Quote of the Week:
“From the household perspective, reductions in energy expenditures act like a tax cut for the Pennsylvania economy, increasing discretionary income.” Penn State report on natural gas from shale.
Number of the Week: 2.2 v. 1.3
THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
Videos from the Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC) sponsored by Heartland Institute are available on the web.
http://climateconference.heartland.org/watch-…
******************
Solar-Cosmic Ray Climate Hypothesis: Svensmark’s solar-cosmic ray hypothesis states that cosmic rays, modulated by solar wind and magnetism, are important in the formation of low level clouds, thereby important in influencing climate change. It is being tested by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) with the Cosmic Leaving OUdoor Droplets (CLOUD) experiment. Reports are due out this summer. This week produced an interesting twist. The Director General of CERN, Rolf-Heuer, publicly stated that he told his colleagues to present the results clearly, but not interpret them.
One can interpret this statement in many ways. One, it is a refreshing change to the procedures of the IPCC and others which has been described as science by press release. The summary of the study is excitedly presented first, followed months later by the actual results that do not support some of the more extreme pronouncements in the summary.
A second interpretation of the statement is that, if the hypothesis withstands these rigorous tests, then the results will be severely scrutinized by the orthodoxy that claims carbon dioxide (CO2) is causing dangerous and unprecedented global warming. The orthodoxy includes the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), many governments, politicians, financial traders, and special interest groups that have spent billions of dollars on establishing and proclaiming the CO2 is the cause of global warming. According to the General Accountability Office, the US government, alone, has spent over $100 Billion as of October 2010. Those responsible for these expenditures will be furious if CO2 is not the principal cause of climate change.
A third possible interpretation of the statement is that the results, the data, will be so boring that they will be quickly dismissed. However, this appears unlikely. Already, the hypothesis has withstood two tests, and the CLOUD experiment is by far the most rigorous. The challengers to the orthodoxy are increasing.
If the solar-cosmic ray hypothesis withstands the tests, it does not necessarily invalidate the hypothesis that CO2 contributes to global warming. (The hypothesis that CO2 is causing dangerous and unprecedented global warming has already failed testing.) It merely confirms that the role of CO2 in warming has been greatly overestimated.
Similarly, a successful report does not invalidate the hypothesis that oscillations of the oceans, internal to the earth, cause climate change. Or that humans cause local or regional climate change by changing land use – irrigating deserts, draining swamps, building cities, etc. Each hypothesis must be properly tested against the null hypothesis. Gradually, the significance of each influence may be understood. But we can only wait for the upcoming results. Please see articles referenced under “Science: Is the Sun Rising.”
****************************
Low Sensitivity to Change: On his web site, Roy Spencer posted a further article describing the testing of his very simple climate model against observations of temperature trends of the oceans to a depth of 700 meters. In the model he uses a combination of the NASA-GISS assumed external forcings and an El Nino / La Nina internal forcing. Spencer intentionally excludes other influences such as the solar-cosmic ray influence.
The model tracks quite well with the observations from 1955 to 2010 using an assumed climate sensitivity of only 1.1 deg C. Using Hansen’s assumed forcings, Spencer’s model does better in explaining ocean temperatures than the elaborate IPCC models. Apparently, the so-called missing heat is not in the deep oceans but lost to outer space. This indicates that the climate system is not very sensitive to a doubling of CO2 as claimed by the IPCC and other alarmists. Please see Article # 1.
****************************
Misleading the Public: Roger Pielke, Sr. continues to post on his web site announcements of briefings, meetings, etc. that he considers mislead the public. Also, these may be a misuse of public funds. The meetings focus on the use of IPCC general circulation models, modified to project regional changes. The general models have never been validated, thus are scientifically unreliable. The critical assumption that a modest warming from CO2 will be amplified by water vapor fails hypothesis testing. To project multi-decade changes at a regional level from non-validated global models with failed assumptions is pure speculation, not science.
As the two models used in U.S.-National Assessment of Climate Change (2000) demonstrated, different models produce different results for the same region. For all eighteen regions covered by the models, the projections for rainfall varied significantly by model. For eight of the eighteen regions the signs were different, rainfall may increase or it may decrease, depending on the model. The most extreme example was the Souris-Red River basin in the Dakotas. (Due to the geology of the basin, area is subject to flooding, the most recent being the flooding of Minot, ND last month.) One model projected a decline in rainfall of over 80% which would result in a desert. The other model projected an increase in rainfall of over 80% which would result in a swamp.
Organizations involved in upcoming presentations include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU). The National Science Foundation (NSF) has ignored requests to justify funding such ventures. Please see referenced articles under “Models v. Observations” and Fig 18, p 15, NIPCC 2008, http://www.sepp.org/publications/NIPCC_final.pdf.
****************************
Quote of the Week: This week’s quote from a Penn State study on gas from shale embodies an economic concept that seems to elude many leaders in a number of developed nations, including the US, England, Australia, etc. Energy costs relate directly and indirectly to the disposable income of households and to their standards of living. Decreasing energy costs increase disposable income and standards of living. It is similar to a tax cut. Increasing energy costs lower disposable income and standards of living. It is similar to a tax increase. Many politicians promote wind and other alternative energy as the path to prosperity, even though these methods significantly raise energy costs (either directly or through subsidies). The politicians are, in effect, declaring that prosperity can be achieved by lowering the disposable income and standards of living of the general public. Please see article referenced under “Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past.”
****************************
Buy High, Sell Low: Ontario Province in Canada may be the most aggressive jurisdiction in the Americas mandating alternative energy, especially wind. In Ontario, wind blows mainly at night, especially in the spring and fall when electricity spot prices are low. A retired banker and a businessman, upset by sharply increasing electricity bills, examined the electricity transactions of the province’s grid operator and found economically absurd situations. The operator is obligated to buy electricity from wind farms and must dispose of excess electricity to other provinces or US states. In May, it was paying $135 per MWh and receiving $25 per MWh, or less, for the excess. Of course, such losses are passed on to the consumers, including households. Please see articles referenced under “Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy.
****************************
Australia: Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Gillard of Australia announced a carbon tax (a complete misnomer) ostensibly to save the planet from global warming. This announcement may cost her the government. Opposition is furious and is mounting. The false claims of her bureaucratic scientists are being exposed. Please see articles referenced under “Challenging the Orthodoxy.”
****************************
New York Times: Last month, the New York Times featured a two part series by Ian Urbina questioning the economic viability of extracting natural gas from shale and suggesting the process raises significant environmental dangers. According to reports, Arthur Brisbane, the ombudsman of the NYT, has issued a sharp rebuke to the reporter. But the series has consequences because it gives ammunition to those who seek to stop the drilling for natural gas from shale. Among the reasons given for stopping such drilling is that it is sharply reducing the price of natural gas making the cost of generating electricity from wind and other alternative sources economically ridiculous. Please see articles referenced under “Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?”
****************************
Heat Wave: Much of the US has been experiencing a heat wave. The Pacific Northwest, where the unusually long skiing season just ended, is an exception. With the heat comes a chorus of those who are chanting global warming. During cold winter periods, the same group chants it’s just the weather.
Unfortunately, many weather commentators have been claiming that heat is the most significant killer among extreme weather events. Apparently, these claims are based on reports from the National Climatic Data Center. Yet, the mortality statistics compiled by the US Center on Disease Control show that in the US, extreme cold is by far the deadliest natural hazard. Please see articles referenced under “Changing Weather.”
****************************
Number of the Week: 2.2 v. 1.3. The first is the US death rate per million from extreme cold, 1993 to 2006. The second is the US death rate per million from extreme heat during the same period. Please see page 106 of the Indur Goklany article referenced under “Changing Weather.”
****************************
Corrections and Amplifications: Out of town travel resulted in less than desirable proofreading. A number of TWTW readers commented on several errors or omissions.
TWTW stated that “humanity and the environment do not face eminent [distinguished] destruction.” The correct word is imminent [immediate].
TWTW stated laboratory experiments [and subsequent calculations] show that a doubling of CO2, absent of feedbacks, will increase temperatures by about 1.2 deg C. Several readers asked what experiments? Here we refer to the historical references of Working Group I of the main reports of the IPCC, which some may contest, but we do not.
Reader Ken Gregory noted that TWTW erred in stating that a popular email, falsely associated with Ian Plimer, claimed that the volcano in Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull, emits more CO2 in four days than the human race has ever emitted. The correct statement is that the email falsely claims that the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption, in the Philippines, emitted more CO2 than human race has ever emitted. Emissions from human activity are far greater than those of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Gregory also gave additional detailed calculations, etc. of emissions from these volcanoes as compared with human emissions.
All corrections and amplifications are greatly appreciated.
ARTICLES:
For the numbered articles below please see:
1. Oh, the Insensitivity! More on Ocean Warming 1955-2010
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, July 21st, 2011
The evidence for anthropogenic global warming being a false alarm does not get much more convincing than this, folks.
2. Nantucket’s Wind Power Rip-off
Vastly cheaper forms of green energy are available.
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr, WSJ, Jul 18, 2011 [H/t George Nicholas]
http://professional.wsj.com/article_email/SB1…
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Science: Is the Sun Rising?
CERN chief forbids “interpretation” of CLOUD results
By Nigel Calder, Calder’s Updates, Jul 17, 2011 [H/t Marc Morano, Climate Depot]
http://calderup.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/%E2%…
News Flash: CERN Orders ‘Blackout’ of “The Cloud” Cosmic-Ray Project News
By Staff Writers, Daily Galaxy, Jul 19, 2011 [H/t Best of the Web]
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2011/07/…
The next climate debate bombshell
By Dennis Avery, Canada Free Press, Jul 19, 2011 [H/t Marc Morano, Climate Depot]
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/…
[SEPP Comment: An optimistic view of what CERN may produce.]
Climategate Continued
East Anglia’s Toxic Reputation Manager
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Jul 20, 2011
[SEPP Comment: The more they dig, the deeper they get.]
Challenging the Orthodoxy
Why Hasn’t the Earth Warmed In Nearly 15 Years?
By Patrick Michaels, Forbes, Jul 15, 2011
http://blogs.forbes.com/patrickmichaels/2011/…
[SEPP Comment: A test of the hypothesis that sulfur dioxide emissions from China are hiding global warming – rejected in favor of the null.]
This is why they want to stop skeptics speaking – Monckton swings 9%
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jul 23, 2011
The Monckton Debate at the National Press Club (AU) that ABC Lost
Posted by Jo Nova, Jul 20, 2011
The Debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma6cnPLcrtA…
Australia Institute loses debate
By John Izzard, Quadrant, AU, July 20, 2011
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-plane…
The Five Point Plan to Kill the Australian Economy with High Cost Electricity
By Viv Forbes, Carbon Sense, Jul 23, 2011
http://carbon-sense.com/2011/07/22/five-point…
Spending billions? Why not do a due diligence study? Nah, who needs it?
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jul 18, 2011
http://joannenova.com.au/2011/07/spending-bil…
[SEPP Comment: IPCC reports fail to meet the standards expected in a financial due diligence report on a major investment.]
Carbon price battle is lost, say experts
Dan Nancarrow, Brisbane Times, July 20, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/c…
Some Common Global Warming Fallacies
By William Briggs, GWPF, Jul 18, 2011
http://www.thegwpf.org/best-of-blogs/3470-som…
Defenders of the Orthodoxy
Act now on climate, no need to wait: top UN scientist
By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 19, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Act_now_on_…
[SEPP Comment: Is desperation setting in?]
Volcanic ash, soot helped slow recent warming, study shows
By Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, July 21 [H/t Conrad Potemra]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health…
[SEPP comment: Reaching for the bottom of the barrel. See article by Patrick Michaels referenced above.]
UN Security Council to consider climate change peacekeeping
Special meeting to discuss ‘green helmets’ force to intervene in conflicts caused by rising seas levels and shrinking resources
By Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian, UK, Jul 20, 2011 [H/t Marc Morano, Climate Depot]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/ju…
[SEPP Comment: The first units will command the sun to stop changing.]
Climate change ‘threatens peace’, UN official warns
Climate change poses a major threat to future peace and security, a senior UN official has warned.
By Staff Writers, BBC News, Jul 21, 2011 [H/t Michael Schlesinger]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-142…
U.S. Urged U.N. Security Council to Make ‘Climate Change’ A Priority
By Patrick Goodenough, CNS News, July 21, 2011
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/us-urged-…
[SEPP Comment: The US administration wants the UN to do things Congress will not permit.]
Climate change sceptics should get less BBC coverage and be challenged ‘more vigorously’, says report on science output
Broadcasters to give less airtime to critics of majority view
By Paul Revoir, Mail Online, Jul 21, 2011 [H/t Gordon Fulks]
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-20162…
‘BBC’s biased climate science reporting isn’t biased enough’ claims report
By James Delingpole, Telegraph, UK, Jul 21, 2011 [H/t Cooler Heads Digest]
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdeling…
Expanding the Orthodoxy
Waxman calls for national climate-change-education push
By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Jul 20, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
Problems within the Orthodoxy
UK reforms for low-carbon investment
By Staff Writers, WNN, 13 July 2011
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE_UK_refor…
[SEPP Comment: No new coal plants without carbon capture and storage – an expensive, unproven technology.]
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate?
Energy Department pushes efficient light bulbs in new ad campaign
By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Jul 19, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
Models v. Observations
Another Example of the Misuse of Climate Science
By Roger Pielke, Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Jul 22, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/…
[SEPP Comment: Making regional projections from failed global models.]
My Comments On An AGU Meeting Announcement – Regional Climate Prediction at High Resolution
By Roger Pielke, Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Jul 20, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/…
[SEPP Comment: More misleading conferences.]
Ignored Request For NSF To Respond On The Lack Of Value Of Regional Downscaling Of Climate Forecasts Decades From Now
By Roger Pielke, Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Jul 19, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/…
Measurement Issues
NASA’s Inconvenient Ruse: The Goddard Institute For Space Studies
By Larry Bell, Forbes, Jul 19, 2011
http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/07/19/…
80% of world climate data are not computerized
Posted on July 20, 2011 by News Staff
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/20/80-of-w…
[SEPP Comment: So much for historic global surface temperature measurements.]
Climate Scientists Request Protection From Somali Pirates
By Rebecca Boyle, Popsci.com, 07.18.2011 [H/t Best of the Web]
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-07…
[SEPP Comment: A role for the UN green peace force?]
Changing Weather
Some Men See Things and Ask Why? I See Things and Say: WHAT???
By Joe Bastardi, WeatherBell. com, Jul 20, 2011
[SEPP Comment: Introduction by Joseph D’Aleo. See article by Cullen, below.]
Sizzle Factor for a Restless Climate
By Heidi Cullen, NYT, Jul 20, 2011
It’s time to face the fact that weather isn’t what it used to be.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/opinion/20c…
[SEPP Comment: See article by Bastardi, above.]
The Texas centered drought versus 1918, 1956, and 1934
By Joseph D’Aleo, ICECAP, Jul 19, 2011
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog…
The Deadliest U.S. Natural Hazard: Extreme Cold
Posted on December 18, 2008 by Anthony Watts
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2008/12/18/the-dea…
Deaths and Death Rates from Extreme Weather Events: 1900-2008
Indur Goklany, J. of American Physicians and Surgeons, Winter 2009
http://www.jpands.org/vol14no4/goklany.pdf…
Heat index update, Mid-Atlantic states experience Middle East climate
By Ryan Maue, WUWT, Jul 22, 2011
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/22/heat-in…
Recent historically low global tropical cyclone activity
By Ryan Maue, Geophysical Research Letters, Vol 38, L14803
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2011/2011GL0…
Somali refugee death rate at 15 times above norm: UNHCR
By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 19, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Somali_refu…
[SEPP Comment: A clear example where UN peace keeping has failed to prevent militants from banning humanitarian relief.]
Changing Climate
Fast-Shrinking Greenland Glacier Experienced Rapid Growth During Cooler Times
By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Fast_Shrink…
[SEPP Comment: Since the glacier grows and shrinks rapidly, it should not be used to project what is happening to the entire ice mass. The entire ice mass must be measured.]
Changing Seas
Fishy Science on the Great Barrier Reef
By Walter Starck, Quadrant, Jul-Aug 2011
http://www.quadrant.org.au/magazine/issue/201…
Strong El Nino could bring increased sea levels, storm surges to US East Coast
By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 18, 2011
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Strong_El_N…
[SEPP Comment: According to the IPCC, El Ninos do not change climate. Did the recent study of sea level rise in North Carolina calculate this effect? Doubtful!]
Sea-level rises are slowing, tidal gauge records show
By Stuart Rintoul, The Australian, Jul 22, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affa…
Only when the tide goes out
Editorial, Australian, Jul 23, 2011
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/…
Overpeck says 3 feet, real world sea level data says no way
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jul 18, 2011
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/18/simulat…
Changing Seas – Science by Press Release
Multiple Ocean Stresses Threaten “Globally Significant” Marine Extinction
Press Release, International Programme on the State of the Ocean, Jun 20, 2011
http://www.stateoftheocean.org/pdfs/1806_IPSO…
[SEPP Comment: The Bait, the Press Release!]
International Earth system expert workshop on ocean stresses and impacts.
By Rogers, A.D. & Laffoley, D.d’A. 2011 Summary report. IPSO Oxford, 18 pp.
http://www.stateoftheocean.org/pdfs/1906_IPSO…
[SEPP Comment: The Hook. Self-proclaimed experts release the excited summary and press release first, followed by substantiation later. See below. This is not to state that overfishing of certain species is not a problem, but many of the issues are highly exaggerated.]
A Look Into the Ocean’s Future
Editorial, NYT, Jul 15, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/opinion/16s…
[SEPP Comment: The Fish. The New York Times swallows the bait, hook, line and sinker.]
Changing Earth
Earth Getting Greener, not Browner
By Patrick Michaels, World Climate Report, Jul 19, 2011
http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2…
Acidic Waters
Acidifying oceans could hit California mussels
By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 21, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Acidifying_…
[SEPP Comment: No mention of pH, no doubt the acidifying oceans remain alkaline.]
Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine
Crop biotechnology still attracts opposition
By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Jul 21, 2011
http://www.scientific-alliance.org/scientific…
As ethanol’s ravages grow, phony ‘reform’ emerges
By: Timothy P. Carney, Washington Examiner, Jul 17, 2011 [H/t Cooler Heads Digest]
http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/0…
[SEPP Comment: Producing about 40.8% of the world’s harvest by ton, the US is the world’s largest producer of corn. According to the article, of US production this year 12.1% will be used for food or seed, 43.7% will be used for animal feed, and 44.2% for ethanol – transportation.]
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
Ending Windpower Subsidies for Deficit Reduction (failed promises have consequences)
By Lisa Linowes, Master Resource, Jul 21, 2011
http://www.masterresource.org/2011/07/windpow…
[SEPP Comment: Thirty years of subsidies should be sufficient.]
Blame Congress
Editorial, NYT, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/opinion/20w…
[SEPP Comment: A plea for a national energy standard that will lower the disposable income and standards of living for virtually everyone.]
Big Bulb + Big Green = Big Profit Bulb Ban
John LaPlante/ The Michigan View.com, Jul 18, 2011 [H/t Cooler Heads Digest]
http://www.detnews.com/article/20110718/MIVIE…
EPA and other Regulators on the March
Show us the bodies, EPA
Green agency uses phony death statistics to justify job-killing rules
By Steve Milloy, Washington Times, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/…
EPA Proposes Secondary Standards for NOx and SOx
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/3863.html?h…
[SEPP Comment: EPA still fails to explain why asthma prevalence increases as NOx and SOx decline.]
Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Could Cause Power Shortages, ERCOT, Texas Agencies Warn
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/3859.html?h…
EPA ozone proposal draws fire
Tighter curbs seen hurting economy
By Tim Devaney, Washington Times, Jul 17, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/…
EPA issues final mountaintop mining guidance
By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Jul 21, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
[SEPP Comment: EPA pressing the limits of its powers by calling these disguised regulations as guidance.]
FERC Declines Rulemaking, Tosses Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Back to NIST
By Sonal Patel, Power News, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/3868.html?h…
[SEPP Comment: Such standards should be decided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.]
Barrasso revives battle against SEC climate risk disclosure
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Jul 20, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
Energy Issues
A Test of Prudence Favors Coal – Part Two
By Frank Clemente, Energy Facts, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.energy-facts.org/?utm_source=Energ…
Nuclear Fears & Responses
Efforts to stabilize nuclear crisis on track – Japan
By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 19, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Efforts_to_…
Japan bans Fukushima beef shipments over radiation
By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 19, 2011
http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Japan_bans_F…
Task force reports on US plant safety
By Staff Writers, WNN, 14 July 2011
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Task_for…
EU tightens nuclear waste disposal rules
By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 19, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/EU_tightens…
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
The U.S. Isn’t Running Out of Oil
By Stephen Eule, Real Clear Politics, Jul 15, 2011
http://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2011/…
Shale and its Discontents
The New York Times still doesn’t get the shale revolution.
By Robert Bryce, National Review, Jul 15, 2011 [H/t Warren Wetmore]
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/271890…
Penn State report even more bullish on Marcellus Shale
By Andrew Maykuth, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jul 20, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvani…
“From the household perspective, reductions in energy expenditures act like a tax cut for the Pennsylvania economy, increasing discretionary income,” the study said.
New York Times Ombudsman Rebukes His Own Paper for Reporting Lapses on Natural Gas
By Jon Entine, The American, July 18, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://blog.american.com/2011/07/new-york-tim…
Inhibiting an Oil and Gas Boom
By Paul Chesser, American Spectator, Jul 22, 2011
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/07/22/inhi…
Shale-gas extraction faces growing public and regulatory challenges
Two federal agencies are scrutinizing the shale-gas industry and its use of “fracking,” but gas producers insist that state regulators provide sufficient environmental oversight.
By David Kramer, Physics Today, July 2011, page 23 [H/t Moorad Alexanian]
http://physicstoday.org/resource/1/phtoad/v64…
Brazil has a ‘North Sea of oil’
By Staff Writers, UPI, Jul 15, 2011
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Brazil_ha…
Canada to monitor oil sands pollution
By Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post, Jul 21, 2011
http://business.financialpost.com/2011/07/21/…
China’s CNOOC to buy Canadian oil sands developer
By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Chinas_CN…
Oil Spills & Consequences
Deep below the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 21, 2011
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Deep_belo…
[SEPP Comment: Not stated here, but apparently the hydrocarbons in the deep water plume are principally those that contain benzene rings.]
Administration Control of Fossil Fuels
Obama Anti-Coal Energy Agenda Would Hurt America
By Daniel Kish, US News, July 20, 2011 [H/t Cooler Heads Digest]
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/energy-in…
[SEPP Comment: Now even unions are questioning EPA imaginary numbers]
The left’s brilliant lie
Regulatory tyranny targets internal combustion and incandescent light
Editorial, Washington Times, Jul 21, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/…
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy
Ontario’s Power Trip: Power dumping
Billions are wasted buying subsidized wind and solar power that ends up being exported at fire-sale prices
By Parker Gallant and Scott Luft, Financial Post, Jul 20, 2011
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/07/20/o…
[SEPP Comment: Buy high, sell low – the secret to Green Energy prosperity.]
The big green surge to fend off critics of Ontario’s renewable energy strategy
By Parker Gallant, Financial Post, Jul 20, 2011
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/07/20/t…
A New Study Takes The Wind Out Of Wind Energy
Reality has overtaken green hope.
Robert Bryce, Forbes, Jul 19, 2011, [H/t Cooler Heads Digest]
http://www.forbes.com/2011/07/19/wind-energy-…
2010 Wind Technologies Market Report
By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 18, 2011
http://www.winddaily.com/reports/2010_Wind_Te…
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see http://www.NIPCCreport.org
Atmospheric Models: Keeping it Simple
Reference: Levine, X.J. and Schneider, T. 2011. Response of the Hadley Circulation to Climate Change in an Aquaplanet GCM Coupled to a Simple Representation of Ocean Heat Transport. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 68: 769-783.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…
The World’s Oscillatory Climate as Experienced in Northern Iberia
Reference: Martin-Chivelet, J., Munoz-Garcia, M.B., Edwards, R.L., Turrero, M.J. and Ortega, A.I. 2011. Land surface temperature changes in Northern Iberia since 4000 yr BP, based on d13C of speleothems. Global and Planetary Change 77: 1-12.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…
The Fate of Carbon in a Warming Temperate Peatland
Reference: Cai, S. and Yu, Z. 2011. Response of a warm temperate peatland to Holocene climate change in northeastern Pennsylvania. Quaternary Research 75: 531-540.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…
Why Climate Change Effect Studies are Pessimistic
Reference: Loehle, C. 2011. Criteria for Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystems. Ecology and Evolution doi: 10.1002/ece3.7.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…
Environmental Industry
Bloomberg gives $50M to anti-coal effort
By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Jul 21, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
Greens go for the gold, leave us in the red
Enviros make bank off schemes that would leave world bankrupt
By Terrence Scanlon, Washington Times, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/…
Other Scientific News
Forests absorb much more greenhouse gas than previously known
Worldwide, forests absorb almost 9 billion tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide every year, according to a new study published Thursday in the journal Science.
By Mark Clayton, Christian Science Monitor, Jul. 15, 2011 [H/t Tim Wise]
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/071…
[SEPP Comment: Previously known by whom?]
Mercury pollution from power plants seen
By Staff Writers, UPI, Jul 19, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Mercury_pol…
[SEPP Comment: Mercury is a naturally occurring metal found throughout the world. The issues are: what source, are the concentrations unusual, are the concentrations toxic?]
Loss of top animal predators has massive ecological effects
By Staff Writers, SPX. Jul 20, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Loss_of_top…
[SEPP Comment: The statement “An old paradigm has shifted, and those who question this theory now have the burden to prove otherwise” reflects an ignorance of hypothesis testing.]
New way to store sun’s heat
By David L. Chandler, SPX, Jul 20, 2011
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/New_way_to_…
Other News that May Be of Interest
Derail High-Speed Spending
Editorial, IBD, 07/21/2011
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Arti…
BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
How Dairy Farms Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By Ann Perry, Agriculture Research Service, July 19, 2011 [H/t WUWT]
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2011/110719.htm…
PLEASE NOTE: The complete TWTW, including the full text of the numbered articles, can be downloaded in an easily printable form at this web site: http://www.sepp.org/the-week-that-was.cfm…
Excellent compilation. This stuff cannot be kept under the carpet forever. Regarding the ‘carbon pollution’ tax in Australia – people are already getting angry about it. Imagine how angry they will be when they discover what a fraudulent idea it is built upon.
From Penn State: “From the household perspective, reductions in energy expenditures act like a tax cut for the Pennsylvania economy, increasing discretionary income.”
—-
Interesting phraseology in the report. On the one hand, the employer of Professor M. Mann admits that tax-reductions increase discretionary spending (usually referred to as “voodoo” economics), but in the actual report they suggest who Pennsylvania voters will (or should?) give credit to.
About Article no. 2 : “Nantucket’s Wind Power Rip-off
Vastly cheaper forms of green energy are available.
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr, WSJ, Jul 18, 2011”
Yes, folks that is THE R.F.K. Jr., environmental lawyer, and defender of Obama’s de-carbonization policies having a NIMBY fit. Worth the read for the irony.
Anthony, please use your secret powers to send a tropical storm to western Louisiana. Not a hurricane… just a tropical storm. Hurricanes suck. Thanks in advance.
Damn, we need some rain.
“Misleading the Public: Roger Pielke, Sr. continues to post on his web site announcements of briefings, meetings, etc. that he considers mislead the public. ”
Shameless self promoter is he?
I have yet to read anything from John Brookes that adds value.