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Subscribe to RSSIn several areas of the country temperatures hovered around zero, but the coldest place being International Falls, Minn., where the temperature was -20 degrees. The conditions were especially difficult for those who work outside. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports.
A full two-thirds of the country was in the grips of a blast of cold Arctic air Wednesday with temperatures falling to some of the lowest marks in years and wind chills plummeting to dangerously low levels.
The nation’s capital is experiencing what could be its coldest stretch in almost 10 years, according to NBC Washington’s Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer, and brutally cold weather and snow continued to hit much of the Northeast and Great Lakes area.
In the D.C. area Wednesday morning, temperatures were between 16 and 21 degrees with single-digit wind chills, according to the National Weather Service.
Elsewhere in the Northeast and New England, the coldest air in two years has blanketed the area with subzero wind chills moving in, a stark contrast from the mild weather residents had been experiencing this winter.
In Maine, the arctic air mass settling over the state caused temperatures to drop nearly 75 degrees in one week – following record highs on Monday -- the Bangor Daily News reported.
Meanwhile the National Weather Service has issued freeze warnings Wednesday for as far south as Florida.
And in the Midwest Wednesday, very cold highs ranging from 10 degrees below zero to five degrees above were forecast from North Dakota to northern Wisconsin.
Temperatures are expected to linger in the mid-20s for the rest of the week, and a moderation of temperatures wouldn’t come until early next week.
Related: Chicago fire fight hampered by ice
The bitter weather has also brought with it some “impressive” snowfalls, according to Weather.com.
The airport in Erie, Pa., saw 16.3 inches of snow fall at the airport on Monday – the snowiest day there since Nov. 29, 1979, and making it snowiest January day on record. Other parts of the city saw up to 24 inches.
In New York state, Oswego County got up to 18 inches of snow Sunday through Monday morning, while 19 inches fell in Pulaski in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. Tuesday and Ripley got 24.8 inches over the two days to Tuesday morning.
And parts of Michigan saw 10 inches of snow in the 48 hours ending Tuesday morning. Conditions were milder in other parts of the U.S. with temperatures expected to hit the 30s and 40s from western Nebraska to southern Kansas, and record highs are predicted in the Western U.S.
Cold wave has much the nation shivering. NBC's Chric Clackum reports.
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Coldest winter in 10 years? What does the Global Warming crowd have to say about that?
I don't think Global Warming has only to do with warmth. Global Warming is a two way street. (I think ;-)
It's 10 right now in NJ and is going to be a balmy 7 overnight without wind chill factors.
CRWRE, global warming can drive extreme weather in BOTH directions. Example: arctic ice is melting and that ice is made from fresh water. This gets dumped into the Atlantic ocean (salt water) and it disrupts the North Atlantic Current. This current brings warm water up to the northeast from the south in winter, making the northeast warmer in winter, and it brings cooler water down from the north in summer, making the northeast cooler in summer . With disruption, this won't happen.
That's what we have to say about "that".
Well stated poster Nikolaus20
Here in Central New York (where it is 1 degree Farenheight) by the south east shores of Lake Ontario where we have had 38" of snow fall in the last 3 days, I look out the kitchen window, and see my wood pile down to my last 12 cord, I throw another piece in the stove, take a sip of coffee, and I think to myself, Life is good.
There's a difference between climatic changes (e.g. global warming) and seasonal 'climate' variances. To understand this - just look up the changes in Arctic ice-mass; glacier mass; etc. - all dwindling as a result of demonstrable (i.e. recorded) oceanic temperature increases. Nope - I'll not do the homework - it's all readily available and I have real things to do. Use your favorite searcher - Google, Yahoo, Ask - whatever.
Regards,
R. Galli
Edison, NJ (17°F - up from 12° an hour ago! Brrrrrrrrrr!) (Formerly from Chicago and Detroit which make NJ seem sub-tropical as a rule!))
Harley Mike, The old Harley I bet can't wait for spring.
Radio said with windchill it was -1 this morning. Its cold out there. Wife's car won't start and mine took a minute. Batteries I guess.
Let me get this straight..if it is cold it is GW, if it snows or doesn't snow it is GW, if there is a tornado or a hurricane it is GW. If the sun shines it is GW. If it rains it is GW. Mother nature is laughing at all you GW freaks! Climate and weather is not controlled or influenced by man, Mother Nature has been controlling the earth for billions of years and she will continue to control the earth!
marmee, do you believe that global warming means that the entire planet will be hot all at once? Answer that and you will be on your way to your own research. Let CRWRE make a fool of himself on his own.
That has got to be one of the DUMBEST things I have ever seen posted on global warming. Seriously, can you be that thick?
marmee,
Global warming "IS" influenced my man. The burning of fossils fuels and deforestation is creating greenhouse gasses to be trapped thus, not allowing heat to escape our atmosphere as "Mother Nature" used to let it do before we became an industrialized world.
"Then" as Nicklos20 #1.2 mentions, takes over as a result...
Any questions?!
The fact that a mere -5 at night is the "coldest in 10 years" is pretty sad... where is the -20 at night for a week that we used to get once a winter?
Incredible, the first post has to do with a denier... Have you read the science behind it? Have you seen the articles published for and against?... a couple of thousand articles written by respected and recognized scientists speak of the impact of man in global climate change, a handful speak against (some of them have been funded by interested parties like Exxon). Use logic, who are the most probable conspirators, the 2000 or the 5.
Besides that... You need to understand the huge difference between weather (local phenomena as in your town) and Climate (much broader... as in worldwide).
Old cars and old wives are a lot alike. They often don't want to turn over on a cold morning.
10 degrees is dangerously cold? Since when?
I tried hooking jumper cables to both car and wife this morning, to no avail.
CRWRE, there is such a thing as dictionaries and science references that clearly explains "global warming". Many credible sights are available online, if you can distinguish between fact and fiction. Check out National Geographic. My guess, did not get far in school or just never paid attention.
Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century and its projected continuation. Since the early 20th century, Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980.[2] Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and scientists are more than 90% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.[3][4][5][6] These findings are recognized by the national science academies of all major industrialized nations.
2) ^ a b America's Climate Choices. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. 2011. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-309-14585-5. "The average temperature of the Earth’s surface increased by about 1.4 °F (0.8 °C) over the past 100 years, with about 1.0 °F (0.6 °C) of this warming occurring over just the past three decades"
3) ^ "Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level." IPCC, Synthesis Report, Section 1.1: Observations of climate change, in IPCC AR4 SYR 2007.
4) ^ "Three different approaches are used to describe uncertainties each with a distinct form of language. * * * Where uncertainty in specific outcomes is assessed using expert judgment and statistical analysis of a body of evidence (e.g. observations or model results), then the following likelihood ranges are used to express the assessed probability of occurrence: virtually certain >99%; extremely likely >95%; very likely >90%; likely >66%;......" IPCC, Synthesis Report, Treatment of Uncertainty, in IPCC AR4 SYR 2007.
5)^ IPCC, Synthesis Report, Section 2.4: Attribution of climate change, in IPCC AR4 SYR 2007.
6) ^ America's Climate Choices: Panel on Advancing the Science of Climate Change; National Research Council (2010). Advancing the Science of Climate Change. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. ISBN 0-309-14588-0. "(p1) ... there is a strong, credible body of evidence, based on multiple lines of research, documenting that climate is changing and that these changes are in large part caused by human activities. While much remains to be learned, the core phenomenon, scientific questions, and hypotheses have been examined thoroughly and have stood firm in the face of serious scientific debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations. * (p21-22) Some scientific conclusions or theories have been so thoroughly examined and tested, and supported by so many independent observations and results, that their likelihood of subsequently being found to be wrong is vanishingly small. Such conclusions and theories are then regarded as settled facts. This is the case for the conclusions that the Earth system is warming and that much of this warming is very likely due to human activities.
You just have to remember that every change in the environment is caused by global warming. Sure we only have a couple hundred years of data out of billions to get into a fit over, but we'll use that data to call everything global warming. Then we can hold those evil oil producers accountable, while we still use all their stuff because hey, hypocrisy wouldnt be as cool without doing that.
Global warming crowd, get one prediction right, and more people will believe your "science."
the last month that was actually below average temperature was February, 1985.
The National Weather Service keeps pretty good records. You might want to adjust your argument.
I agree with Mr. Burns, I took a class on global warming and it showed increases in carbon dioxide and other green house gasses in our atmosphere over the past 100 years, but it is nowhere near the levels were in the past, say a couple million years ago. With that in account, the earth's climate and everything else changes, we've had a few ice ages, and few times on this earth that were considerably worse than we are know and any predictions global warming has. What is really going on is that mother nature is making some changes, again, as it constantly doing. The only reason we are freaking out is that with what is going on, in does change our ability to live as we are currently doing, or perahps the extiction of our species if we can no longer adapt to what she is doing. Global warming and all the efforts to stop it are not about saving the planet, is more selfish and is about saving our current ways of life. People need to realize that earth will be here, with life, longer than our species will survive (even if you believe in god, this is true for the we will all either be in heaven or hell and the earth will still be here) and stop believing that one species can cause the destruction of an entire planet. And if you can't accept that, at least take the time to realize that we have no conrol over mother nature.
Global warming does snot exist. IF it did it went away 12 years ago when the earth started getting cooler. Climate is controlled by the sun. WE have nothing to do with it. Even the scientist that came up with the term Global warming doesn't believe it any more. Global warming is a way for some people to make money. As for Climate change, we have been having that ever since we have had climate.
No scientific proof of "Global Warming". Every time they've gone down this road, what ends up happening is the scientists will fudge the data. The Earth is changing and it's more likely a natural phenomenon rather than man made. Although man has had an impact on the environment which is where the grey area exists in this debate. Like depleting the ozone.
Whatever is going on, is not something we will be able to stop with the flip of a switch. There were periods of earth's history when the weather and the climate shifted on it's own, resulting in massive extinctions and other species rising. I think Global Warming is a hoax and it's ridiculous to say something like, "Oh well it works both way" Bfff hahahaha. That's like me shoving a pencil in a screw-hole at my job, instead of using a screw and telling my boss, "Oh it works both ways" Or sleeping around on my girlfriend and when she finds out, "Oh it's k huny, it works both ways". So damn funny.
CRWRE---After growing up in Minnesota, I think there is only one explanation for all this cold. It is in the past and will be in the future classified under the supremely fitting word, Winter! All this gobley gook about global warming or climate change is absolutely correct just not for the reason these eggheads say it is. If it were of such great concern and their concern for humanity was so great how come they will fix it only if they get paid?
CRWRE:
Yeah, what do the 400,000 WORLDWIDE scientists have to say about that. Try learning the subject before commenting on it. The dangers of global warming have little to do with whether its warm or cold "outside", at any given moment. Our planet has weather patterns that are influenced by reasonably small fluctuations, over extended periods of time. A global increase by an average of some 3 to 5 degrees changes the PATTERNS of our weather. This means things like the jet stream shift, causing areas to receive more or less, rains, snow, storms, winds, and yes, temperature. As far as "feeling" warmer or colder, that will be minor, compared to the changes in world conditions. Sea salinity and water temps will affect things like the gulf stream, causing mini ice ages for areas like England and the Baltics, while those that have been traditionally dry and desert like, will start to receive rain; and moist tropical areas will become desert.
It is not whether the earth will become too hot, its that, except for the poles generally, all inhabited zones of the planet will be changed, some for the better, some for the worst. The lower ice and snow covered land masses will melt causing the rise in ocean levels, inundating all the world's coastal areas.
CRWRE
Says, 'I don't know what science is and I believe in the Lochness Monster!'
Typical response from the get go from the nutjob deniers contingent.
See it's cold outside, so global warming is bull@!$%#.
Get a @!$%#ing clue, despite the 1st real arctic blast of the winter nearing the END of JANUARY, it is another balmy winter here in Chicago. 45 degrees and rain expected early next week.
The correct terminology is actually climate change, although the climate changes all the time, it is the consensus that I agree with, that man is accelerating the natural processes.
Sorry if your picture doesnt make us take you seriously John Bayner. And yes, I support legalization.
Global warming includes extremes in both directions. The earth can ultimately take care of herself. She will get rid of the cancer that is humanity one way or another and then flourish again. Anyone who doesn't recognize the damage we have done, continue to do and will do in the future is deluding themselves. If we could bring ourselves to change our ways, both technologically and reproductively, maybe we would have a chance as a species, but the fact of the matter is we are too short-sighted to last much longer in the manner to which we have become accustomed...
Mary P:
If you check the world meteorology graphs you will see that THE 12 WARMEST YEARS ON RECORD, SINCE THE 1800's WHEN RECORDS STARTED BEING KEPT, HAVE OCCURRED IN THE LAST 14 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I realize that all the nay sayers ignore what those that are specialists in the field have to say, and most interesting, they are republicans, politically. Why that is, I don't know, but it happens to be so. Go figure.
And, what will you say if 12 of the next 14 years are some of the coldest on record? (Just playing devil's advocate here). You will probably say that it was caused by Global Warming!
I don't think you can have it both ways, which is what it appears the GW crowd wants.
Climate change is occurring..............just like it has for billions of years. And, it will continue to occur whether we are here or not.
It's just Sad. People can -with what they believe are reasoning arguments - stand back and deny what the human population has done to this planet over the last 100 years. Up top, poisoning by chemical Man-Made waste, and stripping the foundation right up from the ground by clear cutting forests and blowing the very tops off of some mountains in order to get to the 'goods'. The air, the water, the food supply...everything is contaminated. Below-ground, the very Essence of what holds the earth together is being mined at staggering rates and the seas are being destroyed by pipelines running all over. Ever the more unfortunate, we've become so dependent on the use of these materials and so addicted to our own ways that there's absolutely no way to turn back - until of course Nature itself forces REAL 'change' and humans once again are forced to take heed to the fact that we do not 'own' this planet and despite our 'advances' we aren't really in 'control' of anything at all.
Yep, Mr. Obama is GONNA push his Climate Change agenda since the Earth is HEATING UP.
Anything to bolster Mr. Al Gore's ClimateGate Exchange stocks since he really needs the money to support his 20,000+ SQFT Nashville home, his seaside resort in Cali, and his PRIVATE jet.
Every time I log onto Newsvine and I see "Get Smarter Here", I laugh.
And then a natural Phenom like a volcano or huge dust storm will change everything and we will be worried about an Ice Age.
Climate Change will happen on a daily basis now until we die, and from then on. And all your scientists have said that if we go crazy and spend trillions, all we can do is SLOW global warming. And I mean barely. Natural causes of Climate Change will continue no matter what we do. Are any of you here, going to try and tell me that is not the case? If so go read more of your life away about a subject that you will never fully understand and could change tomorrow.
We have made changes, and we will make more, but as I said Climate Change is happening one way or the other.
People, it is cold, and next summer it will be warm. And that is the end of it.
Mr. Burns--ever hear of the Antarctic ice core samples?--we have a lot more data on Co2 levels than just a couple hundred years.........
For all you "global warming" kool-aid drinkers, if your theories are correct, then why was it warmer in the time of the ancient Greeks? Go look it up.
And as far as confusing "weather" with "climate" that argument goes both ways. "Global warming" pundits also need to understand that they, too, are confusing the two; records haven't been kept nearly long enough to distinguish them.
Finally, the single largest contributor to the change in the earth's temperature is the SUN. How convenient that the "warmers" forget that the SUN is in a cycle of MAXIMUM activity!
you should try reading and comprehending the article before posting. It says "coldest stretch" in 10 years, not coldest winter. This winter so far has still been very mild by comparison with previous winters.
And yes, 10 degrees during January is seen as ridiculously cold these days. Not because it's completely abnormal (temps this cold used to happen ALL THE TIME several decades ago) but rather because they DON'T happen very often anymore. This makes the case FOR global warming, not AGAINST it...
you do know that climatologists take things like solar cycles and El Nino/La Nina weather patterns into account when constructing their models, and that solar activity has relatively little effect on CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, right? I mean, you DO KNOW THIS, correct?
Julieann - You realize that the IPCC is an intergovernmental agency funded by governments to prove global warming (and are funded by such). This does not yield objective scientific results. It's like hiring the corn industry to determine the effects of ethanol in feuls.
LOL, so true, so true...
Didnt you get the memo? EVERYTHING is evidence of global warming, duh.
It's sad to think that there are those out there (like crwre) who have to be reminded weekly, or however long it takes for the next weather story to break, that climate change and weather occurances are 2 different things. Do those people ever read anything but forums like this? Maybe a newpaper once in a while?
rest assured. I'm sure they spend plenty of time "reading" sources like Foxnation.com...
This weather surely sucks! We need more moisture. With the way things are going this summer is going to hit new records... we don't need!
thedarkone is 100% correct. everyone seems to have conveiniently forgot about "climate gate" where every single climate scientist that is sounding the global warming alarm got caught RED HANDED FALSIFYING DATA. that should have been the end of the debate right there.
the only thing that affects the temperature of this planet is the sun. people also seem to think that the sun is like a light bulb that puts out energy at a constant rate. the sun is a gigantic thermonuclear explosion that is constantly going off and its output is never constant. the earth's orbit is also not set in stone. we have had ice ages where ice hundreds of feet thick covered almost the whole of north america. there have been periods where the earth was so warm that the poles were completely thawed and in a tropical climate. there were no SUV's or coal fired power plants back then, so how can they explain that using the same logic that they are using to explain minor natural variations in weather? they cant, so they begin hurling insults if you dont go along with thier beliefs. the whole thing is a joke and al gore is the one who is laughing his tail off counting his hudreds of millions in his huge mansion that all of you global warming people paid for. you've all been played and you refuse to see it.
So let me see if I get this straight:
If it is too hot it could be global warming.
If it is too cold it could be global warming.
If it rains too much it could be global warming.
If it DOESN'T rain it could be global warming.
If we get multiple hurricanes in Florida it could be global warming.
If we don't get ANY hurricanes in Florida it could be global warming.
If it snows it could be global warming.
If it DOESN'T snow it could be global warming.
If ice melts it could be global warming.
If ice ACCUMULATES it could be global warming.
I don't know about you but I wonder if there is anything that could happen that one could say global warming DOESN'T exist?
You see when you cover all possible weather phenomenons that we have seen for thousands of years and don't leave anything that could possibly occur to dispute the claim of "global warming" isn't that by definition no longer a debate but an ideology?
ProBusiness: No, you don't have that straight. Although many different weather disruptions could be due to global warming, nobody who knows what they are talking about will claim any of them are proof. We have other evidence to show us that CO2 is a greehouse gas, AGW is happening, and many weather pattern will be disrupted.
Probusiness, you woud have those questions if you took the time to research and read instead of sitting here thinking of remarks
You learn nothing by posting or debating here.
american-400792, ok here's your flaws:
"...the sun is a gigantic thermonuclear explosion" actaully 'thermonuclear fusion' an explosion is a one time short term event, the Sun is a continuous fusion reaction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun
"we have had ice ages where ice hundreds of feet thick covered almost the whole of north america" naw, more like 1/2 http://www.iceagenow.com/Ice-Age_Maps.htm
"the only thing that affects the temperature of this planet is the sun" hrmm, 'Historically, so-called volcanic winters have caused catastrophic famines.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_winter
so overall, you barely undersand what your saying but gotta be right?
Got good news for you Mid-west guys. It's going to warm up by the weekend.
We are having a weather pattern here in SoCal which I call the "Pineapple Express".
Every time I see this during the winter, I call my family in Iowa and tell 'em to stand-by for the Pinapple Express in 2-3 days. We are in our 2nd day of recieving sub-tropical moisture from around Hawaii.....not raining yet....which means jet stream is carrying it over the mountains. I hope this one moves north and dumps the proverbial "asshigh" snow. When it moves across southern states with cold air up north things get nasty and nobody wants that.
I'm not a weather-person, but have made believers out of my family in Iowa. Over the last few years, I'm over 90% accurate.
At least it's warmer for ya' when it's snowing. Ya' betcha'!
Scientists compile years of data to establish an average trend. One year doesn't necessarily affect the trend and that trend is solidly on the warming side.
btw the new terminology is "global weirding" to describe the huge fluctuations in climate from year to year. And yes, green house gases do have a direct effect.
Global warming is caused when the dimwhitcraps talk. When they stop the hot air rescends. Simple facts pay don't they?
ProBusiness: No matter what anyone says, you won't change, because you don't want to. Enjoy your day.
Lot of criticism for my comments but the fact of the matter is the scientific community is still in disagreement as to whether there is even "significant climate change" occurring. If that could even be determined then there is the NEXT question on what is causing it and whether it is even affected by humans. Understand the SECOND question (human caused?) is impossible to answer because the FIRST question (whether the climate changing at all) STILL has not been answered.
Jock: You made the fundamental mistake of making an inference without scientific study (but I wouldn't have expected an intelligent reply anyway so not surprised). But the fundamental error you made is confusing "correlation" with "causation". That is common to those who do not study (or teach) statistical analysis.
Correlation does NOT mean causation. So even if CO2 is shown to be scientifically correlated it does not mean causation. For example some studies have been shown that during periods of increased heat there is more CO2 produced. In other words IF there was even a correlation to CO2 and "climate change" (which to date has not been proven) it is actually possible that it is a natural climate change occurring where the earth is going through a warming trend (like it has done a dozen times in the last 400 years alone) and THAT is causing more CO2 rather than the CO2 causing more heat.
You see it is the uninformed and unintelligent who "read articles" and repeat without any understanding or interpretation of what it actually says. You type of people could read a story that the sky is green and instantly repeat without any regard to logic or rational thought.
This is obvious evidence of global warming. We had better act quickly against global warming! Or we'll all freeze to death...
If anyone is interested in the actual cause of this current cold blast, a 7-second animation from NASA shows that a pocket of extremely warm air rose over India, and headed straight for the North Pole.
That pocket of warm air was so big, and so warm (more than 14 degrees above 'average'), that it actually split the Polar Vorex in half.
We got one half, Europe got the other.
The planet's climate is complicated, and extreme heat in India can create cold weather here. See how that works?
ProBusiness, you would benefit mightily from a Science class. Or just read something other than the WSJ. Start here.
www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/ice_ages.html
Worth a read, even for you pushing the man-made global warming.....err....Climate Change agenda.
ProBusiness: I am a scientist and am well aware of the difference between correlation and causation. The fact that CO2 is a greenhouse gas is a statement of mechanism, and therefore goes to causation. The temperature and CO2 records provide correlation, yes, but when you have a consisent enough correlation AND a known mechanism, causation can be inferred.
Dougler, all of that was true in until the last paragraph. You don't think that climate scientists understand the carbon cycle at least as well as you do? We are not talking about the naturla carbon cycle here. We are talking about the degre to which we are changing it.
You're a scientist Jock? That's a laugh. I've scene your posts, and they are of minimal substance.
There is a correlation between the Warming and Cooling of the Earth, except the CO2 levels always follow the warming and cooling of the Earth, not preceding it!!
Another thing to note is the actual levels of CO2.
If you're a scientist Jock....Then I'm Barack Obama!!!!!
I'd be happy to discuss the degree. And if you'd like to click the link I gave earlier, you'll get to see to what extent we do effect the "climate"
We are responsible for 0.28% of all global warming. Yup....that means we could end everything we are doing right now, and go back to the stone age, hell even before that, we don't want those fires to pollute the atmosphere, and we'd still have NO control over the remaining 99.72% of naturally caused climate change!!
Ahhh, yes. Another "scientist" who is forced to infer because they can neither deduce nor prove.
I blame Global Warming...
Let's shut down some more coal fired power plants....
Let's also ban the use of Oil along with guns...
It will all help people breath better, and live longer!
.....Forward....
Dougler, you know nothing about me, so don't assume you do. All you know is that I disagree with you, so you assume there must be something wrong with me. Obviously YOU could never be wrong. Yes, I am a scientist. If I am sometimes human and emotional in here, it is because I am also those things. I am not a climate scientist, but I know enough about science to understand what they are saying and be pretty sure that they have it right. I really don't care if you believe me, because I will still have the reward of being right as this unfolds.
CO2 in our atmosphere is responsible for approximately 25% of the planet's greenhouse effect, Doug. And human activities have increased the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere by 40% since 1850.
You assume that CO2, H2O, CH4, and other greenhouse gases all have equivalent warming abilities. They don't - and one must have no real understanding of climate science, chemistry, or basic physics when one makes claims like that.
You actually have the reward of being proven wrong, while not providing anything to promote what you're saying.
Don't get it confused. CO2 does indeed make up upwards of 25% of the planet's greenhouse effect, however, The vast majority of the CO2 released into the atmosphere is done by natural causes, to which Humans have almost irrelevant effect of.
If only the increase of CO2 from 1850 to 2013 made the entire history of a planet. You can throw out a big number like 40%, claiming how dangerous it is, but when you look at the overall science and the history of the planets warming and cooling trends, it makes the period of time you are suggesting, again nearly irrelevant.
Never once did I make the claim that all greenhouse gasses are equal. My argument is to which Humans are actually adding to the global warming or cooling.
And in the grand scheme of things, Humans have been responsible for 0.28% of the warming period since the last ice age some 18,000 years ago.
Dougler, YOU are getting it confused. The natural greenhouse effect is over 30 defrees F. If CO2 is responsible for about 25% of that, that uis about 8%. So if we increase CO2 by 30%, as we have done so far, that is at least 2-3 degress of climate warming, which we are well on our way to seeing. Of course it is actually much more complicate than that in the real atmosphere, but that gives you the general idea of why this makes sense.
A bunch of whiners... when it was -30 at my house for multple weeks, but because we live out West, it isn't news, but as soon as the cold moves back East the whiners start whining...
Your math is 'interesting', Doug. But your Talking Points are deliberately misleading and tired.
Bottom line: humans are directly responsible for virtually all of our current warming. Every accredited scientific organization in the world agrees with that statement.
@ Physicist-retired
This is wrong. If CO2 is responsible for 25% of the ability of our atmosphere to hold heat, and experiences a 40% increase, this means that our overall greenhouse effect has increased by 10% since 1850.
A thermal blanket increase of 10% since 1850?
No way.
Perhaps not 10% yet, but getting there. The natural greenhouse effect is I believe about 33 dgreese F. 10% of that would be about 3.3 degrees, which we will probably get to within century.
Unfortunately the system is so complicate that there is not a linear relationshio between the percent increase in greenhouse gasses and the resulting percent increase in climate, but the exercise is still helpful.
More stellar journalism from pMSNBC.
Now I know: It gets cold in the winter.
If the Arctic is thawing it has to freeze somewhere, it would create polar shift..Freezing could become a permanent thing somewhere soon.
Just saying 'no way' is hardly a scientific rebuttal, Rick. Do the math: including negative and positive feedbacks, a 40% increase yields a surface temperature change of about 1.4°C.
But that's the equilibrium temperature. We aren't in thermal equilibrium yet - if we were, violent storms wouldn't be increasing. We currently see 0.8C of warming, and have 0.6C of warming just waiting 'in the pipeline' - something anyone paying attention to this issue knows.
And that's just from existing atmospheric CO2. We haven't turned the spigots off. At 30 billion tons of CO2 being pumped into our atmosphere each and every years (and increasing), there's much more to come.
Jock: Of course you are NOT a scientist because the first law of statistical and scientific studies is to find correlation. Regression analysis CANNOT determine causation and to say so confirms your lack of knowledge in this area. I have a strong statistics (and economics) background and actually teach both in a college setting.
No scientist worth their weight in salt would EVER speak of a study confirming "causation". No scientist at all. None. Zilch. Nada. That is one of the most incompetent comments to make (a study proving "causation") and to say that confirms you have very little, if any, background in either statistical analysis or scientific research.
You are being overly nit-picking about terminology. I understand the scientific method at least as well as you do. I was trying to paraphrase, but I forgot your need to find excuses to dismiss me. I am a scientist, and I don't really give a rat's behind if you believe it or not. Dismiss all yuo want, but in the end I will still be right.
Physicist-retired, I wiki'd the explanation of the greenhouse effect:
Do these calculations of a blackbody assume an atmosphere the same density as Earth's, without any greenhouse effect? I doubt the Earth devoid of water vapor, CO2 and methane while still having a thick nitrogen/oxygen (non-greenhouse) atmosphere would fall to -250F at night.
It's human nature to ignore warning signs until it is too late, climate change is no difference - especially when millionaires are making record profits at the expense of the rest of us. But you would think that people took some notice when that slab of ice larger than Rhode Island broke off and slid into the ocean! Also, if current trends continue, in 20 years our streams and rivers will be too warm to support trout and other fish - our dead waterways will be the legacy of our greed!
I've basically given up arguing with the deniers. You could supply them with all the accurate data needed for a logical conclusion on this issue and it would do no good. Their perspective is determined more by emotional/political bend than by a desire for truth. So why waste your time? If they want to be stupid, let them. If things get so bad we have to resort to cannibalism to survive, let's eat them first. With some good hot chili peppers, of course, to get rid of that dumbass flavor.
The logical conclusion is that we the human specie is not responsable for the global warming and climate change. After the ice age the earth was cover for ice most of the surface, since then before the existence of the home sapiens it was melting and will continue as the temperatire arise. There is nothing we can do to stop it. The end of our civilization will come in a million of years if we do not move to other planet or create ways to protect us from the global warming. Say that we can change the rising of temperature reducing carbon emision is stupid and insane.
It was a nice comfy 73 F. here today. Then again that's nothing new around here for January. It will be a chilly 54 F. tonight. LOL. Tomorrow will be 78 F.
Sometimes I miss having 4 real seasons instead of just Fall/Winter (warm) & Spring/Summer (hot/very hot). But I've learned to deal with it. LOL
Enjoy your winter/arctic weather.
Quite likely all of the icecap and permafrost melting across the Arctic and Greenland this past summer has cooled water temperatures of the Arctic Ocean enough to depress atmospheric temperatures among our northern-tier States. Don't look for it to continue more than a few more years either, as after that there will be little Arctic ice to melt remaining.
The temperatures this winter have not been brutal by historic standards, rather they have been much more along the lines of normal for 30 or 40 years ago. It was not at all unusual for Buffalo, NY to get 2 feet of snow during a single snow storm in the 1960s or 1970s, and winter high temperatures in the single digits or even below zero were not at all uncommon during that time frame all across the southern Great Lakes and northern East Coast too. I am actually laughing that anyone would term a high temperature of between 16 and 21 F "brutal" in Washington, DC too.
In my old hometown of metro-Detroit the average January high temperature in 1970 was only 23 degrees with the average low temperature in the high single-digit range too, a opposed to the average today of 37 degrees for the high and the low 20s for the low. Back in the 1960s and 1970s we used to drive our snowmobiles on the frozen lakes northwest of Detroit when the ice averaged between 2 and 3 feet thick, and today local residents there are so sure that those same lakes aren't going to freeze over that they aren't even taking their docks out for winter, and some of them aren't even taking their boats out either.
There is no possible way to deny that in just 40 years the Detroit-area has seen an average winter temperature rise of 13-14 degrees Fahrenheit, and if that rate of temperature rise continues for another century kids will come down from northern Canada to Detroit for spring break instead of going all the way to Florida, which will be well underwater by then due to Arctic and Antarctic melting too!!!
What will a sea-level rise of 5 meters or over 16 feet by mid-century do to your oceanfront real estate? Better begin to ask those hard questions because the International Energy Agency, highly respected in their field as an oil-industry advocate, just called for a 5 to 6 degree Celsius, (9 to 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit), rise in global average temperatures by mid-century along with a sea-level rise of 5 meters by then too, if our world burns the projected demand increase for fossil fuels by then too. What will that kind of a temperature rise do to the value of your ski condo or to the continuing ability to produce enough food in large areas of our world which will become increasingly arid by then too?
My guess is that by the end of our current century that the most-valuable land in the Continental US will be right up against the Canadian border wherever there are large remaining fresh water supplies too!
Today in Denver, CO it was only 65 degrees, or about 20 degrees above average too. In fact we have been locked in a warm spell by multiple blocking high pressure systems for the last two weeks, and so far this "winter" we have only had one substantial snowfall, which happened a couple of days before Christmas. Last Friday my wife and I played golf and I shot a 94, two strokes under my handicap, not too bad for mid-"winter" at the same latitude as Washington, DC, eh???
That has become the wrong phrase to use when describing what has been happening. It's not Global Warming (though it is too, in a way) as much as more drastic peaks and valleys and radical weather. Climate Change or Weather Extremes might be more accurate. And on another note.... after a bout of minus 40 around here and plenty of double digit minuses not counting wind chill, we were glad to get UP to 14 degrees today. Weenies.
Less than 2 week ago it was 65 in Columbus, now its 21. 44 degree swing!! CLimate change for the bad just don't ring well.
Global warming is an outdated and incorrect term. Stop using it and it will all make more sense.
Try using 'Climate Change' as it accounts for both extreme warmth as well as extreme cold.
And climate change has been going on since mankind. This weather reminds me of the same pattern in the mid 50's. Then we have a major change of heat.
Except for the fact Pat G that heat indices and rainfall amounts and other records are being broken at a far quicker rate than before.
People don't seem to understand that climate and weather are not the same thing.
@Pat G - the only thing is, the Earth's waters are warming up. If the trend continues, trout and other fish in our rivers and streams will no longer be able to live in them in the next 20 years. Also, reefs in the oceans are dying because of temperature increases, the atmosphere is one thing, they flux over thousands of years, ocean temperatures fluctuate over millions/billions of years.
Communist regime in china is very good at cracking down any
opposition side or dissidents who uncovered the abuses and violations of human rights in china to the world. The common tactics used by the communist regime in china against their dissidents or any opposition side are by accused those NGO bloggers who posted negative comments about china on the internet of coup,cybercrimes and various of accusations in order to put these people in jail for many years to achieve their political motives so no one can uncover the abuses and violations of human rights in china to the world. Communist regime in china also used tactics like house imprisonment against their dissidents or any opposition side where these dissidents are locked up in a house with no internet network and phone. For example the house imprisonment of Ann san suu kyi by the military backed government is probably the tactics shared by the communist regime in china to its puppet state Mynmar military backed government against their dissidents and any opposition side. Communist regime in china also accused their dissidents or any opposition side of mental illness or all kinds of crimes in order to imprison these people in mental hospital or secret jail elsewhere in china. Tough many of these people die of tortures by the guards in mental hospital and secret jail elsewhere in china.
Communist regime in china are well known for their brutality and cruelty
against mankind and would not hesitate to crack down anyone who uncovered the abuses and violations of human rights in
china to the world with iron fist. Communist regime in china used to share
their tactics against their dissidents or any opposition side to their puppet
states like Burma,Vietnam,Malaysia to imprison these people so no one can uncover the abuses and violations of human rights in china to the world. For example communist regime in china even extend their bad influences to malaysia to cooperate with the malaysia government to enact cyber law 114A to accuse those NGO malaysian bloggers who posted negative comments about china on the internet of coup,cybercrimes and various of accusations in order to imprison these people in jail for many years and these people will be torture and die in custody by the malaysia government which is masterminded by the communist regime in china.
Malaysia government now has become the new puppet state of china where the malaysia government is under the strong influences from communist regime in china to enact such cyber law 114A to
use against any NGO malaysian bloggers who posted negative comments about china on the internet by prosecuting these NGO bloggers and even torture these people to death in secret jail elsewhere in malaysia by the malaysia government which is masterminded by the communist regime in china. Freedom of speech not only becomes a crime in countries like malaysia due to the bad influences from
china,but those NGO malaysian bloggers who caught of posting any negative
comments about china on the internet will be prosecuted and even torture to
death in custody by the malaysia government which is masterminded by the
communist regime in china to achieve their political motives to purge and
assassinate anyone that uncovered abuses and violations of human rights in
china to the world. Freedom of speech and human rights are now at stake in
Malaysia under the bad influences from china and freedom of speech now becomes a crime in malaysia where anyone who expressed their opinions on the internet will be accused of coup,cybercrimes and various of accusations under the newly enacted law 114A and probably these people will be torture and die in custody by the malaysia government which is masterminded by the communist regime in china.
You can see how bad influences communist states like china has exerted on its neighbours countries like malaysia. To support human rights and freedom of speech and since US is the largerst foreign investor to malaysia,US must use its economic clout to press the malaysia government to abolish this newly
enacted cyber law 114A which is masterminded by the communist regime in china because it’s a serious violations of human rights and accused of NGO bloggers who posted negative comments about china on the internet of coup,cybercrimes and various of accusations in order to imprison these people and these people
will be torture and die in custody by the malaysia government. United states as the beckon of freedom and liberty in the world must defend human rights and freedom of speech on countries around the world such as Malaysia. Or else Human rights and freedom of speech will become history and relic because communist
state like china will use their economic clout to exert bad influences on
countries around the world to implement restrictions of speech and censorship on the media & internet.
Climate change is what is happening. Global warming is why it is happening. Very simple to separate the two terms and see how they are connected.
I blame George Bush and the Chevy Tahoe for creating global warming. Global warming causes freezing temps like this even though it is winter...
You sir, are a moron.
NO Al Gore started the global warming and the democrats. LOL
Dan. Remember, Al Gore invented the Internet also. LOL
I thought it was the hummer.
I don't like this version of Wayne's world.
A bunch of drunken rednecks regurgitating Rush Limbaugh's oral flatulence.
And you sound just like Randi Rhodes and Ed Schultz and all their hate speech laced tirades. And Wayne's World of any kind is better than drinking Koolaid and dropping down the rabbit hole!
http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp
What's this, January and it's cold in the northeast!!!!!! no phucking way...
Just wait till July, then the headlines will read "It's Hot in the Northeast".....
Extreme cold and extreme heat can harm or kill people, pets, and livestock. That doesn't constitute a "normal" January or July, all the more so if due to changes in climate that are man made or natural in origin.
Nikki, you are a coo coo bird.
Here's the thing, climatologists: The Earth, at one time, was a molten ball of nickel and iron. It was...oh...about 1200 degrees. Now fast forward a few million years, and we have about 1/3 of the planet covered with glaciers; in several places miles thick. Temps ranged from slightly above zero to 200 below zero. All before humans, most of it. I think we can agree that somewhere between 1200 degrees and -200 is the "normal" climate of earth. Somewhere between humid and jungle-like and arid dry desert.
The "hottest decade on Earth" would have averaged about 1000 degrees, but it was a dry heat. Without Al Gore, the Earth gradually cooled. It does this naturally. There were multiple ice ages, but although there were no gasoline engines or factories...greedy bankers or liberals, the Earth heated back up, cooled off, etc. countless times. This is natural. Normal. But sometimes, boys and girls, the roller coaster of hotter, cooler, wetter, dryer can be unpleasant for some species. Just ask the dinosaurs. They had no SUV's and were unable to warm the planet in time to save themselves.
We are a little better off. We CAN NOT control the climate, but we can adapt and cope. If we fail to do that, most or all of us may go extinct. All completely natural, and sustainable. Should we disappear from the earth, it will continue to cool and warm without our help.
Niko has no idea of what is normal or not. These temps are not a bit extreme, it's just that the last winter or two has been mild. So called climate change does not cause "extreme" weather events.
I grew up in Chicago. This is the kind of weather that my brothers and I would go out and play some ice hockey. I remember the wind chill being -81 in the early '80s and again in the early '90s, I remember a wind chill of -70 something. We had frost on the inside of our front door! We kept a nice fire going in the fireplace, I put a roast or a ham in the oven. Played outside with the dog and then came in to a house that smelled of good food and we warmed ourselves by the fire. Some days I kind of miss it...
For the Climate change deniers: http://www.skepticalscience.com/argument.php
FROM:http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=seven-answers-to-climate-contrarian-nonsense&offset=2
Good job FZ, quoting from a liberal global warming nuts website, thatll show everyone.
Scientific American is a liberal source now? No way! /gasp
Lasvegasgal, lay off the hooch...
From the Wiki page and verified with the NWS and NOAA:
and don't give me some BS about windchill because the wind couldn't have blown hard enough to have an additional 50 degree effect. The only thing blowing is the hot air coming out of your lips.
Clean out the inside of your tin foil hat, Drowning. It's a SCIENCE thing.
#4.6, there are more than 6 different citations in the blurb I quoted plus the two I link to at teh top of my comment. The problem with your "argument" is that climte change is neither liberal or conervative, it is a fact. the argument seems to be whether humans are causing it or helping it along. I will stake my grandchildrens future on actual science rather than political BS anyday of the week. And believe me, we "adults" are not fooling the children, they are smarter than that.
http://www.skepticalscience.com/argument.php
excerpted for the "it's the Sun which causes cliamte change deniers"
"Forecasters: Brutal Dangerous Cold Gripping Northeast" So I click on it--here in VT--and find, oh, they're talking about DC. Amazing. News Flash: The world really doesn't revolve around DC.
Today we're predicted to have wind chill to -29 degrees F. That's fairly cold. But it's been that temp without the wind chill, and even colder. When your hair freezes? Yup, time for another layer.
I'm in Southern VT, and I'm personally saying "this is 'brutal' cold?" It is colder than it has been for the last few years, true, but I'd hardly call it "brutal", just "unpleasant". Of course, I realize it is a wee bit colder up north.
Being from CT, I wonder when DC became the Northeast? Mid-Atlantic, maybe, but Northeast? Really?
'Tis a nippy 11 degrees F here today in Hartford without the windchill.
I just find it amusing that weather isn't an issue/concern unless/until it happens on the East Coast. We had some fairly brutal cold on Monday and Tuesday of this week (in Minnesota) with windchills between -35 and -45 and high temperatures of -11 but not one peep in the newswire. Today, when things are warming to above zero and suddenly there's an article moaning about how cold it is today...in DC. Pffftt.
xServer, I saw that newsclip where some reporter gal froze an egg on the sidewalk. Pretty impressive.
xServer could'nt agree with you more!! Same thing happened during the heat wave last summer. Not one peep about how hot it was in the Midwest and Plains, then NYC gets above 90 for 2 days and it's a front page headline that the Northeast is in a heat wave! What a joke!!!!!!!!!
I woke up to 7deg temps here in MA. It's Cold, yes, and you have to be careful being outside, especially the elderly and young children, but give me a break.
This Headline, Brutal Dangerous cold, is just that. A Headline.
Anyone who has lived in the Northeast for any length of time knows how to deal with the cold.
Jax..this isn't extreme weather for this area. I remember about 8-9yrs ago when it was Sub zero every morning for weeks. When it didn't get above freezing during all that time.
It's called WINTER. Nothing more.
Knowing that it was this cold 8-9 years ago doesn't really constitute an overall view of "normal" or of changing patterns re: weather extremes. Scientists take other things into account. We had record heat in a wide swath of the country this past summer, but we can't dismiss this as normal simply because summers are supposed to be hot, or because we had a similar summer 8 years ago. Things are changing.
Nik, sub zero temps happen here often in the winter. It's just that 8-9yrs ago was the last time that I remember it being that way for more than a day or two.
It's called winter in New England.
No they are not Niko, you are ignorant when it comes to science.
The Headline is made for people who no longer can or care to, think for themselves!
So this is proof of GLOBAL WARMING? LOL!.
No, your comment is proof of denial or a lack of information. Global warming can drive extreme weather in both directions; hotter summers and colder winters.
Wetter Springs, and more leaves falling in fall. Global warming goes every direction of extremes. Its the quadrasexual of seasonal weather.
Does it do reach-arounds, too?
Warm last winter, that's global warming. Cold this winter, that's global warming too.
Droughts in some areas that's global warming. A larger than common hurricane, that's also global warming.
Does anyone else see this as a win/win situation?
Janine, also global warming makes people believe there is no global warming.
Global warming does not cause weather extremes, this idea has been throughly debunked.
Global warming is hooey. People, go read a geology book.
Everything is caused by and is proof for global warming. So even if the environment just stays average, this will somehow be chalked up to global warming by libbies.
The correct terminology is CLIMATE CHANGE
As in man induced acceleration of climate change, however the globe is warming.
Rex, do you have anything to back up the BS that it's been debunked? It's only been debunked for low-information, anti-science people who don't have a clue what they are talking about.
The COLDER it gets the WARMER its called LOL!
And it's supposed to be in the 70's today in Colorado; crazy :-)
LOL yup sunny and 70's here too in La (the state not the city).
77 In L.A.
Amazed at the lack of understanding by a few regarding global warmng.
We understand, it may just surprise you that people have seen the studies and still know they are full of sh!t
The Mr. Burns study doesn't qualify as a valid study.
What scientific study have you seen that qualifies your bull@!$%#.
But thanks for your support in the legalization of the real wonder drug.
Man o man ..all this global warming is freezing my ass off lol
Amazed at how much people care for the ignorace of others who reguard those reguarding global warming. People, if you honestly care, write a @!$%#ing book so that the people who want to read it actually do. And so that the ignorant and stupid stay ignorant and stupid.
All arguments about global warming aside, it is winter, after all. It usually gets cold during the winter. That's why I put my summer wardrobe in storage. So why is this cold "dangerous"? If you go out in shorts and a tank top for your morning jog, it could be, especially if you have the ability to sweat. Otherwise, cold is cold. Deal with it.
Most amusing: Global warming causes ALL undesirable climatological phenomena. Every day's forecast is conclusive proof of devastating climate change.
Weather forecasters. I'd like to get a gig like that.
Only profession (Except for politics) where you can be consistently WRONG and still keep your job.
Environmentalists have gotten EVERY prediction wrong, yet people still listen to them because they have cool coats, went to college and studied something that some consider science, and support their belief that people who do well are evil (oil companies).
What next? Cats and dogs sleeping together? Its supposed to be cold its winter, and BTW 10-17 degrees is hardly brutal. At most its a 2 dog night.
I keep hearing about how cold it is in the Northeast. I wonder why Utah is never in the news for cold temps. We have been expierencing the same temps for weeks. To make matters worse our horrible air quality is keeping temps in the valley low. If you go up into the Mountains it is actually warmer because of the Inversion. We are chocking on our air. I think that is newsworthy.
Imagine that, the air quality in Chicago is better than somewhere in Utah.
There's no global warming and we will keep telling those low lying red state deniers the same thing when they are going glug glug glug as the oceans swamp them...and then we'll hold up their taxpayer welfare, oops I mean disaster recovery funding over idealology...
Look up in the sky!!! It's a bird, no it's a airplane, no it's "Under Dog"!!!!!!
Can you see him from your tree house there rick?
Ain't gonna happen little Ricky, sea might rise a few inches at most.
The shock! The horror! Where will it end? Bitter cold in the Northeast. A phenomenon not seen since the dawn of man. (or at least in the last 10 years) It's called the weather. It changes. It repeats itself. It can be unpredictable. It's not NEWS. Get over it people.
We had 2 days above freezing in a month and it has been sub zero 17 days now for the low nobody writing about this. Oh ya it dosen't have to do with politicans and them maybe getting a little cold. I go to work in sub zeros if it hits the 20's which is their low I'm a happy camper. S0 much for Gore and his Global warming crew
The GAS and OIL companies are happy about the weather.
No gas is still low and they are not drilling many more wells becuase of that. Will take alot more to start seeing what we had in Colorado 3 years ago
I love it!!!!! "Global warming means colder winters" LOL.....
I don't think anyone is breaking any cold weather records, although last summer there sure were a lot of record highs shattered.
Well, for heaven's sake, ho-lee, so glad you got a chuckle out of that. A cheap thrill is better than no thrill at all, so if your simplistic "analysis" tickles your funny bone, enjoy the laugh!
Where the heck is that global warming we were promised?
Where were you this past summer?
It's -15 below where I am not including the windchill. This means that the brutal cold of the North East is 25 to 30 degrees warming than where I am. If what the NE is experiencing is brutal, what the heck should I label my weather? Insane? Perhaps...
Your weather is normal for you.
Gosh, Mr. Johnston, Staff Writer, that's why it's called winter.
Cold in the East?? Why don't you wimps come to MN, ND, SD its -20F NOT WIND CHILL heeheehee
The Newswriters call it cold. Here in New England, we call it Winter.
Be thankful it's not -50 (without the wind chill) George.
ND and MN used to see temps like that almost every year.
-50 ? We see temps like that EVERY winter up here in Fairbanks. Last January (2012) we barely got warmer than -30 for the whole month and saw -62 at my house in North Pole (18 miles south of Fairbanks) on Jan 28th. This past November was in the top five coldest on record, but we've actually been pretty mild the past couple weeks hovering just above and below zero. Oh and we've just gone over six hours of daylight as of today; gaining 6+ minutes a day now!