zealand.’ International Journal of Climatology, 23 (5), 557-575.
de Freitas, C.R. and A. Schmekal,, 2006. Studies of condensation/evaporation processes in the Glowworm Cave, New Zealand. International Journal of Speleology, 35 (2), 75 81.
de Freitas, C.R. and A. Schmekal, 2005. Prediction of condensation in caves. Speleogenesis and Evolution of Karst Aquifers, 3 (2), 9 pages. http://speleogenesis.info/pdf/SG8/SG8_artId3281.pdf
Natural Hazards
de Freitas, C.R., 1975: Estimation of the disruptive impact of snowfall in urban areas. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 14, 1166-1173.
de Freitas, C.R., 1989: The hazard potential of drought for the population of the Sahel . In Population and Disaster, J.I. Clark, P. Curson, S.L. Kayasha and P. Nag (eds.), Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 98-113.
de Freitas, C.R., 1994: Theories on progressive desiccation and desertification: reassessing the drought hazard. Weather and Climate, 14, 11-21.
de Freitas, C.R., 2002: Perceived change in risk of natural disasters caused by global warming. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 17 (3), 34-38. Republished in Engineering World, 13 (1), 2003.
de Freitas, C.R., 2003: Perceived change in risk of natural disasters caused by global warming. Engineering World, 13 (1), 36-39.
Tourism and Recreation
de Freitas, C.R., 1990: Recreation climate assessment. International Journal of Climatology, 10, 89-103.
de Freitas, C.R., 2002: Theory, concepts and methods in tourism climate research. In: A. Matzarakis and C.R. de Freitas (eds.), Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Climate, Tourism and Recreation. Porto Carras , Greece, October 2001. International Society of Biometeorology, Commission on Climate Tourism and Recreation. Porto Carras, Halkidiki, Greece, WP01, 3-20.
de Freitas, C.R., 2003: Tourism climatology: evaluating environmental information for decision making and business planning in the recreation and tourism sector. International Journal of Biometeorology, 48 (1), 45-54.
Matzarakis, A., de Freitas, C.R., Scott, D., 2004: Tourism and recreation climatology. In: Matzarakis, A., de Freitas, C.R., Scott, D. (eds.). Advances in Tourism Climatology. Wiss. Ber. Meteorol. Inst. Univ. Freiburg Nr. 12, 6-10.
de Freitas, C.R, Scott D. and McBoyle, G., 2004: A new generation climate index for tourism. In: Matzarakis, A., de Freitas, C.R., Scott, D. (eds.). Advances in Tourism Climatology. Wiss. Ber. Meteorol. Inst. Univ. Freiburg Nr. 12, 19-27.
de Freitas, C.R, 2004: Methods of sensitivity analysis for assessing impacts of climate change on tourism at the regional scale. In: Matzarakis, A., de Freitas, C.R., Scott, D. (eds.). Advances in Tourism Climatology. Wiss. Ber. Meteorol. Inst. Univ. Freiburg Nr. 12, 116-122.
Matzarakis, A., de Freitas, C.R., Scott, D. (eds.), 2004: Advances in Tourism Climatology. Berichte des Meteorologischen Institutes der Universität Freiburg, Nr. 12, 260 pp.
de Freitas, C.R., 2005: The climate-tourism relationship and its relevance to climate change impact assessment. In: C. Michael Hall and James Higham (eds), Tourism, Recreation and Climate Change, Channel View Publications, Clevedon, NY, pp. 29-43.
de Freitas, C R, 2005. Extreme weather events. In: Stefan Gössling, C. Michael Hall and Robert Richardson, Tourism and Global Environmental Change: Ecological, Social, Economic and Political Interrelationships. Chapter 11, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxford, UK, pp. 195-210.
Weather Forecasting
de Freitas, C.R. and K.M. Wells, 1982: Reassessment of weather forecast terminology and content. Weather and Climate, 2, 16-22.
[edit] Notes & References
University of Auckland website [12]
"Evidence Must Prevail" by Chris de Freitas (The New Zealand Herald 9 May, 2006) [13]
"Global Warming Skeptics Are Facing Storm Clouds" by Antonio Regaldo (Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2003) [14]
"Politics Reasserts Itself in the Debate Over Climate Change and Its Hazards" by Andrew C. Revkin (New York Times, August 5, 2003) [15]
"Storm Brews Over Global Warming" by Richard Monasterky (Chronicle of Higher Education, 4 September 2003) [16]
[edit] Further reading
"Proxy climatic and environmental changes of the past 1000 years" by Willie Soon & Sallie Baliunas (Climate Research, Vol. 23: 89–110, 2003)[17]
"Are observed changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere really dangerous?" by Prof. Chris de Freitas (Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology Vol. 50, No. 2 (June, 2002))[18]
Debate between Dr Jean Paultikof and Dr Chris de Freitas [19]
"Keep a weather eye on climate change" by Chris de Freitas (The New Zealand Herald January 16, 2006) [20]
