[miraclepieco]

Davis is at it again. I really appreciate the OZ Report, but Davis is pushing his Global Warming agenda so hard that I'd almost rather listen to an Amway salesman than him. The latest OZ blog warns of future "droughts, floods and fires" from global warming. Why "droughts, floods and fires?" Because they're all calamities and fear is what you need to gain power over people. Here's a fact: IF there is indeed global warming (and that's a giant supposition), then more northern latitudes would develop the climate formerly reserved for more southern latitudes. So, for example, the US would become similar to Mexico in climate. Yes, Mexico…you know, the tropical vacation paradise?

Ask yourself why global warming zealots always mention "droughts, floods and fires" rather than "year-round tropical weather" or "growing abundant crops in formerly frozen tundra" or "no more drivers killed by blizzards in Rochester." Maybe even "longer flying season" or "more abundant thermals." ;-)

[gluesniffer]

If he had wrote that s*** over here, I woulda......

Agreed with him

[Nicos]

[ChattaroyMan]

Only thing between us and the void of outer space is our atmosphere - and it isn't all that thick. The composition of the atmosphere determines the amount of Sun's energy that reaches Earth's surface. Even though both carbon dioxide and methane are in percentages far under 1% they play a big role in how much energy is retained/reratiated. We humans are the main cause of increasing carbon dioxide and methane concentrations. Global warming really isn't all that bad in and of itself. What is 'bad' is the climate change that goes with it. For the most part humans don't like change. Crops that used to grow well in one area and then do not requires changes in equipment, practices, transportation methods, trade issues/rules, etc. (money). We can change our ways to fit changing climates but it will be costly and not without international consequences (some nations get richer - some poorer). Wildlife and plant life cannot adapt to change as quickly as humans do. Many people on this planet are dependant on both. If climate change comes rapidly nations will have to be more cooperative. There will be impacts on immigration as people move to better survive (to be able to keep doing those things they're used to doing, trained to do, etc.). How well we handle the 'change' part of climate change is the key (since we're certainly not doing zip to lessen our use of fossil fuels nor controlling our population increase).

[davisstraub]

Roger Hoyt (of the Miracle Pie Company) has been blessed to live in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest which has not suffered at all over the last year from drought, unlike our Midwest (and other parts of the country). Although lately the fires in Idaho have reduced the air quality here in Boise to the worst since the winter of 2003.

I am concerned about how climate change is affecting weather both in general and for hang gliding and I report on the best science about that.

I'm most interested in how the actual data (as opposed to the models) illustrate our current situation.

Here is the link to the actual article: http://ozreport.com/16.161#0

[ChattaroyMan]

Hey, I'm in Boise right now - Caldwell anyway. Camped at a Jeep dealership while our ride is fixed (got too hot). Smoke is right! Can't see any mountains. Drove to CA and back with a rental. The OR/NV border area on 95 looks like moonscape - sagebrush is ash. Few wooden fence posts left. Gotta drive back through there again today.
Yeah - NW fared well. We are well above normal rainfall in the Spokane area. Record wheat harvest I'll bet too. That's climate change for ya - some places do well - others not-so-well. The trend will most likely be erratic though. With change comes inconsistencies.

[Dan Harding]

This topic is like the proverbial can of worms, I for one do think that change is taking place, but, I am not sure it is man made. This is way beyond my area of expertise. I have read articles from both sides of the fence, some researchers say it is man made and the next scientist says no, it is a natural cycle.

kinda , so who is right, who is wrong? time will tell all.

[davisstraub]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/climate-change-is-here--and-worse-than-we-thought/2012/08/03/6ae604c2-dd90-11e1-8e43-4a3c4375504a_story.html

[Dan Harding]

here is more info about climate change,,,,

http://www.ehow.com/about_4795458_main-causes-global-warming.html

[dievhart]

I went back to TN for a week last month....I grew up there from 3 to 14.
Now they have Armadillos taking over the night life....the have come up from the more southern states.... it was really strange to run over one in a golfcart.....yeah things are changing.
Diev

[zamuro]

There is a a consensus among independent scientist (i.e. not payed by oil companies) saying that global warming is hapenning.

Last summer was offciaily the lhottest summer on record.

Due to this year drougth the USA produced about 17% less corn.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/us-corn-crop-estimate-cut-17-yields-forecast-drop-17-year-lows

[zamuro]

[Sky_Walker]

I find it interesting that most opinions about climate change seem to line up with other political beliefs. Most climate change deniers tend to be on the right politically while the strong believers tend to be on the left ...

There seems to be a pretty solid consensus among climate scientists. Not sure why someone with no formal training in climatology would feel like they have a better idea of whats really happening.

[macsux]

[davisstraub]

It is funny how this is a political issue. Of course, that's because it has political implications. I don't like the fact that the earth is giving us this signal any more than my compatriots on the right, but that doesn't mean I go ahead and deny reality, no matter how much I would prefer that option.

[sbrian2]

If the warming was very gradual, over hundred and hundreds of years, than sure, millions of not billions of people would gradually move up to the former tundra and grow wheat and corn. But it's quicker than that, and chaotic, with disruptive temperature extremes along the way to the new (warmer) normal. I fear it's going to be increasingly hard to sustain industrial agriculture in the decades to come.

Andy Revkin of the NYT does a pretty good job of talking to a range of climate scientists within the mainstream of the scientific community, not just the James Hansen's (who tends toward worst-case scenarios, though he might be right) or the tiny minority of deniers who are scientists. Revkin wrote about the drought recently, and wondered whether we're going back to an "old normal"; that is, perhaps the West has been unnaturally wet recently and we're cycling back to a (normal) hugely dry West.

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/a-closer-look-at-extreme-drought-in-a-warming-climate/

A more technical blog by climate scientists for fellow climate scientists is worth a look. They're mostly very concerned with human-induced warming, but have no patience for pundits of any stripe:
http://www.realclimate.org/

Anyway, those are two places I go for climate news.

EDIT: By the way, I don't mean to suggest that Davis shouldn't link to Hansen; I like the Oz Report and appreciate its climate change news. It's his blog and can follow his interests and/or obsessions; as long as it's mostly hang gliding and not too much athletic drug testing or climate change, I'll keep visiting.

[red]

[HangDiver]

[Davedebogusone]

Good points Red
and they often ignore the bigger picture the normal average for the planet is very little ice because the temp is much warmer than now.
We should be working for renewables and safe nuke for the time oil runs out.
We have time, but to push this agenda of now or we are going to die unless you follow us into the future is retarded before the technology is ready to fully take over.

Of course this doesn't matter to the fruit loops that vote in California.
Broke and writes legislation guaranteeing that money will flee the state and the ones stuck here get punished by mandated higher energy prices.

Scientist that arent educated in climate,funny that was brought up.
You see one of those that wrote the study for the california diesel law that closed many small trucking companys. CARB was caught using fraudulent data and scientist ,and its so the F#$## what its for the agenda, take us to court.
Many clowns under your tent.

[gluesniffer]

There has always been fluctuation, a natural warming and cooling,

However one graph which combines co2, temp, and the human race for the last 500 million years, is undeniable evidence that the 400 ppb of co2, hottest year on record, and 7billion people are with out a doubt related. The co2 spike we are on is unprecedented, and we are in for a wild ride that we created.

It's that simple, and to not see this, means one is an a#$%**e for one reason or another