Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup

The Week That Was: 2013-08-10 (August 10, 2013) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project

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Quote of the Week: If you put feedback into a computer model, you can prove anything. John Brignell, Number Watch

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Number of the Week: 207

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THIS WEEK:

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

The Right Climate Stuff Team: In his Forbes column Larry Bell interviews Apollo astronaut Walter Cunningham, who discusses the change in culture at NASA from the days of the tremendous effort leading to the successful lunar missions as compared with today. Cunningham thinks that the culture of NASA today is less capable of significant accomplishments. Among other issues is that the Apollo scientists and engineers realized that hypotheses need to be challenged by empirical evidence.

Cunningham is part of The Right Climate Stuff team that tested the hypothesis that human emissions of carbon dioxide are causing unprecedented and dangerous global warming (Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW)) against empirical data and found the hypothesis wanting. He is particularly concerned with the confusion in science created by NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and its former leader, James Hansen. Cunningham believes that GISS especially politicized science thereby compromising NASA’s credibility and he was one of those who signed a letter to NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden to that effect.

A number of NASA retirees sent a second letter stating that NASA in general, and GISS in particular, failed to address all the salient data on climate change, and relied too heavily on climate models that fail to correctly predict climate change. Cunningham believes NASA should be at the forefront in collecting scientific evidence and debunking the hysteria over AGW. Please see link under Challenging the Orthodoxy.

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Lowering Standards: Under its new leadership, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) announced a new statement on climate change drafted by a special committee for that purpose. The title says it all: “Human-induced climate change requires urgent action.” The new leadership has completely politicized that once august scientific organization. Among other questionable statements is: “Human-caused increases in greenhouse gases are responsible for most of the observed global average surface warming of roughly 0.8°C (1.5°F) over the past 140 years.”

If the statement is correct, we all should be thankful that greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide (CO2) in particular, brought the earth out of the Little Ice Age and its brutal weather. Of course, the AGU ignores the fact that a major component of 20^th century warming occurred from about 1910 to 1940, long before significant CO2 emissions. The new leadership did not bother to submit the statement to the membership for a vote.

On her web site, Judith Curry presents the significant objections by Roger Pielke Sr., the only dissenter on the AGU committee. Curry questions why any professional society should issue statements on this topic. In her opinion the AGU statement is one of worst she has seen from a professional society.

In a different post, using criteria discussed at an AAAS workshop, Curry grades the climate statements by the Royal Society, the American Meteorological Society, and the American Geophysical Union. Under its new leadership, the AGU did not do well. Please see links under Lowering Standards and Questioning the Orthodoxy.

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NOAA: The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its 2012 State of the Climate report. The report evaded the facts that for a decade there has been little or no warming of the lower atmosphere, where the greenhouse effect takes place, and for over 15 years little or no surface warming. Instead the report states: “Warm temperature trends continue near Earth’s surface: Four major independent datasets show 2012 was among the 10 warmest years on record, ranking either 8th or 9th, depending upon the dataset used.” This is evasion of the facts.

The report further states: “The United States and Argentina had their warmest year on record.” As presented by John Christy and Joe D’Aleo, the statement for the US is questionable. An examination of surface records of the US that date back at least 80 years shows that more temperature records were set in the 1930s than during any other decade.

The logo of the web site carrying the report has the caption “science & information for a climate-smart nation.” Apparently, the leadership of NOAA believes that ignorance of significant, contradicting data is smart. Please see links under Lower Standards.

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Climate and Violence: Statistician William Briggs discusses with widely differing statistics used in the paper “Quantifying the Influence of Climate on Human Conflict”, which was discussed in last week’s TWTW. He concludes: “The most charitable way to describe the result is complete and utter nonsense. I do not want to exaggerate, but this paper is not even a mess.” So much for the standards of “peer review” in Science magazine. Please see link under Lowering Standards.

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Validating Models: As stated in prior TWTWs none of the some-73 global climate models have been validated and all run too hot when compared to lower atmospheric temperatures. On his web site, Bishop Hill, Andrew Montford presents a bibliography obtained by of his readers from the British Met Office in response to an inquiry on the validity of the output from General Circulation Models. Montford suggests his readers may wish to randomly select a paper and see what comfort it gives in answering the question.

This should prove interesting. The very first paper gives some discomfort. It equates model simulations (model runs) with experiments, which is not correct. An experiment would be how well a model predicted a particular component of climate – such as warming of the atmosphere over the tropics, where Douglass et al. [IJC 2007] have shown that the models fail. Please see link under Challenging the Orthodoxy.

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Quote of the Week: The quote comes from John Brignell who devoted his career to measurement in science and engineering and was a pioneer in computer modeling. Very simply, the value of feedbacks cannot be established within a model. The feedbacks must be thoroughly tested outside of the model. This procedure is ignored in the reports by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its followers. On his web site, Brignell presents a list of hazards in computer modeling, which still apply.

In a 12 minute video, Australian David Evans explains why the models are failing – the calculated feedbacks are wrong. Please see links under Model v. Observations and Model Issues.

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After Climategate: University of East Anglia Professor of Climate Change, Mike Hulme, presented a provocative essay entitled “After Climategate…Never the Same,” which is found in his new book of essays. On her web site, Judith Curry reproduces part of the essay, which she links to, and offers some of her thoughts. Curry boldfaced a particular sentence: The populist notion that all climate sceptics are either in the pay of oil barons or are right-wing ideologues, as is suggested for example by studies such as Oreskes and Conway (2011), cannot be sustained. Please see link under Climategate Continued.

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Himalayan Melt: In its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4, 2007), the IPCC reported that the Himalayan glaciers will melt during the 21^st century. This would cause great suffering to the many people who live on the watersheds of the Indus and Ganges rivers. The government of India was so concerned that it hired India’s foremost glacier expert to examine the claim. He found it false. Some glaciers were advancing, others retreating, with no clear net trend. The IPCC dismissed this study, leading the government of India to form its own team on climate change

Three years ago, a grouped headed by Walter Immerzeel published a paper in Science stating that during the early part of this century the glaciers will melt quickly and the water levels in the rivers will drop significantly by the end of the century. Many glacial experts criticized the study stating that glaciers melt slowly.

Now a team headed by Immerzeel has backed down on the predictions made earlier, stating the glaciers will recede, but more slowly and that the monsoons will increase precipitation. Of course, this is based on un-validated computer models, and may be very wrong. But at least Immerzeel is willing recognize a need to correct his prior study, which is how science progresses. The question remains: what will the IPCC do? Please see links under Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

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Amplifications and Corrections: Several readers have complained about the proofreading of TWTW. However, it appears that the major problem is in formatting. As seen in the pdf posted on www.sepp.org long quotes are properly formatted with indentations. But when the word document is converted for distribution, this formatting is lost, making it somewhat difficult to follow. We will endeavor to be sensitive to proper formatting in the document that is distributed. As always we appreciate amplifications and corrections.

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Number of the Week: 207 According to reports an estimated 207 coal-fired power plants will close within the decade, of those 138 have been shut down since 2009. Most of the plants that have been shut down are the older, less efficient, and smaller plants. Modern plants are a great improvement to those built in the 1970s. A part of the shutdown is due to low prices of natural gas, but gas prices are rebounding due to a slowdown in drilling.

The plants to be shut down in the next 10 years have about 10% of the nation’s generating capacity. Thanks to game playing by the EPA and the administration, by announcing future regulations for new power plants without being specific, no prudent utility will undertake the planning and construction of a new coal-fired plant that may not be approved under future, to-be-determined, regulations. This is but another example how indifferent Washington is to the stagnant economy. Please see link under Washington’s Control of Energy and http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/08/07/utilities-firstenergy-coal-idINL1N0G822U20130807

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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. U.S. and Canada Vie for Big Gas Projects

By Chester Dawson and Ben Lefebvre, WSJ, Aug 5, 2013

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324260204578585883862305950.html?mod=WSJ_Energy_2_4_Right

2. Oil Boom Helps to Shrink U.S. Trade Deficit by 22%

By Brenda Cronin, WSJ, Aug 6, 2013

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323968704578651734228576550.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1

3. Runaway Train in Quebec Sparks New U.S. Rail-Safety Rules

Agency Takes Aim at Unattended Trains With Hazardous Materials Such as Crude Oil

By Betsy Morris, WSJ, Aug 2, 2013

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324635904578644561741905382.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Science: Is the Sun Rising?

The Sun’s Magnetic Field is about to Flip

By Tony Phillips, NASA Science, Aug 5, 2013

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/05aug_fieldflip/

Commentary: Is the Sun Rising?

Looming weak solar max may herald frosty times

By Staff Writers, Moscow (SPX), Aug 09, 2013

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Looming_weak_solar_max_may_herald_frosty_times_999.html

Climategate Continued

After Climategate . . . never the same (?)

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc., Aug 8, 2013

http://judithcurry.com/2013/08/08/after-climategate-never-the-same/#more-12529

Link to essay: http://www.mikehulme.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Extract-from-Chapter-50-Climategate.pdf

Suppressing Scientific Inquiry

Note to Broadcast Meteorologists pressured by News Directors or Forecast the Facts

By Joseph D’Aleo, ICECAP, Aug 4, 2013

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/note_to_broadcast_meteorologists_pressured_by_news_directors_or_forecast_th/

Challenging the Orthodoxy

A Conversation With Apollo Astronaut Walter Cunningham About A Vital Need To Restore Climate Science Integrity

By Larry Bell, Forbes, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/08/06/a-conversation-with-apollo-astronaut-walter-cunningham-about-a-vital-need-to-restore-climate-science-integrity/

The validity of climate models: a bibliography

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Aug 3, 2013

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2013/8/3/the-validity-of-climate-models-a-bibliography.html

Who are the real deniers?

By Gordon Fulks, The Hockey Schtick, Aug 5, 2013

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2013/08/who-are-real-deniers.html

Environment Canada’s Ignorance Guarantees Political Climate Science And Wrong Policy.

By Tim Ball, A Different Perspective, Aug 3, 2013

http://drtimball.com/2013/environment-canadas-ignorance-guarantees-political-climate-science-and-wrong-policy/

An illustration that CO2 won’t roast the Earth in a runaway tipping point…

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Aug 8, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/08/08/an-illustration-that-co2-wont-roast-the-earth-in-a-runaway-tipping-point/

Global methane emissions driven by Soviet leaks, volcanoes and El Ninos, not cows

The true story of the drivers of methane

By Tom Quirk, Jo Nova’s Blog, Aug 4, 2013

http://joannenova.com.au/2013/08/global-methane-emissions-driven-by-soviet-leaks-volcanoes-and-el-ninos-not-cows/#more-29853

Biologists spreading misinformation: hybridization with grizzlies not due to polar bears moving inland

By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Aug 3, 2013

http://polarbearscience.com/2013/08/03/biologists-spreading-misinformation-hybridization-with-grizzlies-not-due-to-polar-bears-moving-inland/

Link to paper, Ecological Consequences of Sea-Ice Decline

By Post, et al., Science, Aug 2, 2013

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/341/6145/519

Defending the Orthodoxy

German Politicians Moving To Ban Meat Consumption – Request The Enactment Of A Weekly “Veggie-Day”

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Aug 8, 2013

http://notrickszone.com/2013/08/08/german-politicians-moving-to-ban-meat-consumptions-request-the-enactment-of-a-weekly-veggie-day/

[SEPP Comment: See link about Global Methane, above.]

Frigid and Sweltering: The New Climate Normal

By Madeline Ostrander, The Nation, Aug 8, 2013

http://www.thenation.com/blog/175667/frigid-and-sweltering-new-climate-normal#axzz2bUzs7LrQ

Marine Life Reacts Faster to Warming Than Land Species

By Alex Morales, Businessweek, Aug 4, 2013

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-08-04/marine-life-reacting-faster-to-climate-change-than-land-species

Areas occupied by marine species including fish, corals and plankton are moving by an average of 72 kilometers (45 miles) a decade, typically toward the poles, the study by researchers at 17 institutions in 8 countries said today. That’s more than 10 times the 6.1 kilometer rate that land creatures are shifting.

[SEPP Comment: What!]

Questioning the Orthodoxy

Climate Realism and Socialist Realism

By Norman Rogers. American Thinker, Aug 8, 2013

http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/08/climate_realism_and_socialist_realism.html

[SEPP Comment: The IPCC is breaking new ground in mathematical statistics. With its ensemble of models, it creates an opinion poll of computers!]

(Ir)responsible advocacy by scientists

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc., Aug 6, 2013

http://judithcurry.com/2013/08/06/irresponsible-advocacy-by-scientists/#more-12477

Scientists assert there is less weather variability, globally, than most people believe

Henry Gass, E&E reporter, Aug 5, 2013 [H/t WUWT]

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059985592

Link to paper: No increase in global temperature variability despite changing regional patterns

By Huntingford, et al., Nature, Jul 24, 2013

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature12310.html

Climate Change Myths

Just because humans sometimes damage the environment doesn’t mean government is competent to fix the problem

By John Stossel, Reason.com, Aug 7, 2013

http://reason.com/archives/2013/08/07/climate-change-myths

Fabricating Climate Doom – Part 2: Hijacking Conservation Success in the UK to Build Consensus!

By Jim Steele, WUWT, Aug 6, 2103

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/08/06/fabricating-climate-doom-part-2-hijacking-conservation-success-in-the-uk-to-build-consensus/

Global Warming as Faith

By Norman Rogers, American Thinker, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/08/global_warming_as_faith.html

Hot Lies Disputed by Cold Facts

By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Aug 5, 2013

http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2013/08/hot-lies-disputed-by-cold-facts.html

Global Warming = Climate Change

By Ed Hoskins, SPPI, Aug 7, 2013

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/global_warming_climate_change.html

[SEPP Comment: An overview of temperature history and the significance of CO2.]

Problems in the Orthodoxy

Major Danish Daily Warns: “Globe May Be On Path To Little Ice Age…Much Colder Winters…Dramatic Consequences”!

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Aug 9, 2013

http://notrickszone.com/2013/08/09/major-danish-daily-warns-globe-may-be-on-path-to-little-ice-age-much-colder-winters-dramatic-consequences/

Rebels Turn on IPCC over Climate Sensitivity

By Graham Lloyd, The Australian, via GWPF, Aug 3, 2013

http://www.thegwpf.org/rebels-turn-ipcc-climate-sensitivity/

A New Climate-Policy Paradigm

By Oliver Geden, Project Syndicate, Aug 7, 2013

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/replacing-the-top-down-approach-to-international-climate-policy-by-oliver-geden

[SEPP Comment: The big top-down effort is not working.]

Fracking shatters all the old green battlelines

By Hugo Rifkind, The Times, via GWPF, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.thegwpf.org/hugo-rifkind-fracking-shatters-green-battlelines/

Seeking a Common Ground

Changing minds

By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Aug 8, 2013

http://scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/changing-minds

Cold weather coming?

TV Debate – Joe Bastardi of WeatherBell and Corey Powell of Discovery Magazine, Fox Video, Aug 8, 2013 [H/t WUWT]

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2593834248001/colder-weather-coming/

Expanding the Orthodoxy

Coal at Risk as Global Lenders Drop Financing on Climate

By Mark Drajem, Bloomberg, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-05/coal-at-risk-as-global-lenders-drop-financing-on-climate.html?utm_content=buffer313b4&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

[SEPP Comment: Keeping the poor, poor.]

IAEA Coordinates an International Project to Protect Glaciers

By Michael Madsen, IAEA, Jul 29, 2013

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2013/protectglaciers.html

[SEPP Comment: Obviously, the International Atomic Energy Agency expects to benefit, even though its expertise is someone thin.]

Lowering Standards

Scientists declare: ‘Human activities are changing Earth’s climate’

By John Roach, NBC, Aug 5, 2013 [H/t Clyde Spencer]

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/scientists-declare-human-activities-are-changing-earths-climate-6C10853219#scientists-declare-hum

Link to Statement: Human-induced climate change requires urgent action.

By AGU Committee, August 2013

http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/pdf/position_statements/AGU_Climate_Statement_new.pdf

AGU Statement on Climate Change

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc., Aug 5, 2013

http://judithcurry.com/2013/08/05/agu-statement-on-climate-change/#more-12466

[SEPP Comment: Along with comments by Roger Pielke Sr. on why he opposed it.]

The AGU climate policy statement as redrafted by Monckton

By Christopher Monckton, WUWT, Aug 7, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/08/07/the-agu-policy-statement-as-redrafted-by-monckton/

Crazy over climate

By Peter Foster, Financial Post, CA, Aug 8, 2013

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/08/08/peter-foster-crazy-over-climate/

[SEPP Comment: More on the Royal Society’s award to “cognitive scientist” Stephan Lewandowsky and his attempt to link climate skeptics to those who believe NASA faked the lunar landing. Does Lewandowsky include Apollo astronauts?]

Climate Hash Rehashed

By Patrick J. Michaels and Paul C. “Chip” Knappenberger, WUWT, Aug 7, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/08/07/climate-hash-rehashed/

Link to the report: State of the Climate in 2012: Highlights

By Staff Writers, NOAA, Aug 2, 2013

http://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/state-climate-2012-highlights

NOAA report card: We still live in a warming world

While the report purposely doesn’t address why the world is warming, “the causes are primarily greenhouse gases, the burning of fossil fuels.

By Seth Borenstein, AP, Aug 7, 2013 [H/t Clyde Spencer]

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/noaa-report-card-we-still-live-in-a-warming-world

Rise In Violence Linked To Poor Statistics. Or Climate Change

By William Briggs, His Blog, Aug 4, 2013

http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8704

Questioning European Green

We could soon be paying billions for this wind back-up

The National Grid’s latest plan is taking off into the weirdest scheme yet, thanks to our politicians’ obsession with wind turbines

By Christopher Booker, Telegraph, UK, Aug 3, 2013

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/10220083/We-could-soon-be-paying-billions-for-this-wind-back-up.html

There’s no room for wind farms but plenty for fracking, says PM

There will not be “a lot more” onshore wind turbines in the UK, David Cameron has said, as he signalled that hundreds of gas fracking wells could be drilled across the country.

By Peter Dominiczak, Telegraph, UK, Aug 8, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/10231717/Theres-no-room-for-wind-farms-but-plenty-for-fracking-says-PM.html

Two thirds of huge UK wind farms built by foreign companies

Two thirds of one of the UK’s biggest wind farms has been built abroad, it has been disclosed.

By Peter Dominiczak, Telegraph, UK, Aug 7, 2013

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/10227981/Two-thirds-of-huge-UK-wind-farms-built-by-foreign-companies.html

Questioning Green Elsewhere

Abbott demands green bank stops work

By Staff Writer, AAP, (AU), Aug 5, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/abbott-demands-green-bank-stops-work/story-fni0xqi4-1226691455875

Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?

Art Horn Letter to Connecticut State Department of Agriculture

By Art Horn, ICECAP, Aug 6, 2013

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-climate/art_horn_letter_to_connecticut_state_department_of_agriculture/

[SEPP Comment: Horn exposing the ignorance of the bureaucrat.]

Breaking News! Seventh First Climate Refugees Discovered!

By Willis Eschenbach, WUWT, Aug 9, 2013

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/08/09/breaking-news-seventh-first-climate-refugees-discovered/

[SEPP Comment: More sensationalist reporting by BBC.]

ScienceShot: Arctic Warming Twice as Fast as Rest of World

By Sid Perkins, Science, Aug 8, 2013 [H/t Toshio Fujita]

http://news.sciencemag.org/2013/08/scienceshot-arctic-warming-twice-fast-rest-world

[SEPP Comment: Hot Tip – Global Warming of one-fourth of the planet is not Global!]

Climate change said driving force behind larger, more extreme wild fires

By Staff Writers, East Lansing, Mich. (UPI,) Aug 1, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_change_said_driving_force_behind_larger_more_extreme_wildfires_999.html

[SEPP Comment: The lack of warming is creating these hazards? They researched current and future climate patterns – that says it all.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.

Climate Changing at Fastest Pace Since the Age of Dinosaurs

By Terrell Johnson, Weather Channel, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.weather.com/news/science/environment/climate-changing-faster-any-time-dinosaurs-20130805?cm_ven=Twitter

[SEPP Comment: Weeds, rats, and cockroaches will do well. Stanford University should be proud! For a contradicting paper link to Scientists assert there is less weather variability, globally, than most people believe.]

Ian Stirling’s latest howler: “the polar bear who died of climate change”

By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Aug 7, 2013 [H/t WUWT]

http://polarbearscience.com/2013/08/07/ian-stirlings-latest-howler-the-polar-bear-who-died-of-climate-change/

[SEPP Comment: Exposing a once distinguished scientist.]

Ozone-protection treaty had climate benefits

Kim Martineau, Science Writer, Lamont-Doherty

New York NY (SPX) Aug 07, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Ozone_protection_treaty_had_climate_benefits_999.html

Models v. Observations

12-Minute Video Clip Clearly Shows Why “Climate Models Are Fundamentally Flawed”!

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Aug 6, 2013

http://notrickszone.com/2013/08/06/12-minute-video-clip-clearly-shows-why-climate-models-are-fundamentally-flawed/

Model Issues

Computer modelling

By John Brignell, Number Watch, Aug 2002

http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/computer_modelling.htm

Changing Weather

Tornado season close to quietest ever despite the two F-5s in Oklahoma

By Joseph D’Aleo, ICECAP, Aug 7, 2013

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/icing-the-hype/tornado_season_close_to_quietest_ever_despite_the_two_f_5s_in_oklahoma1/

[SEPP Comment: Contains a video taken by a storm chaser of the F-5 that hit Moore Oklahoma.]

Another Busy Hurricane Hoopla Season

By Jeffrey Folks, American Thinker, Aug 9, 2013

http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/08/another_busy_hurricane_hoopla_season.html

[SEPP Comment: Searching for the meaning of normal in NOAA’s above normal predictions.]

Excessive rain in U.S. Southeast causing millions in crop damage

By Staff Writers, Cordele, Ga. (UPI), Aug 2, 2013

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Excessive_rain_in_US_Southeast_causing_millions_in_crop_damage_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Last year it was the drought.]

Changing Climate

Medieval Warm Period in China

By Staff Writers, SPPI & CO2 Science, Jul 31, 2013

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/medieval_warm_period_in_china.html

[SEPP Comment: A review of studies that indicate that prolonged Medieval Warm Period existed in China and that for most parts it was warmer than today. Increases in atmospheric CO2 cannot be the cause.]

Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

Climate change won’t affect Indus and Ganga levels

Utpal Parashar , Hindustan Times, Aug 6, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Nepal/Climate-change-won-t-affect-Indus-and-Ganga-levels/Article1-1103858.aspx

Rising river flows throughout the twenty-first century in two Himalayan glacierized watersheds

By W. W. Immerzeel, F. Pellicciotti & M. F. P. Bierkens, Nature Geoscience, Aug 4, 2013

http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo1896.html

Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Breaking All Records

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Aug 2, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2013/08/02/antarctic-sea-ice-extent-breaking-all-records/

[SEPP Comment: It may be a tough spring for the Emperor penguins, which are well inland. See link immediately below.]

British Antarctic Survey: Harsh Antarctic Sea Ice Threatens Emperor Penguins With Starvation

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Aug 4, 2013

http://notrickszone.com/2013/08/04/british-antarctic-survey-harsh-antarctic-sea-ice-threatens-emperor-penguins-with-starvation/

Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine

Bt talong ruling setback to science

By Henrylito D. Tacio, Sun Star (PH), Jun 15, 2013 [H/t World Growth]

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/weekend-davao/2013/06/15/bt-talong-ruling-setback-science-287622

[SEPP Comment: Greenpeace playing on fears to stop field trials of Bt eggplants.]

Top French court lifts ban on growing Monsanto GM corn

By Staff Writers, Paris, France (AFP), Aug 01, 2013

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Top_French_court_lifts_ban_on_growing_Monsanto_GM_corn_999.html

Existing cropland could feed four billion more

By Staff Writers, Minneapolis MN (SPX), Aug 08, 2013

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Existing_cropland_could_feed_four_billion_more_999.html

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org

Modeling Multi-Scale Precipitation Variability in the Southwest US

Reference: Jiang, P., Gautam, M.R., Zhu, J. and Yu, Z. 2013. How well do the GCMs/RCMs capture the multi-scale temporal variability of precipitation in the southwestern United States. Journal of Hydrology 479: 75-85.

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/aug/6aug2013a3.html

Jiang et al. conclude that their “comparative analyses suggest that current GCMs/RCMs do not adequately capture multi-scale temporal variability of precipitation,” and, therefore, they say that “using GCM/RCM output to conduct future flood projections is not credible.”

Meet the New Models: Are They Any Better Than the Old Models?

Reference: Knutti, R. and Sedlacek, J. 2013. Robustness and uncertainties in the new CMIP5 climate model projections. Nature Climate Change 3: 369-373.

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/aug/7aug2013a1.html

So … meet the new models, which are nearly the same as the old models — struggling in their ability to accurately simulate the Earth’s climate

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Global Warming

Reference: Gill, R.S., Hambridge, H.L., Schneider, E.B., Hanff, T., Tamargo, R.J. and Nyquist, P. 2012. Falling temperature and colder weather are associated with an increased risk of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. World Neurosurgery 79: 136-142.

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/aug/7aug2013a2.html

The Medieval Warm Period in Northern Chile

Reference: Elbert, J., Wartenburger, R., von Gunten, L., Urrutia, R., Fischer, D, Fujak, M., Hamann, Y., Greber, N.D. and Grosjean, M. 2013. Late Holocene air temperature variability reconstructed from the sediments of Laguna Escondida, Patagonia, Chile (45°30’S). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 369: 482-492

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2013/aug/7aug2013a3.html

[SEPP Comment: Medieval Warm Period was much warmer with no increase in atmospheric CO2 content.]

The Political Games Continue

Rep. Dingell to Obama: Clean Air Act isn’t right for greenhouse gas rules

By Zack Colman, The Hill, Aug 6, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/315835-rep-dingell-to-obama-clean-air-act-isnt-right-for-ghg-rules

Litigation Issues

Global warming litigation goes cold

By Jonathan March, Lexology, Aug 5, 2013 [H/t WUWT]

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=253dae70-7328-459f-bf8b-6ef8a7aa12c4

[SEPP Comment: These are specific damage cases, important but limited in scope. The key case is the EPA endangerment finding.]

California judge rules on the side of sound science – no warning labels required

By Staff Writer, ACSH, Aug 6, 2013

http://acsh.org/2013/08/california-judge-rules-on-the-side-of-sound-science-no-warning-labels-required/

[SEPP Comment: Not all is lost – even in California. Various fruit and vegetable products will not require health hazard warnings]

Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes

Dear Australia: Replace the Carbon Tax with . . . NOTHING (don’t cream consumers at the credit casino)

By Viv Forbes, Master Resource, Aug 7, 2013

http://www.masterresource.org/2013/08/australia-replace-carbon-tax-nothing/#more-27056

Real Politic: Carbon Tax Pessimism (Part II)

By Kenneth P. Green, Master Resource, Aug 9, 2013

http://www.masterresource.org/2013/08/real-politic-carbon-tax-ii/

But at the end of the day we’re better off with no policy rather than bad policy

Subsidies and Mandates Forever

Fossil Fuel Subsidies

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Aug 6, 2013

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/fossil-fuel-subsidies/

[SEPP Comment: Different than what is commonly expressed.]

Beyond Wind Spin: Miami Herald Should Get It Right

By Glenn Schleede, Master Resource, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.masterresource.org/2013/08/beyond-wind-spin-miami-herald-rebuttal/#more-27045

[SEPP Comment: An overview of why wind farms are not an inherently profitable investment. The investors in sub-prime energy deserve all the sympathy given to the investors in sub-prime mortgages.]

Almost eight months late, EPA sets 2013 biofuel blend requirement

By Julian Hattem, The Hill, Aug 6, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/315761-epa-calls-for-mixing-165-billion-gallons-of-biofuel-with-gas-in-2013

[SEPP Comment: Continuing a ridiculous policy.]

EPA and other Regulators on the March

The Epidemiologist Fallacy Strikes Again. EPA, CARB, And Air Pollution

By William Briggs, His Blog, Aug 6, 2013

http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8720

[SEPP Comment: Selling fear based on statistical games.]

Dakota lawmakers: EPA decision in Wyoming will raise energy prices

By Ramsey Cox, The Hill, Aug 9, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/316321-dakota-lawmakers-epa-decision-in-wyo-will-raise-energy-prices

[SEPP Comment: According to the link immediately below, the major sources of volatile organic compounds, which produce haze, are natural. Should the required plans include clearing all vegetation?]

Active Atmosphere-Ecosystem Exchange of the Vast Majority of Detected Volatile Organic Compounds

By Park, et al., Science, Aug 9, 2013

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/341/6146/643.abstract?maxtoshow=&hits=1&RESULTFORMAT=&andorexacttitle=and&titleabstract=climate%252Cgreenhouse%252C+warming&andorexacttitleabs=or&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&usestrictdates=yes&resourcetype=HWCIT&ct

Clean Air Issues in the 113th Congress: An Overview

By James McCarthy, CRS, July 15, 2013

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/213007.pdf

[SEPP Comment: The report is a summary of the current status of EPA intentions and Congressional response.]

Ozone, Mo’Zone and NoZone

Paul Driessen, Townhall, Aug 3, 2013

http://townhall.com/columnists/pauldriessen/2013/08/03/ozone-mozone-and-nozone-n1649367?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl

Energy Issues – Non-US

Yesterday’s fuel

The world’s thirst for oil could be nearing a peak. That is bad news for producers, excellent for everyone else

Editorial, The Economist, Aug 3, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21582516-worlds-thirst-oil-could-be-nearing-peak-bad-news-producers-excellent

[SEPP Comment: A new type of peak oil prediction –peaking consumption, not production.]

China to surpass US as top oil importer

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Aug 9, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/316323-china-to-surpass-us-as-top-oil-importer

Link to Report: China poised to become the world’s largest net oil importer later this year

By Staff Writers, EIA, Aug 9, 2013

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=12471

UK aims to kick-start British shale revolution

By Michael Thompson and Nick Connell, Oil&Gas Financial Journal, Aug 5, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.ogfj.com/articles/print/volume-10/issue-8/departments/capital-perspectives/uk-aims-to-kick-start-british-shale-revolution.html

Energy Issues — US

An Overview of Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas: Resources and Federal Actions

By Michael Ratner and Mary Tiemann, CRS, Jul 15, 2013

http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/213024.pdf

[SEPP Comment: The report shows that many states in which modern hydraulic fracturing is occurring already require disclosure of chemicals used. States which are potential for smart drilling are considering such regulations. Most states are using the national listing web site of fracfocus: http://www.fracfocus.org]

Energy Exports: America Cannot Afford to Delay

By: Michael Economides, Energy Tribune, Aug 8, 2013

http://www.energytribune.com/78687/energy-exports-america-cannot-afford-to-delay#sthash.yr413x7G.dpbs

Washington’s Control of Energy

Energy Dept. gives OK to third natural-gas export proposal

By Zack Colman, The Hill, Aug 7, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/315945-doe-gives-ok-to-third-natural-gas-export-proposal

[SEPP Comment: Needless bureaucratic delays will continue.]

Report: Keystone XL won’t impact greenhouse gas emissions

By Zack Colman, The Hill, Aug 8, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/316197-report-keystone-xl-wont-impact-greenhouse-gas-emissions

‘Social cost of carbon’ draws coal, oil industry lobbying

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Aug 5, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/315631-social-cost-of-carbon-draws-coal-oil-industry-lobbying

‘War on coal’: 207 coal plants will close in the next decade

By Ashe Schow, Washington Examiner, Aug 6, 2013

http://washingtonexaminer.com/war-on-coal-207-coal-plants-will-close-in-the-next-decade/article/2533944

Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?

Federal data: Oil-and-gas jobs up 40 percent since ‘07

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Aug 8, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/316143-federal-data-oil-and-gas-jobs-up-40-percent-since-07

Link to report: Oil and gas industry employment growing much faster than total private sector employment

By Staff Writers, EIA, Aug 8, 2013

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=12451

The US is the Gassiest Country

By Robert Rapier, Energy Tribune, Aug 9, 2013

http://www.energytribune.com/78728/the-us-is-the-gassiest-country#sthash.QYWwKFwC.dpbs

It was in 2003 that the late Matt Simmons predicted, with “certainty,” that by 2005 the US would begin a long-term natural gas crisis for which the only solution was “to pray.”

Potential well water contaminants highest near natural gas drilling

By Staff Writers, Arlington TX (SPX), Aug 06, 2013

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Potential_well_water_contaminants_highest_near_natural_gas_drilling_999.html

Many of these heavy metals occur naturally at low levels in groundwater, but disturbances from natural gas extraction activities could cause them to occur at elevated levels. [Boldface added.]

[SEPP Comment: Dredging for dollars?]

Study: Shale Is A “Game-Changing” Opportunity for U.S. Economy

By Dana Bohan, Energy in Depth, Aug 1, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://energyindepth.org/national/study-shale-is-a-game-changing-opportunity-for-u-s-economy/

Link to Report,

Game changers: Five opportunities for US growth and renewal

By Susan Lund, James Manyika, Scott Nyquist, Lenny Mendonca, and Sreenivas Ramaswamy, Mckinsey & Co, July 2013

http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/americas/us_game_changers

Return of King Coal?

Dethroning King Coal

By Peter Singer, Project Syndicate, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/a-war-on-coal-to-save-the-planet-by-peter-singer

[SEPP Comment: Global temperature records began to be kept in 1880 – for what percent of the globe? One of the “World’s most prominent ethicists” has issues with facts.]

Old King Coal lives on

By Jonathan Rowland, Energy Global, Aug 8, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.energyglobal.com/news/coal/articles/Coal%C2%AC_remains_dominant_in_electricty_mix_as_natural_gas_prices_rise_coal_new_301.aspx#.UgOT_pK1Fc5

Oil Spills, Gas Leaks & Consequences

BP’s Robert Dudley on the Gulf Oil Spill’s Legal Aftermath

By Paul Barrett, Businessweek, Aug 8, 2013

http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/141586-bps-robert-dudley-on-the-gulf-oil-spills-legal-aftermath

[SEPP Comment: Does not understand that years of demonization in the US has created hatred for oil companies.]

Nuclear Energy and Fears

Climate targets blown in Japan

By Staff Writers, WNN, Aug 1, 2013

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE_Climate_targets_missed_in_Japan_0108131.html

Terrapower: A Nuclear Reactor that Burns Its Own Waste?

By Shawn McCarthy, Globe and Mail, (CA) via GWPF, Aug 9, 2013

http://www.thegwpf.org/terrapower-nuclear-reactor-burns-waste/

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind

Cycling Damages Power Plants

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Aug 9, 2013

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/cycling-damages-power-plants/

[SEPP Comment: A major problem created by erratic solar and wind.]

DOE: Wind Leads New U.S. Generation Additions in 2012

By Sonal Patel, Power News, Aug 7, 2013

http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/5831.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2724401&hq_l=7&hq_v=5e660500d0

Obama in center of fight over bald eagle deaths

By Julian Hattem, The Hill, Aug 8, 2013

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/pending-regs/316051-obama-in-center-of-green-fight-over-eagle-deaths

[SEPP Comment: The Hill finally acknowledges that wind is not so green after all.]

U.K. Grants Offshore Wind Triple Market Electricity Price

By Alex Morales & Sally Bakewell, Bloomberg, Jun 27, 2013

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-27/u-k-to-pay-offshore-wind-companies-triple-market-rate-for-power.html

Why U.S. Wind Installations Are Slowing

By Lisa Linowes, Master Resource, Aug 3, 2013

http://www.masterresource.org/2013/08/slow-us-wind-installations-2q13/#more-27012

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Vehicles

Chevrolet’s Electric Volt: Is Failure Within Its Range?

Editorial, IBD, Aug 7, 2013

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/080713-666735-gm-dropping-price-on-chevrolet-volt.htm

Health, Energy, and Climate

Climate change said affecting global spread of infectious diseases

By Staff Writers, Athens, Ga. (UPI), Aug 2, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_change_said_affecting_global_spread_of_infectious_diseases_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Warmer weather in the Arctic expands the mosquito season as well.]

Oh Mann!

Climate change letter was personal attack

By Michael Mann, Letter, Times Dispatch, Aug 6, 2013 [H/t WUWT]

http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor-for-august/article_833393bb-0d7e-5389-b90d-9edb451c2ddd.html

Link to letter: http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/pols-scientists-misuse-climate-issue/article_01ff07fc-f5ee-11e2-b678-001a4bcf6878.html

[SEPP Comment: For a guy who acts tough, Mr. Mann is very sensitive. He obviously disagrees with the heads of the IPCC and the CRU about the pause in temperature increases.]

Michael Mann, climate charlatan

By Paul Jossey, Daily Caller, Aug 5, 2013

http://dailycaller.com/2013/08/05/michael-mann-climate-charlatan/#ixzz2bKJnNQsU

Michael Mann Redefines Science

By Rich Trzupek, Somewhat Reasonable, Jul 31, 2013

http://blog.heartland.org/2013/07/michael-mann-redfines-science/

Environmental Industry

Blueprint for Balance: Protecting Public Lands From the Energy Boom

By Matt Lee Asley, et al. Center for American Progress, Aug 7, 2012

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/08/07/protecting_public_lands_from_the_energy_boom_119539.html

[SEPP Comment: American Progress solution – deny use of public lands. The administration is already doing a good job.]

Other Scientific News

Why are publicly-funded scientists allowed to keep their work secret?

By Ron Arnold, Washington Examiner, Aug 2, 2013

http://washingtonexaminer.com/why-are-publicly-funded-scientists-allowed-to-keep-their-work-secret/article/2533802?utm_source=Washington%20Examiner:%20Opinion%20Digest%20Reoccurring%20-%2008/05/2013&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Washington%20Examiner:%20Opinion%20Digest

New evidence that cosmic impact caused Younger Dryas extinction

By Marcia Malory, Phys Org, Aug 6, 2013 [H/t GWPF]

http://phys.org/news/2013-08-evidence-cosmic-impact-younger-dryas.html

Link to paper: Large Pt anomaly in the Greenland ice core points to a cataclysm at the onset of Younger Dryas

By Petaev, et al., PNAS, Aug 6, 2013

http://www.pnas.org/content/110/32/12917

CU-Boulder team develops new water splitting technique that could produce hydrogen fuel

By Staff Writers, Boulder CO (SPX) Aug 07, 2013

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/CU_Boulder_team_develops_new_water_splitting_technique_that_could_produce_hydrogen_fuel_999.html

[SEPP Comment: The dream of a hydrogen economy – free fuel!]

Other News that May Be of Interest

Vienna’s rootin’ Teuton travesty of science

By Tony Thomas, Quadrant, Aug 9, 2013

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/thomas/2013/08/vienna-s-rootin-teuton-travesty-of-science

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Persistent Cold Weather Keeps Thwarting German Efforts To Fight Warming!

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Aug 5, 2013

http://notrickszone.com/2013/08/05/persistent-cold-weather-keeps-thwarting-german-efforts-to-fight-warming/

[SEPP Comment: A bit of amusement.]

Drought making trees more susceptible to dying in forest fires

By Staff Writers, Arcata, Calif. (UPI), Aug 2, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Drought_making_trees_more_susceptible_to_dying_in_forest_fires_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Before or after they die from the drought?]

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