A recent news article by Judy Fahys entitled "Scientists Scold Lawmakers" ( Tribune, Nov. 6) reported on a letter recently sent by 18 Brigham Young University scientists to the Utah Legislature expressing displeasure with my recent global warming testimony in Utah. On the subject of legislative policy relating to global warming, the BYU scientists correctly observed that "whatever action is taken, it should be informed by the best available scientific evidence."

But I assume that "best available scientific evidence" would also include the latest scientific findings. I would wager that none of the 18 BYU scientists who signed that letter understands the issues addressed in my testimony...if they even read it. I am one of only a handful of scientists in the world who is addressing the big picture of how clouds in the climate system not only limit the effect of humanity on climate, but can themselves cause global warming or cooling. The prestigious American Geophysical Union has invited me to speak on the subject in December at its fall meeting.

It is ironic that the BYU Gang of 18 objected to the supposed politicization of global warming science by the Utah Legislature, when it is the scientists themselves who have fallen into the trap of appealing to "official" U.N. views on the subject, views which are outdated and highly politicized. The reports of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are indeed recognized by world governments as authoritative, but they are not rigorously peer-reviewed in the usual sense.

I predict that it is only a matter of time before the U.N.'s agenda on the subject of global warming is finally exposed for its blind obedience to desired policy outcomes. Those few of us who are questioning the status quo -- and receive no energy industry funding in return -- should be welcomed, rather than maligned, for trying to keep the rest of the research community honest.

Roy W. Spencer, Ph.D. , is a climatologist living in Huntsville, Ala.