Comments on: Temperatures could drop to 50 below zero in parts of Alaska http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/ Commentary on puzzling things in life, nature, science, weather, climate change, technology, and recent news by Anthony Watts Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:48:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: DennisA http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-71807 DennisA Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:44:21 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-71807 This graph shows the phase change in Alaska in 76: http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Bowling/FANB.html There is a good explanation of Alaska's climate here: Understanding Alaska's Climate Variation: John Papineau, Ph.D NWS Anchorage, Alaska http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/climvar/climate-paper.html This graph shows the phase change in Alaska in 76:
http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Bowling/FANB.html

There is a good explanation of Alaska’s climate here:

Understanding Alaska’s Climate Variation: John Papineau, Ph.D
NWS Anchorage, Alaska
http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/climvar/climate-paper.html

]]> By: mike http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68993 mike Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:20:03 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68993 It gets cold enough for me here in New York. The 20s usually at night in the Winter. I am ready to go to Florida :) It gets cold enough for me here in New York. The 20s usually at night in the Winter. I am ready to go to Florida :)

]]> By: Patrick Henry http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68739 Patrick Henry Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:23:19 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68739 Fort Yukon is currently tied with their record at -56F http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=66.57138824,-145.25027466 Fort Yukon is currently tied with their record at -56F
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=66.57138824,-145.25027466

]]> By: MikeEE http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68350 MikeEE Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:28:35 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68350 The predictions for this week in Tok, AK show lows of -65F, which is below their record -62F.. <a href="Tok Weather" rel="nofollow"> http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=63.331%2C-142.947 </a> MikeEE The predictions for this week in Tok, AK show lows of -65F, which is below their record -62F..

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=63.331%2C-142.947

MikeEE

]]> By: Michael Ronayne http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68329 Michael Ronayne Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:06:14 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68329 At the beginning of this decade a distinguished Alaskan “Climate Scientist”, in a newspaper interview, bemoaned the fact that because of Global Warming (yes it was still Global Warming back then) he was unable to make Applejack and other concentrated ethanol beverages by freezing the water molecules out of solution during the Alaskan winter as he could in the “Good Old Days”. It now appears that Alaska’s temperatures are returning to the prevailing conditions of the “Good Old Days” which existed before the 1976 PDO phase shift occurred. For those Alaskans interested in connecting with their cultural roots after thirty long years the following table of Ethanol/Water solution freezing points may be of interest. Freezing Point of Ethanol based Water Solutions http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethanol-water-d_989.html Here are some recipes for making Applejack and other concentrated ethanol beverages using intense cold. Making Applejack http://www.eckraus.com/wine-making-applejack.html Stills that Aren't Stills (See section on Freezing) http://www.homedistiller.org/notstill.htm What you are dealing with is a process know as the factional crystallization of water molecules in the concentrating ethanol solution. Multiple freezing and thawing cycles will be required to archive the desired results. Remember that as with any natural process, timing is everything and care is required with separating the water-ice crystals from the ethanol/water solution. While concentrating alcoholic spirits using freezing is in a legal gray area in many jurisdictions, some State and Federal agencies may not look kindly on your retro-cultural research project. To avoid bureaucratic entanglements you could follow time-honored traditions and conceal your hobby but you are now living in the enlightened Twenty-first Century. The incoming Obama administration is going to be handing out hundreds-of-billions if not trillions of dollars in free government money to save the planet from Climate Change. Proudly announce that you are developing innovative technologies to concentrate environmentally friendly biofuels using the natural prevailing conditions in Alaska. Don’t be a piker, the more money you ask for and the more outrageous your claims the more seriously you will be taken and be sure to use organically grown sugars and yeasts as the source of your ethanol. “Organic Biofuels” has such a nice ring to it! Mike At the beginning of this decade a distinguished Alaskan “Climate Scientist”, in a newspaper interview, bemoaned the fact that because of Global Warming (yes it was still Global Warming back then) he was unable to make Applejack and other concentrated ethanol beverages by freezing the water molecules out of solution during the Alaskan winter as he could in the “Good Old Days”. It now appears that Alaska’s temperatures are returning to the prevailing conditions of the “Good Old Days” which existed before the 1976 PDO phase shift occurred. For those Alaskans interested in connecting with their cultural roots after thirty long years the following table of Ethanol/Water solution freezing points may be of interest.

Freezing Point of Ethanol based Water Solutions
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ethanol-water-d_989.html

Here are some recipes for making Applejack and other concentrated ethanol beverages using intense cold.

Making Applejack
http://www.eckraus.com/wine-making-applejack.html

Stills that Aren’t Stills (See section on Freezing)
http://www.homedistiller.org/notstill.htm

What you are dealing with is a process know as the factional crystallization of water molecules in the concentrating ethanol solution. Multiple freezing and thawing cycles will be required to archive the desired results. Remember that as with any natural process, timing is everything and care is required with separating the water-ice crystals from the ethanol/water solution.

While concentrating alcoholic spirits using freezing is in a legal gray area in many jurisdictions, some State and Federal agencies may not look kindly on your retro-cultural research project. To avoid bureaucratic entanglements you could follow time-honored traditions and conceal your hobby but you are now living in the enlightened Twenty-first Century. The incoming Obama administration is going to be handing out hundreds-of-billions if not trillions of dollars in free government money to save the planet from Climate Change. Proudly announce that you are developing innovative technologies to concentrate environmentally friendly biofuels using the natural prevailing conditions in Alaska. Don’t be a piker, the more money you ask for and the more outrageous your claims the more seriously you will be taken and be sure to use organically grown sugars and yeasts as the source of your ethanol. “Organic Biofuels” has such a nice ring to it!

Mike

]]> By: Mike Bryant http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68198 Mike Bryant Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:58:00 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68198 "We’re also getting record highs, in NY/NJ earlier in the week for example, 67ºF." I think they are maikng up for it now... “We’re also getting record highs, in NY/NJ earlier in the week for example, 67ºF.”

I think they are maikng up for it now…

]]> By: Werner Weber http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68120 Werner Weber Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:41:23 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68120 Here a quote from the executive summary of IPCC TAR4 Global Climate Projections (2007): Temperature Extremes It is very likely that heat waves will be more intense, more frequent and longer lasting in a future warmer climate. Cold episodes are projected to decrease significantly in a future warmer climate. Almost everywhere, daily minimum temperatures are projected to increase faster than daily maximum temperatures, leading to a decrease in diurnal temperature range. Decreases in frost days are projected to occur almost everywhere in the middle and high latitudes, with a comparable increase in growing season length. Happy New Year! Here a quote from the executive summary of IPCC TAR4 Global Climate Projections (2007):
Temperature Extremes
It is very likely that heat waves will be more intense, more
frequent and longer lasting in a future warmer climate. Cold
episodes are projected to decrease significantly in a future warmer
climate. Almost everywhere, daily minimum temperatures are
projected to increase faster than daily maximum temperatures,
leading to a decrease in diurnal temperature range. Decreases
in frost days are projected to occur almost everywhere in
the middle and high latitudes, with a comparable increase in
growing season length.

Happy New Year!

]]> By: Novoburgo http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68108 Novoburgo Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:12:42 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68108 @Novoburgo (19:12:55) : “That’s -53F” The inside of my freezer is about -25F. Come on over, I’ll crack open a brewski for you and you can climb inside my freezer and warm up ;o) (-53F! Brrrrrrrrr!!!!!) H.R. thanks for the invite but fortunately I'm not in Fort Yukon but in balmy Maine where it's currently +14F with a wind chill of only zeroF. BTW I think Fort Yukon bottomed out at -54F (not a record). @Novoburgo (19:12:55) :

“That’s -53F”

The inside of my freezer is about -25F. Come on over, I’ll crack open a brewski for you and you can climb inside my freezer and warm up ;o)

(-53F! Brrrrrrrrr!!!!!)

H.R. thanks for the invite but fortunately I’m not in Fort Yukon but in balmy Maine where it’s currently +14F with a wind chill of only zeroF. BTW I think Fort Yukon bottomed out at -54F (not a record).

]]> By: Phil. http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68100 Phil. Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:50:04 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68100 <em>Mike Bryant (20:51:31) : OK… it’s pretty evident that the temperatures this winter are very cold, in fact we are seeing record lows every week. Just imagine how cold it would be if it weren’t for Global Warming!!! :) </em> We're also getting record highs, in NY/NJ earlier in the week for example, 67ºF. So many on here were excited about the advent of a cool phase PDO, well those of you in the W USA are now finding out why it was named thus! Mike Bryant (20:51:31) :
OK… it’s pretty evident that the temperatures this winter are very cold, in fact we are seeing record lows every week. Just imagine how cold it would be if it weren’t for Global Warming!!! :)

We’re also getting record highs, in NY/NJ earlier in the week for example, 67ºF.
So many on here were excited about the advent of a cool phase PDO, well those of you in the W USA are now finding out why it was named thus!

]]> By: Bill P http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68086 Bill P Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:12:59 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68086 A nice meditation on cold (fifty degrees below zero and colder) is the classic short story, "To Build a Fire". http://www.jacklondons.net/buildafire.html Less than a year into the Yukon gold rush of 1897, London aborted his own adventure and returned to sunny California. He finished the story in 1901. I assume he knew about cold temps after that experience. Willie Soon graphs the decade of the 1890's as the coldest in modern times, and NOAA shows it as the second coldest up to the present. Who hasn't spit contemplatively on a cold day after reading this story, and wondered if spit could actually crackle in the air before it hit the ground? <blockquote>As he turned to go on, he spat speculatively. There was a sharp, explosive crackle that startled him. He spat again. And again, in the air, before it could fall to the snow, the spittle crackled. He knew that at fifty below spittle crackled on the snow, but this spittle had crackled in the air. Undoubtedly it was colder than fifty below—how much colder he did not know.</blockquote> NOAA reports the all-time cold record for Alaska (through 2003) was -80, at Prospect Creek Camp. But then that doesn't account for the wind as "the man" discovers in the story. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/severeweather/a-tlow.gif A nice meditation on cold (fifty degrees below zero and colder) is the classic short story, “To Build a Fire”. http://www.jacklondons.net/buildafire.html

Less than a year into the Yukon gold rush of 1897, London aborted his own adventure and returned to sunny California. He finished the story in 1901.

I assume he knew about cold temps after that experience. Willie Soon graphs the decade of the 1890’s as the coldest in modern times, and NOAA shows it as the second coldest up to the present. Who hasn’t spit contemplatively on a cold day after reading this story, and wondered if spit could actually crackle in the air before it hit the ground?

As he turned to go on, he spat speculatively. There was a sharp, explosive crackle that startled him. He spat again. And again, in the air, before it could fall to the snow, the spittle crackled. He knew that at fifty below spittle crackled on the snow, but this spittle had crackled in the air. Undoubtedly it was colder than fifty below—how much colder he did not know.

NOAA reports the all-time cold record for Alaska (through 2003) was -80, at Prospect Creek Camp. But then that doesn’t account for the wind as “the man” discovers in the story.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/severeweather/a-tlow.gif

]]> By: Austin http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68056 Austin Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:14:15 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68056 When I lived in Fairbanks and worked in cold storage, we'd fight over who got to work in the freezer where it was a balmy -25F vs -60F outside. The one thing different about this year with the cold in AK is the wind. We did not have the wind in the winter of 84 like they have now. When I lived in Fairbanks and worked in cold storage, we’d fight over who got to work in the freezer where it was a balmy -25F vs -60F outside.

The one thing different about this year with the cold in AK is the wind. We did not have the wind in the winter of 84 like they have now.

]]> By: Ed Scott http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68048 Ed Scott Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:23:56 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68048 Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it - except Algore, that is. Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it – except Algore, that is.

]]> By: Retired Engineer http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68041 Retired Engineer Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:01:15 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68041 -47 in Fairbanks this AM according to a well chilled friend. That's mighty friggin' cold. -47 in Fairbanks this AM according to a well chilled friend.

That’s mighty friggin’ cold.

]]> By: SlimReed http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68036 SlimReed Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:38:22 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68036 About fifteen years ago (maybe a little more) I discovered that our thermometer in the woods here in the Red Lake Basin of Northern Minnesota was alcohol and not mercury. I had to make slash marks on a popsicle stick to estimate the temp, because the thermometer only went to -40F, although the red had a lot more room to drop. Somewhere between -53F and -60F three times that week. I threw more wood in the stove and went back to bed. About fifteen years ago (maybe a little more) I discovered that our thermometer in the woods here in the Red Lake Basin of Northern Minnesota was alcohol and not mercury. I had to make slash marks on a popsicle stick to estimate the temp, because the thermometer only went to -40F, although the red had a lot more room to drop. Somewhere between -53F and -60F three times that week. I threw more wood in the stove and went back to bed.

]]> By: Craig D. Lattig http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68030 Craig D. Lattig Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:02:00 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68030 CodeTech (00:00:22) : Dear U.S.A. We send all that cold air to help with your global warming problems, and all you do is complain! Canada ...and some people complain if you hang them with a new rope! Thank you CodeTech...best laugh of the day! ...on the other hand...there was a REASON I moved to S. Florida! cdl CodeTech (00:00:22) :

Dear U.S.A.

We send all that cold air to help with your global warming problems, and all you do is complain!

Canada

…and some people complain if you hang them with a new rope!
Thank you CodeTech…best laugh of the day!
…on the other hand…there was a REASON I moved to S. Florida!
cdl

]]> By: Daryl Ritchison http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-68011 Daryl Ritchison Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:22:47 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-68011 Who needs Alaska, -33F just south of Fargo this morning at KBWP. Crazy cold this morning! Who needs Alaska, -33F just south of Fargo this morning at KBWP. Crazy cold this morning!

]]> By: Phillip Bratby http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-67982 Phillip Bratby Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:05:35 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-67982 I hope it's not going to be too cold for these guys. http://www.npmarathon.com/html/200310.html. I wonder what they're going to do in 5 years when the ice has all gone? I hope it’s not going to be too cold for these guys. http://www.npmarathon.com/html/200310.html. I wonder what they’re going to do in 5 years when the ice has all gone?

]]> By: CodeTech http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-67962 CodeTech Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:22 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-67962 Dear U.S.A. We send all that cold air to help with your global warming problems, and all you do is complain! Canada Dear U.S.A.

We send all that cold air to help with your global warming problems, and all you do is complain!

Canada

]]> By: MartinGAtkins http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-67952 MartinGAtkins Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:13:59 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-67952 Cold Bay 55.2 N 162.7 W November temps, coldest since 1963. -1.3C St Paul 57.1 N 170.2 W November temps, coldest since 1988, second coldest since 1946 or beyond. -1.9C King Salmon 58.7 N 156.7 W November temps, -9.2C down -9.1C on Nov 2007 Average 65 year Nov temps for this station. -5.0C Cold Bay 55.2 N 162.7 W
November temps, coldest since 1963.
-1.3C

St Paul 57.1 N 170.2 W
November temps, coldest since 1988, second coldest since 1946 or beyond.
-1.9C

King Salmon 58.7 N 156.7 W
November temps, -9.2C down -9.1C on Nov 2007
Average 65 year Nov temps for this station. -5.0C

]]> By: Kim Mackey http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/30/temperatures-could-drop-to-50-below-zero-in-parts-of-alaska/#comment-67947 Kim Mackey Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:39:19 +0000 http://wattsupwiththat.com/?p=4735#comment-67947 For the last 18 years my family and I have traveled to Anchorage from Valdez right after Xmas for medical appointments and to see movies. This was by far the coldest return we have ever experienced. Temps were -30F for at least 40 percent of the trip with a low of -40F in Glenallen where we stopped for lunch. There were only a few places above zero including on the ridge heading east out of Palmer and as we approached Valdez. For the last 18 years my family and I have traveled to Anchorage from Valdez right after Xmas for medical appointments and to see movies. This was by far the coldest return we have ever experienced. Temps were -30F for at least 40 percent of the trip with a low of -40F in Glenallen where we stopped for lunch. There were only a few places above zero including on the ridge heading east out of Palmer and as we approached Valdez.

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