By Joe Bastardi
New York City’s Central Park had highs of 91 and 90 on June 11 and 12.
Newark airport: 97,96
LaGuardia: 96,98
JFK: which is closest to the ocean, 95,93
What is going on here? How is it that directly in the heart of NYC, where it is coolest, and what does this tell us about “climate change.”
This is a map of NYC on the morning of the 13th. The heat wave is over. It’s cooler to the northwest and warmer to the southeast, as you would expect in an NW flow with a new air mass coming in.
So, after a night of cooling, it’s cooler in open areas away from the city.
So why was NYC so much cooler in the heat of the day?
TREES. Lots of trees. Central Park is comparatively untouched in terms of foliage compared to America 250 years ago. It’s built up all around there of course, but it does show how even a small area of woods and foliage can impact temperatures
There were no airports, of course, 250 years ago. I suspect the areas with airports were wooded. Well, they are not now. Quite the opposite. And this is what Anthony Watts discusses in his ideas on the “siting” of the thermometer. Surround them with concrete, chop down every tree around so there is nothing but sun beating down on what is nothing like it was, 50 years ago, never mind 250 years ago, and what do you think is going to happen?
Which is why the idea that trees make no difference (planting more, as I have been an advocate of, simply because I am an old greenie) is nonsense. If you are paranoid about CO2, and it seems a lot of younger people are with their so-called “climate anxiety,” trees not only are a cooling agent in extreme heat, but a great way to get rid of CO2. Many countries, many states, are net-CO2 sinks (they get rid of more than they emit) because of foliage. I mean, I don’t care about that aspect. I do care about the fact that in this hot shot, Central Park is proving my point about how the only man-made aspect of a heat wave like this, compared to 60 years ago, is all the areas we have chopped down.
Example: July 3, 1966
Central Park: 103
Newark: 105
La Guardia: 107
JFK: 104
First of all, that is truly hot and puts into perspective that a heat wave like this was putting our grid in peril, when it could not hold a candle to what happened in this example or others I can pull out. And we are in real trouble with a grid that can’t handle the increasing demand. While this is not the subject of this matter, Steve Goreham was speaking loudly about what was going on a few years ago with people who seemingly were oblivious to the threat this posed to our country, almost as if they wanted it to crash. It is getting attention now, but let’s hope it’s not too late. Three-to-five-day heat waves in the early part of summer should not threaten our grid, not because it’s getting so hot, but for other reasons. And my cynical self, after talking to Steve, makes me think it has not been an accident.
But it is this way. I had him on my ill-fated radio show a couple of years ago and was rattled when he was done.
But back to this problem.
If the foliage around NYC were the same as it was when America came to be, temperatures would not be as high. You can see the change in the last 60 years. The average difference was a bit over two degrees from the airports to the city. Now it’s close to five. The trees keep it cooler,
Now, suppose 60 years ago you had as many thermometers in wooded areas as you do in the open areas now. And you wanted to compute and average the high temperature within 25 miles of NYC. What do you think would happen if you had equal representation?
Is it man chopping down trees and pouring concrete? Yes.
Is it from increased CO2? No.
If you want to argue it is, then you must admit that the trees in Central Park are removing the CO2 that is making other places hotter.
Anyone on the major meteo media outlets addresses things like this, they will tell you 100 million people are in danger because of what is the kind of heat that should happen from time to time in the summer, but again, they do not show the bigger picture.
My point here is that many factors are at play in what one sees during any given weather event, let alone across the entire climate. If you believe that CO2 is the cause-of-all-evil person, then you have to admit that trees are its kryptonite — both getting rid of it and keeping it cooler.
Remember, in 1966, the song that dominated the charts as summer wore on was “Summer in the City.”
Opening line: Hot town, summer in the city.
And for good reason. When it got hot, it was truly hot. The heat threshold is lower today, and it likely has something to do with the shape we are in as Americans. The NWS has lowered its threshold, meaning what farmers put up with every day is now dangerous for the average American in their eyes.
You know, sometimes you have to take the advice of a good old-fashioned liberal rock ‘n’ roller, John Mellencamp, in “Minutes to Memories.”
“Suck it up, tough it out, and be the best you can.” Maybe that’s good advice for the next 250 years to move forward, weather, climate, or whatever.
And plant more trees. It’s good for the environment.
