The McIntyre chronology on the #spiritofmawson 'ship of fools'

Steve McIntyre has taken the time to create a well annotated and sourced timeline on the #spiritofmawson expedition.

He writes:

Like many others, I’ve been intrigued by the misadventures of the Ship of Fools. Dozens of tourist vessels visit the Antarctic without becoming trapped by ice. So it’s entirely valid to inquire into why the one tourist vessel led by a “climate scientist” became trapped by ice.

The leader of the expedition, Chris Turney (also a secondary Climategate correspondent and co-signer of Lewandowsky’s multisignatory letter in the Conversation), claimed that the incident could not have been predicted. He said that they were trapped by a sudden “breakout” of multi-year ice (“fast ice”) that had previously been part of the ice shelf and that there was no way that they could have anticipated this. Turney’s claim has been uncritically accepted by the climate community e.g. Turner of the British Antarctica Survey here.

However, like other recent claims by Turney, this claim is bogus. In fact, Turney was trapped by sea ice that had been mobile throughout December 2013. This can be easily seen by examining readily available MODIS imagery (see MODIS here) leading up to the incident, as I’ll do in today’s post.

Read it all here:

Ship of Fools

 

 

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Curious George
January 15, 2014 12:12 pm

To be precise, the vessel was led by a Prophessor of Climate Change, not a mere “climate scientist” .

Editor
January 15, 2014 12:22 pm

“A Prophessor of Climate Change” creates Prophesies?

January 15, 2014 12:23 pm

Remember the Meme! They have to save their high priests.

Theo Goodwin
January 15, 2014 12:27 pm

Prophessor? He defended his actions by making a claim whose falsity was a matter of official record. He is a Phesser.

J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 12:30 pm
Tom in Florida
January 15, 2014 12:31 pm

I wonder how many times the expression “It’s worse than we thought” was used during this whole fiasco.

Richard D
January 15, 2014 12:36 pm

“So it’s entirely valid to inquire into why the one tourist vessel led by a “climate scientist” became trapped by ice.”
So true and hilarious, too. It’s one big hornswoggle all the way down with these the charlatans.

A Lovell
January 15, 2014 12:39 pm

I’m not sure if it was a typo or not, but I think it’s worth repeating a previous comment.
‘Chris Turney is the git that keeps on giving…………’

J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 12:39 pm

More messages from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Seems to be a journey they never have dreamt of… But they will bear it in the spirit of Mawson.
http://www.sott.net/article/271975-Hilarious-Akademic-Shokalskiy-makes-it-back-to-port-spiritofmawson-ship-of-fools-still-stuck-in-Antarctica
BTW, Spirit of Mawson, this could be a new Longdrink. Or should it called Tequila Icefield? Any idea for recipes?

Jimbo
January 15, 2014 12:41 pm

However, like other recent claims by Turney, this claim is bogus. In fact, Turney was trapped by sea ice that had been mobile throughout December 2013.

Mr. Turkey looks like he’s been trapped again!

January 15, 2014 12:42 pm

It appears he may also have lied about his funding.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/01/chris-turney-lied-support-institutions
Another story worth following up.

Bulaman
January 15, 2014 12:44 pm
J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 12:45 pm

And there is a Russian Mini-Hardrock-Band called Shockalsky Revenge. Some guys from the crew?

Carnwennan
January 15, 2014 12:49 pm

I almost feel sorry for them. Steve McIntyre to warmists must feel like the Eye of Sauron.

J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 12:50 pm

Now they have finally arived … in Wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akademik_Shokalskiy

Kon Dealer
January 15, 2014 12:53 pm

I spent 3 months, on secondment, down in the Antarctic in the mid 1990’s
As my experimental site was on an island, one of the first things we were taught at Rothera Base was about the unpredictability of pack (or drift) ice.
What could be free water could very rapidly become impenetrable ice in a few minutes by a change of tide, or wind direction.
Moreover this ice was mobile and you could be carried, helplessly, many miles- and possibly beyond rescue, if trapped.
Clearly Turney was reckless.
The other thing is organising scientific research. Everything takes longer than you think in the Antarctic.
You simply cannot cruise in, spend a few hours and cruise out again.
Turney is clearly not telling the truth.
This was a (self) publicity trip that went badly wrong. He is now spinning, madly, to extricate himself.
Regrettably he is receiving assistance from those who should (and most likely do) know better (Professor Turner, BAS).

RomanM
January 15, 2014 12:55 pm
Theo Goodwin
January 15, 2014 12:59 pm

What a glorious essay by McIntyre.

J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 1:00 pm

Wanna visit Antarcitca? Last call! two days left to go to the ross sea. The voyage/expedition – no longer in the spirit of mawson but in the wake of Scott and shackleton – starts on 17.1.2014 on the vessel … you guess … Academic Shoklasky!
http://heritage-expeditions.com/trip/wake-scott-and-shackleton-17-january-2014/
Probably the will meet there the icebreaker USS Polar Star… Finally…

graphicconception
January 15, 2014 1:12 pm
Hot under the collar
January 15, 2014 1:14 pm

Steve McIntyre says;
“Guardian photojournalist Laurence Topham became despondent, mourning the narrowness of his
bed and, in particular, the unavailability of peanut butter and banana milkshakes, a circumstance which, in an uncanny, almost eerie, coincidence, replicated the circumstances of the original Mawson expedition, which also lacked peanut butter and banana milkshakes.”
That will keep a few Guardian journalists and readers busy looking for the reference to peanut butter and banana milkshakes in Mawson’s log. : > )

J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 1:22 pm

Latest Antarctic Science Research Results from Prof. Chris Turney:
Global Warming kills Penguin because of too much ice!
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/chris_turney_now_blames_warming_for_trapping_penguins_in_ice_too/
Three years ago Global Warming killed the same penguins because of too little ice. Global Warming is a bitch, isn’t it?

Glenn Dixon
January 15, 2014 1:22 pm

Another victim of his own deluded, arrogant beliefs…they are not just plentiful, but so pervasive that I despair:
Is there ANYONE on the warmist side who is not an incompetent, arrogant fool?
Is there ANYONE on the warmist side who admits to mistakes (or worse) and withdraws erroneous work?

January 15, 2014 1:36 pm

Seems to me that whatever the public cost of this rescue, in the grander scheme of ecomentalist AGW monies is truly peanuts, the return on investment for blowing a massive hole in the warmist position with the general public is phenomenal…

JEM
January 15, 2014 1:37 pm

@J. Herbst – I’d like to think I’m ‘Superior Plus’ but I’m afraid $25K a head isn’t going to work right now.

negrum
January 15, 2014 1:39 pm

Carnwennan says:
January 15, 2014 at 12:49 pm
I almost feel sorry for them. Steve McIntyre to warmists must feel like the Eye of Sauron.
—-l
I see him more as Gandalf with Foe-Hammer – these are not innocent little hobbits on a noble quest 🙂

KNR
January 15, 2014 1:44 pm

Of course its all’ denialist lies ‘ it all went wrong . he always planned to get stuck down there because the ice was melting and he has the models to prove it
As for the BAS , they have really dropped one by rushing in to support the fool , I guess it was a sad little attempt to save face for ‘the cause ‘ by coming up with a desperate way they could blame AGW.

Ack
January 15, 2014 2:21 pm

his climate models said there should be no polar ice left, so why check!

Auto
January 15, 2014 2:23 pm

The whole episode; and I’m glad that all the crews – AS, Snow Dragon, and Aurora Australis (which I visited in the 90s) – appear to be safe, with their ship.
The best outcome I (all of us) can reasonably expect.
But – a minor point to some – it highlights the need to keep a very close eye on what is happening beyond the double-glazed window (or port hole).
Out there, nature [Capitalise? Virtually if you wish] runs the show.
Nature runs the show.
Cameron, D., of Britannia’s Primary School for Elected Beginners, has told a Commons Liaison Committee that Britain is in ‘no danger’ of blackouts.
A ‘risk Britain can’t afford to take’ – well, agreed – but . . . . . .
Nature will decide if we get blackouts . . .
With candles in my drawer, remembering past Labour Governments.
I’m an old fart, who had a Liberal Poster in my window in 1964 and 1966 – Robert Goodall. I’d outgrown that by 1970 – long before I left school or went to sea.
And flashlights round the house, and a battery radio.
Just in case.
And I live in London.
Yeah, THAT London, host of the 2012 Olympics. . . . . . . . . . .
Make of that what you will.
Auto

Mike Jowsey
January 15, 2014 2:33 pm

J. Herbst says:
Spirit of Mawson, this could be a new Longdrink. Or should it called Tequila Icefield? Any idea for recipes?
Fools Paradise: 1 nip Vodka (for the Russion crew); 1 nip White Rum (for the pseudo-sailors); small piece of Ginseng root (for the Chinese helicopter); 1 nip Creme de Menthe (for the refreshing blizzard); Icecubes (preferably pack ice); Topped with beaten eggwhite (for the fluffy nonsense espoused).

Mark Nutley
January 15, 2014 2:34 pm

Posts 1,2 and 4 are the same person, I do not see three different people writing “Prophessor”, socks be bad.

juan slayton
January 15, 2014 2:38 pm

Theo Goodwin says:
Prophessor? He defended his actions by making a claim whose falsity was a matter of official record. He is a Phesser.

Nancy (my English teaching wife) suggests he should be a conphessor.

u.k.(us)
January 15, 2014 2:43 pm

There is a phrase for this type of behavior in aircraft accidents.
Per:
http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Safety-and-Technique/Accident-Analysis/Accident-Statistics/EPilot-Reports/ePilot-ASF-Accident-Reports-Get-Homeitis.aspx
There’s no place like home, but…
Poor judgment combined with a strong desire to get home can be deadly.
and,
“The NTSB determined the cause of this accident to be the pilot’s decision to takeoff and attempt VFR flight into IMC conditions.
VFR flight into IMC continues to be a silent, deadly killer. Although few accidents are a result of VFR into IMC, almost all of them are fatal.”
==========
The huts were the destination (get homeitis), then you need the path out of there.
It all worked out well, rescue teams got to practice, the rescuee’s got taught a lesson.
I don’t imagine anyone will be funding another shipload of such unprepared “scientists”.
Right 🙂

Jenn Oates
January 15, 2014 2:55 pm

This is a very interesting read, thanks for linking to it.

DirkH
January 15, 2014 2:58 pm

J. Herbst says:
January 15, 2014 at 1:22 pm
“Three years ago Global Warming killed the same penguins because of too little ice. Global Warming is a bitch, isn’t it?”
Well, it’s global, so it’s…
bi-polar.

David, UK
January 15, 2014 3:07 pm

Oh jeez, let’s just come out and say it. No point in wrapping it in cotton wool.
He believed his own bullshit.

Jeff
January 15, 2014 3:12 pm

“J. Herbst says:
January 15, 2014 at 12:39 pm
More messages from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Seems to be a journey they never have dreamt of… But they will bear it in the spirit of Mawson.
http://www.sott.net/article/271975-Hilarious-Akademic-Shokalskiy-makes-it-back-to-port-spiritofmawson-ship-of-fools-still-stuck-in-Antarctica
BTW, Spirit of Mawson, this could be a new Longdrink. Or should it called Tequila Icefield? Any idea for recipes?”
Here’s one from wildturkeybouron.com.AU (local, even….)
http://www.wildturkeybourbon.com.au/cocktail-recipes/
PASS THE TURKEY
45ml Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
60ml apple cider
1 tbs cranberry jelly
1 sprig fresh sage
1 sprig fresh thyme
Muddle sage and thyme with apple cider. Add ice, top with Wild Turkey and cranberry jelly. Shake well, strain over ice in a glass rimmed with turkey jus and breadcrumbs.
seems especially fitting because of the holidays, and
Apple, because of the preponderance of devices in their “meda center”,
Sage, because they needed one, and either didn’t have one or ignored them,
Thyme, because they were running out of it (and ignored it),
Jelly, because it’s also lonely for its peanut butter,
Breadcrumbs, because that’s what would have been left of the food in a few weeks, and
Wild Turkey, well, because…..
and maybe this one I thought up (but wouldn’t dare drink 🙂 )….
Spirit of Mawson
52 parts Wild Turkey
22 parts finest Vodka
Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of Rum
with a twist of Olive(r)
LOTS of fast and movable ice, stirred, and perhaps shaken, as well…..

RichardLH
January 15, 2014 3:38 pm

I do love the Guardian’s coverage of this whole event. They so far have resisted placing any blame on Turney for the problems the expedition found themselves in.
But I do have to wonder about the sub-editors back home in Blighty.
One the recent pieces from the reporters there is headlined
“Eternal sunshine and confused minds in Antarctica”
All about 24 jour sunshine but you do have to laugh.
http://www.theguardian.com/science/antarctica-live/2014/jan/09/eternal-sunshine-confused-minds-antarctica

Bill Illis
January 15, 2014 3:56 pm

Let’s face it, they went down there to come back with all kinds of Antarctica is melting, global warming scare stories.
Well, it backfired on them spectacularly and the sordid tale will now join the long list of global warming science laughable moments. Growing by the day.

Craig Moore
January 15, 2014 4:26 pm

Oh how the worm Turneys.

lee
January 15, 2014 5:18 pm

Seeing as they were to sample ice core data- how long does it take to set up a drill rig in the Antarctic?

KJ
January 15, 2014 5:21 pm

It is probable that the Guardian/BBC connections with this bungled escapade will circle the wagons and try to ensure that only CAGW media types are given access to these scientourists after their arrival in Hobart.
This UNSW initiative should be probed intensively by real investigative journalism – what little still exists in these PC times.
It’s time to strike while the irony is hot, so to speak!

Scute
January 15, 2014 6:07 pm

[I’m on an iPhone]
I’ve got a problem: I clicked on the link to read the rest but when I get to the post on climate audit the post is offset to the left, obscuring half the column. The climate audit heading and page list are centred, no problem, it’s just the article text. Is there something wrong with the link?

Steve O
January 15, 2014 6:19 pm

Dishonesty from a climate scientist? Go on!

hunter
January 15, 2014 6:23 pm

It is a failed quest. Think of MontyPython and the Holy Grail.
The questionis will this debacle inspire any of the participants to go public with the charlie foxtrot and madeness thatis obviouslyTurney’s style?
If so,this story could grow some legs, so to speak.

FrankK
January 15, 2014 6:24 pm

The following comment made by Steve M is particularly relevant and indicates that all the talk and excuses about how the turkeys got stuck in a floating ice pack of whatever origin is basically a red herring.
“Turney’s plight drew attention to the remarkable fact (not previously known to skeptic blogs) that Mawson had sailed directly into Commonwealth Bay, which was now blocked for 60 km by permanent ice, with Mawson’s entry to Commonwealth Bay even being recorded in an early movie.”
In other words the permanent ice conditions present now were not present when Mawson entered the Bay. That is, ice conditions in the Antarctic are indeed at record levels and have not been influenced by “global warming”, quite the contrary – full stop.

Theo Goodwin
January 15, 2014 6:47 pm

juan slayton says:
January 15, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Give Nancy a “Well Done. “ConPhesser” just keeps on giving.

Pamela Gray
January 15, 2014 6:51 pm

Scute: you think YOU have a problem! I clicked on the McIntyre’s site and now have red wine spewed all over my computer screen!!!!

Richard G
January 15, 2014 7:44 pm

Spirit of Mawson: 1 tall glass of crushed ice, 1 empty bottle of booze.
(May Day, May Day, The bar has run dry!)

Terry
January 15, 2014 7:47 pm

Hot under the collar says:
January 15, 2014 at 1:14 pm
I fractured a rib a few days ago. It hurts a lot more after reading this. lmfao.

Tom J
January 15, 2014 7:57 pm

Pamela Gray
January 15, 2014 at 6:51 pm
says:
‘Scute: you think YOU have a problem! I clicked on the McIntyre’s site and now have red wine spewed all over my computer screen!!!!’
That’s good to hear. Since you told me I owed you one I’ve been saving up my money for a long time to buy you one so it’s nice to know it’s now McIntyre’s responsibility.
BTW: I have the same problem Scute has and I thought it was just me.

jdgalt
January 15, 2014 8:39 pm

Did this ice come loose as a result of melting in Antarctica? Because I’m sure that’s what the warmists will say, that it proves they were right rather than proving they were fools.

pat
January 15, 2014 9:27 pm

in Steve’s comments, someone mentions Alok Jha’s article about Turney & Carbonscape way back in 2009. the ever-incestuous CAGW crowd! here’s the link.
2009: Guardian: Alok Jha: ‘Biochar’ goes industrial with giant microwaves to lock carbon in charcoal
Climate expert claims to have developed cleanest way of fixing CO2 in ‘biochar’ for burial on an industrial scale
Chris Turney, a professor of geography at the University of Exeter, said that by burying the charcoal produced from microwaved wood, the carbon dioxide absorbed by a tree as it grows can remain safely locked away for thousands of years. The technique could take out billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year…
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/mar/13/charcoal-carbon
i’ve also posted the following in the comments, as someone mentioned it without giving a link:
LINK for New Zealand Dept. of Conservation’s denial of support for the Expedition.
http://taxpayers.org.nz/blogs/news/11472529-good-work-doc-but-questions-about-aae-claiming-support

Colorado Wellington
January 15, 2014 9:44 pm

@Scute
J
@Pamela Gray
Re: iPhone browser problem with climateaudit.org (and other display mishaps)
Climate Audit has had a problem with the iPhone browser for a while. I think it is caused by the site detecting a mobile device and sending a different “mobile-specific” output that unfortunately doesn’t format properly.
Workaround: If you fast-scroll to the bottom of Steve’s page on an iPhone you will see the “View Full Site” hyperlink. Clicking on it will bring up the full site that formats properly. The page will now show the reverse hyperlink “View Mobile Site”. By clicking on it you would receive the unreadable mobile format again.
P.S. There is no solution to Pamela’s screen problem which is intrinsic to any inquiry into the esteemed professor’s excellent adventures in particular and CAGW in general. It occurs suddenly and without warning. I keep kitchen rags at hand.

u.k.(us)
January 15, 2014 10:18 pm

jdgalt says:
January 15, 2014 at 8:39 pm
Did this ice come loose as a result of melting in Antarctica? Because I’m sure that’s what the warmists will say, that it proves they were right rather than proving they were fools.
=========
It’s Her job to kill the weak ones, She tried.

J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 11:31 pm

Why will somebody stick to his (possibly wrong) decisions or point of view? Because he always will search for something which supports it. As does Turney.
https://twitter.com/ProfChrisTurney/status/421915132373921794
And he gets a lot of angry respones. I wouldn’d feel well being him…. Here is his supporting science paper:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jqs.2683/full
ABSTRACT
The stability of Antarctic ice sheets and their potential contribution to sea level under projected future warming remains highly uncertain. The Last Interglacial (135 000–116 000 years ago) provides a potential analogue, with global temperatures 2 °C higher and rates of sea-level rise >5.6 m ka−1, leading to sea levels 6.6–9.4 m higher than present. The source(s) of this sea-level rise remain fiercely debated. Here we report a series of independent model simulations exploring the effects of migrating Southern Hemisphere Westerlies (SHWs) on Southern Ocean circulation and Antarctic ice-sheet dynamics. We suggest that southerly shifts in winds may have significantly impacted the sub-polar gyres, inducing pervasive warming (0.2–0.8 °C in the upper 1200 m) adjacent to sectors of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS), which due to their geometries and connectivity to the Southern Ocean are highly sensitive to ocean forcing. We conclude that the EAIS potentially made a substantial, hitherto unsuspected, contribution to interglacial sea levels, and given 21st-century projections in the Southern Annular Mode and associated SHW migration, we highlight how pervasive circum-Antarctic warming may threaten EAIS stability.
Kind of research stuff of “What will will happen if something will happen”.
As Global Warming is reality for them, any conclusion based on that believe will be support for them.

J. Herbst
January 15, 2014 11:51 pm

Longing to see Antarctica?
The Turney voyage costed 1.5 Millions +++ (Rescue etc..)
There are cheaper offers now:
Highlights of Antarctiaca starts from 4720 bucks.
But the Shackleton Odysey will cost you dear: 11900 bucks
Still cheaper than the Tuney Odysey…
http://www.worldexpeditions.com/uk/index.php?section=about_us&id=363722
Plus: These travels are annouced to be green and responsibel… Who knows?

January 16, 2014 12:24 am

It seems that John Turner of the British Antarctic Survey has some difficult questions to answer about his competence and independence.
He seems a very gullible and ill-informed chap.
Not sure he’s the sort you’ld want to rely on in a hostile environment.

Jimbo
January 16, 2014 12:38 am

Steve McIntyre has given the frozen Mr. McTurkey a good grilling.
J. Herbst says:”……And he gets a lot of angry respones. I wouldn’d feel well being him…. Here is his supporting science paper:…..”
Mr. Turkey points to East Antarctica’s ice sensitivity to ocean warming and sea level rise to back his alarmist rubbish. He probably missed this paper just like he missed the sea ice that trapped his butt.

7 JUN 2013
Recent snowfall anomalies in Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, in a historical and future climate perspective
[1] Enhanced snowfall on the East Antarctic ice sheet is projected to significantly mitigate 21st century global sea level rise. In recent years (2009 and 2011), regionally extreme snowfall anomalies in Dronning Maud Land, in the Atlantic sector of East Antarctica, have been observed. It has been unclear, however, whether these anomalies can be ascribed to natural decadal variability, or whether they could signal the beginning of a long-term increase of snowfall……….
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume 40, Issue 11, pages 2684–2688, 16 June 2013
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/grl.50559/abstract

The IPCC says they don’t know why Antarctica sea ice extent is so high. The IPCC projects more snow for Antarctica at the end of this century. The point is they need to let go of Antarctica, there is nothing alarming going on there at all, no matter how hard and fast they wave their arms and heads.

Jimbo
January 16, 2014 12:54 am

Questions are being asked of Chris Turney.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/01/chris-turney-lied-support-institutions/
Swimming fish frozen by surprise just of the coast of the island of Lovund, Norway. Images provided.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/it-got-so-cold-so-quickly-in-this-norweigan-bay-that-it-froze-a-bunch-of-fish-swimming-in-it-232504960.html

Jimbo
January 16, 2014 1:00 am

A rebuttal in Nature from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) who are not too pleased about Mr. Turkey’s earlier Nature article. Ouch!

Nature – 15 January, 2014
…On page 291 of this issue, Nick Gales, chief scientist of the AAD, which is based in Kingston, Tasmania, responds to an earlier Nature column by expedition head Chris Turney of the University of New South Wales (see Nature 505, 133; 2014)….
http://www.nature.com/news/researchers-question-rescued-polar-expedition-1.14510

ConfusedPhoton
January 16, 2014 1:30 am

Steve McIntyre’s forensic analysis of the timeline of event is very good, Though, I am still at a loss as to why they were caught in the ice. My experience of Russian captains who work in the polar oceans, are that they are very experienced with a good record of safety. It is surprising that the captain did not take the appropriate action to avoid being trapped. It was the captain’s decision to call for a rescue and it should have been his decision to ask for the tourists evacuation. Although with hindsight the ship did not appear to be in significant danger. The inquiry should shed light on some of these questions.

Gail Combs
January 16, 2014 2:04 am

Mark Nutley says:
January 15, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Posts 1,2 and 4 are the same person, I do not see three different people writing “Prophessor”, socks be bad.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Prophessor” comes from a comment made on Steve’s Climate Audit site by Curious George
Posted Jan 15, 2014 at 3:17 PM who also made the comment here.
You also need to look at the time stamps.
Curious George January 15, 2014 at 12:12 pm (Who comments frequently at Jo Nova’s site.)
Ric Werme says: @ January 15, 2014 at 12:22 pm who does the guide to WUWT: http://home.comcast.net/~ewerme/wuwt/index.html
Theo Goodwin says: @ January 15, 2014 at 12:27 pm

Gail Combs
January 16, 2014 2:23 am

Theo Goodwin says: @ January 15, 2014 at 6:47 pm
juan slayton says: @ January 15, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Give Nancy a “Well Done. “ConPhesser” just keeps on giving.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So that makes him ConPhesser Chris(tmas) Turkey. The gift that just keeps on giving.
“The Sip of Fools”
1 banana mashed with peanut butter, add 42 jiggers of Wild Turkey, 22 jiggers of the finest Russian Vodka ( Smirnoff of course) shake vigorously with lots of ice and top with fluffy whipped cream to conceal the real contents. Serve in a punch bowl.

January 16, 2014 2:33 am

Getting stuck in Anarctic pack ice is not unusal. The Aurora Australis was stuck for three weeks into December which is the major cause the slippage in its schedule. A tourist ship with 100 on board, a Russian icebreaker, the Kapitan Khlebnikov was caught in 2009.
Of course, such inconvenient facts are not to be mentioned.

Gail Combs
January 16, 2014 2:51 am

Jimbo says: @ January 16, 2014 at 12:54 am
..Swimming fish frozen by surprise just of the coast of the island of Lovund, Norway. Images provided.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/oddnews/it-got-so-cold-so-quickly-in-this-norweigan-bay-that-it-froze-a-bunch-of-fish-swimming-in-it-23
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Incredible photos. The photo of the moose frozen in the lake at the bottom of the page, reminds me of the mammoth found frozen with buttercups in the mouth.

Steve
January 16, 2014 3:31 am

Jimbo says:
January 16, 2014 at 12:38 am
…no matter how hard and fast they wave their arms and heads.
***********************************
Bet that’s what those tourists were doing when they saw the Chinese helicopter.

Rob Ricket
January 16, 2014 6:13 am

Turney is clearly delusional and in denial:
“Alongside the daily programme of talks, the team have been working hard on the analysis of the scientific data we have collected. Erik and Chris have been working on the salinity and temperature analyses made during the voyage south and around Commonwealth Bay. Chris Fogwill has been drilling down with New Zealand and German colleagues into the origins of the sea ice breakout event that trapped the Shokalskiy.”
http://www.spiritofmawson.com/846/
Here we see that Turney’s concern for the evils of CO2 takes a backseat to his affection for the coin:
Kiwi Company Claims World First for Charcoal
A world-first invention was unveiled in Blenheim in New Zealand this week with a multi-billion dollar earning potential and the ability to impact on carbon capture on a global scale. Carbonscape has developed and patented a process for manufacturing charcoal using microwave energy – a vastly more energy efficient process than what is currently used.
The company has begun batch-scale production but hopes to raise capital to scale up to a fully-integrated continuous production. Carbonscape says that its technology can address existing biowaste streams and that it has been invited to its their technology on pine waste on site in commercial forests.
Turney’s introduction to the concept:
charcoalFortunately, however, we know from scientific studies that charcoal can store carbon for thousands of years. Ancient fires preserved in archaeological sites, including those found with ancient human remains, show carbon can be stable for thousands of years. This is because charcoal is highly resistant to microbial breakdown. Once formed, the charcoal effectively keeps the carbon out of the atmosphere and ocean for virtually indefinite periods.
We’ve taken this idea a step further at Carbonscape. Developing an industrial-scale unit, we’re converting wood waste and other biomass into charcoal. Our proprietary industrial microwave technology means that in spite of the energy used during production, the carbon captured draws down significantly more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces. Each industrial-scale unit converts 40-50% of wood debris into charcoal; one tonne of carbon dioxide can be fixed as charcoal per day. By converting carbon in organic material to charcoal, it can be then put into the ground where it does the most good.
At Carbonscape we hope we’re adding a new commercial reason for reforestation. Once wood has been turned into charcoal, the cleared area can be replanted, allowing us to repeat the process when the plants have matured, effectively sucking yet more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. A great example is the USA: if the 200 million hectares of forest used for timber production were turned to charcoal instead, each crop rotation would help bring carbon dioxide levels down by some 10 parts per million. And it’s not just potatoes or wood that can be turned into charcoal: other organic material (even sewage) can be turned into a permanent carbon sink.
The possibilities for fixing carbon are truly enormous.
http://www.rexresearch.com/carbonscape/carbonscape.htm
The man is clearly demented if he seriously thinks we should grow forests of trees to burn off in microwave ovens. Furthermore, the entire notion belies an elementary knowledge of Chemistry. That is to say, the process of “microwaving” organic materials must release CO2 in the same way a wood fire releases CO2. Accordingly, it should come as no shock that the Carbonscape website is no longer functioning:
http://carbonscape.com/

DCA
January 16, 2014 7:07 am

The Nature articles have a certain defender for Turney, Nathan or Nate Drake. He has made more comments than all the others combined and has written what seems like more than twice the number of words as all others.
I posted a few comments about his constant .use of the “D” word and also posted a link to this blog in which he refers to Steve as a “funded science denialist, and his claims have been debunked by peer-reviewed literature ad nauseam.” He also refers to Steve as “a economist and not a scientist”.
I also questioned him about his name “Nathan Drake” which is a toy action figure and he claimed it was his own. Richard Tol replied, “Below you write “[Nathan Drake] is my real name”. Above you write you are “an oceanographer with over a decade of experience with shipborne research”. There are no oceanographers called Nathan Drake known to any search engine.” I believe him to be a paid PR hack perhaps hired by Turney or “The Team” to defend their antics.
Perhaps others can visit the Nature article to defend Steve’s good name.
http://www.nature.com/news/this-was-no-antarctic-pleasure-cruise-1.14466
http://www.nature.com/news/researchers-question-rescued-polar-expedition-1.14510

Steve
January 16, 2014 7:32 am

DCA says:
January 16, 2014 at 7:07 am
Onto it. This will be fun. /no sarc

Jeff
January 16, 2014 7:39 am

One wonders if “Nathan Drake” is Turney himself….

January 16, 2014 9:05 am

Eli the Annoying Bunnyboi,
It is about stupidity and rank hypocrisy. Those eco-loons either believed their own nonsense — that the Antarctic was ice free, and they thought they were smart, or they were out to show the world they were right.
Neither one was true.

mpainter
January 16, 2014 9:06 am

Chris Turney: another global warming fool who makes an ass of himself, scientific and otherwise.
But there is no shortage of those, is there? They make piss-poor science but good viewing.

Sherp
January 16, 2014 11:20 am

This has been and continues to be so much fun. No holiday dull drums here thanks to the “fools”. Another 7 days for them tossing and turning on the icebreaker. “Who’s idea was it to take a helicopter?”

Resourceguy
January 16, 2014 11:24 am

Now send the bill for $3.0 million for rescue costs and related expenses and show the penalty amount after the due date.

January 16, 2014 11:42 am

Eli Rabett says at January 16, 2014 at 2:33 am

Getting stuck in Anarctic pack ice is not unusal. The Aurora Australis was stuck for three weeks into December which is the major cause the slippage in its schedule. A tourist ship with 100 on board, a Russian icebreaker, the Kapitan Khlebnikov was caught in 2009.
Of course, such inconvenient facts are not to be mentioned.

But Mawson was not caught in ice a century ago.
What has changed?
And why do the computer models not explain it?
And why do they predict the ice extent should actually be lessening?
And why would anyone not keep their powder dry over such a terrible blunder as the microwaved charcoal salesman’s dodgy tour guide show – are you that partisan?

Colorado Wellington
January 16, 2014 12:02 pm

Eli Rabett says:
January 16, 2014 at 2:33 am

Let me apply your logic to a comparable situation in Colorado Rockies, Eli.
Responder says: “Guy’s a moron. Went to the back country with his kids and a party of amateurs. Did not have the required equipment, did not have the right maps, did not understand how quickly the weather could turn and cut them off, disregarded people telling him a blizzard was coming and avalanche danger was high. Got stuck and called 911 on his cell phone. All the nearby mountain search & rescue agencies were called. They all dropped what they were doing and got out in a hurry but conditions got so bad they couldn’t get to him. Got stuck themselves for a while. Dispatch was working the incident around the clock for weeks; teams trying to get through the snow. The guy’s giddy the whole time, doesn’t get what a mess he got himself and others into. Says he’s there on a scientific mission. Finally the weather eased up a little but the only way to get them out was extraction by helicopter. Had to fly them to a collection area first before starting on getting them slowly out of the mountains. Pure luck there was no code black on this one. None of the agencies know yet who will cover the massive costs and everybody is pissed. Other work did not get done. As I said, a herd of fools.”
Eli says: “Getting stuck in Colorado’s back country is not unusual. Even one of the best-equipped professional search & rescue teams was stuck there recently. And a larger group with all the right gear got stuck there in 2009.
Of course, such inconvenient facts are not to be mentioned.”

Do you get what you said there? Do you think the guys who had to go in—or the people who will be stuck with the bills—would tell you to shove it where the sun don’t shine?

J. Herbst
January 16, 2014 1:15 pm

Revealing the Great Mystery:
Why sent the Russian Captain a distress call?
Why why got the Shokalsky free from the ice after the Climate-Aussies came off board?
SOLVING Nr 1.
We know since biblical times that the crew of heathen ships always asked the Gods who’s fault it was, when a misfortune arrived. Especially when the passengers were Prophets of change and doom, they just pushed them over board. Check the Book Jonah. Possibly the Russian tried to appease Nature by getting rid of them…..
SOLVING Nr 2.
The captain of the Shokalsky has as very tight schedule in his business as a regular shuttle for travellers, adventurers and hobby-scientists to Antarctica and back. Tomorrow on 17th January he will have his next drive to the way station in the Ross Sea (prices between 20000 to 30000 USD pp).
http://heritage-expeditions.com/trip/wake-scott-and-shackleton-17-january-2014/
As the AAExpetition had planned further research on various islands on the way back to NewZealand, he feared further disturbance though delayed departures, and used this opportunity to get rid of that plague, avoiding to loose the money of the dear paying guests on the next drive.
SOLVING Nr. 3.
In a metaphysical way, seekers of the holy grail and prophets of godly messages need some rectification and epiphany to get their words and stance right. Possibly in the same way like Jonah, wo was brought by the big fish on land an had to gain some experience and wisdom there, Turney & Cie will have to learn even more after they arrive there. And I think some of the expeditors will already have gone through some mind-change, or will do when they make a follow-up what’s written in the web and press about them…
BTW: Everytime when I read something about Turney and his Expedition, I expected something funny – and yes, it arrived straight. But even the first time when I heard it (in German Radio) I had to laugh about it, and it was an exiting holiday, because always something new followed (Most of it from WUWT). They are not yet at home, so the question is: What’s next?

Gail Combs
January 16, 2014 3:05 pm

J. Herbst says: @ January 16, 2014 at 1:15 pm
….hey are not yet at home, so the question is: What’s next?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The shower of turkey feathers from the welcoming crowds as they boo and hiss…
(Well I can dream can’t I? I did wish on Christmas that the warmists have a cold and snowy New Year and Ma Nature seems to have heard me.)

Jeff
January 16, 2014 4:44 pm

Another question to be asked or Turney (from Ernie or Dean), substitute ice for sand:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8yI2A0QUtM]

Grey Lensman
January 17, 2014 1:47 am

This whole “Carbonscape” thing worries me. If I make charcoal in my microwave and I have done it a few times, am I breaching his patent? If yes, how did he get a patent in the first place.
Now as I understand it, making charcoal is cheap and very simple, burn a few sticks of wood to heat wood in an oxygen free retort. Very green, they want to burn wood to make power on a massive scale. But he uses electricity, at very high cost and unknown origin, to microwave wood to make charcoal that can and is done by very much cheaper and greener processes. Plus he gets huge funding to do it.
If he wants to lock up carbon, sell his charcoal to the compost makers to add into their mixes. Sell it to farmers as a soil fixer but produce it cheaply and from certified waste product.
Seems a Willis type investigation and expose is called for here that ties all these loose ends together.

J. Herbst
January 17, 2014 5:15 am

Grey Lensman says:
January 17, 2014 at 1:47 am
This whole “Carbonscape” thing worries me. If I make charcoal in my microwave and I have done it a few times, am I breaching his patent? If yes, how did he get a patent in the first place.
———–
I think there is a difference: In a normal charcoal production, you will have left over only charcoal and tar, as some of the volatilas are burned. But by bringing the heat from outside (microwaves), you can collect everthing even the volatiles, which can be used for chemisty or varous products. And you can convert any plant matter or waste into charcoal powder.
If this business is paying for itself, thats another question. Maybe it was the idea to trap CO2 as carbon powder and dig it in the soil, just another kind of CCS. Maybe the Idea is todo this in change of CO2 emission rights… But The problem is:
You have to plant trees, or you have to get lots of waste to reduce CO2 from the atmosphere.
Everywhere plants or trees are grown for constuction and furniture or for energy. There is simply not enough area for additional biomass production. And even the waste is used already to a high degree, So this is just something to replace something which is already well established.
What I (and some others) do: I build houses out of massive wood, which will last for centuries. Its a good investment, and for those who like to store CO2 (which not means that I believe much in the role of CO2), yes it’s inside the walls and roofs of the house, for a long time.

RichardLH
January 17, 2014 12:20 pm

Eli Rabett says:
January 16, 2014 at 2:33 am
“Getting stuck in Anarctic pack ice is not unusual.”
Getting rescued from Antarctic pack ice is however!