Marcott (Comma) and the Ghouls

Oregon Public Radio had an interview today with Shaun Marcott, lead author of last week's Science paper reconstructing the last 11,300 years of surface temperatures.

They also had a segment about how a carbon tax might work in Oregon, basing it on British Columbia's experience. (Yes, B.C. has had a revenue-neutral carbon tax since 2008, now up to $30/tonne CO2e.) B.C.'s 2010 emissions were 4.5% lower than in 2007 (though I wonder if the financial downturn had anything to do with that). 

The National Journal asked Marcott about entering the fray of the climate change "debate;" he told them

Marcott admitted he was apprehensive about charging into the fully-mobilized troll army, but said he was grateful scientists like Mann had "gone through hell" before him to build a support network for harassed climate scientists.

"When Michael came along there was a lot more skepticism about global warming, but the public has come a long way," he said. "I'm curious to see how the skeptics are going to take this paper."

Sure enough, the usual ghouls have already pinned Marcott's email address on their Outrage Boards. That will teach him for daring to do science!