| Nicola Scafetta | |
|---|---|
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Duke University |
| Alma mater | University of North Texas |
| Doctoral advisor | Paolo Grigolini |
Nicola Scafetta is a research scientist at Duke University Physics Department. His research interests are in theoretical and applied statistics and nonlinear models of complex processes. He has published peer-reviewed papers in journals covering a wide variety of disciplines, including astronomy, biology, climatology, economics, medicine, physics and sociology.
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Scafetta was born in Italy. He graduated at the Universita' di Pisa and got a PhD in Physics from the University of North Texas.[1]
Scafetta is a collaborator with Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM) which monitors total solar irradiance (TSI) as measured by the ACRIM satellite.[2] Scafetta was involved in the scientific controversy between ACRIM and PMOD. PMOD analysis showed no upward trend in TSI from 1980-2000. In Scafette's view, the PMOD analysis was based on altering the published data from ACRIM and NIMBUS7 and the ACRIM and NIMBUS7 investigating teams rejected the PMOD adjustments as "arbitrary.". But Duffy, Wigley and Santer argue that Scafetta's interpretation makes the climate... mysteriously hypersensitive to solar variations[3]
Scafetta developed Diffusion Entropy Analysis, a method of statistical analysis which distinguishes between Levy Walk noises and Fractal Brownian Motion in complex systems.[4] Scafetta's research first made news in 2002 regarding his analysis of teen pregnancy.[5] Scafetta used this method to publish a number of peer-reviewed articles in a wide variety of scientific disciplines, researching subjects as diverse as teen pregnancy, distribution of wealth, human gait, earthquakes and DNA. A number of books have been published using and explaining Diffusion Entropy Analysis.[6]
In "Climate Change and its Causes, a Discussion about some Key Issue" Scafetta claims "At least 60% of the warming of the Earth observed since 1970 appears to be induced by natural cycles which are present in the solar system. A climatic stabilization or cooling until 2030-2040 is forecast by the phenomenological model."[7] Using the theory, Scafetta has predicted global temperature changes up to the year 2100. This theory is disputed.[8] These claims are not accepted in the scientific mainstream.[9]
In 2009, Scafetta faced criticism for failing to disclose the computer code required to reproduce his research.[10]