Warming planet

Scientists have some explaining to do — on climate change, according to the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The problem is, climate change has started but people are confused about it, Jane Lubchenco told reporters Friday in Washington.

"We are no longer constrained by talking about some possible future. Climate change is happening now and it's happening in people's back yards," said the NOAA director.

"Scientists have seriously underestimated the importance of explaining what we know about climate in a way people can understand," she remarked.

She cited examples of melting sea ice in the Arctic, threats to birds and forests and the fact that 2000-2009 is the warmest decade on record, the Associated Press reported.

People have been confused by mistakes in a recent U.N. climate panel report. There have been other inconsistencies that have raised questions about global warming.

"There is a well-orchestrated and fairly successful effort under way to confuse and sometimes cherry-pick information," Ms. Lubchenco said.

She recommended that scientists and others get their information from reliable sources, such as the NOAA, which oversees the National Weather Service and gathers data on climate.

Her message is clear: climate change is under way, and experts need to do better at explaining the phenomenon to the public.