Brought to You by SEPP www.SEPP.org
Quote of the Week:
“Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand of reason and the mind becomes a wreck.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Smith, 1822
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Number of the Week: $3,736,600,437 US
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THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
Heartland Conference: The Heartland Institute’s Seventh International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-7) will take place in Chicago, Illinois from Monday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, 720 South Michigan Avenue. The event will follow the NATO Summit taking place in Chicago on May 19–21. The Theme is Real Science, Real Choices. Open to the public, registration is required. http://climateconference.heartland.org/
Importance of Heartland: Hurricane expert Bill Gray pays homage to the excellent efforts of Heartland to bring together diverse experts who have observed and written for years about climate change and weather events, in Gray’s case 60 years, and were repulsed by the monolithic thinking that went into the reports of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with which they disagreed. The conferences sponsored by Heartland gave an opportunity for the experts to meet and discuss their ideas. Not everyone agrees as to the principal causes of global warming / climate change, nor should they because the science is far from established. But most agree that the principal cause is not carbon dioxide emissions but natural phenomena that may be internal to the earth or external, such as the sun, or a combination of such phenomena.
A reading of the general reports on climate science is demonstrating a slight shift in the thinking of some in the orthodoxy. They earlier dismissed any other possible influences on global warming other than a slight increase in solar irradiance (visible light). Now some orthodox researchers are admitting other possible causes, previously dismissed. However these causes are dismissed as background noise distorting the “true signal” of carbon dioxide emissions. Heartland conferences and the NIPCC reports have been vital to creating this small, but perceptible, shift in thinking. Perhaps that is why Peter Gleick was willing to act as he did and why so many global warming advocates praised him for obtaining confidential records under false pretences and suspected of falsifying some of them.
Heartland has reported that the General Motors Foundation has withdrawn support of Heartland’s activities which has been ongoing for some 20 years. Please see link under: “Challenging the Orthodoxy” and the “Gleick Affair.”
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Public Debate: In a refreshing change, two public debates are ongoing between global warming advocates and skeptics. One debate is taking place in the progressive, highly influential, New York Review of Books. Skeptics Roger Cohen, Will Happer, and Richard Lindzen have challenged noted economist William Nordhaus on his article in the Review “Why the Global Warming Skeptics Are Wrong.” To this commentator, who is admittedly not an outside observer, the skeptics seem to have the upper hand by principally relying on observations while it appears that Nordhaus has been forced to rely more on the logical fallacy, argument from authority, using the IPCC and its incorrect findings and failing models. He brings up melting glaciers are causing rising sea levels, which the GRACE satellites has shown is not significant.
The second debate focuses on Richard Lindzen’s address to the House of Commons, where his challengers assert that Lindzen made certain errors and is too confident that a doubling of CO2 will produce a warming no more than 1.2 deg. C. Uncertainty is a major issue. The certainty expressed in the IPCC reports is not being borne out by nature.
Such public debates are a welcome change and indicate that, to some, though not totally legitimate, global warming skepticism is no longer a completely bastard child of science. Please see links under “Seeking a Common Ground.”
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Bureaucratic Science: Climate alarmists rely on ignorance, not knowledge. They may use selected facts, but avoid the full discussion of the issue. Special interest groups have often used ignorance to raise money to advance their cause. We are increasingly seeing government agencies using ignorance and fear to advance specific political policies, policies which are destructive to the general public. This Bureaucratic Science was prevalent in the March, 2012 reports by CSIRO/BOM [Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation/Bureau of Meteorology] and the Climate Commission of Australia.
Fortunately, several very able scientists are exposing the ignorance reflected in these government publications. Detailed exposés by Carter, Evans, Franks, and Kininmonth appeared in Quadrant and a separate one by Ollier appeared in Watts Up With That. Please see links under “Challenging the Orthodoxy.”
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CO2 and the End of the Ice Age: A new study published in Nature states that for much of the globe, for the period 20,000 to 10,000 years ago, increases in CO2 preceded increases in temperatures, which is contrary to what is found in the Antarctic ice cores. The study suggests that CO2 is the primary driving force for the end of the ice age, which is being trumpeted by the popular press including BBC. The study is based on proxy data found in several parts of the world other than Antarctica.
After the peak of the Ice Age, oceans released CO2, a greenhouse gas, and with increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 enhanced the warming. However, it is a huge jump to conclude that whatever the initial trigger of warming, it was CO2 that ended the last Ice Age. Among other issues, atmospheric CO2 concentrations do not explain the changes in temperatures over the past 10,000 years.
More importantly, the conclusions reached from the study have a huge logical omission. If higher levels of CO2 are sufficient to end the last Ice Age, what causes the onset of Ice Ages when CO2 concentrations were as high or higher?
If CO2 concentrations are sufficient to end or stop ice ages, this should be a period of rejoicing. There would be no climate periods so hostile to modern humanity than the ice ages that the earth experienced over the past 2.5 million year . Please see links under “Changing Climate.”
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Sea Temperatures: A letter published in Nature Climate Change from the Scripps Institute asserts that ocean temperatures down to 700 meters (3000 feet) have been increasing since for 132 years. The assumed baseline temperature is established by the voyage of a single sailing ship from 1872 to 1876 using, at that time, the finest scientific instruments. About 300 measurements were taken and not all at the significant depth. Obviously, the paucity of data is a huge issue. Comparing these data with data from about 3,500 advanced Argo floats systematically taking measurements to a depth of 700 meters is highly questionable.
A similar question can be asked concerning surface temperature measurements. How can these data going back to 1850 be compared with satellite measurements starting in 1979? Of course, the IPCC, and others, ignore the satellite data and the difference has not been addressed
But, at least, in the early ocean measurements and the early land surface measurements, an effort was made to establish a baseline using measurements from the best instruments available at that time. In the so called “ocean acidification” issue, there are no baseline measurements. It is all conjecture and the issue should be treated as such. (The proponents claim the pH of the ocean surfaces has been reduced since the beginning of the industrial revolution, about 1750; yet, the concept of pH was not introduced until 1909.
Of course, the Scripps letter, scanty on details, was followed up by reports as if it was definitive. Please see links under “Changing Seas.”
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Professor Bernard L. Cohen – RIP: A towering figure in Physics died on March 17. Professor Cohen (University of Pittsburg) long challenged the orthodoxy on numerous policy issues, basing his opposition on science and careful calculations. Using sea water as a basis, he calculated the earth contained sufficient uranium in its crust to provide energy for humanity for about 5 billion years – as long as the sun. http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/progress/cohen.html.
Neil Craig writes that Professor Cohen was responsible for broadest study of radon in the US covering over one-half of the US counties and over 90% of the population. The conclusion was that radon exposure was inversely related to deaths from lung cancer, and the EPA’s Linear No Threshold (LNT) model for radiation exposure was false. In recent months it has been demonstrated that those asserting the LNT for radiation exposure manipulated the data.
In his book on nuclear power, Professor Cohen asserted the cost of nuclear power plants was artificially raised by many multiples through needless government regulation. http://www.phyast.pitt.edu/~blc/book/
When Ralph Nader was foolishly proclaiming plutonium was the most toxic substance on earth, Professor Cohen challenged him stating he would eat as much plutonium as Nader would eat pure caffeine. Nader declined.
Please see: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/obituaries/obituary-bernard-l-cohen-noted-physicist-and-pitt-professor-never-wanted-to-stop-learning-628626/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Cohen_%28physicist%29. SEPP Thanks Neil Craig for informing us of Professor Cohen’s passing and suggesting a brief obituary.
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Mercury: The EPA and its allies have made significant claims concerning the dangers of mercury from coal fired power plants. However, as Willis Eschenbach points out in Watts Up With That, there seems to be a disconnect between EPA claims and actual mercury measurements in the US. The National Atmospheric Deposition Program at the University of Illinois publishes annual maps on both atmospheric concentrations of mercury and the wet deposition of mercury (falling out with precipitation). If mercury from coal fired power plants is a major public health concern, one would expect to see atmospheric mercury concentrations and mercury deposition downwind of the major coal fired power plants. This is not the case as one can easily see from the maps. For example, one would expect to see heavy concentrations in Pennsylvania which is downwind from the heavy concentration of coal fired power plants in the Ohio Valley. It appears that, as with carbon dioxide, mercury from power plants is not a public health issue but an excuse for EPA and its allies to close down an industry it does not like. For the data and the maps please see: http://nadp.isws.illinois.edu/MDN/annualmdnmaps.aspx. For a possible explanation and maps please see the link by Willis Eschenbach under “EPA and other Regulators on the March.”
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Number of the Week: $3,736,600,437 US. According to EPA records, over the past 10 years (accessed April 8, 2012) it has awarded grants amounting to $3,736,600,437 to non-profit organizations. Many of the organizations perform notable service; others are environmental or similar organizations that promote the EPA and its activities. For example, SEPP calculated that the American Lung Association (ALA), and associated branches, received a total $26,322,104 from the EPA during the period to March 27, 2012.
ALA has been an extreme advocate of promoting EPA regulations on many issues such as radon and coal-fired power plants. In the 2010 election, the ALA ran blatantly deceptive ads against members of Congress that questioned the latest EPA regulations on coal-fired power plants, including billboards depicting babies wearing gas masks. If private organizations giving donations to those challenging the highly questionable climate science is objectionable, EPA grants of public funds to politically active organizations is far more objectionable. http://yosemite.epa.gov/oarm/igms_egf.nsf/Reports/Non-Profit%20Grants!OpenView&Start=1
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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. Climategate Heads to Court
By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Apr 5, 2012
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/04/climategate_heads_to_court.html
2. California’s Crazy Dream
By Allysia Finley, WSJ, Apr 5, 2012
3. EPA Backpedals on Fracking Contamination
Texas Water-Pollution Suit Dropped; Third Recent Setback on Drilling for Agency
By Daniel Gilbert and Russell Gold, WSJ, Mar 31, 2012
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303404704577313741463447670.html
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NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Suppressing Scientific Inquiry
US integrity effort hits troubled water
Allegations by integrity officer who lost his job are a setback for plan to quash political inference in science.
By Eugenie Samuel Reich, Nature, Apr 3, 2012
http://www.nature.com/news/us-integrity-effort-hits-troubled-water-1.10387
Be Careful What You Wish For
By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Apr 4, 2012
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/04/be-careful-what-you-wish-for.html
Challenging the Orthodoxy
Homage to the Heartland Institute
By Dr. Bill Gray, ICECAP, Apr 4, 2012
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/new-and-cool/homage_to_the_heartland_institute/
What’s wrong with the science?
Analysis of March, 2012, reports by CSIRO/BOM and the Climate Commission
By Bob Carter, David Evans, Stewart Franks & William Kininmonth, Quadrant, Apr 5, 2012
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2012/04/what-s-wrong-with-the-science
Our analysis finds no evidence that dangerous global warming is occurring; nor that human carbon dioxide emissions will cause such warming in future; nor that recent Australian climate-related events lay outside normal climate variability; nor that reducing carbon dioxide emissions will have any discernible impact on future climate.
Vested interests drive climate change
Where does government derive its advice from about climate change?
By Bob Carter, David Evans, Stewart Franks & William Kininmonth, Quadrant, Apr 4, 2012
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2012/04/bob-carter
As urged by many independent scientists, and in line with Robert McClelland’s analysis, climate hazard policies should have as their focus the preparation for, and adaptation to, all climate hazards – howsoever they might be caused.
Extreme cures for extreme sea level projections
By Cliff Ollier, WUWT, Apr 1, 2012
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/01/extreme-cures-for-extreme-sea-level-projections/
[SEPP Comment: Extremism in global warming / climate change projections leads to extremism in government controls.]
Ignoring their own experts
The recent climate report from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and CSIRO was remarkable more for what it didn’t say than for what it did.
By John McLean, Quadrant, Apr 2, 2012
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2012/04/ignoring-their-own-experts
New U.S. Population-Adjusted Temperature Dataset (PDAT), 1973-2012
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Apr 5, 2012
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2012/04/new-u-s-population-adjusted-temperature-dataset-pdat-1973-2012/
[SEPP Comment: An analysis of the contiguous US using the International Surface Hourly Stations Changes in population density, as a proxy for the Urban Heat Island effect, may explain most of the observed warming trend.]
Defending the Orthodoxy
Global warming preceded by increasing carbon dioxide concentrations during the last deglaciation
By Shakun, et al. Nature, April 5, 2012
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v484/n7392/full/nature10915.html
A reply to Shakun et al – Dr. Munchausen Explains Science By Proxy
By Willis Eschenbach, WUWT, Apr 6, 2012
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]
Thawing permafrost 50 million years ago led to global warming events
By Staff Writers, Amherst, MA (SPX), Apr 05, 2012
Questioning the Orthodoxy
The Self-Regulation Of The Boreal Forest Tree Line – Another Climate Issue That Was Inadequately Examined In The 2007 IPCC Reports
By Roger Pielke Sr, Climate Science, Apr 6, 2012
[SEPP Comment: The North American Boreal Forests, which were 100 to 200 miles further north about 5000 years ago, are not advancing as predicted by the IPCC AR4.]
The end of the Global Warming Scare would look a lot like this
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Apr 4, 2012
The Utter Desperation of Global Warmists
By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Apr 5, 2012
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2012/04/utter-desperation-of-global-warmists.html
Questioning European Green
Green debate in Europe has reached ‘deadlock’
By Benny Peiser, Public Service Europe, Mar 28, 2012
http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/1723/green-debate-in-europe-has-reached-deadlock
[SEPP Comment: Economic reality confronts environmental idealism.]
European climate policy in disarray as carbon crashes
By David Thorpe, Energy and Environment Management, Apr 3, 2012 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.eaem.co.uk/news/european-climate-policy-disarray-carbon-crashes
Bankruptcies Have German Solar on the Ropes
By Stefan Schultz, Der Spiegel, Apr 3, 2012
http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,825490,00.html
[SEPP Comment: A sobering thought for those who proclaim the great success of the German solar program. Is this bankruptcy the new measurement of success?]
German Solar Subsidy Slash Prompts New Spate of Solar Bankruptcies
By Staff Writers, Power News, Apr 5, 2012
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/4518.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2418271&hq_l=4&hq_v=5e660500d0
Questioning Green Elsewhere
Ontario’s Power Trip: The great electricity bill cover-up
Ontarians will pay $319 more per year for green energy soon — despite government denials
By Bruce Sharp, Financial Post, Apr 4, 2012
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/04/04/ontarios-power-trip-the-great-electricity-bill-cover-up/
Australia’s Solar Dawn in limbo
By Staff Writers, Brisbane, Australia (UPI) Mar 29, 2012
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Australias_Solar_Dawn_in_limbo_999.html
[SEPP Comment: A large facility to produce little.]
Expanding the Orthodoxy
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s climate projects – document
The full list of the FCO’s projects in six countries, excluding some details on Russia and China which it withheld on the grounds it would be ‘prejudicial to international relations’, is published here
By Staff Writers, Guardian, UK, Apr 3, 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2012/apr/03/fco-climate-projects
[SEPP Comment: 25 pages of programs. 7 projects specifically to influence US policy totaling £389,853, projects in Russia totaled £671,515. Spreading money to buy influence, is this what the Russians and Americans were accused of doing during the Cold War.]
Rick Perry criticises UK initiative to influence US climate sceptics
The governor says the UK government was ‘misdirected’ to try to ‘educate’ policymakers and ‘move them from a state of denial’
By Leo Hickman, Guardian, UK, Apr 3, 2012 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/03/rick-perry-climate-sceptic-policymakers
Rio + 20 – World Control?
This week’s Planet Under Pressure conference in London set in motion how green activists will attempt to stop economic growth around the world.
Commentator, Mar 31, 2012
Planet under Pressure conference, London: Final statement
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Apr 2, 2012
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/02/planet-under-pressure-conference-london-final-statement/
Reemergence of the Neo-Malthusians
By Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, Roger Pielke, Jr’s Blog, Apr 3, 2012
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/04/reemergence-of-neo-malthusians-guest.html
[SEPP Comment: What to expect from Rio + 20 – more proclamations of limits to growth that ignore human innovation and imprison human minds.]
Get ready for the Rio Happiness Summit
By Terence Corcoran, Financial Post, Apr 2, 2012
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/04/02/terence-corcoran-are-you-happier-than-this-woman/
[SEPP Comment: Rather than Gross Domestic Product, the goal of Rio+20 is Gross National Happiness as determined by those who wish to control humanity.]
Problems within the Orthodoxy
How Green Gullibility, Hyperpartisanship Are Wrecking The Climate Movement
By Walter Russell Mead, American Interest, Mar 24, 2012
Abrupt climate-change reversal
New U.N. report blows cold on human causes for weather extremes
Editorial, Washington Times, Apr 2, 2012
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/2/abrupt-climate-change-reversal/
The Gleick Affair
Heartland Institute Responds to General Motors’ Decision to Pull Funding
By Jim Lakely, Fakegate.org, Mar 30, 2012
Update on Fakegate – what we know so far
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Apr 3, 2012
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/03/update-on-fakegate-what-we-know-so-far/
Fakegate: The War on Science
By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Apr 3, 2012
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2012/04/fakegate-war-on-science.html
Seeking a Common Ground
In the Climate Casino: An Exchange
In Response To:Why the Global Warming Skeptics Are Wrong? Mar 22, 2012
Roger W. Cohen, William Happer, and Richard Lindzen, reply by William D. Nordhaus, New York Review of Books, Apr 26, 2012
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2012/apr/26/climate-casino-exchange/
Lindzen et al.: response and parry
By Judith Curry, Climate, Etc, Apr 4, 2012
http://judithcurry.com/2012/04/04/lindzen-et-al-response-and-parry/#more-7943
Who has Authority in Political Debates Involving Science?
By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Apr 2, 2012
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/04/who-has-authority-in-political-debates.html
[SEPP Comment: Demands by alarmists for authoritarian government to address climate change may be undermining scientific institutions.]
Are Some Climate Scientists and Program Managers at NSF Gaming the System With Respect To Providing Inadequately Assessed Multi-Decadal Predictions Of Changes In Climate Statistics to The Impacts Community?
By Roger Pielke Sr, Climate Science, Apr 2, 2012
“This lack of accountability with federally supported NSF should be of concern to everyone, regardless of your perspective on the climate science issue.”
“Until and unless a new direction that is actually based on the scientific method is introduced, we will continue to see this abuse of their positions (and waste of funds) as stewards of funding scientific research.”
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?
An Interview with an Activist Journalist
By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Apr 3, 2012
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/04/interview-with-activist-journalist.html
[SEPP Comments: Pielke’s views on Justin Gillis who covers global warming for the New York Times.]
UN Climate Panel and Extreme Weather
By Dennis Avery, SPPI, Apr 2, 2012
http://sppiblog.org/news/un-climate-panel-and-extreme-weather#more-7422
[SEPP Comment: According to Avery, the IPCC should find less extreme weather with warming rather than its bureaucratic finding that it cannot support more extreme weather.]
Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up or go Personal
Climate Change Skepticism a Sickness That Must be “Treated,” Says Professor
Global warming alarmist equates climate denial with racism
By Paul Joseph Watson, Inforwars, Mar 30, 2012
http://www.infowars.com/climate-change-skepticism-a-sickness-that-must-be-treated-says-professor/
Healthy polar bear count confounds doomsayers
By Paul Waldie, Globe and Mail, CA, April 5, 2012
[SEPP Comment: The claim that polar bears are threatened is a pure fabrication.]
Science under fire from ‘merchants of doubt’: US historian
By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Mar 29, 2012
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Science_under_fire_from_merchants_of_doubt_US_historian_999.html
[SEPP Comment: A tobacco company internal memo proves that global warming skeptics are driven by “outside money.” Co-author Erik Conway, a historian of the California Institute of Technology, must be creating an imaginative history for that institution.]
“A disservice to the scientific method”: climate scientists take on Richard Lindzen
By Verity Payne, The Carbon Brief, Apr 4, 2012
http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2012/04/climate-scientists-take-on-lindzen
Nasa scientist: climate change is a moral issue on a par with slavery
Prof Jim Hansen to use lecture at Edinburgh International Science Festival to call for worldwide tax on all carbon emissions
By Severin Carrell Guardian, UK, Apr 6, 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/06/nasa-scientist-climate-change?newsfeed=true
[SEPP Comment: Contrary to the article, generally papers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences are not subject to peer review.]
Changing Weather
Rebuttal to HUFFPO and Paul Douglas
By Joseph D’Aleo, ICECAP, Apr 1, 2012
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/rebuttal_to_huffpo_paul_douglas/
Meteorological March Madness
By Judith Curry, Climate, Etc, Apr 2, 2012
http://judithcurry.com/2012/04/02/meteorological-march-madness/#more-7924
March Global Warmth Centered on Des Moines
U.S. hits record highs in March, Iowa is ‘warmest’ place on Earth
By Joe D’Aleo, Weatherbell Analytics, Apr 3, 2012
http://www.weatherbell.com/weather-news/march-global-warmth-centered-on-des-moines/
US forecasters see drop in 2012 Atlantic hurricanes
By Staff Writers, Miami (AFP), April 4, 2012
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/US_forecasters_see_drop_in_2012_Atlantic_hurricanes_999.html
Changing Climate
CO2 ‘drove end to last ice age’
A new, detailed record of past climate change provides compelling evidence that the last ice age was ended by a rise in temperature driven by an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
By Jonathan Amos, BBC, Apr 4, 2012 [H/t Tom Rolfes]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17611404
Rising CO2 levels linked to global warming during last deglaciation
By Staff Writers, Corvallis, OR (SPX) Apr 05, 2012
Changing Seas
135 years of global ocean warming between the Challenger expedition and the Argo Programme
Letter by Roemmich, et al, Nature Climate Change, Apr 1, 2012
http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nclimate1461.html
135 Years of Records Reveals Deep Ocean Warming
The ocean surface is warming. Using records going back more than a century to the British Challenger expedition, researchers calculate that the deep ocean is experiencing its own temperature rise.
By David Beillo, Scientific American, Apr 1, 2012
Comments On The Scientific American Article “135 Years of Records Reveals Deep Ocean Warming”
By Roger Pielke, Sr, Climate Science, Apr 3, 2012
New comparison of ocean temperatures reveals rise over the last century
By Staff Writers, San Diego CA (SPX), Apr 04, 2012
Global warming began in oceans 135 years ago, suggests study
A study of temperature recordings from the 1870s suggests that the oceans began warming more than 100 years ago, much earlier than previously believed.
By Joseph Castro, Christian Science Monitor, April 2, 2012 [H/t Warren Wetmore]
Changing Sea Ice
Recovery in Arctic sea ice continues
Arctic sea ice has staged a strong recovery in the last few weeks, reaching levels not far from normal for this time of the year.
By Paul Hudson, BBC, Mar 21, 2012 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulhudson/2012/03/recovery-in-arctic-sea-ice-con.shtml
[SEPP Comment: Changes in prevailing winds, not climate change, are now revealed as being the major cause of loss of ice in 2007.]
More crack in the Antarctic
Satellite observes rapid ice shelf disintegration in Antarctic
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Apr 5, 2012
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/05/more-crack-in-the-antarctic/#more-60787
[SEPP Comment: Some of the problems in the claim that global warming is the cause include overall Antarctic sea ice is expanding, the continent is cooling, and the area of focus is subject to changing ocean currents.]
Agriculture, Fishing Issues & Fear of Famine
Gray seals consume as much fish as the fishing industry catches
By Staff Writers
Gothenburg, Sweden (SPX) Apr 04, 2012
[SEPP Comment: Man v. seal]
Is rainfall a greater threat to China’s agriculture than warming?
By Staff Writers, London, UK (SPX), Apr 05, 2012
[SEPP Comment: Extreme warming as projected by IPCC models may not be disastrous for agriculture in China.]
The Political Games Continue
GOP is MIA on EPA overreach
By Steve Milloy, Washington Times, Mar 29, 2012
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/29/obama-kills-coal-as-promised-549931458/
Killing Green Jobs: Labor Takes Axe To Climate Bureaucrats
THE Department of Climate Change will scrap up to 300 jobs – one-third of its workforce – as the Gillard government clamps down on spending in its effort to return the budget to surplus.
By Matthew Franklin, The Australian, Apr 4, 2012
[SEPP Comment: The full article in the Australian is behind a paywall.]
Litigation Issues
Federal Court Vacates EPA’s Disapproval of Texas SIP Plan
By Staff Writers, Power News, Apr 5, 2012
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/4521.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2418271&hq_l=5&hq_v=5e660500d0
Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes
Why mitigating CO2 emissions is cost-ineffective
By Christopher Monckton of Brenchley, WUWT, Apr 4, 2012
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/04/why-mitigating-co2-emissions-is-cost-ineffective/
France Calls For Retreat On EU Carbon Tax
By Adam Sage, The Times, Apr 6, 2012
http://thegwpf.org/international-news/5391-france-calls-for-retreat-on-eu-carbon-tax.html
[SEPP Comment: The proposed airline tax is hurting the European aircraft company Airbus.]
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
The Law that Prevents Cheap Fuel for America
By James Burgess, Oil Price.com, Apr 5, 2012
http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/The-Law-that-Prevents-Cheap-Fuel-for-America.html
EPA and other Regulators on the March
Mercury, the Trickster God
By Willis Eschenbach, WUWT, Apr 1, 2012
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/01/mercury-the-trickster-god/
EPA’s Math: Coal Regs = Coal Jobs
By David Bier, Global Warming, Apr 3, 2012
http://www.globalwarming.org/2012/04/03/epas-math-coal-regs-coal-jobs/
EPA’s “Carbon Pollution” Standard for Power Plants: Four Ways Weird
By Marlo Lewis, Global Warming.org, Mar 28, 2012
http://www.globalwarming.org/2012/03/28/weird-regulation-epas-co2-standards-for-power-plants/
EPA’s War Against CO2
By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Apr 6, 2012
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/epas-war-against-co2/
The EPA’s (very small) step on carbon emissions
Editorial, Washington Post, Mar 31, 2012
Cleaner Fuels, Cleaner Cars
Editorial, NYT, Apr 4, 2012
Environment advisory board death may lead to echo chamber: Former climate research head
Feds say other services, think tanks, universities provide same expertise.
By Sneh Duggal, Embassy, CAN, Apr 4, 2012 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/echo-04-04-2012
Energy Issues – Non-US
Northern Gateway no shoo-in
The Conservatives might be wise not to appear to force ‘closure’ on hearings into oil sands pipeline to the West Coast
By Peter Foster, Financial Post, Apr 3, 2012
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2012/04/03/peter-foster-northern-gateway-no-shoo-in/
[SEPP Comment: Moving massive amounts of oil from Alberta to areas where demanded has become a herculean task thanks to the environmental industry and its politicians.]
It’s finally coming: the great European gas market transformation
By Karel Beckman, European Energy Review, Apr 5, 2012
[SEPP Comment: The EU is trying to shift from long term bilateral contracts to integrated wholesale markets using trading hubs and based on short term contracts. Can this be successful considering Russia is the dominant supplier to the EU?]
Energy Issues — US
Big Oil, Big Profits, Big Green Lies
By Peter C Glover, Energy Tribune, Apr 5, 2012
http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm/10272/Big-Oil-Big-Profits-Big-Green-Lies
[SEPP Comment: Although the numbers are huge, the profit margins on revenue in the oil industry are quite low.]
The EPA Triples Down On ‘None of the Above’ Energy Policy
By James Taylor, Forbes, Mar 28, 2012
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
Forget Wind: Time for Britain to Get Fracking
By Patrick Heren, Standpoint, Apr 2012
[SEPP Comment: Map of British shale deposits with natural gas potential.]
Fracking Good News: American Energy Stepping Up
By Steve Everley, Master Resource, Apr 6, 2012
http://www.masterresource.org/2012/04/good-frac-news/#more-19452
[SEPP Comment: Positive developments over alarmist claims of danger of hydraulic fracturing.]
The coming battle over natural gas
By Yadullah Hussain, Financial Post, Apr 4, 2012
[SEPP Comment: A battle between Canadian and US producers – who would have dreamed of it?]
US Administration’s Control of Oil and Gas
Truth about Obama’s energy claims
President asserts oil is gushing while he stands on the hose
By Sen. David Vitter, Washington Times, Apr 2, 2012
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/2/truth-about-obamas-energy-claims/
The White House’s War Against U.S. Fossil Fuels
By Thomas Hemphill and Mark Perry, IBD, Apr 2, 2012
http://news.investors.com/Article.aspx?id=606434&p=1&ibdbot=1
There Goes Obama Again, Misleading About The Energy Industry
By Lawrence Kudlow, Mar 30, 2012
Return of King Coal?
War on coal escalates
Obama emissions rules impose real costs with illusory health benefits
By Iain Murray, Washington Times, Mar 30, 2012
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/30/war-on-coal-escalates/
[SEPP Comment: According to the latest EIA publication, coal fired power plants generate about 42 percent of US electricity.]
It’s Not ‘All of the Above’ After All
Obama’s pointless war on coal
By Robert Bryce, National Review, Apr 5, 2012
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/295321/it-s-not-all-above-after-all-robert-bryce
Breaking OPEC’s growing stranglehold with coal
By Frank Clemente, Energy Facts Weekly, Apr 4, 2012
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=29bc7d5d85828d574f86c157a&id=deb0ea0b0e&e=
Oil Spills, Gas Leaks & Consequences
Total losing $2.5 mln a day from North Sea gas leak rig
By Staff Writers, London (AFP) April 2, 2012
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Total_losing_25_mln_a_day_from_North_Sea_gas_leak_rig_999.html
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind
Wind Falls: Wind power is too costly, inefficient, and won’t stop climate change.
By Bjørn Lomborg, Project Syndicate, Mar 21, 2012 [H/t John Droz, Jr.]
Massachusetts’ Affordable Energy Prospects Are Blowing In the Wind
By Larry Bell, Forbes, Apr 3, 2012
How shale is trumping renewable
By Sunil Sharan, Financial Post, Mar 30, 2012
http://business.financialpost.com/2012/03/30/how-shale-is-trumping-renewables/
World’s Largest Solar Plant, With Second Largest Ever Department of Energy Loan Guarantee, Files For Bankruptcy
By Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge, Apr 2, 2012 [H/t John Droz, Jr.]
[SEPP Comment: The bankruptcy filings of the parent companies in Germany results in bankruptcy filings of the subsidiary in the US. The largest loan guarantee is over $8 Billion for two AP 1000 nuclear plants to be built in Georgia, which should produce many times the energy than this solar plant and do so reliably.]
President Obama’s Green Energy Problems Continue To Escalate
Editorial, IBD, Apr 3, 2012
Advanced power-grid research finds low-cost, low-carbon future in West
By Staff Writers, Berkeley CA (SPX), Apr 04, 2012
[SEPP Comment: If we punish ourselves sufficiently, the world will be saved. It is not clear if the study included the high cost of back-up of wind and solar, which results in small reductions of carbon dioxide emissions, at best.]
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Other
Market For Deep Ocean Energy Heats Up
By David Ferris, Forbes, Mar 31, 2012 [H/t Warren Wetmore]
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidferris/2012/03/31/market-for-deep-ocean-energy-starts-to-heat-up/
Fisker’s Bad Karma
By Isaac Martin. American Thinker, Apr 6, 2012
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/03/fiskers_bad_karma.html
Taxpayers’ $1.4B ‘Investment’ in Nissan EV May Make Volt Look Good by Comparison
By Paul Chesser, NLPC, Apr 6, 2012 [H/t ICECAP]
California Dreaming
California Cap-and-Trade: Making Ourselves Poorer and ‘Dirtier’ (Part 2)
By Tom Tanton, Master Resource, Apr 4, 2012
http://www.masterresource.org/2012/04/california-cap-trade-poorer-dirtier/#more-19480
[SEPP Comment: Questioning the effectiveness of cap-and-trade policies, including the economic decline of California.]
The ugly battle between rural residents and alternative energy mandates in California
By Alec Rawls, WUWT, Apr 6, 2012
[SEPP Comment: Condemning the homes of people in areas desired for alternative energy.]
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org
One Hundred Years of Global Temperature Change: 1906-2005
Reference: Ludecke, H.-J., Link, R. and Ewert, F.-K. 2011. How natural is the recent centennial warming? An analysis of 2249 surface temperature records. International Journal of Modern Physics C 22: 10.1142/S0129183111016798.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/apr/3apr2012a1.html
[SEPP Comment: The human contribution may be quite small.]
Ocean Heat Content Changes Induced by Tropical Cyclones
Reference: Park, J.J., Kwon, Y.-O. and Price, J.F. 2011. Argo array observation of ocean heat content changes induced by tropical cyclones in the north Pacific. Journal of Geophysical Research 116: 10.1029/2011JC007165.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/apr/3apr2012a3.html
C4 Weeds vs. C3 Crops in a Warmer World: A Finnish Perspective
Reference: Hyvonen, T. 2011. Impact of temperature and germination time on the success of a C4 weed in a C3 crop: Amaranthus retroflexus and spring barley. Agricultural and Food Science 20: 183-190.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/apr/3apr2012a4.html
Effects of Tropical Cyclones on Sea Surface Temperatures
Reference: Dare, R.A. and McBride, J.L. 2011. Sea surface temperature response to tropical cyclones. Monthly Weather Review 139: 3798-3808.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/apr/4apr2012a3.html
Environmental Industry
The new world order – Black, Brown, and Soviet-red all over.
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Apr 2, 2012
http://joannenova.com.au/2012/04/the-new-world-order-black-brown-and-soviet-red-all-over/#more-21188
[SEPP Comment: It is perfectly acceptable for a BBC reporter to embrace the groups of green activists, but not the global warming skeptics.]
Green groups sue EPA to force coal-waste rules
By Ben Geman. The Hill, Apr 5, 2012
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/220179-green-groups-sue-epa-to-force-coal-waste-rules
[SEPP Comment: Going after the existing coal power plant industry.]
Other Scientific News
2-in-1 device uses sewage as fuel to make electricity and clean the sewage
By Staff Writers
San Diego CA (SPX) Apr 02, 2012
Declines in Caribbean coral reefs pre-date damage resulting from climate change
By Staff Writers
San Diego CA (SPX) Apr 04, 2012
[SEPP Comment: Although man’s influence on global warming is questionable, there is little doubt man has had an impact on coral reefs.]
Other News that May Be of Interest
Titanic: Unusual Climate, Extreme Ice Conditions; Result Tragic Accident
By Tim Ball, Different Perspective, Apr 5, 2012
http://drtimball.com/2012/titanic-unusual-climate-extreme-ice-conditions-result-tragic-accident/
NASA Sees Fields of Green Spring up in Saudi Arabia
By Aries Keck for Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Mar 30, 2012
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Sees_Fields_of_Green_Spring_up_in_Saudi_Arabia_999.html
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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
The Psychological Effects of Global Warming on the United States: And Why the U.S. Mental Health Care System Is Not Adequately Prepared
By Keving Coyle, and Lise Van Susteren, National Wildlife Federation, February 2012 [H/t WUWT]
http://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Global-Warming/Reports/Psych_Effects_Climate_Change_Full_3_23.ashx
[SEPP Comments: It is all here: extreme weather events, military suicides, wildfires, flooding, drought, disease threats – all caused by human emissions of carbon dioxide. At least $300 Billion more per year is needed to solve the psychological effects!]
Surgery bans elderly patient over her carbon footprint
An elderly woman was ordered to find a new GP because the “carbon footprint” of her two-mile round trips to the surgery where she had been treated for 30 years was too large.
Staff Writer, Telegraph, UK, Apr 3, 2012
[SEPP Comment: Is the next step in British health care to insist that patients who complain to stop breathing?]
Rising Number of Farm Animals Poses Environmental and Public Health Risks
By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX), Mar 30, 2012
[SEPP Comment: Before electricity and the internal combustion engine, most power in urban areas was produced by muscle power – animal or human. In urban areas people often lived with horses, etc.]
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If an EV vehicle is not good enough for you…
…you can always use one of these…
DEEP OCEAN ENERGY???
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidferris/2012/03/31/market-for-deep-ocean-energy-starts-to-heat-up/
“…has signed an agreement with a Pennsylvania company to build two 10-megawatt commercial-scale plants…”
10 MEGAWATT??? That’s a 1/30th of what the small gas powered plant in Salzgitter I drive by every day delivers… This has got to be the most inefficient stupidity ever, considering it’ll be expensive to maintain that structure in salt water…
This is a problem. The answer seems to be reconcile and use modeling analyses. 😉
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999PalOc..14..542P
What a palaver!
http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/Carboniferous_climate.html
Shakun Redux cut-off
http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/nature_shakun_proxies_plus_co2_all.jpg
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/04/07/shakun-redux-master-tricksed-us-i-told-you-he-was-tricksy/
“The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters” as shown in the famous painting by the same name that was created by Francisco Goya.
“Heartland has reported that the General Motors Foundation has withdrawn support of Heartland’s activities which has been ongoing for some 20 years.”
It should read
Heartland has reported that the Government Motors Foundation has withdrawn support of Heartland’s activities which has been ongoing for some 20 years.
What a surprise
From GOP is MIA on EPA overreach,
” Although House Speaker John A. Boehner has had the power to threaten the EPA’s budget, he has inexplicably refused to use his only real weapon against the agency.
Considering that in the 2012 election cycle Republicans have so far received 89 percent of the coal industry’s contributions to political parties – amounting to more than $3 million – the industry must be asking itself why it continues to support politicians who fail so miserably.
Ironically, the coal industry’s only hope is to support Republican candidates across the board in 2012, in hopes of gaining the White House and both houses of Congress. Then, a GOP-controlled Congress could pass and a Republican president could sign a single bill rolling back or overriding all Obama EPA overreaches.”
And Governor Flipper has had virtually no comment that I can find on reigning in EPA overreach. One little fracking comment. Dr. Ron Paul, plenty, even calling global warming a hoax before Climategate. Senator Santorum, plenty. Even Speaker Gingrich some.
This is all looking like 1964 and Barry Goldwater to me, just little differences in getting there.
Ed Mertin ,
Worse than that , Flipper has two of the Bush administration’s more passionately pro cap & trade types on his campaign payroll . Unless he picks someone like Perry as his running mate , I have little faith in the man .
Yeah, posted that in t&n but talking heads and silly guitar pickers get more interest. So now I’ve been told by a dealer that Smith & Wesson may suspend orders for a while in May like Ruger has done. People are buying up guns because a re-elected Obama could go after new gun laws and who knows what kind of a president Flipper could be if he wins? Plus we are likely going to see difficult austerity measures that have led to rioting elsewhere.
Many are buying now because they can.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller#section_2
http://www.businessinsider.com/14-bald-faced-mitt-romney-flip-flops-that-were-dug-up-by-john-mccain-2012-1?op=1