And the 2021 Nobel prize for Physics goes to....

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics, particularly focusing on the contributions related to climate models and the broader implications of these awards. Participants explore the significance of the awarded work, its historical context, and the perception of climate science within the physics community.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that climate models are a hot topic, suggesting an increasing relevance over time.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the novelty of Manabe's work, questioning whether it truly advanced the understanding of the greenhouse effect, which they believe was already addressed in the 19th century.
  • Another participant comments on the division of the prize, indicating that climate models may attract more attention than other scientific theories, such as those related to disordered materials.
  • A humorous remark is made regarding Parisi's work, suggesting a light-hearted connection to conference registration processes.
  • There is a suggestion that the prize was awarded for the techniques used in modeling complex systems rather than the models themselves.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the significance and novelty of the awarded work, with some questioning its originality while others emphasize its importance in the context of climate science. No consensus is reached regarding the implications of the prize or the nature of the contributions recognized.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions reflect a perceived lack of objectivity in the treatment of climate science within the physics community, which may influence participants' perspectives on the award.

Physics news on Phys.org
It's a hot topic, which is getting even hotter as the years go by.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Wrichik Basu, dRic2 and Hamiltonian
DennisN said:
It's a hot topic, which is getting even hotter as the years go by.
It gets hotter and hotter in both metaphorical and literal sense.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: DennisN
Fascinating. As a chemistry student, I predict that the 2021 Nobel Prize for Chemistry will go to a biologist.
 
Here's the Physics Today article:
https://physicstoday.scitation.org/journal/pto

Hopefully, people will soon leave their biaises and treat Earth physics the same way as other physics application, i.e. with objectivity.

Many years ago, I had to leave this forum because of that problem (lack of objectivity on the issue).
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: BillTre
Blackberg said:
Many years ago, I had to leave this forum because of that problem (lack of objectivity on the issue).
Please check your PMs. Thanks.
 
Somehow I have problems understanding what was novel in Manabe's work:

Manabe, of Princeton University, developed a one-dimensional climate model to investigate the balance of incoming radiation from the Sun, IR from Earth, convection in the atmosphere, and the latent heat of water vapor. His 1967 framework verified that carbon dioxide was the primary source of rising global temperatures.

To me it sounds like modeling of a greenhouse effect. Trick is, as far as I am aware it was already done in 19th century. Could be his model was much more detailed, could be I am misreading the statement, could be the statement is unfortunately vague or too general, but something doesn't compute.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: russ_watters
Two people share half the prize for climate models, the other half goes to Parisi. Climate is probably just a better publicity generator than "theory of disordered materials and random processes."
 
  • #10
I think that the prize was awarded for the techniques that they developed for modeling complex systems, not the actual models themselves

.
Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselmann “for the physical modelling of Earth’s climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming”

Giorgio Parisi “for the discovery of the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales
My emphasis.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
10K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
21
Views
3K
  • · Replies 105 ·
4
Replies
105
Views
14K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K