Picking a Fight

Since the release earlier this month of the new IPCC Summary for Policymakers (PDF), I have been watching closely to see if the document sparks any prominent quarrels between scientists over the relationship between hurricanes and global warming. Frankly, I thought the IPCC's claim that global hurricanes have "more likely than not" intensified due to human causes would indeed create some sparks. Contrary to my expectations, however, I've seen very little conflict of any significance. Indeed, I was waiting for this subject to be brought up by Republicans on Capitol Hill last week with Kevin Trenbeth as a witness...but nothing happened. Roger Pielke, Jr., who watches this debate at least as closely as I do, didn't seem to think the Summary for Policymakers' final wording would cause any significant controversy, and his expectation turns out to have been more accurate than mine thus far. But as we all know, journalists ...