Open AccessWhy Permafrost Is Thawing, Not Melting
Author(s) -
Grosse Guido,
Romanovsky Vladimir,
Nelson Frederick E.,
Brown Jerry,
Lewkowicz Antoni G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2010eo090003
Subject(s) - terminology , permafrost , climate change , global warming , public relations , political science , engineering ethics , data science , sociology , computer science , linguistics , ecology , engineering , philosophy , biology
As global climate change is becoming an increasingly important political and social issue, it is essential for the cryospheric and global change research communities to speak with a single voice when using basic terminology to communicate research results and describe underlying physical processes. Experienced science communicators have highlighted the importance of using the correct terms to communicate research results to the media and general public [e.g., Akasofu, 2008; Hassol, 2008]. The consequences of scientists using improper terminology are at best oversimplification, but they more likely involve misunderstandings of the facts by the public.