The power went out here in the @LoGro neighborhood @5pm so I’m blogging this via my smartphone, standing outside in Hidden Valley Park where I get a better internet connection.
4 days now and still no word about global warming…?
July 21, 2011
Barry Cipra said:
Norm, no single weather event, or even the overall weather from a single year, can be taken as compelling evidence either way regarding global warming. Climate change is about trends and averages. Pointing to a heat wave as proof of global warming, or a cold winter as disproof, is a bit like watching the Twins win one game 11 to nothing and concluding they’re on their way to the playoffs. Baseball doesn’t work that way, and neither does science.
July 21, 2011
john george said:
Barry- Yes, and neither does the weather. We have to remember that the southern hemisphere is experiencing winter right now. The trends in climate change usually happen over decades. The big question being argued right now is whether mans’ increase of 1 1/2% of the total greenhouse gasses is enough to trigger the changes we are seeing, or, if there is some as yet unrecognized contributor(s) that is(are) affecting the atmosphere. Either way, the drop in the dew point right now is welcome. Interesting that the budget agreement and the weather change went hand in hand. There MUST be SOME connection. 😉
July 21, 2011
norman butler said:
Cheers, Barry. I got a bit confused there between weather forecasting, meteorology, climatology and the Farmer’s Almanac. Let’s hear it for ‘science’ amongst those.
4 days now and still no word about global warming…?
Norm, no single weather event, or even the overall weather from a single year, can be taken as compelling evidence either way regarding global warming. Climate change is about trends and averages. Pointing to a heat wave as proof of global warming, or a cold winter as disproof, is a bit like watching the Twins win one game 11 to nothing and concluding they’re on their way to the playoffs. Baseball doesn’t work that way, and neither does science.
Barry- Yes, and neither does the weather. We have to remember that the southern hemisphere is experiencing winter right now. The trends in climate change usually happen over decades. The big question being argued right now is whether mans’ increase of 1 1/2% of the total greenhouse gasses is enough to trigger the changes we are seeing, or, if there is some as yet unrecognized contributor(s) that is(are) affecting the atmosphere. Either way, the drop in the dew point right now is welcome. Interesting that the budget agreement and the weather change went hand in hand. There MUST be SOME connection. 😉
Cheers, Barry. I got a bit confused there between weather forecasting, meteorology, climatology and the Farmer’s Almanac. Let’s hear it for ‘science’ amongst those.