Category Archives: Obvious science

Water evaporated from trees cools global climate

From the Carnegie Institution – maybe we should build more cooling towers. Washington, DC. — Scientists have long debated about the impact on global climate of water evaporated from vegetation. New research from Carnegie’s Global Ecology department concludes that evaporated … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Obvious science | Tagged , , | 106 Comments

Montana’s new big sky discovery – El Niño casts a wide net

From Montana State University  and the “weather is not climate” department: Montana State researcher discovers link between Montana weather, ocean near Peru BOZEMAN, Mont. – A Montana State University researcher who analyzed 100 years of data has found a significant … Continue reading

Posted in ENSO, Obvious science | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Mapping the guilt of fruits and vegetables out of state

From DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, probably the biggest load of crap I’ve seen in quite some time. I realize that’s harsh,  and I don’t think I’ve ever used that sentence to describe a scientific study, but there’s really no other … Continue reading

Posted in Agriculture, carbon footprint, Obvious science | Tagged , , | 94 Comments

Breaking news! Trees store carbon!

Who would have ever guessed trees store carbon by utilizing the gas of plant photosynthesis, carbon dioxide, and in an “immense, profound” way? From the Institute of Arctic Biology, where they seem to see no positive benefit to this, but … Continue reading

Posted in Obvious science | Tagged | 81 Comments

Robust uncertainty

There’s nothing like conflicting your title in your own press release. From the University of Wisconsin-Madison Climate change reducing ocean’s carbon dioxide uptake MADISON – How deep is the ocean’s capacity to buffer against climate change? As one of the … Continue reading

Posted in Carbon dioxide, Obvious science | Tagged , , , , | 66 Comments

Gee, ya think? Proof of what many have said for years

From Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News Mercury vapor released from broken compact fluorescent light bulbs can exceed safe exposure levels New Rochelle, NY, July, 6, 2011—Once broken, a compact fluorescent light bulb continuously releases mercury vapor into the air … Continue reading

Posted in Obvious science | 58 Comments

Cleaner air may result in increased solar insolation and therefore warming.

This makes me wonder if the temperature dip in the 1970′s where everyone was worried about global cooling wasn’t partially driven by atmospheric aerosols. With the advent of pollution controls, certainly we have cleaner (and more optically transparent) skies since … Continue reading

Posted in aerosols, Obvious science | Tagged , , | 116 Comments

Oh Noes! Climatic monetary disruption seen in US economy

Weather affects business, and “It’s clear that our economy isn’t weatherproof,”. Gosh, who knew? For some monetary perspective on this issue, please note that Obama’s economic stimulus package was $787 billion (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) and it … Continue reading

Posted in Obvious science, politics, satire | Tagged | 83 Comments

One more reason to say asphalt affects local weather

Paved surfaces can foster build-up of polluted air From the National Center for Atmospheric Research BOULDER—New research focusing on the Houston area suggests that widespread urban development alters weather patterns in a way that can make it easier for pollutants … Continue reading

Posted in Obvious science | Tagged , , | 33 Comments

Warmer temperatures stimulate the gain of carbon stored in trees

Global Warming May Affect the Capacity of Trees to Store Carbon, MBL Study Finds WOODS HOLE, MA—One helpful action anyone can take in response to global warming is to plant trees and preserve forests. Trees and plants capture carbon dioxide … Continue reading

Posted in carbon sequestration, Obvious science, Science | 79 Comments

Stunning discovery by USFS and AP: dead trees burn faster

Yeegads. The serial regurgitation in media is impressive.  Here’s the money quote:

Posted in Obvious science | Tagged , , | 101 Comments

The name game of climate change

From the: University of Michigan It’s all in a name: ‘Global warming’ vs. ‘climate change’ ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Many Americans are skeptical about whether the world’s weather is changing, but apparently the degree of skepticism varies systematically depending on what that … Continue reading

Posted in Climate News, Obvious science | Tagged , , , | 120 Comments

One more thing to worry about: cloud light pollution amplification

Clouds amplify ecological light pollution The brightness of the nightly sky glow over major cities has been shown to depend strongly on cloud cover. In natural environments, clouds make the night sky darker by blocking the light of the stars … Continue reading

Posted in Obvious science | Tagged , , | 101 Comments

We had to nuke the planet to save it from global warming

Eric Nielsen writes to me via Facebook: I find it disturbing the National Geographic would suggest something like this Well, um, yeah. This sort of thing is why I don’t subscribe to National Geographic anymore. Could there ever be a … Continue reading

Posted in Obvious science, ridiculae | Tagged , , , | 189 Comments

Things we don’t know – about climate

This is a guest post by Paul Murphy – and I’d like to thank Mr. Watts for giving me this opportunity to present it here. This is a very long post by WUWT standards – nearly 3,000 words all driving … Continue reading

Posted in Alarmism, climate data, measurement, Obvious science | 139 Comments

Fireworks under fire

UPDATE: Yes, sadly, I had to look. There’s the fireworks and global warming question being bandied about related to the 2012 Olympics. See below the read more line. – Anthony From the Journal of Obvious Science department: Smoke from fireworks … Continue reading

Posted in Obvious science | 92 Comments