Majority Statement

• Ted Stevens

  Senator
  Read statement

  Majority Statement

  Ted Stevens

  Opening Statement:

   

  Thank you, Senator Vitter for holding this hearing on the potential impacts of climate change.  At my suggestion the full committee created this new subcommittee to deal specifically with global climate change.  It is imperative that the decision makers in all of our governments and industry have the best possible science to rely upon as we deal with the problems of global climate change. 

   

  There is a great deal of uncertainty, as we all know, about the causes.  I don’t think there is really any doubt that there are changes taking place, in particular in Alaska and the Arctic.  We have faced severe coastal erosion, we have faced polar ice recession, we have had melting permafrost, migration of species, all sorts of problems regarding our forests and increased risk of fires in Alaska.  Our Native villages have faced the problems of changes that are much greater than are taking place anywhere else in the United States.

   

  We think if we can understand and really watch what is going on in Alaska, then the rest of the country will learn from it.  I hope that this hearing will demonstrate that.  It is critical that we examine the problems in Alaska on the basis of sound science and that is why I am delighted that there are some familiar faces here today for me. 

   

  Dr. Bob Corell was the Chair of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment team. He has done a great deal of great research, we will hear more about that today. 

   

  And my long-time friend and advisor, Dr. Syun Akasofu who directs our International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks [Alaska].  He has, as you said, flown a long way; I think this is about the third time he has come down this year at our request to appear in various ways. 

   

  He earned his doctorate in studying the composition of the Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights to most people.  He has devoted 20 years now to studying the climate of our area.  I know of no one in the world that I would rely on more than Syun who I think has demonstrated his objectivity and his honesty in dealing with these issues.

   

  Again, I think this is a very timely hearing.  I wish the whole Senate was here to listen to these people because these are the people that can give us the information now that we ought to listen to as we as we try to consider some of the suggestions that are being made considering what the federal government could do, should do, concerning global climate change.

             

  Thank you very much.

   

   

  Question and Answer:

   

  Chairman Stevens: Dr. Akasofu, at your request we authorized funding for further temperature measurements in the Arctic Ocean over the last three years?  How many years?

   

  Dr. Akasofu: Yes.

   

  Chairman Stevens: Have you had any tentative conclusions from those temperatures as to whether there is noticeable change now as far as the temperature of the Arctic Ocean? 

   

  Dr. Akasofu: Yes.  What is happening is the warm North Atlantic Water is intruding into the Arctic Ocean and we are tracing this water. This water is moving the Siberian Coast and then moving towards Alaska.  Although it is a very complicated thing, but certainly tremendous heat is coming from the North Atlantic into the Arctic Ocean, which is, I am sure part of the reason for the ice melting there. 

   

  Chairman Stevens: Is that in anyway related to the recent intensity of the sun’s heat as far as the Atlantic Ocean is concerned? 

   

  Dr. Akasofu: I can’t tell that.  We just learned in the latest papers that as much as 30 to 40 percent of the increase could be due to solar output increase.  We have to now go back and look at the computer modeling, put it in that and see if that will warm up the North Atlantic or not.  We have not done that yet.

   

  Chairman Stevens: We have your statement, and figure six showing the distribution of that Atlantic water, this so called Atlantic Oscillation. How long has that been going on. Do you know?

   

  Dr. Akasofu: As long as we can determine.  Accurately, the last 50 -60 years over good data.  What we call NAO – North Atlantic Oscillation – in test the changes and we know that.

   

  Chairman Stevens: Is that warming of the Arctic Ocean related to some of the changes we see in our state now as far as the permafrost and the basic change in the climate?

   

  Dr. Akasofu: Different scientists have a different point of view.  The continental portion of the warming, they think could be something else but we are not sure yet. 

   

  Chairman Stevens: By that you mean that what is happening in the Arctic Ocean could be both natural and man-made.

   

  Dr. Akasofu: I think so.

   

  Chairman Stevens: How long of a period do we have to study that to reach and tentative conclusion on it?

   

  Dr. Akasofu: In the past, this is my view, people are aware of that both components but not too many people have spent the time to separate those out.  It is very difficult.  Never the less, we should make an effort and we are now concentrating, some of us are really working hard on that particular job rather than just studying the North Atlantic water coming in or something else.

   

  Chairman Stevens: Have you flown over the Arctic area recently?

   

  Dr. Akasofu: Not recently, not in the last year or so. 

   

  Chairman Stevens: I took one flight – this will be my last question – over, coming in from the West Coast and coming in over to Barrow and it was pointed out to me the places where the ocean had been up far inland from where it is now.  The pilot indicated that it showed that while we think the water is rising now, it hasn’t come up near where it was in many years gone by.

   

  Dr. Akasofu: Yes.

   

  Chairman Stevens: Are you able to study those other areas and see where fluctuations have been as far as the Arctic Ocean’s intrusion upon on the Alaska part of our continent?

   

  Dr. Akasofu: Some of us are studying the warm ocean conditions or the landscape features from the last Ice Age but not before that.  I think our people who are collecting lots of data from the last stage can see the major changes. Also, during the little Ice Age we had from 1300 to 1800 some major changes – glaciers advanced and retreated. 

   

  Chairman Stevens: I don’t know if my colleagues had a chance to read the statement that you have got, that you have submitted, but very clearly, I take it that the impact you are trying to leave with us is that “we don’t know enough yet to make a judgment as to what part of this is man made and what part of this is natural”?

   

  Dr. Akasofu: I think I agree with Dr. Armstrong, we are trying, trying, this is very hard and perhaps IPY – International Polar Year when some of the scientists concentrate on this we may make good progress.

   

  Chairman Stevens: Thank you very much.

   

• David Vitter

  Senator
  Read statement

  Majority Statement

  David Vitter

  Senator David Vitter (R-La.)
  Chairman, Subcommittee on Global Climate Change and Impacts

  
   
  Thank you for being here.

  Today, we will have a hearing on the projected and past effects of climate change – with a focus on marine and land systems.

  It is clear that we are experiencing a warming trend. Scientists tell me that the temperatures we are seeing now are not outside of the historical ranges experienced on earth. However, if temperatures continue to increase, we could enter uncharted territory.

  Similarly, carbon dioxide concentrations in both our atmosphere and oceans are at levels never seen before. While I enjoy forging new frontiers in many areas, this may not be an area where I would encourage us to do so.

  This hearing will concentrate on the realized and predicted impacts of climate change on the health of our oceans, humans, plants and animals and other earth systems.

  I am very interested in examining through this hearing how much we can ascertain from historical climatic variation and apply this knowledge to current and future climate conditions.

  For once, we are not here to argue about the causes of observed warming trends or whether mandatory or market-based incentives are the best solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Rather, we all agree that clearly understanding the potential changes we face in our environment as a result of this current cycle is an important task.

  We have seen predictions that our seas will rise 30 feet and other extraordinary estimates – I hope not. If so, I imagine many of us will have to migrate to higher ground in Alaska -- and run against Ted Stevens – where he will continue to serve that state in the Senate for many, many years.

  In my home state of Louisiana, we have a very low-lying coastal area – as many in the nation discovered after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

  The impressive work of LSU’s Spatial Reference Center/Center for GeoInformatics and the National Geodetic Survey has been very helpful in providing the data we need to gain a clear picture of our situation in south Louisiana.

  We are facing many challenges at home – the land is sinking, the levees are settling and we lose a football field of wetlands every 38 minutes.

  The Corps of Engineers is currently rebuilding our flood and hurricane protection systems – without the design flaws – and the issue of net sea level rise is important to these design calculations.

  But, sea level rise is just one component of our hearing today. There are many other aspects to consider.

  The State of Louisiana is the largest producer of fisheries – in the lower 48. We need to gain a better understanding of how ocean changes could affect our fishermen and the growing demand for wild, domestic seafood.

  We will also discuss other potential changes related to our polar and temperate glaciers, impacts upon plants and animals and the important issue of human health.

  I want to commend to my colleagues that we share the common goal of ensuring the best science and understanding of potential future changes.

  As CEQ Chair Jim Connaughton testified at our last hearing, the United States is dedicating more resources to climate change science and technology initiatives than any other country and probably more than all other countries combined.

  We are seeing reductions in our emissions intensity now and must continue these efforts to meet our sustainable national goals.

  In closing, I want to point out that we have witnesses that have traveled from Paris and Fairbanks to be with us today. While I appreciate all of you being here today, I would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Akasofu and Dr. Reiter for your efforts to be with us.

  I look forward to your statements.
   
  

Testimony

• Dr. Steve Murawski

  Director of Scientific Programs

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  Read statement

  Testimony

  Dr. Steve Murawski

  Click here for a copy of Dr. Murawski's testimony

• Dr. Thomas Armstrong

  Director of the Earth Surface Dynamics Program

  U.S. Geological Survey
  Read statement

  Testimony

  Dr. Thomas Armstrong

  Click here for a copy of Dr. Armstrong's testimony

Witness Panel 2

• Dr. Syun-Ichi Akasofu

  Director

  International Arctic Research Center
  Read statement

  Witness Panel 2

  Dr. Syun-Ichi Akasofu

  Click here for a copy of Dr. Afasofu's testimony

• Dr. Robert Correll

  Senior Policy Fellow

  American Meteorological Society
  Read statement

  Witness Panel 2

  Dr. Robert Correll

  Click here for copy of Mr. Corell's testimony

• Dr. Paul Reiter

  Professor

  Insitut Pasteur
  Read statement

  Witness Panel 2

  Dr. Paul Reiter

  Click here for a copy of Mr. Reiter's testimony