Thanks I haven't had a good laugh in a L-O-N-G time but I'm sure it will be a lively & spirited debate.

One thing that might tip his argument is the subject of water vapor, both a cause and effect of climate change.  Water - as solid, liquid, and gas - isn't handled in the models very well.  For example, Arctic sea ice isn't predicted with much skill.  However, being a stratospheric scientist I'm sure you can handle upper layer cooling just fine, Dr. D.

-sammie

Onward through the fog

"We've finally found someone willing to debate me: Tim Ball, a retired professor from the University of Winnipeg."

I've already written I'd be happy to debate you.  You simply don't want to debate me, because you know you'd lose.

Mark Bahner

I've already written I'd be happy to debate you.  You simply don't want to debate me, because you know you'd lose.

Perhaps he's looking for someone with higher credentials than "internet troll".

Mark-

You're right.  When I wrote: "We've finally found someone willing to debate me", I was mistaken.  I should have written: "We've finally found someone competent willing to debate me".

Thanks for the opportunity to correct this!

"When I wrote: 'We've finally found someone willing to debate me', I was mistaken.  I should have written: 'We've finally found someone competent willing to debate me'."

So you choose Tim Ball as a person equal to your level of competence.  Well, for once you and I agree.  Your level of competence in climate debate is equivalent to Tim Ball.

P.S.  Given your area of research interest, you really ought to help Eli Rabett out on the relationship between enthalpy and temperature in the atmosphere.  He and Tim Lambert are under the impression that they can be easily and accurately be related by the equation delta H = m x Cp x delta T.  Or do you agree with them?  Do you agree that these assertions are false?

"Surface air temperature alone is inadequate to monitor trends of surface heating and cooling. The SI units for temperature are degrees Kelvin (or Celsius), and the SI units for heat are Joules. The surface air temperature can go up while the enthalpy goes down or remains the same. The surface air temperature can go down while the enthalpy goes up or remains the same. The surface air temperature can remain the same while the enthalpy goes down or up."

Mark Bahner

Whatever Ball is, he is not a climate scientist, which means that what he says will be derivative and fairly predictable (I'll take bets on the 1500 year thing, the no warming since 1998, malaria is more important, etc).  On the other hand much of it will be polished into short seemingly relevant zingers.  You have to be ready to stomp on this stuff, which means serious preparation and a willingness to mix it up.  

Ball has been less than forthright, and you should have examples of this to hand, e.g. you mean like when you. . . .

You also have to start by establishing how serious the issue is because for sure, Ball will try and trivialize it.

Lubos Motl claims that technical difficulties prevented Ball from participating (!?)

Of course, he also labeled Andrew and alarmist and Tim a realist...

-John Mashey