Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup

Fred Singer will be spreading the joyous news that humanity and the environment do not face eminent destruction. The claim of unprecedented and dangerous global warming is scientifically false.

Fred’s tentative itinerary includes talks at the following times and locations:

July 18, Fort Collins, CO, at 7:30 pm during a general meeting at Glover Hall, Colorado State University, (technical meeting at 3 pm)

July 19, Boulder, CO, at 4 pm at NIST, 345 Broadway. The location is government facility closed to the public. The talk is open only to members of NIST and NOAA.

For details please contact Ken.

Quote of the Week:

“We are taking away a choice that continues to let people waste their own money.” Secretary of Energy Chu opposing the repeal of the upcoming ban on inexpensive incandescent light bulbs. WSJ 9/7/11

Number of the Week: 4.4 to 3.1

THIS WEEK:

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

Videos from the Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC) sponsored by Heartland Institute are available on the web. Go to:

http://climateconference.heartland.org/watch-…

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Philosophical Basis for Challenging the IPCC: In an interesting opinion piece in The New York Times entitled “On Experts and Global Warming,” Gary Gutting, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, argues that the non-experts must accept the findings of the expert authorities in climate science. Though not named, no doubt the expert climate authorities are the members of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC), particularly as expressed in the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4).

Unfortunately, the good professor fails to recognize the tremendous change in thinking that came about through the development of natural philosophy – scientific philosophy. Under scientific philosophy, the pronouncements of climate authorities are not as important as how and why they acquired their claimed knowledge. Did they adhere to the principles of acquiring scientific knowledge? If the climate authorities did not, then anyone familiar with scientific principles is perfectly capable of challenging these experts, even though the challenger is not, necessarily, an expert in climate science.

There are many glaring scientific defects in AR4, particularly in the SPM. Among these defects are the following:

• Ignoring scientific data that is contrary to the central conclusions.

• Failure to rigorously test hypotheses using physical observations.

• Assuming results are evidence of cause.

• Assuming a poor correlation is evidence of cause.

• Assuming a thorough knowledge of the climate system.

• Assuming that calculations involving variables with a low level of understanding can produce results embodying a high level of understanding.

• Assuming projections from unverified models are scientific knowledge.

The SPM focuses only on the past fifty years – not carefully defined. Thus, it ignores a vast body of scientific evidence that prior warm periods equal to or greater than the current period existed and that the historical warm periods are unrelated to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The main body of the AR4 explains these omissions by claiming the past warm periods were not global. Yet, according to the most comprehensive, reliable data available, satellite data, the current warm period is not global. It is concentrated in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere, above 35 deg N.

CO2 is a greenhouse gas, and laboratory experiments show that a doubling of CO2, absent of feedbacks, will increase temperatures by about 1.2 deg C. The SPM assumes positive feedbacks amplify this small warming. Yet, nowhere in AR4 are these positive feedbacks tested against physical observations as required by the critical step of hypothesis testing. Tests by others demonstrate that the assumptions fail when tested against the proper alternative hypothesis – the null hypothesis. Such testing is the foundation of scientific knowledge.

There is little question warming occurred in the 20th century and the results of warming can be observed. However, these results do not establish cause.

During the 20th century, both CO2 and temperatures increased, but not necessarily together. The correlation is poor. For several multi-decadal periods during the 20th century temperatures fell while CO2 increased.

In the SPM, only one natural variation is considered – solar irradiation. Other influences of the sun and the influence of ocean oscillations are ignored.

An appendix to the main body of the AR4 gives the levels of understanding for sixteen variables considered to influence temperatures (many important variables are not considered.) The levels of understanding for five of these influences are rated as very low. The levels of understanding for ten for the remaining eleven are rated as low to medium. Yet the SPM states a high level of confidence in results of its work. One cannot have high confidence in the results, when starting with a poor understanding of critical variables.

The models have never been verified, thus are interesting artifacts, not knowledge.

Contrary to the statements of Professor Gutting, anyone understanding the principles establishing physical sciences has a solid philosophical basis for challenging the work of the experts of the IPCC. Please see the referenced articles under “Challenging the Orthodoxy” and “Defenders of the Orthodoxy.”

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Amplifications and Corrections: EPA numbers. Last week’s TWTW questioned EPA’s claim that the new, intensified regulations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions will prevent 34,000 premature deaths, 15,000 non-lethal heart attacks, and 400,000 cases of asthma per year starting in 2014. The regulations would reduce SO2 emissions by 73% and NOx emissions by 54% below 2005 levels. TWTW termed the claims as not creditable (assignable as the term bankable in finance). Alert readers informed SEPP the correct term is not credible (believable).

Why EPA used 2005 as its base year for its calculations of SO2 and NOx calculations prompted further investigation.

A check of the EPA web site showed that under existing regulations, from 1980 to 2010, SO2 emissions have declined by about 12,490,000 from 17,260,730 tons to 5,119,700 tons. NOx emissions have fallen by about 3,963,000 from a high of 6,026,524 tons in 1997 to 2,061,098 tons in 2010, or about 66%. Obviously, by 2010, major reductions in emissions of these gases have been achieved under existing regulations – 71% for sulfur dioxide since 1980 and 66% for NOx since the high in 1997. (The web site also gives 2005 emissions of SO2 of 10,221,000 tons and NOx of 3,632,000 tons.)

Using the numbers games favored by the EPA and the claimed health benefits of the incremental reduction from the new regulations, one can calculate that the reduction in these pollutants prior to 2011 is already resulting in a prevention of 185,000 premature deaths, 81,000 non-lethal heart attacks, and 2,173,000 cases of asthma each year. As stated last week, during this period of regulations, according to the National Center of Health Statistics, prevalence of asthma has increased from 3.1% of the US population in 1980 to 8.2% in 2009. As with many EPA numbers, these new EPA numbers are neither believable nor bankable. Please see articles referenced under “EPA and Other Regulators…”

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Acid Rain: TWTW reader Robert Cihak reminded us of a 1990s, article on acid rain that was posted by SPPI. (Prior to the conversion of the web site, SEPP had a number of articles on acid rain, and other topics, which will be restored onto the new web site.) A search of the EPA web site failed to produce references to rigorous, scientific measurements of the acidity in rain, which has a normal pH of 5.6 — the lower the number below 7, the more intense the acidity. EPA commentary did state that rain has been measured as low as a pH of 4.3 but did not reference the study, location, or time.

The above referenced article suggests that lakes in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York are naturally acidic, but had the pH raised (made less acid) by the slash and burn land clearing methods used by colonial settlers. According to the article, after the passage of a state law in the early 20th century forbidding logging, the lakes are returning to their natural acidity. Please see referenced article under “Acidic Waters.”

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Acid Waters: Searching for the pH of other well-known acidic waters produced interesting results. The Great Dismal Swamp in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina has a measured pH seasonally ranging from 4.0 to 3.5. Its waters have been known as highly acidic since colonial times, long before the burning of coal became wide spread. A wide variety of wildlife thrives there including major mammals, migratory and non-migratory birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. However, a search failed to reveal a study of the pH published in recognized journals or scientific proceedings.

The Okefenokee Swamp includes peat bogs, forests, and wetland grasses stretching from southeast Georgia into northeast Florida. It is not downwind of the coal fired power plants in the Midwest that are blamed for acid rain. The swamp is about 20 miles wide and 40 miles long and the waters have been noted as highly acidic since colonial times. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service a wide variety of wildlife thrives in and around these waters including major mammals, migratory and non-migratory birds, reptiles including alligators, amphibians including frogs, and fish. The detailed list includes popular game fish such as largemouth bass and eastern chain pickerel, a member of the pike family.

Other species listed in scientific studies include invertebrates such as odonates, amphipods and crayfish. The latter two are crustaceans. Apparently, none of the many species are unique to the swamp. . [Note: one study showed that in the presence of aluminum, young large-mouth bass did not thrive with a pH below 3.5, but it was not clear if the results were due the combination of aluminum and acidity or to acidity alone.]

Number of the Week: According to published scientific studies, Okefenokee Swamp has measured pH ranging from 4.4 to 3.1 – vinegar. The estimated average pH is 3.7.

The above illustrates that one cannot conclude that acidic waters are necessarily the result of burning of coal. Acidic waters are natural and provide a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. It is incumbent on the EPA, and other organizations, to produce the scientific verifying the claims that burning coal causes acid rain and lakes to become acidic. Please see referenced articles under “Acidic Waters.”

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Ocean Acidification: The fact that highly acidic swamps provide important habitats for numerous species not specifically adapted to highly acidic waters falsifies many of the claims of EPA and NOAA concerning what they call ocean acidification. The term itself is a marketing gimmick. A more scientifically correct phrase, such as a marginal reduction of the alkalinity of the surface waters of the oceans, would not have the same sales appeal.

Last November, during hearings before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, it was apparent that some of the Subcommittee members were taken in by false claims that “ocean acidification” would cause the shells of shellfish and crustaceans to dissolve and eggs become hard boiled as if soaked in vinegar for several days. Yet, crustaceans and amphibians eggs not only survive in highly acidic waters, but are an important part of food web and ecosystem of the Okefenokee Swamp. These facts falsify the claims that slightly less alkaline surface waters of the oceans will cause shells of crustaceans to dissolve and eggs to become hard boiled. Please see Nov 20, 2010 TWTW at

http://www.SEPP.org…

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Ian Plimer: Over the past several months an email has been circulating falsely claiming that the volcano in Iceland is emitting more CO2 in four days as the human race has ever emitted. Some of the emails attribute the assertions to the noted Australian geologist Ian Plimer. Prompted by TWTW reader Joe Falcon, SEPP queried Plimer who disavowed any association with the email. Plimer pointed out some of the spelling is American English, not Australian English. It is reprehensible if the emails are a tactic to discredit Plimer.

In his book <>heaven+earth, Plimer discusses the disastrous effects of super volcanoes, the last such eruption was Toba in Sumatra about 74,000 years ago. Plimer also discusses the effects of volcanoes on the ocean floor and the failure to systematically study them. Under sea volcanoes and vents emit enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases such as sulfur dioxide. A comment in an article in Oceanus, stated that the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute has a device that measured the pH at one such vent at 0.9 – battery acid. A search of the web site failed to produce any systematic studies of such a low pH at undersea vents.

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Hal Lewis: Anthony Watts informed SEPP that Hal Lewis died in May. A distinguished physicist, Lewis was a quiet man who did not draw attention to himself except last year when he publically withdrew his membership from the American Physical Society, outraged by its endorsement of the reports by the IPCC. Please see reference under “Other News …”

ARTICLES:

For the numbered articles below please see:

http://www.sepp.org…

1. A World Food Crisis?

By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Jul 12, 2011

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/07/a_worl…

2. Politics has overtaken science at the EPA (The Daily Caller)

By Gilbert Ross, M.D, Daily Caller, Jul 13, 2011 From ASCH

http://acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.1954/heal…

3. The Green Economy Withers

Editorial, IBD, Jul 14, 2011

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Arti…

[SEPP Comment: The economic thinking of green energy policy is bewildering. Washington can create prosperity by lowering the standards of living of most Americans by driving up energy costs.]

4. The Greens Just Love Us to Death

By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Jul 9, 2011

http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2011/07/g…

“It is an utter delusion to think the Earth cares about you even if you care deeply about it”

5. Cellulosic Ethanol and Unicorns

The EPA punishes oil refiners for not buying a product no one makes.

Editorial, WSJ, Jul 15, 2011

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405270…

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Climategate Continued

“Covert” Operations by East Anglia’s CRU

By Steve McIntyre, Climate audit, Jul 14, 2011

http://climateaudit.org/…

HadSST

Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Jul 12, 2011

http://climateaudit.org/2011/07/12/hadsst3/#m…

[SEPP Comment: An incorrect adjustment in the data for the switch from measuring sea surface temperatures from buckets dipped in the ocean to engine inlets may have caused the reported warming trend for last half of the 20th century to be greater than it actually was.]

Challenging the Orthodoxy

Understanding James Hansen’s View of Our Climate Future

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.drroyspencer.com/…

Our Refutation of Dessler (2010) is Accepted for Publication

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Jul 15, 2011

http://www.drroyspencer.com/…

Perpetuating The Climate Science Community’s Inappropriate Model-Centered Reality

By Roger Pielke Sr, Climate Science, Jul 15, 2011

http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/07…

Climate Science Myopia

By Roger Pielke, Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Jul 14, 2011

http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/07…

[SEPP Comment: More on the claim that China’s use of coal is hiding global warming.]

“The claim that CO2 dominates climate change in the multi-decadal time period has been clearly FALSIFIED.”

Inventing a pollutant

By Christopher Carr, Quadrant, AU, July 15, 2011

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-plane…

PR, Climate Science and Climate Activism

By Shub Niggurath, GWPF Best of the Blogs, Jul 15, 2011

http://www.thegwpf.org/best-of-blogs/3450-shu…

[SEPP Comment: The science is in the marketing.]

Defenders of the Orthodoxy

On Experts and Global Warming

By Gary Gutting, NYT Opinion, Jul 12, 2011

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/…

Economists Find Flaws in Federal Estimate of Climate Damage

A report concludes that each ton of CO2 emitted inflicts almost 45 times more “social cost” than the federal government estimates

By Douglas Fischer and The Daily Climate, Scientific American, July 13, 2011 | 42

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm…

[SEPP Comment: “The social cost” of CO2 is $900 per ton. Imagine how prosperous society would be if all of it was eliminated from the atmosphere.]

So, will it rain tomorrow?

The Met Office has been trying to answer this question for 150 years. Have Britain’s weather scientists now cracked it?

By Clive Cookson, Financial Times, Jun 24, 2011 [H/t WUWT]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/35145bee-9d38-11e0-…

Climate change forces early spring

By Staff Writers, SPX. Jul 14, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_cha…

[SEPP Comment: How much of the early spring is due to warmth, and how much is due to CO2 enrichment?]

Climate Change ‘Could Lead to Rise In Coal Power Plants

By Ben Webster, The Times, Jul 15, 2011 [From GWPF]

http://www.thegwpf.org/the-climate-record/344…

[SEPP Comment: Now global warming reduces windy days.]

Global warming: study finds natural shields being weakened

By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Global_warm…

Questioning the Orthodoxy

The China Syndrome

By David Whitehouse, The Observatory, Jul 14, 2011 [H/t WUWT]

http://thegwpf.org/the-observatory/3442-the-c…

[SEPP Comment: More on China hiding global warming.]

Arctic Species Prefer Warmer Climate

By Patrick Michaels, World Climate Report, Jul 15, 2011

http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2…

[SEPP Comment: No mentioned in the article is that Canadian Moose are invading New England as far south as Massachusetts.]

Expanding the Orthodoxy

International Climate Change Financing: The Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Richard K. Lattanzio, Analyst in Environmental Policy Congressional Research Office, June 23, 2011 [H/t Steven Aftergood}

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41889.pdf…

[SEPP Comment: Notice that transparency, as defined below as among governments, not between governments and their citizens, or in science.]

“Transparency” commitments refer to the negotiated provisions whereby all major economy Parties (including the large emerging economies) must report on the progress they are making in meeting their mitigation commitments (targets and actions), and all Parties providing financial assistance must report their contributions through commonly accepted formats.

Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate?

Gore (Re)Sells A Lie

Editorial, IBD, Jul 12, 2011 [H/t Deke Forbes]

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Arti…

Gore to connect dots on extreme weather, climate change

By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Jul 7, 2011

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…

Australian children are being terrified by climate change lessons

By Bruce McDougall and Jenny Dillon, Daily Telegraph, Jul 9, 2011

http://www.news.com.au/national/australian-ki…

Teaching doomsday, learning fear

By Merv Bendle, Quadrant, AU, July 12, 2011

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-plane…

Models v. Observations

Perpetuating The Climate Science Community’s Inappropriate Model-Centered Reality

By Roger Pielke Sr, Climate Science, Jul 15, 2011

http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/07…

“The appropriate foundation (cornerstone) for all scientific studies must be real world observations!”

Changing Weather

Overplaying Heat, Underplaying Adaptation (Part II)

By Chip Knappenberger, Master Resource, Jul 12, 2011

http://www.masterresource.org/2011/07/overpla…

Fewer rain storms across southern Australia

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 14, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Fewer_rain_…

[SEPP Comment: Intense storms declining, don’t tell the IPCC.]

Changing Seas

Battered West Coast a lesson on warming, study finds

USGS: Rough 2009-10 winter shows ‘large-scale coastal changes’ likely as sea levels rise

By Staff Reporters, MSNBC, Jul 13, 2011 [H/t Best of the Web]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43741940/…

[SEPP Comment: El Ninos warm the Pacific Ocean, but according to the IPCC don’t cause warming. Also, El Ninos raise the sea levels along the west coast by 4 to 8 inches.]

Changing Earth

Japan quake makes 2011 costliest year: Munich Re

By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 12, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Japan_quake…

Underwater Antarctic Volcanoes

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Underwater_…

Scripps researchers discover new force driving Earth’s tectonic plates

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 15, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Scripps_res…

Tsunami airglow signature could lead to early detection system

Researchers at the University of Illinois have become the first to record an airglow signature in the upper atmosphere produced by a tsunami using a camera system based in Maui, Hawaii.

By Kim Gudemen, U. Illinois, Jul 14, 2011 [H/t WUWT]

http://engineering.illinois.edu/news/2011/07/…

New study suggests that the volcanic impact on climate may be significantly underestimated

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Anthony Watts, WUWT

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/11/new-stu…

Acidic Waters

Rear Mirror: The EPA vs. Ed Krug over the Acid Rain Scare

By William Anderson, Reason Magazine, Jan 1992

Posted by SPPI, [H/t Robert Cihak]

http://sppiblog.org/news/rear-mirror-the-epa-…

Microbial Biomass and Utilization of Dissolved Organic Matter in the Okefenokee Swamp Ecosystem

By Robert Murray and Robert Hodson. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Apr 1984

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2…

“The Okefenokee Swamp is an acidic (pH 3.1 to 4.4), black-water, peat-accumulating environment consisting primarily of forested swamp and open (the average may be 3.7) marsh prairies.”

Invertebrates as Bioindicators of Mercury in the Okefenokee Swamp of Southeast Georgia

By B.M. George and D.P. Batzer,

Proceedings of the 2001 Georgia Resources conference, March 26 – 27, 2001

http://www.gwri.gatech.edu/uploads/proceeding…

“We collected amphipods, odonates, and crayfish, three groups that are important in the Okefenokee food webs.”

Reference to pH of the Great Dismal Swamp

Tests by Elizabeth City State University

http://abyssal_night.tripod.com/pH.html…

Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine

World Population Day: Agriculture Offers Huge Opportunities for a Planet of 7 Billion

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 14, 2011

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/World_Popula…

Save the fish and feed the people, says EU fisheries chief

By Staff Writers, AFP, July 13, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Save_the_fi…

[SEPP Comment: The problem of overfishing in Europe.]

The Political Games Continue

Scientists warn on budget cutting

By Staff Writers, UPI, Jul 12, 2011

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Scientist…

[SEPP Comment: This may become a real problem because scientific institutions subordinate science to politics.]

House votes to limit EPA’s say over state water standards

By Pete Kasperowicz – 07/13/11 06:55 PM ET

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/1…

Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes

Transcript of Andrew Bolt’s “Carbon Sunday” interview with Richard Lindzen

By Alec Rawls, WUWT, Jul 11, 2011

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/11/transcr…

RL: “I think there’s no disagreement in the scientific community that this [carbon tax] will have no impact on climate, so it’s purely a matter of government revenue. And, as I say, I mean if they can fool the people into thinking that they really want to pay taxes to save the earth, that’s a dream for politicians.”

Gillard’s tax on “carbon pollution”: the facts

By Lord Monckton, Jonova, Jul 10, 2011

http://joannenova.com.au/…

pdf.

http://jonova.s3.amazonaws.com/monckton/warm-…

Is CO2 mitigation cost-effective?

By Christopher Monckton of Brenchley, To Prague School of Economics, May 2011

http://joannenova.com.au/2011/07/monckton-is-…

Full pdf – 12 pages

http://jonova.s3.amazonaws.com/monckton/co2-m…

Australia sets carbon tax to fight climate change

By Staff Writers, AFP, July 10, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Australia_s…

Carbon tax backlash in national plebiscite hosted by News Ltd websites

By Staff Writers, The Sunday Mail (Qld) July 10, 2011 [H/t ICECAP]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/c…

Subsidies and Mandates Forever

New Hampshire Governor Vetoes RGGI Withdrawal Bill

By Staff Writers, POWERnews

http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/3856.html?h…

Let There Be Lights

Editorial, IBD, Jul 8, 2011

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Arti…

EPA and other Regulators on the March

The EPA Doesn’t Love New York

Liberals learn what it’s like to be an American business.

Editorial, WSJ, Jul 11, 2011

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405270…

[SEPP Comment: Another example of EPA phony numbers – covering a reservoir would prevent from 112,000 to 365,000 cases of diarrhea from a particular pathogen. Yet years of testing fail to demonstrate the existence of the pathogen in the reservoir. May be behind a pay wall.]

More “Toxic” Research at EPA?

By Pete Sepp, Government Bytes, Jul 8, 2011 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.ntu.org/governmentbytes/more-toxic…

An Aggressive Ruling on Clean Air

Editorial, NYT, Jul 10, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/opinion/11m…

[SEPP Comment: The New York Times repeats EPA phony numbers without pause.]

EPA chief: Bush-era ozone rule not ‘legally defensible’

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Jul 13, 2011

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…

[SEPP Comment: Are EPA numbers defensible?]

EPA Vs. Fireworks

Editorial, IBD, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Arti…

Beware the Planners

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Jul 12, 2011

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/…

[SEPP Comment: To some, no amount of planning is sufficient even if it causes total failure.]

Energy Issues

The coming UK energy meltdown

By Hugh Sharman, European Energy Review, Jul 7, 2011

http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagin…

A Test of Prudence Favors Coal — Part One

By Frank Clemente, Energy-Facts.org, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.energy-facts.org/?utm_source=Energ…

Nuclear Fears & Responses

Japan PM to outline nuclear phase-down plan

By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Japa…

Heatstroke cases up as Japan saves electricity

By Staff Writers, AFP, July 14, 2011

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Heatstrok…

Nuclear technology is Russian priority

By Staff Writers, World Nuclear News, 08 July 2011

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle…

Differences in nuclear regulations

By Alexandra Arkin, Medill News Service (UPI) Jul 14, 2011

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Diff…

Germany to fund new coal plants with climate change cash

By Staff Writers, The Local, Jul 13, 2011 [H/t WUWT]

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110713-3627…

Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?

A US oil boom – unless greens abort it

By Arthur Herman, NY Post, Jul 14, 2011

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolu…

Shale gas’s role in U.S. debated

By Alexandra Arkin, Medill News Service, UPI, Jul 7, 2011

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Shale_gas…

[SEPP Comment: The environmental industry does not care for the natural gas boom in the US.]

Chesapeake Will Invest in Uses for Natural Gas

By Ben Casselman, WSJ, Jul 12, 2011

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405270…

[SEPP Comment: A clear indication of the success of natural gas from shale. One of the largest producers is now trying to expand the market for it using its own money rather than demanding it from Washington. May be behind a pay wall.]

Oil Spills & Consequences

A year after flow of oil from BP spill ended, ‘normal’ drilling operations are hard to define

By Richard Thompson, The Times-Picayune, Jul 15, 2011

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index…

[SEPP Comment: Killing an industry.]

Of Predators, Prey, and Petroleum

Do microscopic marine animals help bacteria degrade oil?

By Cherie Winner, Oceanus, Jul 14, 2011

http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id…

BP to impose voluntary offshore drilling safety standards

By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Jul 15, 2011

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…

[SEPP Comment: Do doubt how wasteful, the administration will demand the standards from others.]

China orders US oil giant to halt rigs after spill

By Staff Writers, AFP, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/China_ord…

Administration Control of Fossil Fuels

Obama signs order forming Alaska drilling task force

By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Jul 12, 2011

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…

Oiling The Economy

Editorial, IBD, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Arti…

Petroleum leader decries ‘extreme’ regulations

Says tax revenue and jobs still waiting for president’s pledge

By Tim Devaney, Washington Times, Jul 12, 2011

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/…

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy

The Real Cost of Solar Energy

By Alan Aszkler, American Thinker, Jul 11, 2011

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/07/the_re…

China almost doubles rare earth export quota

By Staff Writers, AFP, July 14, 2011

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/China_almost…

New wind turbines said more efficient

By Staff Writers, UPI, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.winddaily.com/reports/New_wind_tur…

[SEPP Comment: Using less land area.]

Carbon Schemes

Utility Shelves Ambitious Plan to Limit Carbon

By Matthew Wald and John Broder, NYT, Jul 13, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/business/en…

[SEPP Comment: Carbon capture and storage cost too much.]

Bad Gas Policy

By Robert Peltier, Power News, Jul 1, 2011

http://www.powermag.com/issues/departments/sp…

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

For a full list of articles see

http://www.NIPCCreport.org…

Challenges of Corals Living in the World’s Warmest Reefs

Reference: Bauman, A.G., Baird, A.H. and Cavalcante, G.H. 2011. Coral reproduction in the world’s warmest reefs: southern Persian Gulf (Dubai, United Arab Emirates). Coral Reefs 30: 405-413.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…

Six Decades of River Flows in the U.S. Northern Rocky Mountains

Reference: Arrigoni, A.S., Greenwood, M.C. and Moore, J.N. 2010. Relative impact of anthropogenic modifications versus climate change on the natural flow regimes of rivers in the Northern Rocky Mountains, United States. Water Resources Research 46: 10.1029/2010WR009162.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…

[Arrigoni et al. determined that over the past 59 years “direct anthropogenic modifications of river basins by direct development (i.e., damming and irrigation) have substantially altered river flow regimes in the Northern Rocky Mountains,” but they found that reported climate change in the western United States has not “generated statistically detectable changes in the flow regimes in the Northern Rocky Mountains over the period of record.”]

The Debilitating Disease of Climate Alarmism

Reference: Searle, K. and Gow, K. 2011. Do concerns about climate change lead to distress? International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management 2: 362-379.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…

Extreme Autumn and Winter Storms of the British Isles

Reference: Allan, R., Tett, S. and Alexander, L. 2009. Fluctuations in autumn-winter severe storms over the British Isles: 1920 to present. International Journal of Climatology 29: 357-371.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/jul/…

Environmental Industry

Big Green wants to turn off our lights, A/C

By: Examiner Editorial | 07/13/11 8:04 PM

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editori…

Big Green Pharaohs want more bricks, no straw

By Ron Arnold, Washington Examiner, Jul 14, 2011

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columni…

Harper faces green caliphate

Kananaskis meeting should rise above ENGO misinformation campaign

By Peter Foster, Financial Post, Jul 12, 2011

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/07/12/p…

[SEPP Comment: Comments on the difference between Canada’s National Energy Program in 1980 and an upcoming meeting to discuss national energy strategy. “Then, the main threat to the petroleum industry was economic nationalism; now it’s radical environmentalism. Although both creeds are motivated by the same moralistic, authoritarian mentality, the good news is that the threat no longer comes from the policymakers themselves, at least at the national level.”]

Other Scientific News

WW2 bombing raids offer new insight into the effects of aviation on climate

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 14, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/WW2_bombing…

With climate changes, polar bear and brown bear lineages intertwine

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 15, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/With_climat…

Global plant database set to promote biodiversity research and Earth-system sciences

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 08, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Global_plan…

Other News that May Be of Interest

Obituary – Hal Lewis

Posted by Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jul 9, 2011

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/09/obituar…

BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Research set up fake global warming websites to study response

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jul 11, 2011

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/11/researc…

Researchers push the boundary with high carbon emission scenarios

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 08, 2011

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Researche…

[SEPP Comment: Pushing failed models to the extreme.]

Climate change reducing ocean’s carbon dioxide uptake

By Staff Writers, SPX, Jul 15, 2011

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_cha…

[SEPP Comment: If the globe cools, will that reduce the capacity of oceans to hold dissolved gas?]

Couples required to plant trees before tying knot

By Madonna Virola, Inquirer Southern Luzon, Jul 11, 2011 [H/t WUWT]

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/23138/couples-re…

PLEASE NOTE: The complete TWTW, including the full text of the numbered articles, can be downloaded in an easily printable form at this web site: http://www.sepp.org/the-week-that-was.cfm…