That is a question that I’m sure is on a lot of people’s minds as they wonder if they should attend. It seems like the sort of thing warmists would do – go someplace hot, talk about how hot it is, and then hope a new record is set while there to underscore the importance of saving the planet from hotter and hotter days. It’s a PR flack’s dream.
But, expectations and reality in the climate debate are often far different, and it is that difference that makes Las Vegas a perfect place to discuss temperature, climate, and global warming, as I show below. First, let’s look at the potential for new record highs during the days of the ICCC9 conference:
Here are the records for early July during the conference, it would have to exceed 114/113 to have a new record. The normal high is 104 for the dates of July 7/8/9:
As you can see there has been a warming trend in average temperature for Las Vegas, something sure to be pounced on:
But, it turns out that most of that trend is in overnight temperatures, which are most affected by the explosive growth of Las Vegas and the resultant UHI (1):
Inconveniently, there is no upward trend in maximum temperatures, in fact it appears there has been a slight downward trend since the late 1930’s and early 1940’s:
There also seems to be no increase in record high temperatures beyond the levels first noted when record keeping began in 1937, no new maximum temperature records have exceeded the 117 degree record set on July 24th, 1942 (2):
All in all, I think Las Vegas is PERFECT place to have a climate conference, because it shows that expectations of warming and the reality of data just don’t match.
I’ll be there and I’ll be giving a final report on our SurfaceStations project and what we’ve found. Registration is here is you want to attend: http://climateconference.heartland.org/
================================================================
References:
(1) Summary Report, Urban Heat Island Effect, City of Las Vegas, Office of Sustainability, April 2010
From: http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/UHI_Report_2010-2.pdf
(2) Source for data: NOAA/NWS Las Vegas, from
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/vef/climate/LasVegasClimateBook/index.php
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Simple.
Because Las Vegas is HOT (comprende?) and another sucker is footing the bill
Las Vegas is a great location for gambling with other peoples money.
No doubt the attendees other costs will also be paid for out of someone elses pocket.
Tez says:
No doubt the attendees other costs will also be paid for out of someone elses pocket.
Can you back that up?
You must think this is like the UN/IPCC, or one of the COP junkets.
Michael 2 says:
June 24, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Boulder, aka Hoover, Dam???
“Something that CAN be done during the day is take a tour of Bonneville dam. Allow plenty of time and I think you can obtain reservations or tickets in advance since the lines can be rather long. . . . . . ”
Since Bonneville Dam is about 40 east of Portland, Oregon, and about a thousand miles from Las Vegas, you certainly should “allow plenty of time”!!
However, if you are satisfied with just visiting Hoover Dam — that’s only about 30 miles or so from Las Vegas, and is quite worth the drive and the tour. . . . if for nothing else then to view the spectacular new bridge over the canyon about a quarter mile below the dam.
Definitely looks like UHI would be the main factor in warming trends across the world.
Meanwhile, Accuweather has a popular article proclaiming the warmest May ever in the temperature records. I think the hype surrounding the so-called climate crises is going to continue until we see a good burst of downward momentum on the temperatures (to make it impossible for even a logical person to to say the warmest anything on record without looking foolish).
And here’s the article in case anyone wants to take a whack at it (some of these results surprise me because there seems to be some mismatches from what I remember of the average May short-term temp. outlooks from WXmaps biased towards warmth).
http://www.accuweather.com/en/home-garden-articles/earth-you/highest-global-temps-on-record/29256730
They should focus the Conference around the UHI (Urban Heat Island) effect…
Vegas is obviously affected by it… but dummies on the Warmist side refuse to look beyond their Temp Chart in this case… “Nope, its getting hotter in Vegas …”
My handy smart phone says the highs for July 7/8/9 are expected to be 108/108/113. On the very generous assumption that any forecast that is 13 days out has a chance of being correct, it looks like July 9 might possibly tie for high temperature. I’m not making book on that, however.
Looking at the chart, I can’t help but ask, why the “normal lows” are substantially colder than the “record lows?”
dbstealey says:
June 24, 2014 at 1:06 pm
But it’s a dry heat
Yeah but you don’t stick your head in an oven either do you? ☺
Ben Wilson says: However, if you are satisfied with just visiting Hoover Dam …
Another reason to visit the dam is to pay homeage to Mr. Hoover, who, as president, authorized the building of the dam and who, as an engineer, had a hand in designing it. He also had a huge hand in the interstate Colorado River Compact (1922), which defined the state-by-state allocations of water from the Colorado River, and which gave the dam a purpose in maintaining the water allocations. So it was a no-brainer that the dam would be named after Hoover. However, Roosevelt’s liberals refused to recognize the name of the man whom they demonized to win the 1932 elections, so it wasn’t until 1947 that the name became official (after Republicans regained the House, but signed by Truman).
Mr. Hoover had a degree in Geology from Stanford, and is the last president to have direct knowledge and an active interest in science (although Truman read the daily weather map each morning, according to an article in Weatherwise at the time). He translated Georgius Agricola’s 1556 tome “De re metallica” from the Latin, something I doubt any president since could do.
The Bureau of Reclamation has some good stories about Hoover on their dam web site:
http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/service/index.html
About Hoover: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/History/articles/hhoover.html
About the dam’s name: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/History/articles/naming.html
Edit: “Here are the records for early July, it ↑ have to exceed 114/113 to have a new record.” would
Sandi says:
June 24, 2014 at 2:33 pm
…
Looking at the chart, I can’t help but ask, why the “normal lows” are substantially colder than the “record lows?”
Um, look at the record low minimums, not the maximums.
Life is much less confusing if you read ALL the words.
Blessed warmth. It’s a chilly 75 F here in Calgary today. I do miss the 90+ F temps of my old stomping grounds in southern Arizona.
Las Vegas makes up .0000006565% of the earth’s surface. (131.3 sq mi / 200,000,000sq mi) How can anyone pounce on a temperature change in such a tiny area when the debate is about global temperature? It would be disingenuous at best. Besides, we all know that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Including the temperature.
Nope, we locals don’t go outside much during the daytime in the Vegas summer. Nights are great, and anytime you’re not in the direct sunlight it’s comfortable, or it’s comfortable if you’re sitting in the shade poolside with a cool beverage in hand.
Why Vegas? Great facilities, great airport with a location convenient to the Strip and lots of things to do when you’re not attending to the conference. If you don’t like gambling, there’s plenty of things to do off-Strip, like visit Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, hike in the Valley of Fire or Red Rock Canyon or take a day-trip to the Grand Canyon.
Freedom Fest is in town July 9-12, too. (http://freedomfest.com/). Coincidence?
They’ve been watching old Futurama episodes. The one where Bender says, “I’m going to have my own (insert thing). With gambling and hookers. On second thought forget the gambling.”
Yes Anthony and I will be among the speakers. But look at this:
One of the most frequent posters on WattsUpWithThat is on the speakers list:
Willis Eschenbach
Climate researcher
Willis Eschenbach is a well-known independent climate researcher, posting regularly on two science blogs, ClimateAudit and Watts Up With That. His climate work has been cited in newspapers around the world, including The New York Times, the Guardian, the Australian Herald-Sun, and the London Telegraph. His motto is “Retire early … and often,” and he has worked at dozens of different trades. He worked as a consultant to the Peace Corps and the U.S. Agency for International Development on village-level use of renewable energy in more than 20 countries. He spent 17 of the past 25 years living and working (and surfing) on various islands in the South Pacific and currently resides in Northern California.
To see the full list of speakers go to:
http://climateconference.heartland.org/speakers/
Brian H says:
Um, look at the record low minimums, not the maximums.
Life is much less confusing if you read ALL the words.
Doh: Facepalm
Finally – a meeting where they will not suffer through an unseasonal snow or ice storm.
Perhaps someone could turn off the air-conditioning during the conference, just for a little reassurance.
https://maps.google.com/maps?oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari&um=1&ie=UTF-8&gl=us&daddr=Death+Valley+National+Park,+Death+Valley,+CA+92328&saddr=Las+Vegas,+NV&panel=1&f=d&fb=1&geocode=KdF99aSCt76AMaN5s9Xm1cw6;KUeKrnZ3S8eAMVSw8nt88MnM&dirflg=d&sa=X&ei=QAGqU_FJw4yoBtzAgugC&ved=0CC0Q-A8wAA
Meanwhile, 132 miles by car to the west stands the world’s high temperature record set 101 years ago this July 10, 2014. Last year, on the 100th anniversary, the National Weather Service reported “On July 10, 1913, a temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded here, which stands as the hottest air temperature ever recorded on a properly sited and maintained thermometer anywhere in the world.” When the conference ends, I propose a road trip.
Was looking at the Excalibur Hotel/Casino – the dates 7,8 & 9 rates are less than $40/night. – trouble is I remember (when I was at a PCB/SMT Printed Circuit Board/Surface Mount Technology trade show there) I woke up one morning, lifted my head and was staring at a slot machine. Probably had slept there for 5 or 6 hours… It was a tough day on the trade show floor. Beware of Las Vegas…
Was looking for something else but came across UHI study for Toronto dating back to 1840 and extrapolating backwards to 1778 America.
http://www.cmos.ca/CB/cb240103.pdf#page=15&zoom=auto,-198,523