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Mainstream Scientists Cashing In On Climate Wagers (reuters.com)

Layzej writes: Climate contrarians have long predicted imminent global cooling. A few have been willing to place wagers that mainstream scientists have been quick to accept. Often acceptance of the bet is followed by immediate retraction, as was the case when "Bastardi's Wager" was accepted by Joseph Romm or when Maurice Newman's $10,000 bet was accepted by physicist Brian Schmidt. In some cases, bets have been formalized and the terms of many of those wagers are coming to a close. It may not be surprising to learn that those who put their money on the side of mainstream science are the ones who are cashing in.

Reuters reports that British climate expert Chris Hope just won a 2,000 pound sterling ($2,830) wager made five years ago against two members of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, who had bet Hope that the Earth would be cooling by now. They also highlight a $10,000 bet made in 2005 between British climate modeler James Annan and two Russian solar physicists. The solar physicists had counted on waning solar output to halt warming. Annan will win if average global temperatures from 2013-17 are warmer than 2003-07. "Things are looking good for my bet," Annan said.

Keith Pickering reports on a series of three bets between Brian Schmidt and climate contrarian David Evans, who also believed that diminishing solar output would dominate the temperatures of the last decade and beyond. The wagers pay out in 2019, 2024, and 2029. Pickering concludes, "What Evans apparently doesn't realize is that because of the thermal inertia of the oceans, within narrow bounds we can already predict what global temperatures will be in 2019, 2024, and 2029. And David Evans is going to lose his shirt."

6 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Let's bet on something more useful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is forecasted that the Americans have a 100% chance of losing.

  2. Shirt by Translation+Error · · Score: 3, Funny

    "What Evans apparently doesn't realize is that because of the thermal inertia of the oceans, within narrow bounds we can already predict what global temperatures will be in 2019, 2024, and 2029. And David Evans is going to lose his shirt."

    Well, at least losing the shirt will make it easier to withstand the higher temperatures.

    --
    When someone says, "Any fool can see ..." they're usually exactly right.
  3. What Brian fails to realize by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If David loses he won't need his shirt. So the downside is limited.

  4. Re:"Climate contrarians" by Darinbob · · Score: 3, Funny

    I guarantee you though after the snowstorm this weekend there will be a lot of pig headed people claiming that this is proof that global warming is a hoax. That's why people don't say "global warming" anymore because it causes Bubba to say "dem smarty pants scientists sure is stupid, eh?"

  5. Re:"Climate contrarians" by InsertCleverUsername · · Score: 4, Funny

    I guess trying to associate those who don't accept the concept (or claimed extent) of man made global warming with the holocaust with the term 'deniers' wasn't working... a new term has been coined.

    Yes, "losers."

    --
    Ask me about my sig!
  6. Re:Predicting the future.... by serviscope_minor · · Score: 4, Funny

    You sounds like one of those "gravity alarmists" to me. Perhaps you should follow the trail of funding for those scientists who research gravity. They are paid to find out more about it NOT prove it doesn't exist.

    Follow the money...

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    SJW n. One who posts facts.