Climate scientists, apparently, are a dour, grumpy bunch, while economists have the cheerful demeanor of a plucky role model heading enthusiastically into the future.* This, at least, is the impression left by Jean-Marie Macabrey’s account** of last week’s Cophenhagen climate fest: At the congress, it seemed that all the scientists had to share with their …
Continue reading ‘The Difference Between Climate Scientists and Economists’ »
Over on the work blog, I pronounce New Mexico’s Western Climate Initiative legislation not quite dead but almost.
Theme, title and all subsequent material stolen from William Connolley, who notes that George Will has helped launched our BAMS paper on the 1970s global cooling myth to the top of the charts. More interesting, however, is William’s analysis of what draws readers to the strange and wonky world of American Meteorological Society journals: Conclusion: …
The most important equation in climate change.
One of the common themes in drought journalism (mine at times included, sadly) is the tendency to cry “drought” at minor excursions into the down side of natural variability, when the real problem is not so much water supply as voracious consumption. Blaming nature is a whole lot easier than blaming ourselves. Is that the …
From the Guardian: “Global warming?” he sniffed. “Well, whatever.” Kinsler did appear to agree, however, that the conditions are subtly changing at the Ballpark. “It depends on where you hit the ball and what time of year it is,” said Kinsler. “Rudy is right in that balls you think you tagged will sometimes get knocked …
Continue reading ‘Global Warming Somehow Contributing to Home Runs in Texas’ »
Closing out a rainless February, Albuquerque ties the record for driest start to a year. update: Just for the record, while there was no rain at the official Albuquerque weather station, I did record 0.01 inch at my house Feb. 11.
Climate wonks with a key to get through Science’s gate should check out Andy Dessler’s excellent discussion in today’s issue of the water vapor feedback. For those who don’t, here’s the nut graph: [A]lthough there continues to be some uncertainty about its exact magnitude, the water vapor feedback is virtually certain to be strongly positive, …
Birds Flee Changing Habitats (ad/sub req.): Birds and butterflies offer the earliest signs that ecosystems are changing in response to a changing climate, according to Craig Allen, an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. “They’re mobile,” said Allen, an expert on the effect of climate change on New Mexico’s environment. Climate has always changed, Allen …
Continue reading ‘More Stuff I Wrote Elsewhere: Back on the Bird Beat’ »
The global cooling mole pops up its head again. Whack. (Comments closed here. If you’ve got something to say, do it there.)