Great Lakes reaches second highest ice cover on record

The latest data just in from the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor Michigan indicates that as of today, total ice cover reached the second highest value on record 91%, beating the previous 2nd highest value set in 1994 of 90.7%.

See the chart.

lice-00

Source: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/glcfs.php?lake=l&ext=ice&type=N&hr=00

In comparison to other years, only 1979 was higher for the satellite record:

GL_ice_cover_timeseries

Source: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/ice/imgs/IceCoverAvg1973_2013.jpg

Original graph updated by A. Watts

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March 4, 2014 8:39 pm

One thing is for sure: Had “global cooling” been the scare-de-jour the “cold-mongers” would have been all over this like a rash.

steveninbrooklyn
March 4, 2014 8:42 pm

What are the chances of getting the record? How will that be spun by the Global Moroning folks?

NZ Willy
March 4, 2014 8:46 pm

Fun to see them freeze — from my perch in NZ, of course. But it’s cold here too — woodburner going for 2nd day now.

F.A.H.
March 4, 2014 8:47 pm

I am sorry I can’t pay enough attention to this news item. I just looked at the just released Defense Department Quadrennial Defense Review 2014 and searched for the occurrence of the word “climate change.” This overarching policy document promises that the DOD will aggressively act to counter the threats posed by climate change to the U.S. defense missions. It is at http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2014_Quadrennial_Defense_Review.pdf
While Putin takes over eastern Europe, moves to establish naval bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, flight tests advanced nuclear weapon capable ballistic missiles, provides nuclear technology to Iran, and establishes alliances with China, the U.S. defense department is busy fighting climate change.

March 4, 2014 8:55 pm

As a native Michigander, this is awesome!

Paul Westhaver
March 4, 2014 8:58 pm

In the 6 hours since the plot that Anthony linked to there has been yet further changes in the ice ice on Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario. I just browsed the individual animated plots, not the aggregate, and there may be even more ice…. hard to tell.
Lake Michigan
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/micecon-00.gif
Lake Ontario
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/oicecon-00.gif
The animations terminating at midnight (GMT) 03/05/2014

luvthefacts
March 4, 2014 9:07 pm

Hey, I’m in Australia but if I wasn’t then I’d certainly be getting a set of ice skates and looking out for big Al. He must be cheering.

Mac the Knife
March 4, 2014 9:08 pm

Weather forecasts for Green Bay WI show lows of 15F or so and highs from 25F to 34F for the next 10 days. That isn’t cold enough to really thicken/extend the ice pack a lot but, then again, it isn’t really warm enough to dramatically thin it either.

pat
March 4, 2014 9:20 pm

the weather is our friend:
aussie businesses showing some sanity today, after yesterday’s headline “Qantas contradicts govt: ‘carbon tax not to blame’”:
5 Mar: The Conversation: Michelle Grattan: Qantas somersaults on carbon tax burden
After declaring on Monday that “the major issues Qantas faces are not related to carbon pricing”, it now says this cost is among the “significant challenges” the airline confronts…
In today’s statement Qantas said: “We have said that the price on carbon is a cost to our business that we have not been able to recover through fare increases, because of the intensely competitive market we operate in.
http://theconversation.com/qantas-somersaults-on-carbon-tax-burden-24019
5 Mar: Ninemsn: Business wants carbon tax repealed:Hockey
Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey says business wants the shackles of the carbon tax removed and again urged the Labor opposition to support its repeal.
Four key business groups have called on senators to swiftly repeal the carbon tax…
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Industry Group, Business Council of Australia and Minerals Council of Australia on Wednesday released a joint statement urging the Senate to pass the Abbott government’s package of bills…
The business groups said the carbon tax was making key industries less competitive every day it remained in place…
The chiefs said both Labor and the coalition had gone to the 2013 election pledging to “terminate” the carbon tax.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2014/03/05/12/59/business-groups-seek-carbon-tax-repeal

john robertson
March 4, 2014 9:26 pm

Some days it is a shame the satellite record is so short, however as with the ice tripod in Alaska last spring, a new record here will be amusing.
Who knew that Global Warming meant more lake ice?
Let me provide another fictitious excuse for this arctic front, the Anthropogenic CO2 has concentrated over the top of the world, displacing massive, nay Unprecedented volumes of arctic air.This explains the lack of warming in Antarctica, this cold northern winter and is as coherent as most of Climatology.Oh right the CO2 rose because it was preheated and everyone knows North is up, we have a consensus.
Where’s my govt grant.

philincalifornia
March 4, 2014 9:45 pm

john robertson says:
March 4, 2014 at 9:26 pm
——————————-
No, CO2 is heavier than air, so it actually concentrates at the bottom of the world over Antarctica, so it doesn’t warm the Northern Hemisphere much any more, ever since it decided to do that. So why isn’t it warming Antarctica you may ask ?? Well, obviously, it’s upside down in the Southern Hemisphere, so it radiates out to space and causes cooling and record ice levels. Simple really, kind of like water rotating down a plug hole.
For more information go to climatescientists@f*ckw1ts.com

Mac the Knife
March 4, 2014 9:53 pm

F.A.H. says:
March 4, 2014 at 8:47 pm
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2014_Quadrennial_Defense_Review.pdf
While Putin takes over eastern Europe, moves to establish naval bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, flight tests advanced nuclear weapon capable ballistic missiles, provides nuclear technology to Iran, and establishes alliances with China, the U.S. defense department is busy fighting climate change.
F.A.H.,
Pathetic, isn’t it? Adding insult to Obama’s self inflicted injuries, Russia launched a ‘test’ ICBM today. The missile defense system that could have knocked it down…., the missile interceptors we were scheduled to install in Poland and the Czech Republic in 2009 were canceled by Barack Hussein Obama in Sept 2009. They were canceled without any concessions by Russia, but Hillary Clinton cackled away as they pressed the ‘Reset Button’. The missile contrail today looked like an extended middle finger, waved at the EU and Our Dear Leaders administration, while our Defense Department has been directed to attack ‘carbon’. In sharp response, John Kerry (not the swiftest boat in the water) verbally attacked Israel.
Could it get any more irrational? Any more dangerously naive or stupid?

EW3
March 4, 2014 9:57 pm

Just wait 3 or 4 years and the temperature record will show 2013-14 as average winter and the ice records will be forgotten.
Those that control the past, control the future.

John F. Hultquist
March 4, 2014 10:07 pm

On GLERL’s FAQ page a table shows Highest Max and Lowest Max. The lows have occurred during the temperature “pause” while all the max are prior to 1997. Three of the lakes have been lowest in 2012 and the next question only uses data up to that point. The Answer is YES; the question is: Do we have evidence that Great Lakes ice cover is declining?
It is time for an update.
If they have a paper on what they think might correlate with ice cover, I don’t see it.

ren
March 4, 2014 10:11 pm

The current temperature.
http://oi58.tinypic.com/66kqjq.jpg

Leon Brozyna
March 4, 2014 11:00 pm

Ontario is pushing 40% ice and while there’s little wind right now, there’s little time before a more southerly breeze kicks in and we “warm” up Friday to something almost “normal” for the date (39°F) … which is unusual for this winter of high temps often not even reaching the daily average low.
I’ve heard rumors that there’s this thing called spring that’s approaching.
Promise, promises …

March 4, 2014 11:13 pm

F.A.H. says at 8:47 pm
I am sorry I can’t pay enough attention to this news item. I just looked at the just released Defense Department Quadrennial Defense Review 2014 and searched for the occurrence of the word “climate change.” This overarching policy document promises that the DOD will aggressively act to counter the threats posed by climate change to the U.S. defense missions. It is at http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2014_Quadrennial_Defense_Review.pdf
While Putin takes over eastern Europe, moves to establish naval bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, flight tests advanced nuclear weapon capable ballistic missiles, provides nuclear technology to Iran, and establishes alliances with China, the U.S. defense department is busy fighting climate change.
—————- ——————– ——————
FAH, you have really hit the nail on the head.
Consider China also. While our effete elites push for us to unilaterally and drastically cut back our energy and productive capacities, China et al is moving forward undaunted and registering HUGE increases in CO2 emissions, dwarfing the minimal (but hard won) cuts in western CO2 output. We truly are the arrogant self-satisfied soft elites that think the world revolves around us, that it’s all just kind of a game, that the rough and tumble of the real world is never going to impose itself on us. Well, think again. It’s during a time of relative prosperity and peace that we start obsessing on these crazy self-immolating tangents. It’s like they wish to whip ourselves in penance and punishment for our excess of success, but the rest of the world roars forward. One of these days soon we could lose it all thanks to the self-sacrificing actions of these know-it-all do-gooders that think they’re smarter and more moral than the rest of us.
“It is a campaign not for abundance but for austerity. It is a campaign not for more freedom but for less. Strangest of all, it is a campaign not just against other people, but against ourselves.” -George Monbiot, UK Ecojournalist
“A massive campaign must be launched to de-develop the United States.” -John Holdren (1973), Obama’s Science Czar
“The planet is about to break out with fever.. and we [humans] are the disease. We should be at war with ourselves and our lifestyles.” -Thomas Lovejoy, Smithsonian Institution
At war with ourselves? That’s what they want. War with others, though, real war where our opponents are worthy and serious (not Iraq etc), that could be devastating to our civilization and quality of lives. The elite warmists, in their blithe disregard for the harsh reality of competitive world politics and their eagerness to hamstring our own industrial and military capabilities, are leading us toward disaster.

ferdberple
March 4, 2014 11:24 pm

Eric Simpson says:
March 4, 2014 at 11:13 pm
FAH, you have really hit the nail on the head.
===============
Agreed, while the US and EU are busy fighting global warming, Putin will do as he pleases.
Russia test-launches ‘advanced’ ballistic missile
Moscow (AFP) – Russia on Tuesday carried out a successful test-launch of an “advanced” intercontinental ballistic missile, state news agencies reported amid a fierce standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.
http://news.yahoo.com/russia-test-launches-advanced-ballistic-missile-reports-194905394.html

Greg
March 4, 2014 11:28 pm

” total ice cover reached the second highest value on record 91%”
Aren’t we supposed to report such things as ” second highest value in recorded history” ?

Unmentionable
March 4, 2014 11:32 pm

NZ Willy says:
March 4, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Fun to see them freeze — from my perch in NZ, of course. But it’s cold here too — woodburner going for 2nd day now.
>>>
Hey, north QLD here and can confirm the last two mornings have been much cooler. The entire summer has been anomalous, like nothing I’ve experienced in over 50 years. Cooler, and far less humid than normal. Getting late April weather at beginning March. Seems to be from a large ocean cold pool south of Australia all this summer. Hope its dissipated by July-August.

March 4, 2014 11:42 pm

For the USA – Lock-and-load… Life is going to get very tough under the current administration. I honestly wish the administration was truly looking out for its citizens but based on all the recent developments, that is not the case.
Much better to be prepared than taken by “surprise”.

spdrdr
March 4, 2014 11:48 pm

Unmentionable, I was pulling up the doonah in Brisbane, S/E Queensland this morning. Five days into Autumn? A cool winter lies ahead…

March 5, 2014 12:09 am

I think summer minimum Lake ice would be more relevant. It’s only if / when this stuff begins to not melt that it becomes interesting. I’m surprised to see that there is not really anything exceptional about this year’s N American winter as monitored by Lake ice. In Aberdeen Scotland we have so far had one of the mildest winters for a few years. Zero snow, little frost, trees and spring flowers coming out.

RokShox
March 5, 2014 12:12 am

2nd place is perfect. You don’t want first lest the warmists start yelling about “extremes”.

goldminor
March 5, 2014 12:26 am

F.A.H. says:
March 4, 2014 at 8:47 pm
While Putin takes over eastern Europe, moves to establish naval bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, flight tests advanced nuclear weapon capable ballistic missiles, provides nuclear technology to Iran, and establishes alliances with China, the U.S. defense department is busy fighting climate change.
————————————————————————————————————
Are we winning?

goldminor
March 5, 2014 12:43 am

Euan Mearns says:
March 5, 2014 at 12:09 am
————————————–
You can thank those Atlantic warm currents for the warmth. There is a similar event in the North Pacific that has kept the entire Pacific Northwest above average ever since the beginning of last December. The two months prior to December were bitterly cold, though.

somersetsteve
March 5, 2014 12:51 am

Re FAH….I wonder what the definition of ‘Mission Accomplished’ will be in the war against climate change…no change whatsoever I presume….this could be a long one….

March 5, 2014 1:00 am

F.A.H. says at March 4, 2014 at 8:47 pm…
Let me join in the fun threadjacking. Obama is quite right to fight global warming rather than Russia or China.
It’s a fight he’s winning.
There has been no Global Warming since he became your President.
Yet China is building aircraft carriers and asserting its rights in the Pacific while Russia is still pointing towards the Bosphorus with avaricious eyes…
Both of these policy objectives predate the USA and so are clearly above your President’s pay grade.

March 5, 2014 1:22 am

Where is the center of the World?
Very warm and wet Winter 2013-2014 in Europe.
Longest dry spell since five years in Singapore.
So what?
The only constant in weather is that it is always changing. Ask a farmer: no season resembles the past one.
Climate is also always changing but over a much longer time scale (centuries).

SandyInLimousin
March 5, 2014 1:33 am

Euan Mearns says:
March 5, 2014 at 12:09 am
The ski resorts have had excellent snow this year, skiing possible in the Glen Coe car park earlier this winter. I think I also read that ski tows had to be dug out before use on several occasions as well.
That being said we’ve only had a few nights of frost here in Limousin much milder than last year’s long drawn out affair and the previous year’s really cold spell in Jan/Feb.

Harry Passfield
March 5, 2014 1:38 am

Jimmy Haigh. says:
March 4, 2014 at 8:39 pm
“One thing is for sure: Had “global cooling” been the scare-de-jour the “cold-mongers” would have been all over this like a rash.”
You beat me to it, Jimmy. I was wondering how this would play if the 1970s “Ice Age is a-Coming” scare was still relevant.
In similar vein, I think Anthony should seriously consider Eric Worrall’s comment on Chris Monckton’s thread as the quote of the week when he said:

“School children don’t know what global warming feels like”

goldminor
March 5, 2014 1:43 am

Michel says:
March 5, 2014 at 1:22 am
————————————
The Great Lakes may not be the center of the world, But this deep cold will have regional consequences that will then have an impact of some level on the rest of the world. The Arctic is not the center of the world. Antarctica is not the center of the world. Yet these and other regions around the world dictate what the overall world climate is going to look like. That reminds me of those warmists who constantly state that weather is not climate. Yet without weather, would we even have a climate? They are part and parcel related to one another, as are the regions of the world to the entire world picture.

Mr information
March 5, 2014 2:01 am

This years cold spell oever the us has been caused by the polar vortex or the sudden warmoing of it which is caused by thinner acrtic ice i think at some places. Or maybe caused by the enso cycles.
It’s one of the two. i do know this the heat of our planet is definitely coming from the ocean. the massive release of methane year after year proves this. Anyway europe has been warmer while the arctic air has been overflowing the us sending cold spells over there.
Oddly enough no one really pays attention to the fact that stratospheric warmings have been occuring these last years???

bobby b
March 5, 2014 2:04 am

“While Putin takes over eastern Europe . . . the U.S. defense department is busy fighting climate change.”
And doing it damned well, I might add.
Once again, it’s colder than hell here, just like it was last week, and the week before, and last month, and ever since mid-November, and my wife can no longer throw a shovelful of snow high enough to get it up and over the piles along the edges of the driveways, and we officially gave up on keeping the long winding path to the front door open weeks ago, and this is the first time in my fifty-some years here that I hit those “completely disgusted with winter” emotional depths by New Year’s Day, which can become even more depressing when you realize that you still have five more months of “Possible Snow” season left at that point.

Rob
March 5, 2014 2:20 am

All time record looks imminent. Big 1040 MB Actic High descending on the region. That, and a major coastal nor’easter next week.

rogueelement451
March 5, 2014 2:36 am

Q.Why are you carrying that Elephant Gun??
A. To scare away elephants!
Q. But there are no elephants here!!
A. See how good it works!!!
Just a brief note , my comments at the Guardian have been put on “pre-moderation” , obviously I,m doing something right since i have made about 250 comments and only 2/3 have been deleted.

@njsnowfan
March 5, 2014 2:55 am

“Anthony Watts says:
March 4, 2014 at 9:02 pm
@Paul W. I expect we’ll see a new value tomorrow of about 92%, and we may reach 95% for new record for satellite era on Friday.
Unless of course, we get wind compaction”
Anthony Canada’s Ice Service showed more coverage then Noaa on their weekly chart report on 3/3 2014 0305 0.9120
Here http://iceweb1.cis.ec.gc.ca/IceGraph20/ct?charttype=sdtt&ssnsta=1981&ssnend=2014&histdtsta=0305&histdtend=0305&region=glakes&nrmlsta=1981&nrmlend=2010&showwarn=true&plotnormal=false&plotmedian=true&plotwarn=false&plotscaled=true&cachelife=1&format=html&lang=en
2014 0305 0.9120
Noaa showed 86.2% on 3/3 http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/anim.php?lake=l&param=glsea&type=n
Not sure who is right on Exact coverage #’s.
______________________________________________________________-
BTW, What’s the deal with Lake Ontario and less coverage then all the other lakes. I know it is a deep lake but something else is going on? Ice breaker working had on N shores cutting up new ice daily seems it could be the reason, look
Toronto fire boat making record ice-breaking voyage
3/5 – Toronto, Ont. – A Toronto fire boat is set to shatter its own record for consecutive ice-breaking missions in the city’s frozen harbor.
The William Lyon Mackenzie, which doubles as an ice breaker, is slated to make its 79th consecutive daily ice break on Lake Ontario on Tuesday, surpassing a previous record it set during the 2001-02 winter season. Toronto Fire Services spokesman Mike Strapko said that with this year’s intensely-cold winter, “every single day we’ve been going out.”
Named after Toronto’s first mayor, the Mackenzie is also marking its 50th anniversary. The vessel was built at the Russel Brothers Ltd. shipyard in Owen Sound in 1964. It went through a $1-million refurbishment in 2004 and is expected to stay in service until 2037.
In addition to fighting fires, the boat is used to clear emergency water lanes leading to the Toronto islands.
“A benefit of that is by keeping those emergency routes open, the island ferries get to use them as well,” Strapko said. “But the main purpose is to keep it open for itself, for fire fighting … because we have the (island) airport there, residents, and other buildings to protect.”
Senior fire boat captain Adrian Lewicki added that before winter ends, he expects the number of ice break missions completed by the Mackenzie to go into the “high 80s or low 90s.” Docked at the Toronto Fire and Marine Station 334 on Queens Quay, the boat operates all year, according to the fire department.
It is 24 metres long, weighs around 150 tonnes and has a 3,000-horsepower diesel engine capable of pushing the WLM through the water at a top speed of 22 km/h.
Toronto Sun
______________________________________________________________________
I did come across this article how Ice breakers are working on other lakes daily trying to keep open as much water as possible
Story and link. Many more stories here.
http://www.boatnerd.com/news/
Icebreaking update
3/5 – The USCG Neah Bay was reported in southern Lake Huron bound for the Soo Tuesday afternoon to assist in the upbound passage of the tanker Algocanada, which has spent the last several days battling ice on a trip to Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Tuesday evening, Algocanada and USCG Katmai Bay were in the vicinity of Nine Mile Point, probably stopped for the night. Meanwhile, the tug Everlast and her barge finally made it to their Detroit destination on Tuesday, while Algosea arrived at Nanticoke. Algoeast has left Nanticoke and appears to be waiting in the Long Point anchorage for the CCGS Griffon to escort her back to Sarnia.
http://www.boatnerd.com/news/

@njsnowfan
March 5, 2014 3:00 am

Going to be hard to Set new all time record with this going on.
Duluth-Superior icebreaking starts this week
3/3 – Duluth, Minn. – The United States Coast Guard will start breaking ice in the ports of Duluth, Minn. and Superior, Wis. beginning March 4 in preparation for the 2014 shipping season.
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Alder will commence icebreaking operations in the waters of the Duluth Harbor out to Lake Superior. This will include ice covered areas normally used by recreational users such as but not limited to Superior Front Channel, Superior and Duluth Harbor Basins, East Gate, the Entry Channels into Duluth and Superior Harbor and the ice in Lake Superior adjacent to Minnesota Point.
These icebreaking efforts will expand and increase in frequency as the ice and demands of shipping require. This will include all navigable waters in and around the ports of Duluth and Superior, as well as the waters of Silver Bay, Taconite Harbor and Two Harbors in Minnesota.
USCG

March 5, 2014 3:07 am

A chuckle => All the energy removed from the Great Lakes water mass to create the ice went to Trenberth so he could put it in the deep oceans?
John

Paul Coppin
March 5, 2014 3:17 am

Second highest? Closies only count in horseshoes… Model runs for the lower Great Lakes basin show mixed sun and cloud with temps running around to above freezing. If there a new record it will be only be for a brief few hours very early Friday morning. Sunrise on Friday plus ambient temps should take of the record pretty quickly.

Paul Coppin
March 5, 2014 3:21 am

From Eric Simpson above: My vote for QOTW:
“While Putin takes over eastern Europe, moves to establish naval bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, flight tests advanced nuclear weapon capable ballistic missiles, provides nuclear technology to Iran, and establishes alliances with China, the U.S. defense department is busy fighting climate change.”

Jeff
March 5, 2014 3:21 am

Eric Simpson says:
March 4, 2014 at 11:13 pm
F.A.H. says at 8:47 pm
….
So true. As Walt Kelly’s Pogo said:
“We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
(That’s how Holdren and the Misanthropic Malthusians would have it…).
Too worried about (supposed) “pollutin” and not enough about rootin-tootin-Putin….

@njsnowfan
March 5, 2014 3:22 am

Second highest? Closies only count in horseshoes… Model runs for the lower Great Lakes basin show mixed sun and cloud with temps running around to above freezing. If there a new record it will be only be for a brief few hours very early Friday morning. Sunrise on Friday plus ambient temps should take of the record pretty quickly.
Here is Noaa’s past ice data to 1973,
BTW in 1994 a record year there is a duplicate day every week with different % of coverage.
1994 is a Fishy Data Year. Maybe some one knows why??
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/ice/atlas/ice_charts/index.html

Todd
March 5, 2014 3:34 am

There’s that year again. 1979. I’ve been seeing that year a lot, lately. Growing up in the upper mid west, that was the gold standard of winters. Especially if you were a kid, and not the dad who had to dig out the family car completely buried in show, as the temp plummets to all time record lows (that were later broken in Feb 1996).

Sceptik
March 5, 2014 3:38 am

What will the coverage be after Michael Mann finishes “homogenising” the data.

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 3:46 am

Mac the Knife says: @ March 4, 2014 at 9:53 pm
F.A.H.,
Pathetic, isn’t it? Adding insult to Obama’s self inflicted injuries, Russia launched a ‘test’ ICBM today. The missile defense system that could have knocked it down…., the missile interceptors we were scheduled to install in Poland and the Czech Republic in 2009 were canceled by Barack Hussein Obama in Sept 2009. They were canceled without any concessions by Russia, but Hillary Clinton cackled away as they pressed the ‘Reset Button’. The missile contrail today looked like an extended middle finger, waved at the EU and Our Dear Leaders administration, while our Defense Department has been directed to attack ‘carbon’. In sharp response, John Kerry (not the swiftest boat in the water) verbally attacked Israel.
Could it get any more irrational? Any more dangerously naive or stupid?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You have to understand where the Progressives are coming from. The current US foreign policy is based on INTERDEPENDENCE.

“Economic Interdependence and War: A Theory of Trade Expectations,” International Security, Vol. 20, no.4 (Spring 1996)
Does economic interdependence increase or decrease the probability of war among states?
With the Cold War over, this question is taking on importance as trade levels between established powers such as the United States and Russia and emerging powers such as Japan, China, and Western Europe grow to new heights. In this article, I provide a new dynamic theory to help overcome some of the theoretical and empirical problems with current liberal and realist views on the question.
The prolonged debate between realists and liberals on the causes of war has been largely a debate about the relative salience of different causal variables. Realists stress such factors as relative power, while liberals focus on the absence or presence of collective security regimes and the pervasiveness of democratic communities.(1) Economic interdependence is the only factor that plays an important causal role in the thinking of both camps, and their perspectives are diametrically opposed.
Liberals argue that economic interdependence lowers the likelihood of war by increasing the value of trading over the alternative of aggression: interdependent states would rather trade than invade. As long as high levels of interdependence can be maintained, liberals assert, we have reason for optimism. Realists dismiss the liberal argument, arguing that high interdependence increases rather than decreases the probability of war. In anarchy, states must constantly worry about their security. Accordingly, interdependence – meaning mutual dependence and thus vulnerability – gives states an incentive to initiate war, if only to ensure continued access to necessary materials and goods.

The unsatisfactory nature of both liberal and realist theories is shown by their difficulties in explaining the run-ups to the two World Wars…..

Bill Clinton with his ratification of the World Trade Organization in 1996 and his ‘Reaching Out to China’ for campaign contributions put in place World Interdependence. Both the IMF and WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy said so.
(For IMF see: Convergence, Interdependence, and Divergence, Finance & Development, September 2012, Vol. 49, No. 3 (wwwDOT)imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2012/09/dervis.htm)
For Pascal Lamy and Ian Goldin (University of Oxford )

Rethinking International Institutions
The simple fact is that with interconnectedness comes interdependence. In order to protect the global commons, world leaders must pursue shared solutions as inclusively and efficiently as possible – a process that can be accomplished only through international institutions. Failure to do so would threaten the tremendous progress that globalization has facilitated in recent decades….
…In order to increase the productivity of global negotiations, the Oxford Martin Commission recommends creating coalitions of motivated countries, together with other actors, such as cities and businesses. As outcomes improve, international bodies’ legitimacy would be strengthened, which over time would enhance countries’ willingness to delegate powers to them.
Moreover, the commission proposes creating voluntary platforms to facilitate the creation of global treaties in vital areas. For example, a taxation and regulatory exchange would help countries to tackle tax avoidance and harmonize corporate taxation, while promoting information sharing and cooperation. Likewise, a cyber-security data-sharing platform could prove vital to understanding, preventing, and responding to cyber attacks.
As governments learn to collaborate with one another and with other actors, such as businesses and civil-society groups, faith in the power of international cooperation would be restored. In such an environment, breaking the gridlock on urgent global issues would be far easier than it has become in the current atmosphere of disillusionment and mistrust.
(wwwDOT)project-syndicate.org/commentary/pascal-lamy-and-ian-goldinpropose-mechanisms-for-improving-global-governance-and-cooperation#vmmmppk181rXXIfl.99

Obviously with all this international economic interdependence, the shipping of US technology and jobs to other countries the reaching out of US leaders such as Bill and Hitlery Clinton, Obama and John Kerry, war is no longer a threat and the USA can ignore Russia’s maneuvers and China’s saber rattling in ‘a declining state of stability and security in the South China Sea’ and just keep their eyes trained on the real goal, Global Governance.
Unfortunately not everyone seems to be with the program or as Benjamin Carlson put it on January 30, 2014 00:20 “China is playing chicken with the US military in the South China Sea”
Unfortunately I do not think the Progressives assumptions about ‘Economic Interdependence’ are correct and that leaves the USA up a creek having given away all our paddles (along with our economic technology and military secrets) to the Chinese.

SAMURAI
March 5, 2014 3:46 am

When all the record mountain ice and snow melts this spring, it’s guaranteed the warmunists will blame CAGW for the “unprcedented” flooding, and conveniently forget that the flooding will be the direct result of record cold/snow this winter….
And so it goes… Until freedom and sanity are restored…

Hawkwood
March 5, 2014 4:15 am

I live on the north shore of Lake Erie and an avid angler. The ice fishing has been terrific with abundant catches of large yellow perch and walleye. Thanks to anglers in both the US and Canada we fought for smaller limits and moratoriums on commercial fishing on Lake Erie back in the early 90’s. Fish were scarce but the state and provincial fisheries departments were telling us there were ample stocks based on their computer models. After immense pressure the admission was finally made that the computer models were faulty and indeed fish stocks were dangerously low. Naturally, my skepticism carried forward when I discovered that global warming was merely a theory based on computer models. Our observations and common sense trumped computers and I’m certain we will be vindicated once again concerning CAGW.

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 4:16 am

Mac the Knife says:
March 4, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Weather forecasts for Green Bay WI show lows of 15F or so and highs from 25F to 34F for the next 10 days….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The eastern cities along the Great Lakes show another day or so of freezing weather then day time highs above freezing.
Erie PA
22° F | 5° F
31° F | 19° F
45° F | 32° F
35° F | 22° F
29° F | 22° F
Buffalo NY
24° F | 1° F
32° F | 15° F
42° F | 30° F
35° F | 21° F
28° F | 22° F
Watertown, NY
23° F | -5° F
28° F | 12° F
39° F | 30° F
35° F | 17° F
30° F | 19° F
Cleveland, Ohio
23° F | 10° F
33° F | 22° F
46° F | 31° F
36° F | 23° F
33° F | 29° F

Scott
March 5, 2014 4:17 am

Ice builds at night, clear skies and no wind will grow ice for at least another month. Cloudy and windy will mean less ice. Living next to Lake Michigan and watching the ice extent wax and wane with the winds this year I have to say I’ve lost much confidence in the Arctic ice extent as a proxy for temperature, the winds must be just as important for ice extent as temperature, if not more so.
Saw the ice on Lake Michigan a few days ago, the heavy winds last week broke up and stacked up 1-2 inch thick plates of ice and froze them in place in a near vertical fashion as far as the eye could see. Like radiator plates extending from the water, got me wondering if such an arrangement increases heat loss from the water and makes thicker ice underneath it.

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 4:25 am

Mods, my comment @March 5, 2014 at 3:46 am has been in moderation for an hour. Please chop it out of the frozen lake Ice (But watch out for the fish frozen in with it.) IMAGE

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 4:32 am

philincalifornia says:@ March 4, 2014 at 9:45 pm
No, CO2 is heavier than air, so it actually concentrates at the bottom of the world over Antarctica…
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Phil that one is a keeper. Posting it on some of the Progressive websites should be interesting. I wonder how many of the Brain Dead ‘Science/Math-Challenged’ would take it as a serious explanation?

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 4:40 am

David Ross says: @ March 4, 2014 at 10:05 pm
How much snow it typically takes to cancel school in the U.S….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here in N.C. school snow days have become a major headache. The Governor is even getting involved and that was BEFORE the latest storm hit this week.

February 14, 2014 Gov. McCrory to work with NC school districts on makeup days
This week’s snowstorm blanketed the state, adding more time that school districts need to make up on top of the time lost last month and earlier this school year. McCrory said during a Friday news conference that he’s doing a “quick review” of the state’s school calendar law and hopes to make an announcement soon on what can be done to assist school superintendents working on makeup-day plans.
“I’m talking to my own chief legal counsel to see what authority I as governor have to allow more flexibilities in those counties that have been impacted by so many days off,”….
Under state law, school districts are required to have either 185 days of classes or 1,025 hours of instruction per school year. Most school districts opted to meet the 1,025-hour requirement.
School districts have been taking actions such as scheduling makeup days on Saturdays and holidays like Good Friday and Memorial Day, taking time from spring break and extending the end of the school year….

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 4:56 am

ferdberple says: @ March 4, 2014 at 11:24 pm
Moscow (AFP) – Russia on Tuesday carried out a successful test-launch of an “advanced” intercontinental ballistic missile, state news agencies reported amid a fierce standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Russia wants the Ukraine because of the rich farmland. Unfortunately the country has a choice between the Russians and the IMF. One is as bad as the other IMHO.

Feb 24, 2014 Ukraine Issues Arrest Warrant for President
Ukraine’s acting government issued a warrant Monday for the arrest of President Viktor Yanukovych, last reportedly seen in the pro-Russian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, accusing him of mass crimes against protesters who stood up for months against his rule.
Calls are mounting in Ukraine to put Yanukovych on trial, after a tumultuous presidency in which he amassed powers, enriched his allies and cracked down on protesters. Anger boiled over last week after snipers attacked protesters in the bloodiest violence in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history….
…U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt said Sunday the U.S. is ready to help Ukraine get aid from the International Monetary Fund.
The protest movement has been in large part a fight for the country’s economic future – for better jobs and prosperity.
Ukraine’s trading partners are also interested in its large potential consumer market, educated workforce, significant industrial base and good natural resources, in particular rich farmland.
Ukraine has struggled with corruption, bad government and short-sighted reliance on cheap gas from Russia. Political unrest has pushed up the deficit and sent exchange rates bouncing, and may have pushed the economy back into a recession.

It pays to remember civilization is a very thin veneer and the USA has also shot protesters at Kent State.

F.A.H.
March 5, 2014 5:01 am

I apologize for my inability to avoid “threadjacking.” I have always thought it a blessing to be able to spend one’s precious conscious moments conversing with the muses of math and science. Sometimes the world intrudes and reminds us we are mortal. Even Archimedes could not interrupt his conversation and was slain by the Roman soldier come to fetch him. I understand Archimedes, but I am sure he was working on something more useful than ways to fight global warming.

wws
March 5, 2014 5:06 am

Todd – I agree with you completely about the 1979 comparisons. Here in East Texas,we just had a huge ice storm (3 inches of pure ice, shut everything down for 3 days) and everyone who’s been around here awhile agrees that it was by far the worst ice storm this area has seen since new years day, 1979 – which, as you said, has been the gold standard around here for bad winter storms.
p.s. of course we get cold weather in March, but around here NO ONE can remember a huge ice storm with days of sub-freezing temperatures in March!

stevek
March 5, 2014 5:06 am

I like these ice cover record, because they are not corrupted by UHI ( at least maybe only on the shore close to major cities ). The records are very hard to change and fudge.

Pete
March 5, 2014 5:16 am

I have a dumb question for all the smart folks here…
Why is Lake Ontario not frozen over like the other Great Lakes?
Is it not subject to the depth of cold temps the more western lakes get, or do they just flush a lot more in Ontario’s part of the Northern Hemisphere?
Many thanks for your thoughts.

sherlock1
March 5, 2014 5:16 am

Proves climate change.
Yes it does – don’t argue. Obviously, as the earth warms, there’ll be more ice on the Great Lakes.
Look at the models…

Doug Huffman
March 5, 2014 5:20 am

Scott says: March 5, 2014 at 4:17 am “Saw the ice on Lake Michigan a few days ago, the heavy winds last week broke up and stacked up 1-2 inch thick plates of ice and froze them in place in a near vertical fashion as far as the eye could see.”
We crossed the Death’s Door Passage 23 Feb and the ice was as thick as four inches. The ferry captain said April crossings will be a challenge.

jaffa
March 5, 2014 5:25 am

This is entirely consistent with AGW theory and exactly as predicted by climate model runs. (please note – due to a backlog it is normal for the predictions to come after the actual event)

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 5:29 am

Euan Mearns says: @ March 5, 2014 at 12:09 am
….In Aberdeen Scotland we have so far had one of the mildest winters for a few years.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WHAT!
No Chairlifts buried under the snow? IMAGE from Record snowfall in Scotland may allow skiing into summer

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 5:31 am

Paul Coppin says:
March 5, 2014 at 3:21 am
From Eric Simpson above: My vote for QOTW…
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SECONDED!

Chris @NJSnowFan
March 5, 2014 5:33 am

Anthony what happened to my firs post from this AM.
Had the info on the how a daily icebreaker has been breaking up the ice on Lake Ontario.
Other ice info from Canada ice service.
Upset your mods sniped it and why??
Come on..
REPLY:
1. It hasn’t been “snipped” it is still there.
2. It was held in moderation because it had multiple links, a signature of typical spam comments
3. This was all automatic, no moderator intervention.
Anthony

ferdberple
March 5, 2014 5:50 am

Gail Combs says:
March 5, 2014 at 5:29 am
WHAT!
Record snowfall in Scotland may allow skiing into summer
http://iceagenow.info/2014/03/record-snowfall-scotland-skiing-summer/
========================
Managing director Marian Austin said: “Our records show that it’s snowed in each 24 hour period since we opened for this winter season on December 20, 2013, so we’ve almost forgotten what it’s like not to have snow falling each day.
“Funny, don’t remember hearing about this on the BBC or Sky!” says Sonya.
According to Dr David Viner, a senior research scientist at the climatic research unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia [the epicentre of global warming research], within a few years winter snowfall will become “a very rare and exciting event”. Children just aren’t going to know what snow is.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/dailypolitics/andrewneil/2010/12/global_warming_and_the_snowfal.html

Patrick
March 5, 2014 5:59 am

To paraphrase Dr. Masters, “This is totally unprecedented since the last time it happened.”

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 6:09 am

goldminor says: @ March 5, 2014 at 1:43 am
…The Great Lakes may not be the center of the world, But this deep cold will have regional consequences that will then have an impact of some level on the rest of the world. The Arctic is not the center of the world….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In other words we had better hope like heck the Seed Companies have short season varieties available for US farmers because it is going to be a wet cold spring. The Daffys are just barely breaking ground here in the south. Usually their blooms would be dying back by this time of year. The fields are way too muddy to get into. I just got stuck in the mud and injured when Rammed by a Ewe.
Paraphrased from the EPA’s Ag Center.
1. The USA produces 32 percent of the world’s corn crop and exports about 20 percent of the U.S. corn production.
2. The USA accounting for over 50% of the world’s soybean production. Soybeans represent 50 percent of world oilseed production.
3. The U.S. produces about 10% of the world’s wheat and supplies about 25% of the world’s wheat export market.
4. U.S. rice production accounts for just under 2% of the world’s total, but this country is the second leading rice exporter with 10% of the world market.
5. The U.S. exports almost half of the sorghum it produces and controls 70% to 80% of world sorghum exports.
6. The US produces over 30% of the world’s cotton with annual exports of more than $7 billion.
7. Hay production in the United States exceeds 119 million tons per year. Alfalfa is the primary hay crop grown and is produced mainly for domestic consumption although there is a growing export market. (Like to China) Alfalfa is ground and pelleted for easy storage and shipping. I have some in stock.

USDA: World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates
Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board – February 10, 2014
WHEAT: U.S. wheat ending stocks for 2013/14 are projected 50 million bushels lower as higher expected food use and exports more than offset an increase in projected imports…. Global 2013/14 wheat supplies are lowered 1.1 million tons with lower beginning stocks for Argentina and Russia and a 0.8-million-ton reduction in world production.
…Global corn ending stocks are projected 2.9 million tons lower
All rice ending stocks are lowered 1.0 million cwt to 27.3 million with long-grain stocks down 1.0 million to 16.3 million, and combined medium-and short-grain stocks unchanged at 8.7 million…. Additionally, export demand for medium-grain rice is up nearly 12 percent from last year as U.S. medium-grain export commitments from Turkey are more than twice the level of 2012/13 according to the U.S. Export Sales report showing commitments through the end of January…. World ending stocks are lowered marginally from a month ago to 105.0 million tons.

The food supply is very interconnected and the USA no longer has strategic grain reserves thanks to the Freedom To Fail Farm Act of 1996. The last of the grain reserves was used up during the 2008 Food Crisis.

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 6:20 am

ferdberple says: @ March 5, 2014 at 5:50 am
Ice Age Now has another recent interesting story.

March 4, 2014 Atlantic City, New Jersey – Coldest March Temp since 1800s!!
A RECORD NOT ONLY FOR THE DATE BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH.
THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 2 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO (-16.7C) AT 1133 PM MONDAY EVENING MARCH 3RD WAS A RECORD NOT ONLY FOR THE DATE BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MARCH.
THE PREVIOUS RECORD LOW FOR MARCH 3 WAS 5 ABOVE ZERO (-15C) IN 2009.
THE PREVIOUS ALL TIME LOW FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH WAS 3 ABOVE SET ON MARCH 4 2009.
OFFICIAL RECORDS FOR THE ATLANTIC CITY AREA DATE BACK TO 1874.
ALSO A RECORD LOW DAILY MINIMUM FOR WILMINGTON DELAWARE

I hope the politicians in DC and the Supreme Court Justices are FREEZING their errrr… Rumps off.

maccassar
March 5, 2014 6:22 am

Euan Mearns-
“I think summer minimum Lake ice would be more relevant. It’s only if / when this stuff begins to not melt that it becomes interesting.”
Perhaps with the exception of 1816 or some other extremes, all of the Great Lakes will always have the same minimum…..0 ice. We are at too low of a latitude and our summers begin in May with many 70F and 80 F days until September for Lake ice to not melt. I do remember, though, a few small bergs floating in Superior in early May 1972. It gets too warm too fast for too long for the ice to last.

ScottinMN
March 5, 2014 6:23 am

@njsnowfan says:
March 5, 2014 at 3:00 am
Going to be hard to Set new all time record with this going on.
Duluth-Superior icebreaking starts this week
3/3 – Duluth, Minn. – The United States Coast Guard will start breaking ice in the ports of Duluth, Minn. and Superior, Wis. beginning March 4 in preparation for the 2014 shipping season.
___________________________________________________________________________________
A nice little video of the Alder commencing operations yesterday:
http://duluthshippingnews.com/

@njsnowfan
March 5, 2014 6:24 am

My Comment is still awaiting Moderation from this AM.
Slow today or was it snipped.

Samuel C Cogar
March 5, 2014 6:28 am

somersetsteve says:
March 5, 2014 at 12:51 am
Re FAH….I wonder what the definition of ‘Mission Accomplished’ will be in the war against climate change…no change whatsoever I presume….this could be a long one….
————————
The US hasn’t won a War since 45’ ….. if that give you a clue.

Psalmon
March 5, 2014 6:30 am

Published in Geophysical Research Letters, the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Large Lakes Observatory (LLO) study found that summer surface water temperatures on Lake Superior have increased approximately 4.5°F (2.5°C) during the period 1979–2006.
This they said made Superior one of the fastest warming lakes in the world. Of course they picked the last record high ice point and the most recent record low point to prove their point.
Also according to Temporal and Spatial Variability of Great Lakes Ice Cover, 1973–2010* ice cover on the Great Lakes has decreased by 71% over the past four decades.
Seems there was a consensus about the Great Lakes too.

Samuel C Cogar
March 5, 2014 6:33 am

David Ross says:
March 4, 2014 at 10:05 pm
How much snow it typically takes to cancel school in the U.S….
——————
Well now, that’s an iffy question …… simply because a majority of said “snow days” are due to the fact that so many Teachers “call in” to take a “sick day” or a ”personal day” and requesting a Substitute ….. and thus there is insufficient personnel for all the Classrooms.

blf
March 5, 2014 6:37 am

Fred Singer Radio Interview…
He’s terrific – homespun, modest but obvious a giant in a field of mental pygmies.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cantotalk/2014/03/05/climate-change-with-dr-fred-singer-plus-tea-party-politics-with-george-rodriguez

ferdberple
March 5, 2014 6:38 am

Samuel C Cogar says:
March 5, 2014 at 6:28 am
The US hasn’t won a War since 45’ ….. if that give you a clue.
==========
The climate hasn’t changed in 16+ years. Best kind of war to fight, one that ended before you started fighting, and no enemy likely to shoot back.
Romney confirmed the sceptics’ worst fears when he described Russia as America’s “number one geopolitical foe.” Barack Obama lashed out with some adolescent sass: “The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because … the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.”
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100262116/ukraine-sarah-palin-and-mitt-romney-were-right-about-russia/

March 5, 2014 6:45 am

This Wrath-of-God winter in the Midwest and East is a heavy blow to the warmists. Most people compare weather to what they remember, so a repeat of 1979 is just what we skeptics need, unfortunately. Chicago has set the new record for most days at or below Zero F breaking a record set in 1885, that is right 1885, and is fast approaching the snowiest winter ever. They can try and say it is cold and snowy because of Global Warming but most will laugh in their faces…

Zek202
March 5, 2014 6:46 am

The CO2 level continues to rise and therefore according to the models we should see a continued record of new high temps not 4th highest or 2nd highest since whenever the starting point was designated. Ergo the models are not matching reality.
As far as the ice on the Great Lakes it is interesting to see that the arctic ice levels appear to be peaking below last year and below 2012 as well when the summer ice levels did reach a low. Last summer of course the area of arctic ice rebounded. This did not extend into an increase in arctic winter ice this year as you can see on the arctic ice pages Anthoney provides. Also there appears to be only so much cold air to go around as the DM artic temp graph shows a warmer temp plot than the last few years this winter. When the cold air moves south the arctic air warms also. This bulge of winter cold air was smacking into GB and Europe the last couple of years and they lucked out this year. ( because energy costs so much more there)

maccassar
March 5, 2014 6:58 am

Psalmon-
any research on how fast Lake Superior warmed up during the MWP? Any research on how much the Great Lakes ice cover decreased during the MWP?

March 5, 2014 7:09 am

Skies appear to be clearing from the north over Michigan; should be able to visually see all the lakes in another couple of hours:
http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/satellite/displaySat.php?region=DTW&itype=vis&size=large&endDate=20140305&endTime=-1&duration=2
Root website here: http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/satellite/
.

March 5, 2014 7:13 am

jaffa says March 5, 2014 at 5:25 am
This is entirely consistent with AGW theory and exactly as predicted by climate model runs. (please note – due to a backlog it is normal for the predictions to come after the actual event)

What is consistent – the onset of a new ice age? (/mild sarc)
(BTW I laughed when I first read your comment.)
.

March 5, 2014 7:25 am

steveninbrooklyn says March 4, 2014 at 8:42 pm
What are the chances of getting the record? How will that be spun by the Global Moroning folks?

It all depends on if the wind kicks up and literally ‘sweeps’ some of the thinner ice off the lake closer into shore … ppl not familiar with Lake Michigan ice formation may be thinking that ‘freeze over’ results in a smoothed, even surface, when in reality the shorelines see ice ‘packed’ in from the wind blowing (resulting in the term we used to describe it: ‘pack ice’).
A few weeks ago my Dad related how they were seeing 50 MPH gusts and I noticed at the time that Lk Mich had opened up some near the center part of the lake …
I speaking as a ‘veteran of the winter of 1978-1979’, having spent that winter right down on the lake at “Chalet on the Lake” (a small resort community) located on the shore of Lake Michigan, some miles south of St Joseph.
.

Tom J
March 5, 2014 7:29 am

I think global warming has made the Great Lakes less wet. They’re drier now. And I think, ’cause they’re less wet, they freeze over easier. The wetter the lake the harder it is to freeze.

March 5, 2014 7:35 am

it’s already march now but it’s still -30C with windchill!

Jeff Norman
March 5, 2014 8:10 am

We are switching over to Daylight Savings Time (DST) this Sunday. That should increase the solar influx to the lakes ====>

DougbyMany
March 5, 2014 8:32 am

http://greatlakesmapping.org/great_lake_stressors/5/decreased-winter-ice-cover
According to the Great Lakes Environmental Assessment and Mapping Project or GLEAMp, one of the main stressors The Great Lakes face as a result of Climate Change is a decrease in winter ice cover.
The mechanism is a bit surprising. If you read the second sentence:
“””Decreased winter ice cover
Winter ice in Lake Michigan
Changes in the extent and duration of winter ice cover may influence lake levels via water loss through evaporation. Loss of lice cover earlier in the spring can lead to higher water temperatures by affecting the onset of summer warming. Overall, the spatial extent of Great Lakes ice cover has decreased by 71% in the past 40 years.”””
It is actually the “loss of LICE cover in the early spring that can lead to higher water temperatures”
Who woulda guessed? I would have have put my money on Hiroshima bombs.
[The mods will refrain from re-correcting the source’s typo. 8<) Mod]

Resourceguy
March 5, 2014 8:52 am

Yes, that year 1979 keeps popping up. Add in the demise of the AMO cycle and upcoming solar slumber and that other year,1910, will be a more common comparison.

Mac the Knife
March 5, 2014 8:58 am

Hard winters are hard on everything. I spoke with my brother in central Wisconsin. The snow in the country is a couple of feet deep with crusty layers that do not support an adult humans weight…. or a deers weight. It makes it difficult for the deer to move around to find fresh browse on bushes (leaf buds and tender twigs) or to dig down through the snow to get to ground food sources. As a result, much of the northern tier US is likely to report significant winter kills in the deer herd this year.
He plans to spend the next few days using a tractor to get around the fence rows and wood lots on his mother-in-laws farm and a chainsaw to cut down smaller trees that encroach on the fields. This provides fresh browse for the deer and compacted tractor trails that let them move about to get to the food. It’s a job that has to be done anyway but doing it now provides fresh food for the critters at a critical time. After snow melt, the tree trunks are cut up for next winters firewood.

March 5, 2014 9:37 am

The ‘open hole’ in roughly the southern third of Lk Michigan is starting to be visible through the cloud cover as seen in this visible-light-image sat loop:
http://www.aviationweather.gov/adds/satellite/displaySat.php?region=DTW&isingle=multiple&itype=vis
Anything that is ‘clouds’ moves, if light-colored or white, it’s snow or ice, if dark it’s open water … note also the ‘cracks’ in various areas particularly in the northern quarter of Lk Michigan.
.

Bob Tatz
March 5, 2014 9:44 am

I looked for date of maximum ice in 1979… found details for 74-75 and 78-79
Great Lakes ice cover, winter 1974-75 / George A. Leshkevich,
Ann Arbor, Mich. : U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Research Laboratories, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 1976.
lots of graphs, images by month;
direct link to pdf :
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015004590058;view=1up;seq=1
Summary of Great Lakes weather and ice conditions, winter 1978-79 / B.H. DeWitt
Boulder, Colo. : U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Research Laboratories, [1980]
direct link to pdf :
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112075640398;view=1up;seq=5
Bob

highflight56433
March 5, 2014 9:45 am

Just looking at the graph, there are 20 years above average and 20 years below average (depending where the starting point is) Guess there is not any climate change in the area of the Great Lakes. 🙂

DD More
March 5, 2014 9:57 am

Gail Combs says: March 5, 2014 at 4:56 am
Russia wants the Ukraine because of the rich farmland. Unfortunately the country has a choice between the Russians and the IMF. One is as bad as the other IMHO.
Feb 24, 2014 Ukraine Issues Arrest Warrant for President
Ukraine’s acting government issued a warrant Monday for the arrest of President Viktor Yanukovych, last reportedly seen in the pro-Russian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, accusing him of mass crimes against protesters who stood up for months against his rule.

Have you heard of the “IMF’s four steps to damnation”
see – http://www.theguardian.com/business/2001/apr/29/business.mbas
They have a written plan for every country.
Vik Yanuk’s crimes may be from the protest groups own snipper, as per leaked phone call.
http://rt.com/news/ashton-maidan-snipers-estonia-946/
but nothing new.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/unknown-snipers-and-western-backed-regime-change/27904
But maybe Russia just wants the gas bill paid.
>>>Miller added that Ukraine managed to redeem only $10 million on Wednesday from a total debt of $1.529 billion. He said that Ukraine’s debt would rise by $440 million on March 7, a deadline for payments. In other words, as of this moment the Ukraine already owes Russia $2 billion, or about double what John Kerry announced to much fanfare, the US would provide the country with in terms of aid.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-05/ukraine-wont-pay-russia-gas-has-billions-obligations-due-europe-promises-aid-money-i

Jimbo
March 5, 2014 10:00 am

The doomed Scottish ski industry in the Nevis Range Ski Resort says it might stay open for SUMMER skiing after having so far received snow fall for 59 consecutive days.

…..The Nevis Range Ski Resort says Sunday was its busiest day on the slopes in the past 10 years…..The resort was not even able to operate all of its lifts at the weekend because some lifts are still buried under the unprecedented amounts of snow………unprecedented levels of snow and the forecast was for sunny spells and favourable winds…..
http://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/Sport/Other-Sport/Ski-into-summer-plan-as-Highland-snowsports-resort-breaks-record-18022014.htm

Dell from bitter cold Michigan
March 5, 2014 10:52 am

Being from here in Michigan and surrounded on 3 sides by these Great Lakes, and setting some record lows for the Month of March, I’m not surprized.
Here’s and interesting article I found from February 2012 predicting an ice age in 2014.
“Forecasters predict that a new ice age will begin soon. Habibullo Abdusamatov, a scientist from the Pulkovo Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences considers that the sharp drop in temperature will start on the Earth in 2014.”
“According to the scientist, our planet began to “get cold” in the 1990s. The new ice age will last at least two centuries, with its peak in 2055.”
http://russia-ic.com/news/show/13717

March 5, 2014 11:40 am

Mac the Knife says March 5, 2014 at 8:58 am
Hard winters are hard on everything. I spoke with my brother in central Wisconsin. The snow in the country is a couple of feet deep with crusty layers that do not support an adult humans weight…. or a deers weight. It makes it difficult for the deer to move around to find fresh browse on bushes (leaf buds and tender twigs) …

I recall seeing one or two (maybe more) deer who had been struck (car hit deer) along I-39 into central Wisconsin (up to Stevens Point) 3 or 4 ‘Falls’ ago … has the situation gotten any worse since the roads are ‘open’ and the open country side is not?
The deer seem rather ‘thick’ (plentiful?) and not so afraid of humans in the Kalamazoo MI area just a few years back; I stumbled upon a small ‘pack’ on an early morning walk one day down a less-traveled cul-de-sac just outside the city.
.

Frank K.
March 5, 2014 12:04 pm

Jeff Norman says:
March 5, 2014 at 8:10 am
“We are switching over to Daylight Savings Time (DST) this Sunday. That should increase the solar influx to the lakes ====>”
Yes!! Daylight Savings Time was one of the many brilliant ideas developed by our climate science geo-engineers to prevent “abnormal” winter lake ice accumulation. More daylight, more solar radiation! Brilliant!!
Next up – this summer, climate science geo-engineers will release a billion mirror finish rubber duckies into the Great Lakes in an attempt to cool the upper midwest…
\sarc

Resourceguy
March 5, 2014 12:34 pm

And to think it was global cooling that carved the great lakes to begin with.

March 5, 2014 12:49 pm

I just left Lake Ontario this morning… up there quite a bit until next winter on a big work project at a nuclear plant. It was awesome to see, but I really wish there WAS some global warming (at least until my project is done). This Mississippi boy isn’t designed for that kind of weather.
Reporting from Ice Station Zebra… 🙂

Francois
March 5, 2014 1:09 pm

You would think that we ought to know, find out or correlate what the root cause of this this sudden cold winter we had this year. We have all this great gathering of information around the world and satellite images and so on….we ought to be able to explain why this year we had such a cold winter, at least some of the contributing factors, and why such a long duration. I mean thre is lots of data but very little intelligence wrt to making sense of it all. I guess being a weather person is the only job where you can retain employment and be 50% wrong most of the time.

David
March 5, 2014 1:40 pm

Thin rotten ice just isn’t the same as the quality ice of yesteryear.

Brett Keane
March 5, 2014 2:01 pm

@Gail Combs:
Yes, indeed. As a semi-retired Aghort advisor, scientifically trained; ex farmer and commercial fisherman, it was open-growing watermelon ripening failures that started my longish study of climate and its physics. Growing degree days (GDD) etc. would tell the story. These tend to be kept by Agriculture Departments worldwide. What happens when farmers are deceived should discourage AGW massaging. Worth looking at, because though plants don’t tell the future, they have exquisite sense of the present and past. I hope to start on this over the NZ winter, as well as trying to devise some physics experiments in atmosphere thermodynamics and quantum effects. I take to heart the injunction that physics is not intuitive, one must do the experiments.
You may have more to add on the crop field, ripe and all as it is for puns? Brett Keane

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 2:31 pm

Francois says: @ March 5, 2014 at 1:09 pm
…. I guess being a weather person is the only job where you can retain employment and be 50% wrong most of the time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At the MET in the UK you can be 100% wrong all the time and receive the equivalent of a ‘Knighthood’ (for a female that is being made a ‘Dame’)

Bob Knows
March 5, 2014 3:20 pm

With all the “global warming” falsified data LIES that NOAA has been pushing the past few years this public release has no credibility. Liars are liars are liars. NOAA is a pack of liars.

Mac the Knife
March 5, 2014 3:39 pm

_Jim says:
March 5, 2014 at 11:40 am
RE: Road Kill Deer & Population in Wisconsin
_Jim,
The deer population is ‘down’ in Wisconsin, from a peak about 8 years ago. The state liberalized the hunting regs a few years back to allow taking more deer each hunting season. In many areas of the state, the ‘car killed deer per year’ total was equal to the ‘hunter killed deer per year’ total! In some counties, hunters had to kill a doe before they could shoot a buck. The increased harvest each year was slowly reducing the population. And the added venison in the freezer is enjoyed all winter long!
The last several hard winters, however, have had the greatest impacts. Deep snow and deep.persistent cold have cause winter starvation within deer herds in affected areas. When I was in Wisconsin during the week of Thanks Giving last November, I saw significantly few deer than previous years. That week of November, we had 4 inches of snow, the low temp of the week was 5F and the high was 31F.
Given the harsh conditions this winter, I expect additional attrition to the deer herd. Adding to that are an increased number of predators. Wolves have returned to parts of the state in such numbers that the state is allowing limited wolf hunting. More sightings of cougar and black bear are occurring as well. The deep snow makes the deer much more vulnerable to such predators… but I guess that’s still a better way to go than starvation. ‘Mother Nature’ can be a real bitch… but it’s all part of natural cycles as old as life itself, on this planet.
Mac

Gail Combs
March 5, 2014 3:41 pm

Brett Keane says: @ March 5, 2014 at 2:01 pm
@Gail Combs:
Yes, indeed. As a semi-retired Aghort advisor, scientifically trained; ex farmer and commercial fisherman, it was open-growing watermelon ripening failures that started my longish study of climate and its physics. Growing degree days (GDD) etc. would tell the story. These tend to be kept by Agriculture Departments worldwide. What happens when farmers are deceived should discourage AGW massaging…..
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Unfortunately “They” don’t care if we starve.

“In summary, we have record low grain inventories globally as we move into a new crop year. We have demand growing strongly. Which means that going forward even small crop failures are going to drive grain prices to record levels. As an investor, we continue to find these long term trends…very attractive.” Food shortfalls predicted: 2008 http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/dancy/2008/0104.html

Council on Foreign Relations: How Goldman Sachs Created the Food Crisis
Don’t blame American appetites, rising oil prices, or genetically modified crops for rising food prices. Wall Street’s at fault for the spiraling cost of food.
It took the brilliant minds of Goldman Sachs to realize the simple truth that nothing is more valuable than our daily bread. And where there’s value, there’s money to be made. In 1991, Goldman bankers, led by their prescient president Gary Cohn, came up with a new kind of investment product, a derivative that tracked 24 raw materials, from precious metals and energy to coffee, cocoa, cattle, corn, hogs, soy, and wheat. They weighted the investment value of each element, blended and commingled the parts into sums, then reduced what had been a complicated collection of real things into a mathematical formula that could be expressed as a single manifestation, to be known henceforth as the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI)…..

Janice Moore
March 5, 2014 3:54 pm

@ Gail — I think my tulip bouquet delivery on the recent Antarctic sea ice thread came after you’d left for the day… . In case you didn’t get to see it, and in case you come back here(!), here is the link to the post from me to you, with thanks:
Gail’s Bouquet
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/03/01/southern-sea-ice-area-minimum-2nd-highest-on-record/#comment-1581857
Janice

Steve Oregon
March 5, 2014 4:00 pm

Wind moves ice around.
http://www.surfgrandhaven.com/cms/grand-haven-news-stories-opinions/1497725-Ice—Now-You-See-Now-You-Dont.html
I’ve been here in the summer and the jet ski said the water temp was 76 degrees.
Waves like the ocean but it’s crystal clear fresh water.
Live:
http://surfgrandhaven.com/cms/
The inland lakes were in the 80s.

Richard Barraclough
March 5, 2014 4:10 pm

Jimbo says:
March 5, 2014 at 10:00 am
The doomed Scottish ski industry in the Nevis Range Ski Resort says it might stay open for SUMMER skiing after having so far received snow fall for 59 consecutive days.
Although this has nothing to do with cold weather. Each month of the UK winter was more than 1 degree C above average. All that rain which caused the prolonged floods over England fell as snow in the Scottish mountains.

Paul Westhaver
March 5, 2014 5:28 pm
@njsnowfan
March 5, 2014 6:36 pm

Thanks Anthony, I guess the time I posted it is why it took so long.
Hope make an update to this page tomorrow and keep same one running and open.
Thanks again.
Last standing lake, Ontario should be building new ice rather quickly now and tonight, other lakes having a cold and not so windy night. Rainbow WV loop shows the cold air well tonight is still around making more ice. http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/eaus/flash-rb.html
New record looks good to be set tomorrow as long as the winds no not kick up in the day.
stevesgoddard posted this link tonight of the Raw ice data from NOAA.
Great Lakes Average Ice Concentration
——————————————————————
Ice Concentration (%)
Year Day Sup. Mich. Huron Erie Ont. St.Clr GL Total
——————————————————————
2013 328 0.53 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.19
2013 329 0.13 0.00 0.48 0.01 0.45 1.15 0.20
2013 330 0.40 0.00 0.27 0.00 0.34 0.10 0.24
2013 331 0.42 0.04 0.28 0.01 0.51 1.22 0.27
2013 332 0.99 0.32 1.37 0.40 1.07 6.23 0.90
2013 333 1.41 0.57 2.15 0.73 0.96 11.06 1.34
2013 335 1.54 0.61 2.88 0.64 0.94 1.77 1.52
2013 336 0.89 0.56 2.01 0.36 0.61 0.83 1.01
2013 337 0.87 0.32 1.63 0.24 0.48 0.00 0.83
2013 338 0.81 0.24 1.32 0.33 0.41 0.00 0.72
2013 339 1.64 0.37 1.09 0.02 0.32 0.49 0.97
2013 340 0.97 1.15 1.32 0.01 0.25 0.70 0.95
2013 341 1.08 1.43 1.33 0.01 0.25 0.70 1.06
2013 342 1.20 1.76 0.91 0.01 0.24 0.70 1.07
2013 343 2.18 3.12 5.33 0.40 0.69 5.50 2.88
2013 344 2.85 4.26 8.57 0.73 0.85 15.70 4.24
2013 345 3.83 6.94 8.82 1.10 1.15 32.70 5.38
2013 346 4.07 7.08 14.23 10.51 2.79 94.50 8.03
2013 347 5.25 9.90 16.82 11.03 2.52 89.53 9.73
2013 348 5.27 10.58 19.25 12.63 2.05 94.50 10.60
2013 349 5.88 8.90 16.02 12.50 2.48 91.40 9.68
2013 350 6.01 13.48 20.46 18.78 6.71 89.32 12.71
2013 351 7.26 14.43 21.87 17.74 8.42 85.74 13.73
2013 352 4.15 13.10 20.03 15.11 8.18 85.29 11.59
2013 353 4.97 13.08 15.70 17.18 3.16 93.43 10.71
2013 354 6.73 12.51 16.83 15.48 2.85 89.37 11.30
2013 355 6.79 12.33 17.06 15.50 2.85 89.37 11.33
2013 356 7.10 12.33 12.87 10.61 2.82 89.53 9.99
2013 357 7.24 12.60 10.70 10.27 1.58 28.14 9.22
2013 358 5.70 13.24 14.27 9.69 1.41 69.80 9.75
2013 359 7.70 22.37 22.79 11.27 2.09 54.33 14.71
2013 361 5.20 16.95 23.32 19.16 1.96 92.07 13.58
2013 362 4.87 11.02 17.44 9.70 1.28 73.39 9.70
2013 364 4.58 11.62 19.80 8.98 3.26 73.83 10.38
2013 365 11.93 16.73 28.52 10.15 4.24 75.97 16.49
2014 001 13.99 18.67 31.75 24.72 6.19 92.17 20.02
2014 002 22.15 25.06 35.39 35.01 7.50 95.98 26.38
2014 003 30.24 31.53 44.14 55.69 20.54 94.31 35.77
2014 004 16.53 19.25 44.69 57.95 15.44 91.55 27.95
2014 005 18.02 18.17 29.76 39.72 11.14 93.43 22.67
2014 006 18.41 23.88 29.81 41.83 6.91 77.65 23.94
2014 007 23.64 30.56 38.17 61.55 13.53 97.38 31.76
2014 008 30.06 32.95 43.59 88.48 20.39 98.92 38.97
2014 009 33.65 36.23 45.22 90.63 19.12 97.85 41.52
2014 010 37.16 35.86 46.02 86.73 20.74 96.23 42.65
2014 011 29.33 24.69 48.06 90.40 23.73 97.93 38.33
2014 012 25.82 20.89 24.97 76.87 7.21 96.54 28.20
2014 013 14.59 12.68 19.86 62.98 5.90 95.55 19.63
2014 014 17.57 13.22 20.57 65.68 5.66 98.17 21.25
2014 015 25.86 15.60 21.15 60.42 5.47 98.23 24.45
2014 016 26.80 13.97 21.49 61.74 6.18 98.23 24.68
2014 017 26.72 14.10 24.35 58.45 6.12 96.70 25.05
2014 018 29.00 25.78 28.87 58.45 6.12 96.70 29.59
2014 019 29.00 25.78 31.94 86.15 6.60 96.70 32.95
2014 020 29.91 23.76 36.75 86.15 6.71 96.70 33.98
2014 021 52.71 32.89 69.16 94.44 24.09 98.63 54.16
2014 022 57.75 38.77 72.02 95.09 33.36 99.32 58.75
2014 023 57.21 37.80 75.77 94.89 42.92 99.32 59.91
2014 024 57.58 36.47 72.27 90.86 36.02 99.17 58.03
2014 025 39.56 24.99 50.72 88.47 21.54 99.11 42.43
2014 026 49.99 29.79 64.20 90.90 24.17 99.08 50.96
2014 027 52.74 33.50 64.85 90.94 21.41 99.17 52.75
2014 028 69.38 46.29 70.95 95.79 25.71 99.30 63.94
2014 029 73.11 43.05 69.24 95.39 24.27 99.28 64.02
2014 030 76.01 43.12 71.98 95.59 26.91 99.30 65.96
2014 031 69.07 36.87 65.14 90.93 20.81 99.17 59.51
2014 032 77.85 34.99 63.58 90.93 20.81 99.17 61.92
2014 033 81.92 40.78 66.39 91.90 12.72 99.48 64.88
2014 034 84.16 55.34 76.67 88.94 19.47 99.15 71.64
2014 035 91.68 56.35 84.59 92.63 30.73 99.32 77.68
2014 036 92.18 51.34 85.67 93.80 31.77 98.49 77.17
2014 037 93.50 54.52 88.91 94.19 38.22 98.43 79.66
2014 038 86.47 64.08 86.78 91.76 45.17 97.57 79.01
2014 039 86.39 61.42 85.04 91.80 45.17 97.57 77.97
2014 040 88.93 62.05 89.94 91.80 18.19 97.57 78.24
2014 041 88.94 66.06 90.39 91.80 34.02 99.17 80.42
2014 042 95.28 79.98 94.71 95.87 31.94 99.17 87.13
2014 043 94.59 82.34 95.47 95.77 43.41 99.34 88.42
2014 044 94.59 82.34 95.47 95.77 43.41 99.34 88.42
2014 045 87.12 65.35 91.65 91.71 37.81 97.83 80.15
2014 046 91.00 67.23 91.21 91.58 24.57 98.43 80.91
2014 047 91.03 70.74 92.27 90.96 17.97 98.43 81.42
2014 048 90.88 65.06 92.67 95.04 31.54 98.43 81.56
2014 049 95.12 72.58 94.53 94.10 32.68 98.59 85.24
2014 050 91.76 60.35 94.63 92.79 20.78 98.78 80.29
2014 051 90.86 59.31 92.74 95.84 16.99 98.78 79.29
2014 052 82.74 39.26 86.65 86.13 13.91 97.88 69.21
2014 053 85.47 37.79 76.01 83.09 12.99 94.94 66.97
2014 054 78.54 29.91 73.49 82.40 10.92 96.92 61.86
2014 055 88.71 41.52 83.89 78.00 11.11 94.61 70.26
2014 056 91.67 52.76 92.04 93.35 11.48 95.48 77.28
2014 057 95.44 53.07 94.14 95.28 16.48 98.68 79.79
2014 058 93.23 58.62 94.86 95.66 22.06 98.68 80.85
2014 059 91.16 85.50 92.53 91.70 24.42 99.08 85.40
2014 060 91.16 79.17 95.85 91.12 41.31 99.08 85.95
2014 061 95.49 90.48 94.66 95.19 45.39 99.28 90.48
2014 062 90.76 86.13 92.16 91.31 36.44 99.08 86.15
2014 063 95.29 92.45 95.94 95.83 43.03 99.23 91.04
2014 064 95.74 92.98 96.23 95.67 49.38 99.30 91.85
http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/webdata/cwops/webdata/statistic/dat/g2013_2014_ice.dat

Gaye
March 5, 2014 7:55 pm

Well, it all makes sense to me, sure is global warming eh… see
Niagara Falls comes to a frozen halt AGAIN as subfreezing… and as has been pointed out, many others… gee as CO2 is supposed to contribute to global warming, we are in grave danger as they take CO2 out of the air eh.. we sure will freeze.. well Al Gore and the likes as they have made trillions on all this while we freeze.. remember there is supposed to be no ice by 2014, all gone, finished for ever and ever, disaster set in, water will have filled islands and we were told that we should relocate all these poor people etc.. but oh perhaps they got their dates a bit wrong, but it does not matter they have made trillions for the UN to use.. all at our expense.. pushed by our governments, the greenies and the likes.. and we let them get away with it, they should have all their flash houses, cars, boats, holiday homes etc taken from them, everyone.. let them live on the streets.

NZ Willy
March 5, 2014 11:19 pm

The Lake Superior ice chart may be under-representing the ice:
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/sicecon-00.gif
because the two bits of water jutting out the top are shown as no-ice but are actually 100% ice.

RealOldOne2
March 6, 2014 12:16 am
Editor
March 6, 2014 5:06 am

Gaye says:
March 5, 2014 at 7:55 pm
> Niagara Falls comes to a frozen halt AGAIN as subfreezing…
I haven’t been there, but at waterfalls in New Hampshire, they just freeze over and plenty of water continues to fall behind the ice screen. It looks to me that’s what’s happened at Niagra.

@njsnowfan
March 6, 2014 6:49 am

Latest visible HD satellite loop Great Lakes
Looks like the E winds last night might of put hex on a new all time ice recors. Michigan is either black ice or open water. Ontaro froze some more but how much
http://mp1.met.psu.edu/~fxg1/SAT_NE/anim8vis.html

March 6, 2014 8:23 am

Told my wife yesterday, “I could drive over to the lakeshore and walk to Milwaukee. What an adventure that would be, walking across Lake Michigan!” It would make an interesting story to tell this summer… if I lived.

WestHighlander
March 7, 2014 4:10 pm

Francois says: @ March 5, 2014 at 1:09 pm
…. I guess being a weather person is the only job where you can retain employment and be 50% wrong most of the time.
Au contraire, mon ami — since it is already Spring Training aka the Grapefruit League in Baseball — I note that you can easily get into the “Hall of Fame” as a batter, for only being right about the pitcher 30% of the time [.300 batting average]
As an aside about Globally Warm Winters — here in Lexington MA we measure Blizzards relative to 1978 and total snowfalls relative to 1996-1997. Of-course we measure the year against 1816 when there was snow and frost in June; frost in July; and another killing frost in August. The year was 1816, — this period in New England was known as “The Year There Was No Summer” and “Eighteen Hundred and Froze To Death”
This year, while the winter has been cold and seemingly interminable, the only record broken was the number of my broken snow shovels [3 and counting} + one temporarily entombed in a snowbank — I expect to recover the latter intact however, by July when Spring finally releases us from Winters’s grasp.

Francois
Reply to  WestHighlander
March 7, 2014 4:35 pm

Well I thought baseball players also needed field the ball. Batting is just one aspect. Running, stealing, fielding, etc.,. So it does not compare.

CRS, DrPH
March 12, 2014 2:02 pm

Followup post….the extensive ice cover on Lake Michigan is blamed for a significant wildfowl die-off event. This is an interesting article: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-ice-on-lake-michigan-proving-fatal-to-waterfowl-20140312,0,133814.story