In a review of two new books about World War I, The Sleepwalkers and July 1914, Harold Evans (aka Sir Harry) notes the uselessness of playing "the blame game" when it comes to the start of the tragic war. [Christopher] Clark declines to join [Sean] McMeekin in what he calls “the blame game,” because thereContinue reading ““The blame game” — in history and w/climate change”
Category Archives: climate
President’s lawyer explains climate emissions regulation
Jody Freeman, a law professor who worked for two years for the Obama White House, explains the logic behind the President's plan to tighten emissions standards at existing power plants: Even the president's…modest plan to set standards for power plants is legally risky, especially with regard to existing plants. The law calls for states toContinue reading “President’s lawyer explains climate emissions regulation”
McClatchy: Obama launches war on coal
Commentary on Obama's big climate speech of a couple of weeks ago — which Al Gore called the best speech ever given on the topic by a president, but which was completely eclipsed by the Supreme Court just hours later — was nonetheless fascinating. The McClatchy chain of newspapers focused in its lead on the negative,Continue reading “McClatchy: Obama launches war on coal”
Hurricanes to be stronger AND more frequent: Emanuel
Kerry Emanuel, a leading analyst of hurricane behavior at MIT, has for years taken the position that hurricanes in the 21st century will be stronger, thanks to the global warming, but not necessarily more frequent. In fact, back in 2006, he published a paper arguing that no decadal shift could be detected in frequency ofContinue reading “Hurricanes to be stronger AND more frequent: Emanuel”
Proof of global warming in one graph: Ezra Klein
Eza Klein, maestro of Wonkblog, finds a graph that charts global temperature by decade, and promises "You can't deny global warming after seeing this graph." From those wild-haired radicals at the World Meteorological Association (pdf).
NASA researcher dreams of army of polar robots
NASA is testing a robot designed by students to explore Greenland called GROVER (For Greenland Remotely Operated Vehicle for Exploration and Research). Early results look promising: GROVER’s radar emits a signal that bounces off the different layers of the ice sheet, allowing scientists to study how snow and ice accumulates in Greenland. The team wantedContinue reading “NASA researcher dreams of army of polar robots”
In 1776, if Paul Revere were warning of climate change…
Scientists can be funny, and physicist Mark Boslough proves it with a column imagining how things might have been back in 1776 if Paul Revere had set out to warn the nation of climate change, instead of the arrival of the British. Boslough writes: "On this Independence Day, it is worth reflecting on the willingness ofContinue reading “In 1776, if Paul Revere were warning of climate change…”
New Mexico conifer forests gone by 2050: Scientist
The pine forests of New Mexico have been around since the Pleistocene, but they're not going to be around much longer, according to a scientist named Nate McDowell at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. For as long as there have been forests, there have been droughts,” [McDowell] said. “But the droughts we’re experiencing now areContinue reading “New Mexico conifer forests gone by 2050: Scientist”
An “intensification of the hydrological cycle”: CA
This is a scientific cliche describing a central fact of climate change. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water, about 4% more, which leads to more extreme weather. It's an idea that Kevin Trenbeth, who has published more than 400 scientific papers in climatology, has for a decade been translating into conversational English as "the wetsContinue reading “An “intensification of the hydrological cycle”: CA”
When the GOP cared about air pollution: Obama
Today President Obama gave a speech on climate, and reminded the world that once we had a political consensus on the need to reduce pollution in our atmosphere. Forty-three years ago, Congress passed a law called the Clean Air Act of 1970. (Applause.) It was a good law. The reasoning behind it was simple: NewContinue reading “When the GOP cared about air pollution: Obama”
Kit Stolz 