The Week That Was: 2013-01-19 (January 19, 2013) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project
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Quote of the Week: The more I study the history of intellectuals, the more they seem like a wrecking crew, dismantling civilization bit by bit — replacing what works with what sounds good. – Thomas Sowell
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Number of the Week: 14 feet (4.3 meters) v. 17 feet (5.2 meters)
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SAVE THE DATE: February 2 — 1:30 to 3:30 A SEPP / VA-SEEE presentation on National and Virginia Energy Issues. At the Conference Center, Norfolk International Airport, 2200 Norview Avenue Norfolk, VA. Details to Follow.
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THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
James Hansen: The most iconic scientist in global warming / climate change establishment is James Hansen of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (NASA-GISS). With two colleagues he published a paper this week stating: “The 5-year mean global temperature has been flat for a decade, which we interpret as a combination of natural variability and a slowdown in the growth rate of the net climate forcing.”
In spite of the statement, Hansen asserts his belief that background warming is occurring, but the evidence is weak. The paper states: “The long-term warming trend, including continual warming since the mid-1970s, has been conclusively associated with the predominant global climate forcing, human-made greenhouse gases,” citing the 2007 IPCC report. The paper also states that: “If solar irradiance were the dominant drive of climate change that most global warming contrarians believe, then a global cooling trend might be expected.” This is a misstatement because many carbon-dioxide-caused-global-warming skeptics recognize that there are forms of solar energy, other than irradiance, that may be involved and that has been made clear to Hansen. For a critique of the paper see the comments by David Whitehouse of GWPF.
One may not always agree with Hansen’s conclusions or methodology, but at least he is demonstrating honesty and integrity in publishing the paper with the first quoted statement that will put him at odds with much of the climate establishment. One can only speculate if the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is preparing its Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), will reach the same conclusion. If not, and if the IPCC continues claim that humans are causing unprecedented and dangerous global warming by emitting greenhouse gases (GHG), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), and that the IPCC understands the causes of global warming / climate change, then the IPCC, once again, will demonstrate it is a political body not a scientific one.
Although the second draft of AR5, including the summary for policymakers, has been leaked onto the internet, we do not know what the final draft will say. That is due to be released in September 2013. There are massive sums of money involved both for political policy and for the climate establishment to keep the global warming express on track.
No doubt Hansen will come under intense pressure from the climate establishment and from politicians to retract or significantly modify the paper. Similarly, no doubt the research scientists of Britain’s MET Office are under intense pressure to retract or significantly modify their findings of no statistically significant global warming in the surface data for 16 years and their projections of no warming through 2017. Whatever the MET’s shortcomings, the integrity of the research scientists is to be admired. Please see links under Problems in the Orthodoxy and Challenging the Orthodoxy.
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Black Carbon: A new study appeared in the Journal of Geophysical Research stating that the role of black carbon in causing global warming / climate change has been greatly underestimated. According to the abstract, the influence of carbon black in climate warming is second only to carbon dioxide and the climate models greatly underestimate the influence of carbon black. If so, then the climate models overestimate the warming influence of carbon dioxide. It will be interesting to see how this study holds up to the criticism it will no doubt receive, and if the IPCC will include it in its AR5. Please see links under Challenging the Orthodoxy.
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Credible Science: Sections of the report of the US Global Climate Research Program (USGCRP) are being picked-up by once credible Federal agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture, which used part of the report in projecting future major droughts in the US. The projections were used in a business publication stating the country can expect a century of drought, with emphasis of projections of the Palmer Drought Severity Index contained in a chart prepared by the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). On his blog, Reference Frame, Lubos Molt explains why no one should believe such charts. The explanation is somewhat technical.
On his blog, Roger Pielke Jr. addresses another section of the USGCRP report – extreme floods. Pielke states the report is out of step with the scientific literature, including some of the literature it cites and that of the IPCC. As Pielke states, the report is a draft that could be corrected: “… but a four-year effort by the nation’s top scientists should be expected to produce a public draft report of much higher quality than this.”
The damage is being done. If these alarmist games from supposedly scientific government agencies continue, first businesses, than much of the public will realize that many government agencies can no longer be relied upon to produce credible reports. As with the absurd year 2000 climate report produced under the guidance of Al Gore, parts of the country may experience severe droughts, parts of the country may experience severe floods, and parts of the country may experience both – at the same time. Please see links under Challenging the Orthodoxy and Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
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USGCRP – a Lobbying Effort by Environmentalists? On her web site, Donna Laframboise traces the associations of 13 of the senior scientists involved in preparing the USGCRP. Many are associated with environmental lobbying groups and at least 8 are associated with the IPCC. Given this association with the IPCC, it is curious that Pielke finds some of the work is inconsistent with the IPCC. Please see links under Questioning the Orthodoxy.
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Interior Department: The Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar has announced his retirement. Mr Salazar banned oil and gas drilling on great expanses of US lands and waters. He placed a moratorium on drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico while falsely asserting the moratorium was supported by petroleum experts. He banned uranium mining on over a million acres of US lands, including some of the most promising sites in the country. At the same time, he promoted the industrial exploitation of hundreds of thousands of acres of US lands for major wind farms and solar energy businesses, which have a footprint far exceeding oil and gas drilling and even mining. At this time a replacement has not been selected and it is unknown if a future Secretary will be better or worse for American prosperity. Please see Article # 1 and links under EPA and other Regulators on the March.
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New Authoritarianism: Naomi Oreskes, who bills herself a the historian of climate science, was recently honored by the new AGU, and her book, co-written with Erik Conway, received great praise in Science, even though the authors were unable to provide hard evidence against the scientists they attacked and the part on the Cold War requires ignorance of the Cold War history. Oreskes has a new proposal. She draws an analogy between World War II with Nazi Germany obtaining the atomic bomb, and President Roosevelt using war time executive powers to build an atomic bomb first; and global warming. She calls on President Obama to use war time executive powers to fight global warming / climate change – as if the president could stop climate change that has been ongoing for hundreds of millions of years.
There are a few issues with this analogy including one that the war with Nazi Germany was real and millions were being killed. The threat of human caused dangerous global warming is imaginary – the product of computer models that have never been validated and verified, and which are failing.
The Sierra Club has also chosen a similar theme, the president must use full executive powers, even if it means by-passing the democratic process.
The founders of the nation would be horrified. In writing and approving the Constitution, they expressed the need for strong central government; but the powers of that government, and its various branches, should be few, defined, and limited. No matter what it is labeled, a government in which the executive has powers over the nation, and its people and its economy, unchecked by other branches of government and by a democratic process is Authoritarian. Let us hope that these views do not represent most of those involved in global warming alarmism, including various scientific institutions. Please see links under Below The Bottom Line.
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Number of the Week: 14 feet (4.3 meters) v. 17 feet (7.6 meters). According to the financial report of Munich Re, discussed last week, the Sandy, (a low, category 1 hurricane) caused a 14 foot storm surge at the Battery in New York City (the most southern tip of Manhattan). This includes the amplification caused by the strong spring tide.
Although precise measurements do not exist, the 1938 hurricane (a category 3 hurricane) which hit Long Island about 100 miles east of New York had a storm surge estimated to be about 17 feet with waves as high as 25 to 35 feet. It swept a movie theater with the audience out to sea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_New_England_hurricane
New York City is built in a natural funnel, the New York Bight, which amplifies tidal action and storm surges. This can easily be demonstrated from tide charts that show high tides at the Battery of 4 to 5.8 feet as compared with eastern Long Island of 3 to 4 feet. Although accurate numbers cannot be calculated, there is little doubt that if the 1938 hurricane had hit New York City, Sandy would be an important storm, but not the freak, global warming enhanced storm it is made out to be. Please see: http://ny.usharbors.com/new-york-tide-charts
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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. Green Energy’s Baptists and Bootleggers
If Warren Buffett likes solar, it’s not because the technology is cutting-edge.
By Holman Jenkins, WSJ, Jan 15, 2013
[SEPP Comment: High profits guaranteed for 20 to 25 years by government regulations.]
2. The EPA’s Stormy Weather
The agency loses another case, this time over water regulation.
Editorial, WSJ, Jan 18, 2013
3. This Metamorphosis Will Require a Permit
Sandy wrecked our house, but bureaucrats are keeping it broken.
By Roger Kimball, WSJ, Jan 14, 2013
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324081704578237722576889786.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0
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NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Science: Is the Sun Rising?
Solar vs. Anthropogenic—Better Understanding of 20th Century Climate Change
By Nir Shaviv, Video of Lecture, EIKE Conference, posted Jan 15, 2013
http://sciencebits.com/Munich-2012
Climategate Continued
Acton and Muir Russell at Tribunal
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Jan 14, 2013
http://climateaudit.org/2013/01/14/acton-and-muir-russell-at-tribunal/
Acton’s blind eye
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Jan 18, 2013
http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2013/1/18/actons-blind-eye.html
Acton and “Natural Person Powers”
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Jan 15, 2013
http://climateaudit.org/2013/01/15/acton-and-natural-person-powers/
Suppressing Scientific Inquiry
A Barrage Of Legal Threats Shuts Down Whistleblower Site, Science Fraud
By Bill Frezza, Forbes, Jan 9, 2013 [H/t Jo Nova]
Challenging the Orthodoxy
Extreme Misrepresentation: USGCRP and the Case of Floods
By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Jan 15, 2013
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.ca/2013/01/extreme-misrepresentation-usgcrp-and.html
Black carbon larger cause of climate change than previously assessed
By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX), Jan 17, 2013
Link to Article: Bounding the role of black carbon in the climate system: A scientific assessment
By Bond, et al, Journal of Geophysical Research, [unedited], Jan 2013
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jgrd.50171/abstract
A bit of a bombshell from the AGU IGBR: Black carbon is a larger cause of climate change than previously assessed
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jan 15, 2013
[SEPP Comment: May be overstated, but good graphics.]
Weather And Climate Commentary Confirms That A Little Knowledge Is A Dangerous Thing.
By Tim Ball, A Different Perspective, Jan 15, 2013
The IPCC’s fatal founding flaw
The media at large and the public that the media influences seem to believe that the IPCC is an international authority on all aspects of climate. This is a popular but false notion. The IPCC is, in fact, no more than a craftily assembled government-supported lobby group, doing what lobby groups usually do.
By John McLean, Quadrant, Jan 17, 2013
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2013/01/the-ipcc-s-fatal-founding-flaw
[SEPP Comment: Perhaps less kind than Roy Spencer’s book, Blunder, but perhaps more accurate in what the IPCC has become.]
A projection of future drought one can’t believe
By Lubos Molt, Reference Frame, Jan 13, 2013
http://motls.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-projection-of-future-drought-one-cant.html#more
New Met Office Botch: Climate Scientists Get the Stratosphere Wrong
By Doug Hoffman, The Resilient Earth, Jan 16, 2013
http://www.thegwpf.org/met-office-botch-climate-scientists-stratosphere-wrong/
Link to the Article: The mystery of recent stratospheric temperature trends,
By Thompson, et al, Nature, Nov 29, 2013
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v491/n7426/full/nature11579.html
NASA Warns Earth May Be Entering a Period of “Global Cooling”
By Staff Writers, ICECAP, Jan 18, 2013
European Climate Institute: “Climate In Germany Has Been Cooling For 15 Years”!
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 13, 2013
[SEPP Comment: EIKE announcement.]
Defending the Orthodoxy
Urgent CO2 cuts may spare millions hardship: report
By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Jan 13, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Urgent_CO2_cuts_may_spare_millions_hardship_report_999.html
Link to Article: A global assessment of the effects of climate policy on the impacts of climate change
By Arnell, et al, Nature Climate Change, Jan 13, 2013
[SEPP Comment: According to the abstract: “This study presents the first global-scale multi-sectoral regional assessment of the magnitude and uncertainty in the impacts of climate change avoided by emissions policies.” It is yet to be demonstrated that climate models accurately predict regional climate change. A massive cut in CO2 may spare no one from climate change, but cause many to suffer from poverty.]
An early sign of spring, earlier than ever
Unprecedented flowering follows record warmth
By Peter Reuell, Harvard Science, Jan 16, 2013 [H/t WUWT]
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/01/an-early-sign-of-spring-earlier-than-ever/
[SEPP Comment: Early flowering does not go to cause, and what applies in the US does not necessarily apply to the world. Carbon dioxide fertilization from enhanced atmospheric carbon dioxide promotes early growth.]
Questioning the Orthodoxy
Authors of ‘Extreme Misrepresentation’
By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Jan 19, 2013
http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2013/01/19/authors-of-extreme-misrepresentation/
Uncovering U.S. climate agency’s global warming propaganda – Part 3
By Tom Harris, FCPP, Jan 15, 2013
http://www.fcpp.org/blog/uncovering-u-s-climate-agencys-global-warming-propaganda-part-3/
Climate Change Impacts in the U.S.: Sober Analysis, Cool Graphics from Patrick Michaels and Chip Knappenberger
By Marlo Lewis, Global Warming, Jan 18, 2013
Global warming apocalypse canceled
21st century has seen no rise in temperature, after all
By Patrick Michaels, Washington Times, Jan 17, 2013
Spooky Story for 2013 —Third National Climate Assessment Report
By James H. Rust, Somewhat Reasonable, Jan 12, 2013
Rajendra Pachauri, Pessimist-in-Chief
By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Jan 17, 2013
http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2013/01/17/pessimist-in-chief-pachauri-insists-hes-an-optimist/
Researchers Puzzled about Global Warming
By Axel Bajanowski, Spiegel Online, Trans: Philipp Mueller, GWPF, Jan 18, 2013
http://www.thegwpf.org/researchers-puzzled-global-warming-standstill/
Warmist gasbags’ noxious emissions
By Geoffrey Luck, Quadrant, Jan 14, 2013
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2013/01/warmist-gasbags-noxious-emissions
[SEPP Comment: A lengthy, but amusing, article on the gullibility of some investors – especially those who wish to invest in saving the planet – using other people’s money.]
Obama Administration Stacks Deck on Global Warming
By William Bigelow, Breitbart, Jan 13, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
No Global Warming for Almost Two Decades
By Christopher Monckton, SPPI, Jan 15, 2013
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/no_global_warming_for_almost_two_decades.html
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/images/stories/papers/originals/two_decades_no_warming.pdf
NY Times Environmental Desk Goes the Way of Global Warming
By Alan Caruba, Warming Signs, Jan 14, 2013
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2013/01/ny-times-environmental-desk-goes-way-of.html
Has the Met Office committed fraud?
By Christopher Monckton of Brenchley, WUWT, Jan 14, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/01/14/has-the-met-office-committed-fraud/
A forecast the Met Office hoped you wouldn’t see
By Christopher Booker, Telegraph, Jan 12, 2013 [H/t Vincent Jappi]
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11SCcyUh0j8s-59bsKVRM7G2dvC3EPzMDKNNzwuCZ6ds/edit?pli=1
Global warming takes a vacation
Promoters of climate hysteria admit planetary temperatures are stable
Editorial, Washington Times, Jan 17, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/17/global-warming-takes-a-vacation/
Government issues warnings, but are rising temperatures a health risk?
By Steve Gorham, Washington Times, Jan 15, 2013
News Alert To Climate Alarmists: Most Arctic Species Will Benefit From Global Warming
By James Taylor, Forbes, Jan 2, 2013
Link to Article: Future Climate Change Will Favour Non-Specialist Mammals in the (Sub)Arctics
By Hof AR, Jansson R, Nilsson C, Plos One, Dec 20, 2012
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0052574
Questioning European Green
U.K. Offshore Wind Link Licences May Push Up Consumer Prices
By Sally Bakewell, Bloomberg, Jan 13, 2013
[SEPP Comment: A $27 Billion for an offshore collection system for electricity MAY push up consumer prices?]
Germany’s Green “Energiewende” (Energy Transition) Has Only Led To Greater Coal Consumption!
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 12, 2013
Expanding the Orthodoxy
Catching them young
By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Jan 18, 2013
http://www.scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/catching-them-young
Problems in the Orthodoxy
James Hansen Admits Global Temperature Standstill Is Real
By David Whitehouse, GWPF, Jan 17, 2013
http://www.thegwpf.org/hansen-admits-global-temperature-standstill-real/
Link to Paper by Hansen, Sato, & Ruedy, Global temperature Update Through 2012, Jan 15, 2013
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2013/20130115_Temperature2012.pdf
Climate change inaction the fault of environmental groups, report says
Academic paper largely clears President Obama of blame over failure to pass climate legislation through Congress
By Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian, UK, Jan 14, 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/14/environmental-groups-climate-change-inaction
[SEPP Comment: Environmental groups guilty of political malpractice??]
Beyond baby steps: Analyzing the cap-and-trade flop
By Bill McKibben, Grist, Jan 14, 2013 [H/t John McClaughry]
http://grist.org/article/beyond-baby-steps-analyzing-the-cap-and-trade-flop/
[SEPP Comment: From one of the most strident promoters of the orthodoxy.]
Harvard Flunks the Greens
By Waler Russell Mead, Via Meadia, Jan 16, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/01/16/harvard-flunks-the-greens/
Germany Gives Up On Binding Global Climate Treaty, Now Pushing For A “Coalition Of The Willing” On Green Energy
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 14, 2013
IPCC Leaks
Searchable Secret Santa
Simon Barnett has created a wonderful analysis tool for the new IPCC data.
By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Jan 11, 2013
http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2013/01/11/searchable-secret-santa/
Seeking a Common Ground
The Authoritarian Science Myth
By Roger Pielke, Jr, His Blog, Jan 17, 2013
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-authoritarian-science-myth.html
Energy, Pollution Control and Economic Growth.
Ross Mckitrick, WUWT-TV Presentation, Nov 15, Video
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/11/23/the-next-video-from-wuwt-tv-dr-ross-mckitrick/
Draft U.S. Climate Assessment Report
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc, Jan 12, 2013
http://judithcurry.com/2013/01/12/draft-u-s-climate-assessment-report/#more-10910
Global warming and an inconvenient truth
Daily Mail Comment, Jan 10, 2013
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IakG1Z3JLmJVE5kuFywqs26ePnd_WLbnnP-zpFGxyLY/edit?pli=1
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?
ScienceShot: It’s Official … Last Year Was One of the Warmest on Record
By Sid Perkins, Science, Jan 15, 2013 [H/t Toshio Fujita]
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2013/01/scienceshot-its-official-last-ye.html
[SEPP Comment: It’s official, Science magazine has embraced purple prose! “Last year, the globe sweltered through…” (boldface added) Note the cooling in central Asia and Antarctica.]
Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
Hansen’s NASA GISS – cooling the past, warming the present
The Climate of Gavin: How GISS Have Changed The Temperature Record Since 2008
By Paul Homewood, WUWT, Jan 18, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/01/18/hansens-nasa-giss-cooling-the-past-warming-the-present/
[SEPP Comment: If the recorded temperatures do not show the trend you want, change the data.]
America, Prepare For A Century Of Drought
By Rob Wile, Business Insider, Jan 11, 2013 [H/t Lubos Molt]
http://www.businessinsider.com/noaa-commerce-department-drought-report-2013-1
Link to Report: http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/download/NCAJan11-2013-publicreviewdraft-chap2-climate.pdf
Climate: Monthly heat records have increased fivefold
By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Jan 14, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_Monthly_heat_records_have_increased_fivefold_999.html
Link to Article: Global increase in record-breaking monthly-mean temperatures,
By Coumou, et al, http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-012-0668-1
If man-made warming is stripped out of the equation, 80 percent of the records for hottest-ever months would not have occurred, it said.
“This doesn’t mean there will be 12 times more hot summers in Europe than today — it actually is worse,” Coumou said in a press release issued by PIK.
[SEPP Comment: Not only does Dim Coumou rely on the logical fallacy of Petitio Principii, but he also claims Sandy was influenced by human-caused global warming.]
Ehrlichian Catastrophe-Obsessed Potsdam Climate Institute Claims 12 Times More Heat Records By 2040!
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 14, 2013
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]
Hot enough for you?
By Eugene Robinson, Washington Post, Jan 10, 2013
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-10/opinions/36272697_1_climate-change-climate-change-noaa
“The climate-change denialists — especially those who manipulate the data in transparently bogus ways to claim that warming has halted or even reversed course — have been silent, as one might expect.”
[SEPP Comment: Fails to point out that it was hot for the US but not for the rest of the world – and in terms of insurance monetary losses, the weather was extreme for the US, but benign for the rest of the world. But for a Washington journalist, Washington is the center of the earth.]
Changing Weather
Fed agency: 2012 was 10th-warmest year on record worldwide
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Jan 15, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/277311-fed-agency-2012-was-10th-warmest-on-record-worldwide
Weather Warning: Blizzards To Blanket Britain
By Staff Writers, Sky News, UK, Jan 17, 2013 [H/t Gordon Fulks]
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/weather-warning-blizzards-blanket-britain-114001927.html#KzUvOr6
Australia – was hot and is hot. So what? This is not an unusual heat-wave
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jan 15, 2013
William Kininmonth: Is it Extreme Weather or Climate Change?
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jan 17, 2013
http://joannenova.com.au/2013/01/william-kininmonth-is-it-extreme-weather-or-climate-change/
Changing Seas
Seattle calculates how climate change will redraw its shores
Seattle Public Utilities maps the local effects of global climate change and projects that by 2050, higher shorelines will inundate parts of Interbay, Georgetown, South Park, West Seattle, Golden Gardens and Harbor Island.
By Lynda Mapes, Seattle Times, Jan 12, 2013
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020120911_climatechange13m.html
[SEPP Comment: Sea levels will continue to rise even if there is no climate change – until another ice age.]
Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice
Arctic Sea Ice Area Back to Normal
P. Gosslin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 16, 2013
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org
Global Tropical Cyclone Activity of the Past Five Thousand Years
Reference: Nott, J. and Forsyth, A. 2012. Punctuated global tropical cyclone activity over the past 5,000 years. Geophysical Research Letters 39: 10.1029/2012GL052236.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jan/15jan2013a1.html
Based on such findings, it is clear that something has orchestrated the ebbing and flowing of global TC activity over the last 5,000 years, but that something has most certainly not been changes in the atmosphere’s CO2 concentration, as it has remained quite stable over this entire period (with the exception of the past 100 years or so, when it has risen substantially, but without any demonstrable change in global TC activity). As a result, there is no compelling reason to believe that any further increase in the air’s CO2 content will have any significant impact on these destructive storms.
Free-Air CO2-Enrichment May Not Be All It’s Cracked Up to Be
Reference: Bunce, J.A. 2012. Responses of cotton and wheat photosynthesis and growth to cyclic variation in carbon dioxide concentration. Photosynthetica 50: 395-400.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jan/15jan2013a2.html
Thus, Earth’s plant life could well be far better off in a high-CO2 world of the future than even the more optimistic assessments have suggested it will be.
Climate Change in China Over the Past Century
Reference: Ren, G., Ding, Y., Zhao, Z., Zheng, J., Wu, T., Tang, G. and Xu, Y. 2012. Recent progress in studies of climate change in China. Advances in Atmospheric Sciences 29: 958-977.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jan/15jan2013a4.html
Iron Released from the Melting of Antarctic Glaciers
Reference: Alderkamp, A.-C., Mills, M.M., van Dijken, G.L., Laan, P., Thuroczy, C.-E., Gerringa, L.J.A., de Baar, H.J.W., Payne, C.D., Visser, R.J.W., Buma, A.G.J. and Arrigo, K.R. 2012. Iron from melting glaciers fuels phytoplankton blooms in the Amundsen Sea (Southern Ocean): Phytoplankton characteristics and productivity. Deep-Sea Research II 71-76: 32-48.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/jan/16jan2013a2.html
The significance of such finding is revealed in the authors’ additional comments that “the high phytoplankton productivity as a result of glacial input of dissolved Fe is the first evidence that melting glaciers have the potential to increase phytoplankton productivity and thereby CO2 uptake, resulting in a small negative feedback to anthropogenic CO2 emissions.”
The Political Games Continue
Vitter: ‘Political purposes’ behind EPA fracking study
By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jan 17, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/277669-vitter-political-purposes-behind-epa-fracking-study-
Litigation Issues
Court denies challenge to EPA ethanol ruling
By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jan 15, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/277269-court-denies-challenge-to-high-ethanol-fuel-sales
Federal Court Declines to Bind EPA to New Source MATS Deadline
By Sonal Patel, Power News, Jan 17, 2013
http://www.powermag.com/news/5301.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2599381&hq_l=8&hq_v=5e660500d0
Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes
Carbon Tax Would Raise Unemployment, Not Swap Revenue
By David Kreutzer and Nicolas Loris, Heritage Foundation, Jan 8, 2013
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/carbon-tax-would-raise-unemployment-not-revenue
[SEPP Comment: Those who believe that the revenues from a carbon tax can be passed through Washington to the general public without major diversion of funds should read the recently enacted emergency legislation for those who suffered from Sandy. It contains large expenditures of funds unrelated to relieving the suffering of the victims of the storm.]
Grimm’s carbon tax
By David Kreutzer, Washington Times, Jan 16, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/16/kreutzer-grimms-carbon-tax/
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
Government incentives speed up installation of utility-scale solar power plants
By Staff Writers, Mountain View CA (SPX), Jan 16, 2013
EPA and other Regulators on the March
EPA Doubles Down on ‘Richard Windsor’ Stonewall
By Chris Horner, WUWT, Jan 15, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/01/15/epa-doubles-down-on-richard-windsor-stonewall/
New mysteries in EPA’s Windsorgate scandal
By Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner, Jan 15, 2013
Interior Secretary Salazar to step down
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Jan 16, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/277417-interior-secretary-salazar-to-step-down
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately below.]
Salazar’s Disastrous Tenure At Interior—Less Energy, Higher Costs
Editorial, IBD, Jan 17, 2013
Interior finalizes Ariz. solar energy plan
By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jan 18, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/278005-interior-finalizes-arizona-solar-energy-plan
Obama officials delay ‘fracking’ rules
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Jan 18, 2013
Energy Issues – Non-US
Falling U.S. Oil Imports Will Reshape the World Crude Market
By Matthew Philips, Bloomberg, Jan 16, 2013
Power Play: Politician Calls for Nationalization of Electricity Grid
By Frank Dohmen and Gerald Traufetter, Spiegel Online, Jan 16, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
The oil sands’ benefits
By David McLellan, Financial Post, Jan 14, 2013
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/01/14/the-oil-sands-benefits/
Woodland Heists: Rising Energy Costs Drive Up Forest Thievery
By Renuka Rayasam, Spiegel Online, Jan 17, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
Energy Issues — US
Distorted Energy Efficiency Assertions
By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Jan 18, 2013
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/01/18/distorted-energy-efficiency-assertions/
[SEPP Comment: The vision of those green organizations that preach energy conservation.]
Senior State Dept. climate official heads to DOE
By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jan 18, 2013
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
Oil companies read the tea leaves (and lots of data)
By Harry Weber, Houston Chronicle, Jan 15, 2013
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/01/15/oil-companies-read-the-tea-leaves-and-lots-of-data/
Dueling Documentaries: FrackNation gives the counter-argument to the anti-fracking Gasland
By Jack Kemp, American Thinker, Jan 15, 2013
Fracking: A Boom or Bust Decision for New York
By Chris Faulkner, President and CEO Breitling Oil and Gas, New York NY (SPX) Jan 15, 2013
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Fracking_A_Boom_or_Bust_Decision_for_New_York_999.html
Washington’s Control of Energy
Obama coal regulations crippling communities
War on fossil fuels strangling the economy, too
By Rep. David B. McKinley and Rep. H. Morgan Griffith, Washington Times, Jan 18, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/18/obama-coal-regulations-crippling-communities/
Obama’s wishful thinking on green energy
Fed crackdown on fracking ignores facts
By Paul Driessen, Washington Times, Jan 18, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/18/obamas-wishful-thinking-on-green-energy/
The Government Gives, The Government Has Taken Away
By Marita Noon, Energy Tribune, Jan 16, 2013
http://www.energytribune.com/70798/the-government-gives-the-government-has-taken-away
Groups battle on Keystone XL pipeline
By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jan 17, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/277765-groups-battle-on-keystone-xl-pipeline
Nuclear Energy and Fears
Nuclear fears contaminate sales for Japan farmers
By Staff Writers, Tokyo (AFP), Jan 14, 2013
http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Nuclear_fears_contaminate_sales_for_Japan_farmers_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Damage caused by alarmists.]
DOE Unveils Used Nuclear Fuel Strategy
By Sonal Patel , Power News, Jan 17, 2013
http://www.powermag.com/news/5295.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2599381&hq_l=4&hq_v=5e660500d0
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind
Wind Energy Distortions
By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Jan 15, 2013
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/wind-energy-distortions/
Creative Energy Destruction: Renewables Lost Long Ago
By Robert Bradley Jr, Master Resource, Jan 15, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/01/creative-energy-destruction-renewables-lost/#more-23635
NERC Demands ERCOT Address Declining Reserve Margin Levels
By Sonal Patel, Power News, Jan 17, 2013
http://www.powermag.com/news/5303.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2599381&hq_l=9&hq_v=5e660500d0
[SEPP Comment: Thanks to Enron, Texas has the largest installed capacity of wind turbines in the US.]
Japan plans world’s largest wind farm
By Staff Writers, Tokyo (UPI), Jan 16, 2013
http://www.winddaily.com/reports/Japan_plans_worlds_largest_wind_farm_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Off-shore at that.]
Environmental Industry
Wake-up call for boreal alarmism
By Peter Foster, Financial Post, Jan 17, 2013
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/01/17/peter-foster-wake-up-call-for-boreal-alarmism/
Dear Carl Pope: What About the “Cuisinarts of the Air” (Sierra Club term still part of the windpower debate)
By Robert Bradley Jr, Master Resource, Jan 14, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/01/dear-carl-pope-what-about-cuisinarts-of-the-air/
[SEPP Comment: According to the article, the Serra Club conceived the labeling of wind turbines as Cuisinarts of the Air.]
Other Scientific News
Like We’ve Been Saying — Radiation Is Not A Big Deal
By James Conca, Forbes, Jan 11, 2013 [H/t Jerry Cuttler]
Link to the Report: http://www.unscear.org/docs/reports/Biological_mechanisms_WP_12-57831.pdf
UNSCEAR “does not recommend multiplying low doses by large numbers of individuals to estimate numbers of radiation-induced health effects within a population exposed to incremental doses at levels equivalent to or below natural background levels.”
[SEPP Comment: So much for the linear no-threshold model.]
NASA Ozone Study May Benefit Air Standards, Climate
By Staff Writers, Pasadena CA (JPL), Jan 17, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/NASA_Ozone_Study_May_Benefit_Air_Standards_Climate_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Note the poor editing: High-latitude regions such as Europe had a smaller impact than lower-latitude regions like North America. A better statement would have compared northern Europe with the southern US and Mexico.]
Press release: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/aura/media/tes20130116.html
New study reveals gas that triggers ozone destruction
By Staff Writers, York UK (SPX), Jan 16, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/New_study_reveals_gas_that_triggers_ozone_destruction_999.html
Other News that May Be of Interest
Global warming beneficial to ratsnakes
By Staff Writers, Urbana IL (SPX), Jan 14, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Global_warming_beneficial_to_ratsnakes_999.html
[SEPP Comment: And most other creatures.]
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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
Mobilizing scientists on climate change,
By Naomi Oreskes, Washington Post, Jan 17, 2013
Sierra Club urges Obama to wield ‘full executive authority’ against climate change
By Zack Colman, The Hill, Jan 14, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/276985-sierra-club-starts-campaign-to-push-obama-on-climate
Doomsday Clock remains at five minutes to midnight
By Staff Writers, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Jan 14, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Members of the Science and Security Board that issued the report include James Hansen, etc. It’s Chair is Robert Socolow, who debated Fred Singer and Ken Haapala at Purdue, and failed, when asked, to accurately reveal his corporate support.] http://www.thebulletin.org/content/about-us/science-and-security-board
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My favorite quote about intellectuals is from the movie, “Dangerous Liaisons”. It goes, “Like most intellectuals, he is intensely stupid.”
Number of the Week: 14 feet (4.3 meters) v. 17 feet (7.6 meters).
There seems to be an arithmetic error here. I calculate the spread should be 4.3-5.6 metres.
Please include more “SEPP Comments” in the future.
In several places,
Lubos Motl not “Molt”