cc: Sandy Tudhope , Phil Jones , simon Tett , Keith Briffa , Tim Osborn , Gabi Hegerl , Chris Jones , Peter Cox , Rob Allan , Philip Brohan , Catherine Bass date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:24:56 +0100 from: Rob Wilson subject: Re: Proposed 2 pager to: Chris Turney Hi Chris et al, minor comments and edits attached. I agree with Simon that the current version needs much more specific focus. How does/can this project stand out from other projects that are aiming to do the same thing? I think we agree that for the Northern Hemisphere, especially as we are focussing mainly on the last 400-500 years, that the only real issue is updating key proxy records to present. Much of this is already being done by many groups. What we need to emphasise is the sparse nature of available annually resolved proxy records in the Tropics and the Southern Hemisphere. Some specific strong statements are needed: 2 or 3 specifically located (Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans) coral records, going back ~300 years WILL improve markedly current large scale reconstructions for the Tropics. Although the Southern Hemisphere is restricted w.r.t. land, some of the longest TR chronologies are located in this hemisphere. I would guess, from previous work, that robust temperature reconstructions from New Zealand, Tasmania and South America for the past 400-500 years would be entirely feasible and like with the NH data could be looked at in terms of an update (to present) and an expansion to possible extend sampling (e.g. more sites from Tasmania etc). My one real worry is the use of the term "reducing uncertainty". The palaeo-world has become a much more complex place in the last 10 years and with all the different calibration methods, data processing methods, proxy interpretations - any method that incorporates all forms of uncertainty and error will undoubtedly result in reconstructions with wider error bars than we currently have. These many be more honest, but may not be too helpful for model comparison attribution studies. We need to be careful with the wording I think. Rob Chris Turney wrote: Hi guys, Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I'm in a very cold and wet Bergen at the moment and the internet access is not the best. Many thanks for all your comments and suggestions. This all looks great. I've tried to incorporate these into the concept note. The more detailed points I've kept in a folder for us to thrash out the detail for the next round. Can you let me know what you think of the attached by Wednesday this week? If you're happy for us to proceed, perhaps we can send in for Friday? As I head north the internet access will probably get worse of if we can do it before I fall off the edge of the known world that would be great. Also, I've contacted Eric Wolff to see if he would be interested in being involved and as soon as I hear back I'll let you know. All the best, Chris **************************************************** Professor Chris Turney FRSA FRGS Director of [1]Carbonscape, Fixing carbon the way nature intended Author of [2]Ice, Mud and Blood: Lessons from Climates Past Popular science website: [3]www.christurney.com [4]Journal of Quaternary Science Asian and Australasian Regional Editor School of Geography The University of Exeter Exeter Devon EX4 4RJ UK Home page: [5]www.sogaer.ex.ac.uk/geography/people/staff/c_turney/main.shtml E-mail: [6]c.turney@exeter.ac.uk Office Tel.: +44 (0)1392 263331 Fax.: +44 (0)1392 263342 **************************************************** Slartibartfast: Science has achieved some wonderful things of course, but I'd far rather be happy than right any day. Arthur Dent: And are you? Slartibartfast: No. Thats where it all falls down of course. Arthur Dent: Pity. It sounded like quite a good lifestyle otherwise. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams **************************************************** _______________________________________________________________________________ -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Rob Wilson Lecturer in Physical Geography School of Geography & Geosciences University of St Andrews St Andrews. FIFE KY16 9AL Scotland. U.K. Tel: +44 01334 463914 Fax: +44 01334 463949 [7]http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/gg/people/wilson/ ".....I have wondered about trees. They are sensitive to light, to moisture, to wind, to pressure. Sensitivity implies sensation. Might a man feel into the soul of a tree for these sensations? If a tree were capable of awareness, this faculty might prove useful. " "The Miracle Workers" by Jack Vance ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Attachment Converted: "c:\eudora\attach\RW-2009 08 17 Consortium Concept.doc"