Tuesday, February 17, 2009

2008 Cooling

Building on prior post, NASA data shows:

Continuing the 10 year trend of declining temperatures, 2008 was significantly colder than 2007. Global temperatures for the year were below the average over the past 30 years. 2008 ranked 14th coldest of the 30 years measured by NASA satellite instruments since they were first launched in 1979. It was the coldest year since 2000.

“The substantial and continuing La NiƱa cooled the Earth quite a bit in 2008, to the point that it was slightly below the 30-year average [1979-2008] but slightly above the 20-year average [1979-1998],” said John Christy, distinguished professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).

Monday, February 16, 2009

Harrison Schmitt doesn’t believe that humans are causing global warming.

Harrison Schmitt, who walked on the moon and once served New Mexico in the U.S. Senate, doesn’t believe that humans are causing global warming.

Boston Herald Feb 16, 2009

A couple excerpts:
"Schmitt contends that scientists "are being intimidated" if they disagree with the idea that burning fossil fuels has increased carbon dioxide levels, temperatures and sea levels."

"Of the global warming debate, he said: "It’s one of the few times you’ve seen a sizable portion of scientists who ought to be objective take a political position and it’s coloring their objectivity."

Monday, February 2, 2009

Consider Alternative Senarios

Leaders must keep minds open to potential alternatives.

#1 There is a cost trade off to any public choice.
The pie is not unlimited and money spent on one program, limits the funds for other programs.
Would it not be better to use some of the climate change funds to instead fund clean drinking water, that is if saving human lives is a priority?
http://www.wateradvocates.org/
http://www.globalwater.org/

Read the World Health Organization data on deaths per year due to poor drinking water. One example:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2004/pr58/en/

Another excellent source is a person who does believe in global warming, but wonders about the use of limited resources:
http://www.lomborg.com/
Even if you disagree, one should consider his thoughts and challenges.

#2 Many serious scientists and climatologists challenge global warming.
An interesting example would be John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel:
http://www.kusi.com/weather/colemanscorner/38574742.html

John Theon
James Hansen’s Former NASA Supervisor Declares Himself a Skeptic

Roy Spenser- Principal Research Scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, previously Senior Scientist for Climate Studies at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center,
http://www.drroyspencer.com/

For more data and alternative views, you might also consider the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Minority page:
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.WelcomeMessage

Heaviest snow in 20 years brings large parts of Britain to a halt

Times Online Feb 2, 2009

Heaviest snow in 20 years brings large parts of Britain to a halt