Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup

The Week That Was: 2014-01-11 (January 11, 2014) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project

Quote of the Week: • “…we can expect to see [extreme cold] with increasing frequency as global warming continues.” Presidential Science Advisor John Holdren [H/t Howard Hayden]

Number of the Week: $199,100

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

The Trap: On her web site Judith Curry has a re-posting of an essay by Garth Paltridge that originally appeared in The Quadrant on the Fundamental Uncertainties of Climate Change. Paltridge discusses the major forecasting uncertainties of clouds and oceans, which have been known since the 1970s and have not been much improved upon. Herein lies the trap that the climate alarmists and science bureaucrats of the UN-IPCC has set for themselves. With each new Assessment Report (every six years or so) the Summary for Policymakers is asserting greater certainty in the work, even though the greater certainty is not appearing in the actual science. Many once distinguished national academies of science dutifully followed along. Now, there is no way these bureaucratic scientists can conveniently extract themselves from the trap and discuss the great uncertainty in climate science. 

In a different post, Curry points out that in the scientific report (WG1) the scientific support for human emissions of CO2 dominating global warming/climate change has weakened from the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4-2007) to the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5-2013). Curry states that the major issues are: 1) lack of warming since 1998 and growing discrepancy with climate model projections [as compared with observations]; 2) evidence of a decreased climate sensitivity to increases in CO2; 3) evidence that sea level rise in 1920-1950 is of the same magnitude as in 1993-2012; 4) increasing Antarctic sea ice extent; and 5) low confidence in attributing extreme weather events to anthropogenic global warming.

Now doubt the climate establishment will ignore the uncertainties and continue to publicly attack those who assert the significant shortcomings. But, the real issue is how much longer will taxpayers tolerate politicians funding this scientific charade? See links under Problems in the Orthodoxy and Seeking a Common Ground.

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Climate Vortex: Dictionary examples of a vortex include a whirlpool, a cyclone, and a quagmire. In a slick promotional video, the President’s Chief Science Advisor, John Holdren, jumps into a quagmire. As illustrated in the Quote of the Week, Holdren blames the severe recent cold weather in the US on global warming. The claim is counterintuitive. One would think that in making such a video for the public, a presidential Science Advisor would carefully lay out the scientific arguments for making such an assertion. Holdren does not even try.

The scientific argument is very weak. A lessening of the temperature differences between the Arctic and the Mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere results in a weakening of the circumpolar vortex. As explained by Tim Ball, and others, linked in prior TWTWs, the circumpolar vortex is generally east to west, but may meander to a more north south pattern. These are called Rossby Waves, with the former called Zonal Waves and the latter called Meridional Waves (more closely following meridional lines of longitude). In his blog Resilient Earth, Doug Hoffman demolishes Holdren’s argument and appropriately suggests that the entire effort is similar to a beer commercial.

The credibility of science is at issue. Statements such as Holdren’s highlights reasons for public skepticism, and why government agencies and others promoting global warming find it necessary to hire communications experts and psychological experts to come up with explanations (excuses), why the public is becoming increasingly skeptical about their pronouncements. Do these people believe the public is endlessly gullible, or do they believe their own propaganda?

January 1977 was so cold in Washington that the Potomac River froze at the city. Some who attended the inauguration of President Carter walked across the Potomac to and from the ceremonies. What political speculation can be made from that event?

See links under Changing Weather, Climate Vortex – Whirlpool, Cyclone, or Quagmire?

http://drtimball.com/2012/current-global-weather-patterns-normal-despite-government-and-media-distortions/ and

http://drtimball.com/2012/claims-global-warming-increases-severe-weather-are-scientifically-incorrect/

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Send Money! British Prime Minister David Cameron claimed that the mild wet winter in England was being caused by global warming changing the circumpolar vortex. Initially, the Met Office, which failed to predict the wet weather, disavowed the assertion. Then some officials in the Met and other climate alarmist supported the claim. Myles Allen, head of the climate dynamics group at Oxford University, supported the claim and asserted that providing the Met Office or European Centre for Medium Range Forecasts with around £10 million a year would allow experts to model the weather against conditions that would have occurred if humans had not interfered with the climate.

According to a letter from the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce, 40 federal agencies or sub-agencies participating in climate change activities spent over $22 billion in 2013. SEPP does not know the extent of British expenditures, but has calculated that the US effort has cost over $185 Billion since 1993.

Now some recipients of lavish government spending are admitting that their models cannot separate the natural influences on climate from the human influences on climate – something that skeptics have been pointing out for years. See links under Changing Weather and Funding Issues.

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Turbine Life: As TWTW readers realize, SEPP does not think highly of wind power being an alternative to reliable fossil fuels for the generation of electricity. Among other issues, wind power is unreliable and needs expensive back-up, the costs of which usually falls on others. Turbine life, specifically gearbox life, remains an issue which is not publically addressed. Estimates are as low as 5 to 8 years. In 2007, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), under the Department of Energy, formed the Gearbox Reliability Collaborative.

A review of the documents online found discussion of engineering issues that influence gearbox life, but little on the expected life of the turbines. For some years, the Federal government has been paying wind farm developers cash money on the expected production of wind farms in lieu of the production tax credit that expired at the end of December. If the turbine life is shorter than the expected 20 years, then government has been overpaying wind farm developers. See links under Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind.

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Department of Energy: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has produced a publication entitled “The Clean Energy Economy in Three Charts.” This is no more than a pure marketing piece for wind and solar power. Amid flashy graphs that show booming increases in installation of wind and solar capacity, the report states: “And according to the American Wind Energy Association, by 2012 there were well over 80,000 workers employed in wind-related jobs in the U.S.” This employment is insignificant when compared with the estimated employment increase of 2 million from increases in oil and gas production from smart drilling – which is not supported by taxpayers or Washington. The DOE report does not give the massive government expenditures – but mentions government “investments.” What is the rate of return on these “investment?”

Interestingly, the link to the DOE report did not work on Sunday, when this was being written. See links under Energy Issues – US.

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Additions and Corrections: Reader Clyde Spencer corrected a sentence in TWTW on oil from the Bakken formation. The oil contains such a high proportion of the more volatile components, which ignite at temperatures lower than regular crude.

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Number of the Week: $199,100. Last week the American Petroleum Institute (API) gave a briefing on the oil and gas industries emphasizing oil and gas shale revolution in the US. The API failed to mention that the revolution was brought about by independent producers, not the major integrated companies.

API President Jack Gerard emphasized that API will support those political candidates that support oil and natural gas. The politically influential newspaper, The Hill, made much of this and calculated that over 75% of the political action committee contributions to national candidates in 2012 went to Republicans. According to the article, 2012 political contributions totaled to $199,100 – an amount that is not enough to pay the salary of a senior executive in many green organizations. See link under Washington’s Control of Energy.

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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. How the Great Rare-Earth Metals Crisis Vanished

China’s attempt to control the market for materials essential to the tech industry is turning to dust.

By Joseph Sternberg, WSJ, Jan 8, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303848104579308252845415022?mod=ITP_opinion_0

2. How the EPA Sticks Miners With a Motherlode of Regulation

The years-long wait for mining permits in the U.S. is the worst in the world.

By Daniel McGorarty, WSJ, Jan 3, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304367204579268771980972030?mod=ITP_opinion_0

3. The Future of Coal: New Pollution Rules Choke Old Power Plants

Southern Co. Builds New Plant That Captures CO2. The Price: $5.24 Billion

By Rebecca Smith and John Miller, WSJ, Jan 7, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303330204579248771284421960?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_business

[SEPP Comment: The articles fails to distinguish between traditional pollutants and life giving CO2.]

4. The Future of Coal: Gulf Coast Hums as Exports Rise

Louisiana Terminals Expand to Move Mississippi River Cargo to Overseas Power Plants

By Alison Sider, WSJ, Jan 8, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303559504579200311606048836?mod=WSJ_Energy

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Suppressing Scientific Inquiry

Should Australian newspapers publish climate change denialist opinion pieces?

Should Australian newspapers, like Fairfax, publish opinion pieces that deny or seek to cast doubt on man-made global warming?

By Alex White, Guardian, UK, Jan 3, 2014 [H/t Bishop Hill]

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/southern-crossroads/2014/jan/04/climate-change-climate-change-scepticism

Challenging the Orthodoxy

10 Facts and 10 Myths about Climate Change: Prof Bob Carter

By Bob Carter, NCTCSP, Jan 1, 2014

http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/10-facts-and-10-myths-about-climate.html

Al Gore’s 10-year warning – only 2 years left, still no warming

By Roy Spencer, Global Warming, Jan 10, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/01/al-gores-10-year-warning-only-2-years-left-still-no-warming/

Comments on the recent “warming is worse than we thought” Nature paper

This is the first paper in a long time that made my brain hurt to read.

By Roy Spencer, Global Warming, Jan 6, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/01/comments-on-the-recent-warming-is-worse-than-we-thought-nature-paper/

Scientists Predict Colder Winters

By Larry Bell, New Max, Dec 30, 2013

http://www.newsmax.com/LarryBell/climate-scientists-global-warming/2013/12/30/id/544314

Overpopulation: The Fallacy Behind The Fallacy Of Global Warming

By Tim Ball, WUWT, Jan 5, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/05/overpopulation-the-fallacy-behind-the-fallacy-of-global-warming/

Defending the Orthodoxy

Can global warming be real if it’s cold in the U.S.? Um… yes!

By Brad Plumer, Washington Post, Jan 6, 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/01/06/can-global-warming-be-real-if-its-cold-in-the-u-s-um-yes/

[SEPP Comment: Contrary to the assertion, the planet is no longer warming.]

Questioning the Orthodoxy

The Scientist As Rebel: A Tribute To Freeman Dyson On His 90th Birthday

Interview by Penny Peiser, Mar 2007, GWPF, Jan 4, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/scientist-rebel-freeman-dysons-90th-birthday/

The Corruption of ‘Climate Literacy’

By Peter Wilson, American Thinker, Jan 6, 2014 [H/t Tomas Hayward]

http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/../2014/01/the_corruption_of_climate_literacy.html

2013 Was Not A Good Year For Catastrophic Anthropogenic Global Climate Warming Change Disruption Weirding, Ocean Acidification, Extreme Weather, etc.

By Just the Facts, WUWT, Jan 4, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/04/2013-was-not-a-good-year-for-catastrophic-anthropogenic-global-climate-warming-change-disruption-wierding-ocean-acidification-extreme-weather-etc/

German Global Analysis: 2013 Was A Debacle For The Promoters Of Anthropogenic Global Warming

By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 9, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/01/09/german-analysis-2013-was-a-debacle-for-the-promoters-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/

Michael Asten’s novel idea – think first, spend later?

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jan 5, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/01/michael-astens-novel-idea-lets-put-science-into-climate-policy/

Climate Alarmists Trash IPCC Cold Spell Predictions

By James Taylor, Heartland, Jan 7, 2014

http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2014/01/07/climate-alarmists-trash-ipcc-cold-spell-predictions

Global Cooling: Is an Ice Age Coming?

By Dale Hurd, CBN News, Jan 8, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2014/January/Cover-Up-Mounting-Evidence-Belies-Global-Warming/

How Leftists (Badly) Explain Climate Stability

By Chet Richards, American Thinker, Jan 7, 2014

http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/01/how_leftists_account_for_climate_stability.html

It’s Colder? Hotter? Blame Climate Change

By Robert Babcock, American Thinker, Jan 9, 2014

http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/01/its_colder_hotter_blame_climate_change.html

Obama’s “Climate Change” Lies

By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Jan 6, 2014

http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2014/01/obamas-climate-change-lies_6.html

Problems in the Orthodoxy

IPCC AR5 weakens the case for AGW

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Jan 6, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/01/06/ipcc-ar5-weakens-the-case-for-agw/

The IPCC discards its models

By Barry Brill, WUWT, Jan 9, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/09/the-ipcc-discards-its-models/

[SEPP Comment: Similar to link immediately above.]

Oops…Trenberth Concedes Natural Ocean Cycles Contributed To 1976 – 1998 Warming … CO2 Diminishes As A Factor

Former IPCC Author Kevin Trenberth admits in a new paper: PDO ocean oscillation contributed to the 1976-1998 warming phase

By Sebastian Lüning and Fritz Vahrenholt, Translation by P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 10, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/01/10/oops-trenberth-concedes-natural-ocean-cycles-contributed-to-1978-1998-warming-after-all-co2-diminishes-as-a-factor/

Seeking a Common Ground

The Fundamental Uncertainties of Climate Change

By Garth Paltridge, Climate Etc. Jan 8, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/01/08/the-fundamental-uncertainties-of-climate-change/

Science and religion: Do your own damn Google search

By Roy Spencer, Global Warming, Jan 7, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/01/science-and-religion-do-your-own-damn-google-search/

The real risks of cherry picking scientific data

The sin of omission of inconvenient results

By Matt Ridley, Rational Optimist, Jan 7, 2014

http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/the-real-risks-of-cherry-picking-in-science.aspx

[SEPP Comment: In its reports, is the climate establishment to be more trusted than the pharmaceutical industry?]

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

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

Predicting Precipitation Extremes via CMIP5 Climate Models

Reference: Toreti, A., Naveau, P., Zampieri, M., Schindler, A., Scoccimarro, E., Xoplaki, E., Dijkstra, H.A., Gualdi, S. and Luterbacher, J. 2013. Projections of global changes in precipitation extremes from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 Models. Geophysical Research Letters 40: 4887-4892.

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/jan/7jan2014a1.html

Corals Forced to Live in a CO2-Enriched and Warmer Environment

Reference: Schoepf, V., Grottoli, A.G., Warner, M.E., Cai, W-J., Melman, T.F., Hoadley, K.D., Pettay, D.T., Hu, X., Li, Q., Xu, H., Wang, Y., Matsui, Y. and Baumann, J.H. 2013. Coral energy reserves and calcification in a high-CO2 world at two temperatures. PLOS ONE 8: e75049.

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/jan/7jan2014a2.html

Near-Death Experiences of Brazilian Corals

Reference: Miranda, R.J., Cruz, I.C.S. and Leao, Z.M.A.N. 2013. Coral bleaching in the Caramuanas reef (Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil) during the 2010 El Niño event. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research 41: 351-360.

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/jan/8jan2014a1.html

The Flip Side of Coral Bleaching

Reference: Mondal, T., Raghunathan, C. and Venkataraman, K. 2013. Bleaching: The driving force of scleractinian new recruitment at Little Andaman Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Section B Biological Sciences 83: 585-592.

http://nipccreport.org/articles/2014/jan/8jan2014a2.html

Models v. Observations

Antarctic Sea Ice Trends: Modelled vs. Measured

Reference: Mahlstein, I., Gent, P.R. and Solomon, S. 2013. Historical Antarctic mean sea ice area, sea ice trends, and winds in CMIP5 simulations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 118: 5105-5110. [H/t GWPF]

http://www.co2science.org/articles/V17/N2/C1.php

It is difficult for a climate model to be more wrong than when it hind-casts just the opposite of what has been observed to be happening over the past three and a half decades in the real world, which is what most of the CMIP5 models apparently do.

Measurement Issues

RSS AMSU 2013: 10th warmest year on record

By Luboš Motl, The Reference Frame, Jan 5, 2014

http://motls.blogspot.com/2014/01/rss-amsu-2013-10th-warmest-year-on.html#more

[SEPP Comment: The UAH analysis puts 2013 as the fourth warmest.]

UAH v5.6 Global Temperature Update for Dec. 2013: +0.27 Deg. C

By Roy Spencer, Global Warming, Jan 3, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/01/uah-v5-6-global-temperature-update-for-dec-2013-0-27-deg-c/

[SEPP Comment: The anomaly map for 2013 shows no pronounced warming over the Arctic, which is unlike the 30 plus year trend. The trend map for the entire satellite record is not yet available.]

The Original Temperatures Project

By Frank Lansner, WUWT, Jan 6, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/06/the-original-temperatures-project/

[SEPP Comment: A long post on the effort to obtain original temperature data and compare it with adjusted data. The ocean-air shelter regions may explain why certain areas are warmer today than in the 1930s.]

Australia endures hottest year on record

By Staff Writers, Sydney (AFP), Jan 03, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Australia_endures_hottest_year_on_record_999.html

Global warming update: hot with a lot of ice

By Anthony Cox, No Carbon Tax Climate Sceptics, Jan 10, 2014

http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/global-warming-update-hot-with-lot-of_10.html

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]

Changing Weather

Does the Cold Wave Imply Anything About Global Warming? The Answer is Clearly No.

By Cliff Mass, Weather Blog, Jan 6, 2014

http://cliffmass.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/does-cold-wave-imply-anything-about.html

Meteorologist Tells Hannity Global Warmists ‘Are Meteorological Know-Nothings’

By James Beattie, CNS News, Jan 8, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.cnsnews.com/mrctv-blog/james-beattie/meteorologist-tells-hannity-global-warmists-are-meteorological-know

Bitter cold blasts Chicago, a city fighting climate change

By Steve Goreham, Washington Times, Jan 7, 2014

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/climatism-watching-climate-science/2014/jan/7/bitter-cold-blasts-chicago-city-fighting-climate-c/

Met Office Did Not See Floods Coming

By Paul Homewood, No a Lot of People Know That, Jan 7, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/met-office-did-not-see-floods-coming/

The storms are no different – but we are

It’s not the weather that has got worse, it’s our ability to cope without the creature comforts

By Christopher Howse, Telegraph, UK, Jan 6, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/10553640/The-storms-are-no-different-but-we-are.html

Is England’s Bad Weather A Sign Of Climate Change?

By Paul Homewood, WUWT, Jan 7, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/07/is-englands-bad-weather-a-sign-of-climate-change/

Weather Is Not Climate

Antarctic ice doesn’t discredit the warmists, but they should dial down the death-cult drama.

By Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review Online, Jan 6, 2014

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/367613/weather-not-climate-charles-c-w-cooke

UK weather: it’s just a storm, not global warming

By Tom Chivers, The Telegraph, UK, Jan 6, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100253065/uk-weather-its-just-a-storm-not-global-warming/

UK Weather: How stormy has it been and why?

By Staff Writers, Press Release, Met Office, Jan 3, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/uk-weather-how-stormy-has-it-been-and-why/

‘Hot air’ over climate change

By Bill Carmichael, Yorkshire Post, Jan 10, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/debate/columnists/bill-carmichael-hot-air-over-climate-change-1-6364480

Has the media stopped linking floods to climate change?

By Leo Barasi, Noise of the Crowd, Jan 5, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.noiseofthecrowd.com/has-the-media-stopped-linking-floods-to-climate-change/

Veteran German Meteorologist Affirms Winter Cold And Mild Extremes Are Natural. And: Winter Returning To Europe

By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 8, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/01/08/veteran-german-meteorologist-affirms-winter-cold-and-mild-extremes-are-natural-and-winter-returning-to-europe/

Study: What is driving the rising cost of natural disasters?

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jan 5, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/05/study-what-is-driving-the-rising-cost-of-natural-disasters/

Link to paper: What is driving the rising cost of natural disasters?

By John McAneny and Ryan Crompton, Macquarie University, 2013

http://www.mapfre.com/mapfrere/docs/html/revistas/trebol/n67/en/articulo1.html

[SEPP Comment: Applies to Australia – building in high risk areas.]

The Great Storm

By Richard Cavendish, History Today, Nov, 2003 [H/t Bishop Hill]

http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/great-storm

[SEPP Comment: Even before there was global warming!]

Changing Climate

Recent testimony a reminder that climate change skepticism is healthy

Editorial, Oklahoman, Jan 3, 2014

http://newsok.com/recent-testimony-a-reminder-that-climate-change-skepticism-is-healthy/article/3919957

Changing Seas

Alarmists Feverish Over Sea Levels

By Larry Bell, News Max, Dec 23, 2013

http://www.newsmax.com/LarryBell/sea-level-global-climate/2013/12/23/id/543389

Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

Review Of 2013 – Global Sea Ice Area

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Jan 3, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/review-of-2013-global-sea-ice-area/

[SEPP Comment: Greatest extend since the satellite measurements began in 1979.]

Antarctic ice shelf melt ‘lowest EVER recorded, global warming is NOT eroding it’

Human CO2 just not a big deal at Pine Island Glacier

By Lewis Page, The Register, Jan 3, 2014 [H/t Reed Gibby]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/03/antarctic_ice_shelf_melt_lowest_ever_recorded_just_not_much_affected_by_global_warming/

Link to paper: Strong Sensitivity of Pine Island Ice-Shelf Melting to Climatic Variability

By Dutrieux, et al, Science, Jan 2, 2014

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2014/01/02/science.1244341.abstract?sid=b38e30ea-23a1-49f1-92fa-a807b49036a1

Domino effect of chain reaction drainage of surface lakes led to the breakup of Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jan 8, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/08/domino-effect-of-chain-reaction-drainage-of-surface-lakes-led-to-the-breakup-of-larsen-b-ice-shelf-in-2002/

Polar Ice Is Growing Again, Upsetting Climatologists: But Others Are Happy

By Eugen Sorg, Basler Zeitung, Translation by Philipp Mueller, GWPF

http://www.thegwpf.org/polar-ice-growing-upsetting-climatologists-happy/

[SEPP Comment: Antarctic sea ice again interfering with the plans of deluded eco-warriors.]

Acidic Waters

Can Squid Abide Ocean’s Lower pH?

Experiments hint at harm to critical balance organs

By Kate Madin, Oceanus, Jan 29, 2014

http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/can-squid-abide-oceans-lower-ph

[SEPP Comment: Two problems with this research: 1) petition principii, assuming that increased atmospheric CO2 will decrease the alkalinity of the ocean and 2) transferring egg masses from one environment to one with a lower pH.]

Claim: Local factors cause dramatic spikes in coastal ocean acidity

By Anthon Watts, WUWT, Jan 3, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/03/claim-local-factors-cause-dramatic-spikes-in-coastal-ocean-acidity/

Link to paper: Dramatic variability of the carbonate system at a temperate coastal ocean site (beaufort, north Carolina, USA) is regulated by physical and biogeochemical processes on multiple timescales.

By Johnson, et al, Plos One Dec 17, 2013

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24358377

[SEPP Comment: Species that adapt to rapid local changes in pH would likely adapt to slow changes that in increase in atmospheric CO2 may bring about.]

Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine

Chinese scientists create high-yield, salt-resistant rice variety

By Staff Writers, Yangcheng, China (UPI), Jan 2, 2013

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Chinese_scientists_create_high-yield_salt-resistant_rice_variety_999.html

Lowering Standards

John Holdren, Pseudoscience Czar, predicted waste heat would doom humanity

By Roy Spencer, Global Warming, Jan 10, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/01/john-holdren-pseudoscience-czar-predicted-waste-heat-would-doom-humanity/

Climate Comedy?

Global warming’s glorious ship of fools

Has there ever been a better story? It’s like a version of Titanic where first class cheers for the iceberg

By Mark Steyn, Spectator, Jan 11, 2014

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9112201/ship-of-fools-2/

Who is behind the ship of fools?

By Ross Clark, Spectator, Jan 4, 2014

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/ross-clark/2014/01/who-is-behind-the-ship-of-fools/

Akademik Shokalskiy and the Xue Long have broken free from the ice in Antarctica and are no longer in need of assistance

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jan 7, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/07/akademik-shokalskiy-and-the-xue-long-have-broken-free-from-the-ice-in-antarctica-and-are-no-longer-in-need-of-assistance/

Polar Chief Slams Antarctic ‘Pseudo-Scientific Expedition’

By Staff Writers, Sky News, AU, Jan 4, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=939155&cid=BP_RSS_TOPSTORIES_3_PolarchiefslamsAntarcticcruise_040114

2014: Let’s Change the Climate

By Clarice Feldman, American Thinker, Jan 5, 2014

http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/01/2014_lets_change_the_climate.html

Climate Vortex – Whirlpool, Cyclone, or Quagmire?

The White House gets into the ‘polar vortex’ climate change blame business

John Holdren, Video, WUWT, Jan 8, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/08/the-white-house-gets-into-the-polar-vortex-climate-change-blame-business/

Climate Change Might Just Be Driving the Historic Cold Snap

Climate change skeptics are pointing to the record cold weather as evidence that the globe isn’t warming. But it could be that melting Arctic ice is making sudden cold snaps more likely—not less

By Bryan Walsh, Time, Jan 6, 2014 [H/t Climate Depot]

http://science.time.com/2014/01/06/climate-change-driving-cold-weather/

Arctic Vortex Vexation

By Doug Hoffman, Resilient Earth, Jan 10, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://theresilientearth.com/?q=content/arctic-vortex-vexation

Princeton Physicist Dr. Will Happer refutes claims that global warming is causing record cold: ‘Polar vortices have been around forever. They have almost nothing to do with more CO2 in the atmosphere’

By Marc Morano, Climate Depot, Jan 7, 2014

http://www.climatedepot.com/2014/01/07/princeton-physicist-dr-will-happer-refutes-claims-that-global-warming-is-causing-record-cold-polar-vortices-have-been-around-forever-they-have-almost-nothing-to-do-with-more-co2-in-the-atmosphere/

What is a ‘polar vortex’ and why is it so dangerous?

By Matt Pearce, Time Magazine, Via ICECAP, Jan 7, 2014

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-climate/what_is_a_polar_vortex_and_why_is_it_so_dangerous2/

Climateers Caught in the Vortex

By Steven Hayward, Power Line, Jan 8, 2014

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/01/climateers-caught-in-the-vortex.php

Time Magazine Goes Both Ways On The Polar Vortex

By Steven Goddard, Real Science, Jan 7, 2014

http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/time-magazine-goes-both-ways-on-the-polar-vortex/

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

‘Worse Than We Thought’ Rears Ugly Head Again

By Patrick J. Michaels and Paul C. “Chip” Knappenberger, CATO, Jan 6, 2014

http://www.cato.org/blog/worse-we-thought-rears-ugly-head-again

[SEPP Comment: Explaining why the term “worse than we thought” may be a dead giveaway for a propaganda piece.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.

Are we weather wimps?

By Staff Writers, ICECAP, Jan 9, 2014

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/new-and-cool/are_we_weather_wimps1/

[SEPP Comment: Response from ICECAP to an article by Seth Borenstein of AP.]

Link to article: Scientists: Americans Are becoming Weather Wimps

By Seth Borenstein, AP, Jan 9, 2014

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/scientists-americans-are-becoming-weather-wimps

Insurance Companies Cash In On Fear – But Spanish Flood Data Over Last 40 Years Show No Increased Risk

Flood Analysis in Spain Shows No Trend In 40 Years

By Sebastian Lüning and Fritz Vahrenholt, Translated by P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Jan 7, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/01/07/insurance-companies-cash-in-on-fear-but-spanish-flood-data-over-the-last-40-years-show-no-increased-risk/

Quote of the week – climate induced ‘extreme weather’ has long been a concern of climate scientists

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jan 9, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/09/quote-of-the-week-climate-induced-extreme-weather-has-long-been-a-concern-of-climate-scientists/

Communicating Better to the Public – Go Personal.

Being bullish on Robert Brulle’s “Dark Money” Smear of Skeptics

By Brandon Schollenberger, WUWT, Jan 6, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/06/being-bullish-on-robert-brulles-dark-money-smear-of-skeptics/

Readfearn and The Guardian: Science is one big long ad-hom

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Jan 10, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/01/readfearn-and-the-guardian-science-is-one-big-long-ad-hom/

Questioning European Green

Big industry will quit Germany if green energy costs rise –minister

By Tom Körkemeier, Reuters, Jan 7, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/07/eu-germany-idUSL6N0KH2WF20140107

Pros and cons of fracking

By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Jan 10, 2014

http://scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/pros-and-cons-fracking

Questioning Green Elsewhere

The Clean Tech Crash

Despite billions invested by the U.S. government in so-called “Cleantech” energy, Washington and Silicon Valley have little to show for it

By Lesley Stahl, Transcript and Video, Jan 5, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cleantech-crash-60-minutes/

Testimony Against Industrial Wind Power (Kevon Martis before the Ohio Senate and House Public Utilities Committees)

By Kevon Martis, Master Resource, Jan 8, 2014

http://www.masterresource.org/2014/01/ohio-2013-testimony-wind-martis/#more-29116

[SEPP Comment: Powerful testimony on the manipulation of the public by the wind industry and its political supporters.]

Green Jobs

60 Minutes: ‘The Cleantech Crash’ ($150 billion boondoggle exposed)

By Robert Bradley, Jr. Master Resource, Jan 6, 2014

http://www.masterresource.org/2014/01/60-minutes-cleantech-crash/

Funding Issues

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

By Members of Congress to OMB, Oct 24, 2013

http://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/letters/20131024OMB.pdf

Americans Spent $7.45B in 3 Years Helping Other Countries Deal With ‘Climate Change’

By Patrick Goodenough, CNS News, Jan 3, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/americans-spent-745b-3-years-helping-other-countries-deal-climate

Link to the report: 2014 U.S. Climate Action Report

By Staff Writers, Department of State, Jan 1, 2014

http://www.state.gov/e/oes/rls/rpts/car6/219259.htm

Climate experts back PM’s comments

By Staff Writers, Belfast Telegraph, Jan 10, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/climate-experts-back-pms-comments-29905162.html

David Cameron was right to link storms to climate change, say weather experts

David Cameron was recently criticised for linking the increase in storms to climate change, but today weather experts say the prime minister was right.

By Sarah Knapton, Telegraph, UK, Jan 10, 2014 [H/t Bishop Hill]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/10564153/David-Cameron-was-right-to-link-storms-to-climate-change-say-weather-experts.html

Subsidies and Mandates Forever

Spain makes abrupt U-turn on solar payments; Retreat on rates leaves thousands of investors fearing they’ll go broke

By Suzanne Daley, Power Engineering, Jan 6, 2014 [H/t Anne Debeil]

http://www.power-eng.com/news/2014/01/07/spain-makes-abrupt-u-turn-on-solar-payments-br-br-retreat-on-rates-leaves-thousands-of-investors-fea.html

EPA and other Regulators on the March

EPA’s formal release of emissions rules for new power plants draws immediate criticism

By Zack Colman, Washington Examiner, Jan 8, 2014

http://washingtonexaminer.com/epas-formal-release-of-emissions-rules-for-new-power-plants-draws-immediate-criticism/article/2541818?utm_source=Washington%20Examiner:%20Politics%20Today%20Reoccurring%20-%2001/09/2014&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Washington%20Examiner:%20Politics%20Today

Energy Issues – Non-US

Germany: The Canary for Renewables

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Jan 7, 2014

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/germany-the-canary-for-renewables/

The Return of Centralized Energy Planning in Britain

By Staff Writers, NCPA, Dec 30, 2013

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=23938&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EnvPD

Link to paper: “From Nationalisation to State Control: The Return of Centralised Energy Planning,”

By Colin Robinson, Institute of Economic Affairs, UK, Dec 2013

http://www.iea.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/files/From%20Nationalisation%20to%20

[SEPP Comment: The evils committed in the name of energy security.]

The Global Impact of US Shale

By Daniel Yergin, Project Syndicate, Jan 8, 2014

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/daniel-yergin-traces-the-effects-of-america-s-shale-energy-revolution-on-the-balance-of-global-economic-and-political-power

Lavish energy lifestyles,

By Lawrence Solomon, Financial Post, Jan 9, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2014/01/09/lawrence-solomon-lavish-energy-lifestyles/

[SEPP Comment: Will northern cities have heated sidewalks?]

Energy Issues — US

Government Acting As a Shill

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Jan 10, 2014

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/government-acting-as-a-shill/

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately below.]

“Clean Energy Economy in Three Charts” U.S. DOE Misleads Again

By Glenn Schleede, Master Resource, Jan 9, 2014

http://www.masterresource.org/2014/01/clean-energy-in-three-charts-u-s-doe-misleads-again/#more-29261

Link to report: The Clean Energy Economy in Three Charts

By Dan Utech, DOE, Jan 6, 2014

http://www.doe.gov/articles/clean-energy-economy-three-charts

Washington’s Control of Energy

Obama’s ‘Quadrennial Energy Review’: Old Vinegar in New Bottles (remember Jimmy Carter and FDR)

By Robert Bradley, Jr, Master Resource, Jan 10, 2014

http://www.masterresource.org/2014/01/obamas-quadrennial-energy-review-old/#more-29298

Link to press release: New Steps to Strengthen the Nation’s Energy Infrastructure

Signed by John P. Holdren, Cecilia Muñoz, and Ernest Moniz, White House Press Release, Jan 9, 2014

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/01/09/new-steps-strengthen-nation-s-energy-infrastructure

Podesta’s Climate And Environmental Agendas Will Add To Obama’s Executive Disorders

By Larry Bell, Forbes, Jan 5, 2014

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2014/01/05/podestas-climate-and-environmental-agendas-will-add-to-obamas-executive-disorders/

American Petroleum Institute to push hard for ‘pro-growth energy policies’ in 2014 elections

By Zack Colman, Washington Examiner, Jan 7, 2014

http://washingtonexaminer.com/american-petroleum-institute-to-push-hard-for-pro-growth-energy-policies-in-2014-elections/article/2541708?utm_source=Washington%20Examiner:%20Politics%20Today%20Reoccurring%20-%2001/08/2014&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Washington%20Examiner:%20Politics%20Today

[SEPP Comment: The claimed $4 billion in tax incentives is contrived.]

Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?

Vaclav Smil’s graph of the year: The natural-gas boom

By Wonkblog, Washington Post, Dec 29, 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/29/vaclav-smils-graph-of-the-year-the-natural-gas-boom/

[SEPP Comment: The divergence between the price of natural gas in the US since 2009 and the price of oil is quite stunning.]

Some States Confirm Water Pollution from Drilling

By Kevin Begos, AP, Jan 5, 2014

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAS_DRILLING_WATER_CONTAMINATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[SEPP Comment: The article lacks specifics, particularly when dealing with contamination from the surface.]

Return of King Coal?

China approves massive new coal capacity despite pollution fears

* Beijing approves 15 new large coal mining projects over year

* Total new capacity, including small mines, likely to be higher

* Capacity to increase by 860 mln T over 2011-2015 period

By David Stanway, Reuters, Jan 7, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/07/china-coal-idUSL3N0K90H720140107

[SEPP Comment: How much will go to new power plants and will any replace imports?]

Dirtiest Coal’s Rebirth in Europe Flattens Medieval Towns

By Stefan Nicola and Ladka Bauerova, Bloomberg, Jan 6, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01-05/dirty-coal-revived-as-eu-speeds-green-retreat-carbon-and-climate

Germany out in the coal

By Ezra Levant, Toronto Sun, Jan 6, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/06/germany-out-in-the-coal

Green Revolution? Germany’s New Coal Boom Reaches Record Level

Editorial, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Via GWPF, Translation Philipp Mueller, Jan 7, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/germanys-coal-boom/

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind

How to make money doing nothing

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Jan 8, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/1/8/how-to-make-money-doing-nothing.html

[SEPP Comment: Big wind makes big money by not generating electricity.]

Wind Farms ‘Will Be Paid Billions To Switch Off’

By Mike Wade, The Times, Via GWPF, Jan 8, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/wind-farms-will-paid-billions-switch-off/

Wind Turbines: The Ghost in the Gearbox

By Billo the Wisp, His Blog, Dec 1, 2013 [H/t Bishop Hill]

http://billothewisp.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/wind-turbines-ghost-in-gearbox.html

Link to the Gearbox Reliability Collaborative, NREL

http://www.nrel.gov/wind/grc/

Researchers Find Ways To Minimize Power Grid Disruptions From Wind Power

By Staff Writers, Raleigh NC (SPX), Jan 03, 2014

http://www.winddaily.com/reports/Researchers_Find_Ways_To_Minimize_Power_Grid_Disruptions_From_Wind_Power_999.html

Link to paper: Coordinating Wind Farms and Battery Management Systems for Inter-Area Oscillation Damping: A Frequency-Domain Approach

By Chandra, et al. IEEE, Oct 17, 2013

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6632948&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3Farnumber%3D6632948

[SEPP Comment: A long way to go.]

California Dreaming

350.org wants AGW health warning on gas pumps

By Luboš Motl, Reference Frame, Jan 10, 2014

http://motls.blogspot.com/2014/01/350org-wants-agw-health-warning-on-gas.html#more

California Coastal Commission to solicit input on Global Warming driven sea level policy document

From the “we’ve already made up our minds, these hearings are simply for show” department.

Posted by Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jan 8, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/08/california-coastal-commission-to-solicit-input-on-global-warming-driven-sea-level-policy-document/

Health, Energy, and Climate

New compounds discovered that are hundreds of times more mutagenic

By Staff Writers, Corvallis OR (SPX), Jan 07, 2014

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/New_compounds_discovered_that_are_hundreds_of_times_more_mutagenic_999.html

Environmental Industry

A Killing Frost for Green Bosses

By Matthew Vadum, Front Page, Jan 8, 2014

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/matthew-vadum/a-killing-frost-for-green-bosses/?utm_source=FrontPage+Magazine&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9d93fa6ec8-Mailchimp_FrontPageMag&utm_term=0_57e32c1dad-9d93fa6ec8-156404385

Other Scientific News

Top 10 Retractions of 2013

A look at this year’s most memorable retractions

By Adam Marcus and Ivan Oransky, The Scientist, Dec 30, 2013 [H/t Catherine French]

http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38743/title/Top-10-Retractions-of-2013/

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Now it’s the fungi carbon footprint that isn’t in climate models

Symbiotic fungi inhabiting plant roots have major impact on atmospheric carbon, scientists say

Posted by Anthony Watts, WUWT, Jan 9, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/09/now-its-the-fungi-carbon-footprint-that-isnt-in-climate-models/

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