"Speaking of not knowing what to do — global warming!" Yours truly is not a big fan of the modern-day kings of irony, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, but this segment on global warming, despite the slightly confusing opening, is hilarious…and, actually, quite insightful about the American public's reaction to the threat of global warming.Continue reading “Stephen Colbert knows America on global warming”
Category Archives: climate
What part of that extreme was due to climate change?
Superb — and available! — story in this month's Nature on how researchers are beginning to parse the contribution of global warming to extreme events. Highly recommended. It's called "fractional attribution." Here's an easier way to grasp the concept: To put it in English: Inspired by the observation that intense rainfall in the Northern HemisphereContinue reading “What part of that extreme was due to climate change?”
“Real Science” denier site called out by real scientist
Look at this chart from researchers at the University of Bremen, via a compilation page of scientific Arctic data sources, and ask yourself: What trend do you see? Now look at the same basic question — how much of the Arctic is covered by ice, in recent years — from the point of Steven Goddard, whoContinue reading ““Real Science” denier site called out by real scientist”
Obama administration chooses tar sands over climate
As numerous cynics expected, the Obama administration is giving every sign that it will choose to support the Keystone XL pipeline, even if it means the end to the climate as we know it. “It’s not perfect, but it’s a trade off,” [Secretary of Energy Steven] Chu said. Meanwhile, it's curious that the most passionateContinue reading “Obama administration chooses tar sands over climate”
America’s top climatologist arrested at White House
Wish I could have been there to report on the tar sands protests, but… Solve Climate News: What is motivating you to travel to the White House and risk arrest? James Hansen: Einstein said to think and not act is a crime. If we understand the situation, we must try to make it clear. IContinue reading “America’s top climatologist arrested at White House”
Hurricane Irene disappoints jaded New Yorkers
In the aftermath of the hurricane, came complaints about hype: Was Hurricane Irene a disappointment? Media analyst Howard Kurtz says yes. After all, Irene wasn't even a hurricane when it made landfall in NYC. Other New Yorkers are equally dismissive: A NYC gossip site called Irene The Sudden Sex Celebrity without Much Bang. Scallywag wrote: Continue reading “Hurricane Irene disappoints jaded New Yorkers”
Poll: Rick Perry disses climate science, loses moderates
The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, has jumped into the race for the Republican nomination for President, and — according to Public Policy Polling — instantly made it a two-person race. They say he's looking like "the favorite" for the nomination. This has alarmed moderate Republicans, all three or four of them, including Mitt RomneyContinue reading “Poll: Rick Perry disses climate science, loses moderates”
How Healthy are Our Oceans?
My cover story, this week in the VCReporter. I especially liked that both a commercial fisherman and a devout sports fisherman praised government regulators for maintaining the fisheries in SoCal: Both commercial fishermen and sport fishermen agree [that the fisheries are in decent shape]. “I think it’s doing pretty good,” said Pete DuPuy, who hasContinue reading “How Healthy are Our Oceans?”
Arctic ice not yet at point of no return, researchers say
Given the dramatic decline in summer ice coverage in the Arctic in recent years, some researchers have feared we are approaching the end of summer ice in the Arctic. But a new study, examining ancient driftwood found along the shores of Greenland, argues in Science that in fact it was much warmer 5000-8000 years ago.Continue reading “Arctic ice not yet at point of no return, researchers say”
12 million imperiled by crop failure in Africa: Why?
A month ago, in England, one could not pick up a newspaper without reading about the 12 million people who are imperiled by drought and starvation in the Horn of Africa. So this morning it's good to see a major American newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, put the story of the worst famine in theContinue reading “12 million imperiled by crop failure in Africa: Why?”
Kit Stolz 