In 1989 I teamed up with Roger Y. Anderson, senior research professor at the University of New Mexico, and a recognized master of high resolution paleo sediment science, (i.e., varved sediments.- the world of sediment science and hydrology can be another Tower of Babble to the uninitiated.) As "Visiting Scientists" at NOAA's now defunct Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction, in Monterey, California, we dreamed up the "Climate Barometer" concept that would connect high resolution paleoclimate proxy records from Pole-to-Pole, along the western face of the Americas and into the Antarctic. We took the idea to the community, who as a group, had yet not gotten much attention in the national science funding arena.

The premise was that paleoclimate proxy records could be connected to show the various consequences of climate on a near-linear transect of the world ocean. It was already known that fish population proxy data, Ice core records, and other paleo-proxy data were well correlated, and that continuous patterns of changes were both well recorded and well measured within the recent century and a half over much of the region. Extending these records via paleo-proxy data would help resolve many dilemmas, from El Niño frequency and longevities, to fisheries related planning and management strategies. Nearly a decade later, the PAGES Program is now a funded NSF Global Program, with international links to other projects like PEPI (Now PEPIII) (Pole-equator-Pole, again) championed by Vera Markgraf, and her many colleagues in the southern hemisphere, along with the IGBP and ICSU Earth System History (ESH) activities.

ps: We also got started into a little bit of controversy when I got Roger and Joe Fletcher together for a summer weekend at Aspen. It is always a joy to find great minds that have never met, joined in discussions of fundamental science, such as "Is it the Sun?"

As time has passed, there is a new generation - and some have "Grabbed the Ball", so to speak. Amongst these newer minds Nir Shaviv has "seen the light" - as a Top Israeli Astrophysicist Shaviv Recants His Belief in Manmade Global Warming - Now Says Sun Biggest Factor in Warming - and here is what caught his attention - and why...

And on it GOES!!!