Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup

The Week That Was: 2013-07-13 (July 13, 2013) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project

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Quote of the Week: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his income depends on his not understanding it.” Upton Sinclair [H/t Gordon Fulks]

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Number of the Week: 10 times earlier, now 4 times

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THIS WEEK:

By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)

NIPCC in China: Fred Singer, founder of the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC), presents his views of the importance of the Chinese Academy of Sciences translating the two longest NIPCC reports into Chinese. The Academy has demonstrated a willingness to promote open discussion of scientific findings and opinions that are contrary to those presented in the assessment reports by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which NIPCC considers to be a highly bias, one sided reports with conclusions that cannot be supported by the physical science. Promoting open discussion of the scientific basis of the conflicting reports is sorely lacking in many once venerable Western scientific institutions and universities. Please see Article # 1.

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A Slight Shift in Nature? Nature magazine has an article discussing that some climate modelers are running their models multiple times and find that the average (mean) of the results show the projected future temperatures are below the results from single runs.

Fred Singer has pointed out that multiple runs for chaotic models are necessary before the results converge on a model mean. The results do not imply that the mean of the multiple runs of the model are related to nature. The models have not been shown to successfully capture natural climate change. As long as modelers limit the data to recent climate history, they will not.

Although the article does not discuss it, at least it demonstrates that the certainty expressed by the IPCC and its followers in the findings of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) is misplaced. Now if only Nature will retract the article on the thoroughly discredited hockey-stick. Please see links under Climategate Continued and Model Issues.

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DOE: As some members of the climate establishment are realizing that something is wrong with the finding in the IPCC AR4, the US Department of Energy published a report titled U.S. Energy Sector Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather. The goal of building greater resilience in the US energy sector is laudable, but it is overshadowed by the extremist statements in the report. The report repeats the litany of dire events in the future as reported previously by NOAA, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), EPA, and the US Global Climate Research Program (USGCRP). As discussed in prior TWTWs, these reports contain some excellent science, but the conclusions are not substantiated by the science, which often contradicts the dire claims made.

Among the highly questionable findings are increases in temperatures for the period 2021 to 2050. They are projected to increase between 2.5ºF to 2.9ºF (1.4ºC to 1.9ºC).

Intense storms and flooding (as well as droughts) are projected to increase – by 67% in the northeast and the mid-Atlantic seaboard by the end of the century. Category 4 & 5 hurricanes are projected to increase by over 75% — by the period in 2081 to 2100. The National Weather Service cannot forecast hurricanes a decade in advance, but now DOE is asserting forecasts seven decades in advance.

Sea levels are projected rise by 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 meters) by the end of the century. The statement is couched in with the phrase “is plausible.” It is also plausible that by the end of the century a massive meteor will hit the Atlantic and wipe out the entire US Eastern Seaboard.

An appendix presents the likelihood of the outcomes from IPCC AR4, with very likely presented as 90 to 100% probability. Even for this alarmist report the probability estimates are an egregious misrepresentation, because the probabilities are not scientific derived but are opinion.

There is no discussion in the current pause in global warming and the failure to validate the climate models.

With this report, the DOE demonstrates it is one more Federal government agency that has abandoned empirical, physical science for climate alarmism. Please see links under Lowering Standards.

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Murry Salby: Professor Murry Salby, a climate skeptic who questions the claim that human carbon dioxide emissions are causing unprecedented and dangerous global warming (carbon based AGW) presents an extremely disturbing account of his experiences with Macquarie University in Australia, after he was recruited from the US. The response from the University has been weak, at best. Please see links under Suppressing Scientific Inquiry.

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Science Daily: The popular blog, Science Daily, has hit a new low. It quoted sections of an ad hominem (to the man) attack on climate skeptics and failed to state the “expert” quoted was a director of Greenpeace, which was clearly stated in the original piece. Please see link under Communicating Better to the Public – Go Personal.

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NOAA: Some members of Congress has introduced legislation to shift funding to the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from climate research to research in weather prediction. A number of meteorologists state that the weather models NOAA uses are inferior to European models, and several needed weather satellites may go dark before new satellites are launched. On her blog, Judith Curry carries an excellent discussion on the proposed shift. Please see link under Funding Fights.

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Polar Science: Based on 50 to 100 year projections from un-validated models, six months ago NOAA declared the ringed seal are a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. This is similar to the prior listing of the polar bear as threatened. The projections are scientifically unsupported and it now appears that the physical science does not support NOAA’s reasoning that the melting of Arctic ice in the summer presents a hostile environment threatening the bears and their principle food source, the seals. Recent reports state that the summer melt promotes the entire food chain in the Arctic Ocean providing more food for the seals during their heavy feeding season. More seals bearing pups in the spring, provides more food for the bears during their heavy feeding season. Please see links under Models v. Observations.

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Social Benefits of Carbon: We are receiving more reports that enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide is promoting greening of deserts, tree growth using less water, and flowering in the Tropics. The report on flowering in the Tropics suggests the cause is a slight increase in warming of the Tropics. But as reported by Roy Spencer and John Christy, the atmospheric warming over the Tropics is not statistically significant, and, based on experiments, it is more plausible to attribute the increased flowering to enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide. Please see links under Social Benefits of Carbon.

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Hiding in the Deep: We have more reports that climate scientists, such as Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, are claiming that atmospheric and surface warming are hiding in the deep ocean. Given the enormous capacity of the oceans to absorb heat, and the lack of warming of the atmosphere and the surface, why should anyone care about warming? Please see link under Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?

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News? On her web site, Jo Nova brought up an analysis of news stories on the morning and evening US TV news programs by the major networks, ABC, CBS, & NBC, that mentioned climate change or global warming. The analysis covered the period from Jan 1, 2013 to June 15, 2013. All the stories failed to mention a lull or a pause in global warming. So much for news in television news. Please see the direct link under Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?

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Amplifications and Corrections: TWTW reader Christopher Essex, professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Western Ontario, further discusses the folly of attempting to find scientific meaning in an ensemble of un-validated climate models.

“Ensemble averaging does not cleanse models of their fundamental, enormously challenging deficiencies no matter how many realisations are included. As more and more model realisations are rolled into some ad hoc averaging process, there is no mathematical reason whatsoever why the result should converge to the right answer, let alone converge at all in the limit. Why ever would anyone but the most desperate of minds dare to hope otherwise?”

TWTW always appreciates amplifications and corrections.

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Number of the Week: 10 times earlier, now 4 times. Prior reports stated that NOAA had estimated sea level rise by the end of the 21^st century to be 20 cm to 10 times that amount, 200 cm – over 6 feet. As discussed above, according to the new DOE report, it is now estimating a rise of 1 foot to 4 times that amount, 4 feet. With this type of precision passing as scientifically meaning, NOAA should be out of the climate business altogether.

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ARTICLES:

For the numbered articles below please see this week’s TWTW at: www.sepp.org. The articles are at the end of the pdf.

1. China Questions Climate Consensus

By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Jul 11, 2013

http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/07/china_questions_climate_consensus.html

2. Can Environmentalists Think? Think of the Keystone XL pipeline as an IQ test for greens

By Brent Stephens, WSJ, Jul 8, 2013

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323368704578593562819939112.html

3. Exxon: Report Finds Outdated Welding Caused Arkansas Pipeline Rupture

Lab Says Seam Cracks Tied to 1940s Welding Led to March Spill of 5,000 Barrels of Oil

By Alison Sider, WSJ, Jul 11, 2013

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323740804578599921900267376.html?mod=WSJ_Energy_2_4_Right

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Commentary: Is the Sun Rising?

Sun Spots

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Jul 12, 2013

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/sun-spots/

[SEPP Comment: The articles states the last time sun spots were so low was in 1912, at the beginning of a warming trend from about 1910 to 1940. There is much we really don’t know.]

Climategate Continued

Treeline Changes and Altitude Inhomogeneity

By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Jul 7, 2013

http://climateaudit.org/2013/07/07/treeline-changes-and-altitude-inhomogeneity/

[SEPP Comment: The dramatic changes in the altitudes of the treelines in the Polar Urals over time have been largely ignored by those who report tree ring width chronologies. There appears to be major inconsistencies in the results.]

Evasions and Fantasy at Real Climate

By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Jul 10, 2013

http://climateaudit.org/2013/07/10/evasions-and-fantasy-at-real-climate/#more-18063

Suppressing Scientific Inquiry

Is Professor Murry Salby who is critical of AGW theory, being disenfranchised, exiled, from academia in Australia?

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jul 8, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/08/professor-critical-of-agw-theory-being-disenfranchised-exiled-from-academia-in-australia/

Climate Chairman Left High and Dry by University

By Graham Lloyd, The Australian, via GWPF, Jul 12, 2013

http://www.thegwpf.org/climate-chairman-left-high-dry-university/

Macquarie Uni responds to Murry Salby. What they don’t say speaks volumes

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jul 11, 2013

http://joannenova.com.au/2013/07/macquarie-uni-responds-to-murry-salby-what-they-dont-say-speaks-volumes/

Challenging the Orthodoxy

Great News from Greenland

By Patrick Michaels, WUWT, Jul 3, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/03/great-news-from-greenland/

Link to paper: Eemian interglacial reconstructed from a Greenland folded ice core.

By Dahl-Jensen, Nature, Jan 23, 2013

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v493/n7433/abs/nature11789.html

Can we really take the ocean’s temperature?

By Bob Carter & John Spooner, Quadrant, July 10, 2013

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2013/07/can-we-really-take-the-ocean-s-temperature

[SEPP Comment: In addition to Bob Carter, there are several scientists authoring parts of the book. John Spooner provides the cartoons. The kindle version of the book is available for $10, saving shipping costs.]

Nobody ever calls the weather average

Review of Taxing Air by Bob Carter and John Spooner

By Matt Ridley, His Blog, Jul 12, 2013

http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/nobody-ever-calls-the-weather-average.aspx

Bob Carter, John Spooner: Taxing Air

Book Review by Luboš Motl, The Reference Frame, Jul 10, 2013

http://motls.blogspot.com/2013/07/bob-carter-john-spooner-taxing-air.html#more

Defending the Orthodoxy

The Right Green Industrial Policies

By Dani Rodrik, Project Syndicate, Jul 11, 2013

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-right-green-industrial-policies-by-dani-rodrik

Obama channels his inner Al Gore in climate change messaging shift

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Jul 6, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/309427-obamas-climate-message-changes-with-push-for-executive-action

Birds outpace climate change to avoid extinction

By Staff Writers, Oxford, UK (SPX), Jul 11, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Birds_outpace_climate_change_to_avoid_extinction_999.html

[SEPP Comment: They have been doing it for millions of years.]

MET Office Denies ‘Soggy Summers’ Forecast

By Staff Writers, GWPF, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.thegwpf.org/met-office-denies-soggy-summer-forecast/

Questioning the Orthodoxy

Does Caring for “the Least of These” Demand Fighting Global Warming?

By David Legates, ICECAP, Jul 12, 2013

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-climate/does_caring_for_the_least_of_these_demand_fighting_global_warming1/

[SEPP Comments: Legates addresses the Evangelical churches which are trying to impose green dictates on poor countries where the poor desperately need energy.]

Dictates From A Climate Change Alternate Universe

By: Art Horn, Energy Tribune, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.energytribune.com/78002/dictates-from-a-climate-change-alternate-universe#sthash.hfvknXih.dpbs

Call for essays: The 2013 Matt Ridley Prize

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jul 6, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/06/call-for-essays-the-2013-matt-ridley-prize/

I may follow the crowd, but not because it’s a crowd

Evidence, not consensus, is what counts

By Matt Ridley, His Blog, Jul 7, 2013

http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/i-may-follow-the-crowd,-but-not-because-it’s-a-crowd.aspx

Impact of Global Warming and Rising CO2 on Methane Emissions from Natural Vegetation,

By Staff Writers, SPPI & CO2 Science, July 10 2013

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/images/stories/papers/originals/warming_nat_veg.pdf

[SEPP Comment: The failure of methane to rise as predicted by many has been perplexing. The paper provides an explanation why increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations may reduce atmospheric methane concentrations.]

Just the facts ma’am

By Staff Writer, ICECAP, Jul 11, 2013

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/just_the_facts_maam1/

Problems in the Orthodoxy

Wildfires may contribute more to global warming than previously predicted

By Staff Writers, Los Alamos NM (SPX), Jul 11, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Wildfires_may_contribute_more_to_global_warming_than_previously_predicted_999.html

Link to paper: Morphology and mixing state of individual freshly emitted wildfire carbonaceous particles

By China, et al., Nature Communications Jul 4, 2013

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/130704/ncomms3122/full/ncomms3122.html

Germany says to pull plug on solar subsidies by 2018

By Staff Writers, Berlin (AFP), July 08, 2013

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Germany_says_to_pull_plug_on_solar_subsidies_by_2018_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Another “great success” story gone bad.]

German energy minister hails ‘success’ of solar subsidy reforms

By Staff Writers, Berlin (UPI), Jul 10, 2013

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/German_energy_minister_hails_success_of_solar_subsidy_reforms_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Cutting subsidies cuts the red ink in supporting solar and costs to consumers.]

Seeking a Common Ground

Axioms of ecological policy

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc, Jul 12, 2013

http://judithcurry.com/2013/07/12/axioms-of-ecological-policy/#more-12184

[SEPP Comment: Curry focuses on the ones that can apply to climate policy. One glaring omission is that policy should not be based on computer models that have not been validated.]

Manufacturing consensus: clinical guidelines

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc., Jul 10, 2013

http://judithcurry.com/2013/07/10/manufacturing-consensus-clinical-guidelines/#more-12154

[SEPP Comment: Lessons for the climate industry, which will likely be ignored by the IPCC and its followers.]

Social Benefits of Carbon

Some Trees Use Less Water Amid Rising Carbon Dioxide, Paper Says

By Justin Gillis, NYT, Jul 10, 2013 [H/t Clyde Spencer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/science/earth/some-trees-use-less-water-amid-rising-carbon-dioxide-paper-says.html?partner=rss&_r=0

Link to paper: Increase in forest water-use efficiency as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations rise

By Keenan, et al., Nature, Jul 10, 2013

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature12291.html

[SEPP Comment: Even the NYT is catching on, grudgingly! All this supports the work of the Idsos at CO2 Science.org.]

 

Deserts ‘greening’ from rising CO2

By Staff Writers, Canberra, Australia (SPX), Jul 10, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Deserts_greening_from_rising_CO2_999.html

Tropical forest blossoms are sensitive to changing climate

By Staff Writers, Santa Barbara CA (SPX), Jul 11, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Tropical_forest_blossoms_are_sensitive_to_changing_climate_999.html

Lowering Standards

Energy Department to boost energy sector climate change efforts

By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jul 11, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/310535-energy-dept-to-boost-energy-sector-climate-change-efforts

Link to study: U.S. Energy Sector Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather

By Staff Writers, DOE, July, 2013

http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/07/f2/20130710-Energy-Sector-Vulnerabilities-Report.pdf

 

Forecast failure: how the Met Office lost touch with reality

Ideology has corrupted a valuable British institution

By Rupert Darwall, Spectator, UK, Jul 13, 2013

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8959941/whats-wrong-with-the-met-office/

UN Charts ‘Unprecedented’ Global Warming

By Alex Morales, Bloomberg, Jul 3, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-03/un-charts-unprecedented-global-warming-since-2000.html

Expanding the Orthodoxy

Obama picks green advocate as Navy energy chief

By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jul 9, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/309771-obama-picks-new-navy-energy-chief

Red Cross cartoon to demystify Pacific climate change

By Staff Writers, Wellington (AFP), July 03, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Red_Cross_cartoon_to_demystify_Pacific_climate_change_999.html

Questioning European Green

Britain’s Gas Chance

By Bjørn Lomborg, Project Syndicate, Jul 12, 2013

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/offshore-wind-power-versus-the-bowland-shale-by-bj-rn-lomborg

Green Deal ‘could lead to deadly summer overheating’

By Brian Wheeler, BBC, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23180965

[SEPP Comment: Overly insulated houses without air conditioning may lead to summertime problems. Also, such efforts may lead to an increase in indoor air pollution.]

Green Jobs

Obama’s Climate Action Plan Will Create Jobs: Study

By Matt Twomey, CNBC, Jul 5, 2013

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100861301

Link to study: Economic Impacts of the NRDC Carbon Standard

By Synapse Energy Economics, Jun 20, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://docs.nrdc.org/energy/files/ene_13070101a.pdf

[SEPP Comment: Unreal! Among other things, job loss in other sectors of the economy must be fully discussed.]

Funding Fights

Climate vs weather prediction: should we rebalance?

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc, Jul 11, 2013

http://judithcurry.com/2013/07/11/climate-vs-weather-prediction-should-we-rebalance/#more-12147

Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?

Deep oceans warming at an alarming rate

By Larry O’Hanlon Discovery News, Jul 11, 2013

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/deep-oceans-warming-alarming-rate-6C10606562#deep-oceans-warming-alarming-rate-6C10606562

The Krebs manoeuvre

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Jul 12, 2013

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2013/7/12/the-krebs-manoeuvre.html

[SEPP Comment: Report the worst and ignore the positive.]

Identifying climate impact hotspots across sectors

By Staff Writers, Potsdam, Germany, (SPX) Jul 04, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Identifying_climate_impact_hotspots_across_sectors_999.html

Link to paper not yet established.

[SEPP Comment: The models cannot model global climate, but use them for local climate anyway?]

Networks Do 92 Climate Change Stories; Fail to Mention ‘Lull’ in Warming All 92 Times

ABC, CBS and NBC ignore ‘mystery’ warming plateau in favor of alarmism about sea levels, allergies, weather

By Julia Seymour, MRC Business and Media Institute, Jun 25, 2013 [H/t Jo Nova]

http://www.mrc.org/bias-numbers/networks-do-92-climate-change-stories-fail-mention-lull-warming-all-92-times

Storm warning: Climate change to spawn more hurricanes

By Doyle Rice, USA Today, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/07/08/climate-change-global-warming-hurricanes/2498611/

Link to paper: Downscaling CMIP5 climate models shows increased tropical cyclone activity over the 21st century

By Kerry Emanuel, PNAS, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/07/05/1301293110.abstract?sid=56d92b1b-9f45-4bab-8a20-f507112592f3

Oh Wait! Bricks and mortar will create warmer nights (weren’t we supposed to blame CO2 for that?)

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jul 9, 2013

http://joannenova.com.au/2013/07/oh-wait-bricks-and-mortar-will-create-warmer-nights-werent-we-supposed-to-blame-co2-for-that/#more-29418

[SEPP Comment: Jo Nova exposes another absurd notion.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.

The Top 5 Lies About Fracking

Explosions, poisons, pollution, cancer, and global warming all considered.

By Ronald Bailey, Reason, Jul 5, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://reason.com/archives/2013/07/05/the-top-5-lies-about-fracking

Fact-Checking ‘Gasland Part II’

Anti-fracking film littered with inaccurate and misleading claims

By Lachlan Markay, Washington Free Beacon, Jul 10, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://freebeacon.com/fact-checking-gasland-part-ii/

Lipstick on a Pig Study

By Josh Bloom, Medical Progress Today, June 28, 2013

http://www.medicalprogresstoday.com/2013/06/lipstick-on-a-pig-study.php

[SEPP Comment: Making things up is not confined to climate science.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Go Personal.

Climate Change Deniers Using Dirty Tricks from ‘Tobacco Wars’, Expert Says

By Staff Writers, Science Daily, Jul 4, 2013 [H/t Tom Sheahen]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130704095132.htm

MEMO: To the Minister for warmism and paranoia

By Michael Kile, Quadrant, AU, Jul 7, 2013

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2013/07/memo-to-the-minister-for-warmism-and-paranoia

[SEPP Comment: Rebutting a speech that only “calm reasoned argument” could combat the “sneering anti-intellectualism” and “postmodernist drivel” of “denialists.”]

Fake polite guys, and Fake “skeptical scientists”: Stephen Emmott tries it on

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jul 7, 2013

http://joannenova.com.au/2013/07/fake-polite-guys-and-fake-skeptical-scientists-stephen-emmott-tries-it-on/#more-29388

Models v. Observations

Why Less Summer Ice Increases Bear Populations

By Jim Steel, WUWT, Jul 6, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/06/why-less-summer-ice-increases-bear-populations/#more-89443

Chukchi/Bering Sea ringed seals doing better despite declines in ice and snow: new study

By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Jul 11, 2013

http://polarbearscience.com/2013/07/11/chukchibering-sea-ringed-seals-doing-better-despite-declines-in-ice-and-snow-new-study/#more-2374

Model Issues

Climate change: The forecast for 2018 is cloudy with record heat

Efforts to predict the near-term climate are taking off, but their record so far has been patchy.

By Jeff Tollefson, Nature, Jul 10, 2013

http://www.nature.com/news/climate-change-the-forecast-for-2018-is-cloudy-with-record-heat-1.13344

The forecast for 2018 is cloudy

”The dramatic warming predicted after 2008 has yet to arrive.”

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Jul 11, 2013

http://judithcurry.com/2013/07/11/the-forecast-for-2018-is-cloudy/#more-12172

[SEPP Comment: Curry’s comments on the above link are at the end.]

Models Fail: Global Land Precipitation & Global Ocean Precipitation

By Bob Tisdale, WUWT, Jul 10, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/10/models-fail-global-land-precipitation-global-ocean-precipitation/

Models Fail: Greenland and Iceland Land Surface Air Temperature Anomalies

By Bob Tisdale, WUWT, Jul 6, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/06/models-fail-greenland-and-iceland-land-surface-air-temperature-anomalies/

Measurement Issues

Analysis of UHI [Urban Heat Island] in South Korea,

By Paul Homewood, WUWT, Jul 10, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/10/analysis-of-uhi-in-south-korea/

Changing Weather

Mesoscale ocean eddies impact weather

By Staff Writers, Zurich, Switzerland (SPX), Jul 10, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Mesoscale_ocean_eddies_impact_weather_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Mesoscale events can range from 5 km to hundreds of km.]

Changing Seas

Ancient forest found preserved under Gulf of Mexico waters

By Staff Writers, Mobile, Ala. (UPI), Jul 9, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Ancient_forest_found_preserved_under_Gulf_of_Mexico_waters_999.html

Corals cozy up with bacterial buddies

By Staff Writers, Cape Cod MA (SPX), Jul 10, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Corals_cozy_up_with_bacterial_buddies_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Along with algae, some corals appear to have a symbiotic relationship with some bacteria.]

Glimpse into the future of acidic oceans shows ecosystems transformed

By Staff Writers, Davis CA (SPX) Jul 10, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Glimpse_into_the_future_of_acidic_oceans_shows_ecosystems_transformed_999.html

[SEPP Comment: The article is misleading by confusing changing alkalinity with changing acidity.]

Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

Scientists Cast Doubt on Theory of What Triggered Antarctic Glaciation

By Staff Writer, U. Texas, Jul 11, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.utexas.edu/news/2013/07/11/scientists-cast-doubt-on-theory-of-what-triggered-antarctic-glaciation/

Link to paper: A potential barrier to deep Antarctic circumpolar flow until the late Miocene?

By Dalziel, et al., Geology, Jul 11, 2013

http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/early/2013/07/10/G34352.1.abstract

In subglacial lake, surprising life goes on

By Staff Writers, Bowling Green OH (SPX), Jul 08, 2013

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/In_subglacial_lake_surprising_life_goes_on_999.html

Link to paper: Subglacial Lake Vostok (Antarctica) Accretion Ice Contains a Diverse Set of Sequences from Aquatic, Marine and Sediment-Inhabiting Bacteria and Eukarya

By Kocer, et al., Plos One, Jul 3, 2013

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0067221

Scientists Image Vast Subglacial Water System Underpinning West Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

By Staff Writers, Austin TX (SPX), Jul 10, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Scientists_Image_Vast_Subglacial_Water_System_Underpinning_West_Antarcticas_Thwaites_Glacier_999.html

Antarctic glacier calves iceberg 8 times as big as Manhattan Island

By Staff Writers, Bremerhaven, Germany, (UPI) Jul 9, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Antarctic_glacier_calves_iceberg_8_times_as_big_as_Manhattan_Island_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Doing what comes naturally – Antarctica is not warming.]

Evidence suggests Antarctic crabs could be native

By Staff Writers, London, UK (SPX), Jul 08, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Evidence_suggests_Antarctic_crabs_could_be_native_999.html

Link to paper: Antarctic Crabs: Invasion or Endurance?

By Griffiths, et al., Plos One, July 3, 2013

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0066981

Changing Earth

1815, 1816 and 1817; A POLAR PUZZLE

By Caleb Shaw, WUWT, Jul 8, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/08/1815-1816-and-1817-a-polar-puzzle/

[SEPP Comment: Asking a serious question while including a bit of humor. Why did the Arctic thaw in the year without a summer? In 1815 Tambora in Indonesia erupted. Was it soot dropping on Arctic ice changing the albedo that caused the ice to melt?]

Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine

Improving crop yields in a world of extreme weather events

By Staff Writers, Riverside, UK (SPX). Jul 04, 2013

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Improving_crop_yields_in_a_world_of_extreme_weather_events_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Useful research diminished by exaggeration about climate.]

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org

Impact of Continental Mass Change on Rate-of-Rise of Sea Level

Reference: Baur, O., Kuhn, M. and Featherstone, W.E. 2013. Continental mass change from GRACE over 2002-2011 and its impact on sea level. Journal of Geodesy 87: 117-125.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jul/9jul2013a1.html

Equatorial Cold Tongue Bias in CGCMs: Its Impact on ENSO

Reference: Vanniere, B., Guilyardi, E., Madec, G., Doblas-Reyes, F.J. and Woolnough, S. 2013. Using seasonal hindcasts to understand the origin of the equatorial cold tongue bias in CGCMs and its impact on ENSO. Climate Dynamics 40: 963-981.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jul/9jul2013a3.html

Life in a Cold and Dark Place: Can It Long Be Maintained in a Warming World?

Reference: McMinn, A. and Martin, A. 2013. Dark survival in a warming world. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 280: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2909

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jul/9jul2013a4.html

Changes in Diurnal Temperature Range and Human Mortality

Reference: Yang, J., Liu, H.-Z., Ou, C.-Q., Lin, G.-Z., Zhou, Q., Shen, G.-C., Chen, P.-Y. and Guo, Y. 2013. Global climate change: Impact of diurnal temperature range on mortality in Guangzhou, China. 2013. Environmental Pollution 175: 131-136

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jul/10jul2013a1.html

The South Asian Monsoon: How Difficult It Has Been to Model

Reference: Bollasina, M.A. and Ming, Y. 2013. The general circulation model precipitation bias over the southwestern equatorial Indian Ocean and its implications for simulating the South Asian monsoon. Climate Dynamics 40: 823-838.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jul/10jul2013a3.html

The Political Games Continue

House Republicans ready attack on Obama’s ‘social cost of carbon’

By Ben Geman, The Hill Jul 12, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/310667-house-gop-readies-attack-on-social-cost-of-carbon-boost

Litigation Issues

Court overturns EPA greenhouse gas rule delay

By Julian Hatten, The Hill, Jul 12, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/310781-court-overturns-epa-greenhouse-gas-rule-delay

[SEPP Comment: EPA cannot grant special favors to biofuels.]

Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes

State of the carbon market in 2013 is so sick the World Bank cancelled the report

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jul 10, 2013

http://joannenova.com.au/2013/07/state-of-the-carbon-market-in-2013-is-so-sick-the-world-bank-cancelled-the-report/

No gain and lots of pain with the ETS

By Peter Lang, Quadrant, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2013/07/no-gain-and-lots-of-pain-with-the-ets

[SEPP Comment: ETS is the emissions trading scheme.]

About-turn on backloading

By Staff Writers, WNN, Jul 4, 2013

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-About_turn_on_backloading-0407137.html

Subsidies and Mandates Forever

It’s Time To Sequester Green Energy Subsidies, Not Mythical Oil And Gas Tax Breaks

By Larry Bell, Forbes, Jul 7, 2013

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/07/07/its-time-to-sequester-green-energy-subsidies-not-mythical-oil-and-gas-tax-breaks/

A Tiny Ray Of Common Sense Shines In Washington

Editorial, IBD, Jul 11, 2013

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/071113-663400-gop-suspends-the-light-bulb-ban.htm

EPA and other Regulators on the March

EPA set to unveil host of new regs

By Julian Hatte, The Hill, Jul 7, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/309397-power-plant-rules-and-more-coming-from-epa-administration

 

Environmental Protection Agency Regulation Intrudes on State Rights

By Staff Writer, NCPA, July 11, 2013

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=23368&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPD

 

EPA sues Oklahoma utility for obeying the law

By David Middleton, WUWT, Jul 10, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/10/epa-sues-ok-utility-for-obeying-the-law/

 

Energy Issues – Non-US

Critique of the UK’s “energy policy” by Ukip energy policy spokesman

By Roger Helmer, No Date

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zy9nFwgX_MFIuUfsj1QK6xEuYrKEO1MaThE-gP_fyBs/edit?pli=1

Holes this size can save UK

Ex-Chancellor tells The Sun he’s backing fracking

By Lord Lawson, The Sun, Jul 9, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/5004124/Fracking-Lord-Lawson.html

[SEPP Comment: A photo of a well bore hole about 12 ¼ inches in diameter.]

“Solar power is Israel’s only alternative”

Renewable Energy Association of Israel Eitan Parnass is playing the security card in trying to overcome bureaucratic indifference.

By Amiram Barkat, Globes, Jul 10, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000861261&fid=1724

[SEPP Comment: A natural gas facility is vulnerable to attack and a solar facility is not?]

Energy Issues — US

Despite Obama’s claims, Department of Energy forecasts suggest that fossil fuels are the energy sources of the future

By Mark Perry, AEI, Jul 9, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.aei-ideas.org/2013/07/despite-obamas-claims-department-of-energy-forecasts-suggest-that-fossil-fuels-are-the-energy-sources-of-the-future/

Energy sources have changed throughout the history of the United States

By Staff Writers, EIA, Jul 3, 2013

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=11951

[SEPP Comment: It is important to note that the EIA has made a determined effort to be independent from political influence, regardless who is president.]

Peak rail?

By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Jul 12, 2013

http://scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/peak-rail

Quebec train disaster highlights pipeline shortage

By Staff Writers, Montreal, July 09, 2013

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Quebec_train_disaster_highlights_pipeline_shortage_999.html

Green Appeasement: Oil, Gas Industry Wasting Billions on ‘Alternatives’

New renewable divisions are about PR, not innovation.

By Anna Franco, PJ Media, Jul 7, 2013

http://pjmedia.com/blog/green-appeasement-oil-gas-industry-wasting-billions-on-alternatives/

Washington’s Control of Energy

In the war on coal, the enemy is us

By David Kreutzer, Washington Times, Jul 3, 2013

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/3/kreutzer-in-the-war-on-coal-the-enemy-is-us/?page=all#pagebreak

Report: Energy Department Sitting on Billions of Dollars in Natural Gas Projects

Approval could add nearly 500,000 jobs, up to $73.6B in revenue

By CJ Ciarmella, Washington Free Beacon, Jul 11, 2013

http://freebeacon.com/report-energy-department-sitting-on-billions-in-dollars-of-natural-gas-projects/

Link to the report: Liquefied Natural Gas: Why Rapid Approval of the Backlog of Export Applications is Important for U.S. Prosperity

By Margo Thorning, American Council for Capital Formation, Jul 11, 2013

http://actonlng.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ACCF-LNG-Margo-Thorning-July-2013.pdf

As The Earth Cools, Obama’s Still Distracted By A Fraudulent Warming Narrative

By Peter Ferrara, Forbes, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2013/07/08/as-the-earth-cools-obamas-still-distracted-by-a-fraudulent-warming-narrative/

[SEPP Comment: A more accurate headline would be: As global warming pauses…]

The Battle for Economic and Energy Freedom

By Marita Noon, Energy Tribune, Jul 10, 2013

http://www.energytribune.com/78085/the-battle-for-economic-and-energy-freedom#sthash.HMUXiQMI.dpbs

DOE to toughen energy efficiency standards for new federal buildings

By Zack Colman The Hill, Jul 8, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/309585-doe-to-toughen-energy-efficiency-standards-for-new-federal-buildings

[SEPP Comment: Good plan, let the government experiment on itself first! Make sure all heating and cooling equipment and elevators are run by wind and solar power.]

Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?

Fracking Pushes U.S. Oil Output to Highest Since 1992

By Asjylyn Loder, Bloomberg Jul 10, 2013

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-10/fracking-pushes-u-s-oil-output-to-highest-since-january-1992.html

Stanford researchers say ‘peak oil’ concerns should ease

By Mark Golden, Stanford Press Release, July 9, 2013

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2013/july/peak-oil-supply-070913.html

Return of King Coal?

Green Dreams in America, Coal in Africa

Obama aims to decrease “carbon pollution” in the U.S., but the dark continent needs coal

By Robert Bryce, NRO, Jul 8, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/352832/green-dreams-america-coal-africa-robert-bryce

Clean Energy Stagnation

Growth in Renewables Outpaced by Fossil Fuels

By Roger Pielke Jr, Breakthrough Institute, Jul 9, 2013

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/voices/roger-pielke-jr/clean-energy-stagnation/

Coal As An Environmental Product (Part II)

By Mary Hutzler, Master Resource, Jul 10, 2013

http://www.masterresource.org/2013/07/coal-environmental-product-ii/#more-26576

Oil Spills, Gas Leaks & Consequences

BP fights ‘feeding frenzy’ of US oil spill claims

By Staff Writers, Washington (AFP), July 08, 2013

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/BP_fights_feeding_frenzy_of_US_oil_spill_claims_999.html

US government assessment of BP oil spill ‘will not account for damage’

Efforts to put a price on damage from disaster fails to capture full extent of environmental losses in Gulf waters

By Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian, UK, Jul 11, 2013

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jul/11/us-assessment-bp-oil-spill-damage

Link to the report: An Ecosystem Services Approach to Assessing the Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

By: Committee on the Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Mississippi Canyon-252 Oil Spill on Ecosystem Services in the Gulf of Mexico; Ocean Studies Board; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Research Council, National Academies Press, 2013

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18387

Treating oil spills with chemical dispersants: Is the cure worse than the ailment?

By Staff Writers, London, UK (SPX), Jul 09, 2013

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Treating_oil_spills_with_chemical_dispersants_Is_the_cure_worse_than_the_ailment_999.html

Nuclear Energy and Fears

Ten Japanese units go for restart

By Staff Writers, WNN, Jul 8, 2013

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Ten_Japanese_units_go_for_restart-0807137.html

[SEPP Comment: About 20,000 died as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. No one has died as a result of accident at Fukushima Daiichi. Yet, 48 nuclear plants remain closed after 2 years.]

Fukushima chief’s cancer: no link to the disaster of 2011

By Staff Writer, ACSH, Jul 10, 2013

http://hsdispatch.com/2013/07/10/fukushima-chiefs-cancer-no-link-to-the-disaster-of-2011/

Japan’s growth in renewable energy dims as nuclear strives for comeback

By Mari Fujisaki, The Asahi Shimbun, Jul 7, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201307070012

Carbon Schemes

Coal emissions to produce biofuel in Australian plant

By Staff Writers, Sydney (UPI), Jul 3, 2013

http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Coal_emissions_to_produce_biofuel_in_Australian_plant_999.html

Health, Energy, and Climate

China ‘free coal’ policy shaves years off life: study

by Staff Writers

Washington (AFP) July 08, 2013

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/China_free_coal_policy_shaves_years_off_life_study_999.html

Link to Study: Evidence on the impact of sustained exposure to air pollution on life expectancy from China’s Huai River policy

By Yuyu Chen, et al., PNAS, July 8, 2013

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/07/03/1300018110

[SEPP Comment: The MIT press release termed the study as “quasi-experimental research.”]

Environmental Industry

The EU’s Fast-Approaching Food Tyranny…EU Undertakes To “Radically Transform” People’s Dietary Habits!

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jul 11, 2013

http://notrickszone.com/2013/07/11/the-eus-fast-approaching-food-tyranny-eu-undertakes-to-dictate-human-food-diets/

[SEPP Comment: First energy, then food, then humanity – for the sake of humanity!]

 

Other Scientific News

Time for a scientific journal Reproducibility Index

By Ivan Oransky, Retraction Watch, Jul 8, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://retractionwatch.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/time-for-a-scientific-journal-reproducibility-index/

[SEPP Comment: Proposing an index to rate journals on how well their papers stand up to scrutiny, particularly are the results reproducible?]

Claim: Faint Young Sun Paradox solved

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jul 9, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/09/claim-faint-young-paradox-solved/

[SEPP Comment: Solved by using un-validated computer models? The solution is 20,000 ppm of CO2 and 1,000 ppm of methane as compared with almost 400 ppm CO2 and 0.7 ppm methane, today. Is the solution unique?]

Length of day governed by Earth’s core processes

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jul 11, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/11/length-of-day-governed-by-earths-core-processes/

No single origin for agriculture in the Fertile Crescent

By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX), Jul 09, 2013

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/No_single_origin_for_agriculture_in_the_Fertile_Crescent_999.html

Other News that May Be of Interest

Propaganda Through The Ages Has Been The Enemy Of Reason

Editorial, IBD, Jul 12, 2013

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/071213-663623-propaganda-makes-free-speech-impossible.htm?p=full

Accused “Fraudster” Heads Two Journals

A Russian researcher suspected of multiple counts of fakery is chief editor of two scientific publications.

By Kerry Grens, The Scientist, Jul 2, 2013 [H/t Catherine French]

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/36299/title/Accused–Fraudster–Heads-Two-Journals/

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Science Speechless Over Embarrassing WWF Claim: Environmental Activists Postulate More Ship Accidents Due To Climate Change

By Sebastian Lüning and Fritz Vahrenholt

Trans. by P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jul 12, 2013

http://notrickszone.com/2013/07/12/embarrassment-to-science-wwf-postulates-climate-change-will-lead-to-more-seafaring-accidents/

Some Kind of Narcissism: WWF Says It’s Saving Life Itself

By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Jul 10, 2013

http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2013/07/10/some-kind-of-narcissism-wwf-says-its-saving-life-itself/

[SEPP Comment: WWF saving life itself! This WWF program is funded by the US Agency for International Development – to stop development?]

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