Saturday, December 24, 2011
Platform Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico
Gulf Oil Spill Tracker
Report DetailsNRC Report ID: 998869
Incident Time: 2011-12-23 09:00:00
Nearest City: LA
Location: PLATFORM INCIDENT
Incident Type: PLATFORM
Material: OIL: CRUDE
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: TAYLOR ENERGY INC
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 28.933468, -88.969904 (Approximated from BlockCentroid)
Reported Sheen Size: 0.19 miles by 3 miles (area 363.64 acres)
Reported Spill Volume: 5 gallons
SkyTruth Minimum Estimate: 388.75 gallons
Report Description
CALLER IS REPORTING A SHEEN COMING FROM A DOWNED PLATFORM DUE TO HURRICANE IVAN.
Report DetailsNRC Report ID: 998869
Incident Time: 2011-12-23 09:00:00
Nearest City: LA
Location: PLATFORM INCIDENT
Incident Type: PLATFORM
Material: OIL: CRUDE
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: TAYLOR ENERGY INC
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 28.933468, -88.969904 (Approximated from BlockCentroid)
Reported Sheen Size: 0.19 miles by 3 miles (area 363.64 acres)
Reported Spill Volume: 5 gallons
SkyTruth Minimum Estimate: 388.75 gallons
Report Description
CALLER IS REPORTING A SHEEN COMING FROM A DOWNED PLATFORM DUE TO HURRICANE IVAN.
Links: Dust Bowlification, Extreme Drought & Temperatures, Runaway Climate Change
All links below were posted by Joe Romm on Climate Progress/Dec. 24, 2011
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threatening global food security
M.I.T. its 2009 analysis:
A New Record: 14 U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters in 2011
Masters: “The stunning extremes we witnessed [in 2010] gives me concern that our climate is showing the early signs of instability”
I wrote about a NOAA led paper, which found:
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threatening global food security
M.I.T. its 2009 analysis:
A New Record: 14 U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters in 2011
Masters: “The stunning extremes we witnessed [in 2010] gives me concern that our climate is showing the early signs of instability”
I wrote about a NOAA led paper, which found:
…the climate change that is taking place because of increases in carbon dioxide concentration is largely irreversible for 1,000 years after emissions stop…. Among illustrative irreversible impacts that should be expected if atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations increase from current levels near 385 parts per million by volume (ppmv) to a peak of 450-600 ppmv over the coming century are irreversible dry-season rainfall reductions in several regions comparable to those of the “dust bowl” era and inexorable sea level rise.Dust-Bowlification
- New study of Greenland under “more realistic forcings” concludes “collapse of the ice-sheet was found to occur between 400 and 560 ppm” of CO2
- Science: CO2 levels haven’t been this high for 15 million years, when it was 5° to 10°F warmer and seas were 75 to 120 feet higher “” “We have shown that this dramatic rise in sea level is associated with an increase in CO2 levels of about 100 ppm.”
- Nature Geoscience study: Oceans are acidifying 10 times faster today than 55 million years ago when a mass extinction of marine species occurred
- 2009 Nature Geoscience study concludes ocean dead zones “devoid of fish and seafood” are poised to expand and “remain for thousands of years”
- Hadley Center: Catastrophic 5-7°C warming by 2100 on current emissions path
- Our hellish future: Definitive NOAA-led report on U.S. climate impacts warns of scorching 9 to 11°F warming over most of inland U.S. by 2090 with Kansas above 90°F some 120 days a year — and that isn’t the worst case, it’s business as usual!“
- Royal Society special issue details ‘hellish vision’ of 7°F (4°C) world — which we may face in the 2060s!
- Science stunner — On our current emissions path, CO2 levels in 2100 will hit levels last seen when the Earth was 29°F (16°C) hotter.
- “Nature Publishes My Piece on Dust-Bowlification and the Grave Threat It Poses to Food Security
Friday, December 23, 2011
Climate Sensitivity Higher Than We Thought, Researchers Find
Climate Progress/Rolf Schuttenhelm reposted on Bits of Science/ Dec. 22, 2011
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Of course we would also like to know if an increase in organic aerosols leads to climate cooling, can we count on this aerosol increase to continue as we keep emitting ever more climate-warming greenhouse gases? The new study shows the chemical processes involved in the formations of SOAs favour higher temperatures. But as the aerosol precursor gases are a by-product of plant growth, let’s not ignore plants too live in ecosystems – and yesterday we learned ecosystems will change dramatically under continued climate change. So perhaps the answer is no, and this cooling is just as temporary as the thermal of the oceans, and warming will increase just about at the point where our planet’s many positive climate feedbacks from the ecological carbon cycle will start to pick up. Doesn’t this only confirm the theoretical nature of ‘climate senstivity’? At some point it will in fact be the icecaps, and indeed your backyard thermometer that will do a much better job at explaining what is going on…
Read the full article here.
---------------------------------
Of course we would also like to know if an increase in organic aerosols leads to climate cooling, can we count on this aerosol increase to continue as we keep emitting ever more climate-warming greenhouse gases? The new study shows the chemical processes involved in the formations of SOAs favour higher temperatures. But as the aerosol precursor gases are a by-product of plant growth, let’s not ignore plants too live in ecosystems – and yesterday we learned ecosystems will change dramatically under continued climate change. So perhaps the answer is no, and this cooling is just as temporary as the thermal of the oceans, and warming will increase just about at the point where our planet’s many positive climate feedbacks from the ecological carbon cycle will start to pick up. Doesn’t this only confirm the theoretical nature of ‘climate senstivity’? At some point it will in fact be the icecaps, and indeed your backyard thermometer that will do a much better job at explaining what is going on…
Read the full article here.
Shell Responsible for Massive Oil Spill in Nigeria - Arctic is next
Pandango: This is so tragic in so many ways. It has to stop. Sky Truth was on this story when it happened two days ago.
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Think Progress/Stephen Lacey/Dec 23,2011
An oil spill near the coast of Nigeria is likely the worst to hit those waters in a decade, a government official said Thursday, as slicks from the Royal Dutch Shell PLC spill approached the country’s southern shoreline.
The slick from Shell’s Bonga field has affected 115 miles (185 kilometers) of ocean near Nigeria’s coast, Peter Idabor, who leads the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, told The Associated Press. Idabor said the slick continued to move toward the shore Thursday night, putting at risk birds, fish and other wildlife in the area.
Read more here.
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Think Progress/Stephen Lacey/Dec 23,2011
An oil spill near the coast of Nigeria is likely the worst to hit those waters in a decade, a government official said Thursday, as slicks from the Royal Dutch Shell PLC spill approached the country’s southern shoreline.
The slick from Shell’s Bonga field has affected 115 miles (185 kilometers) of ocean near Nigeria’s coast, Peter Idabor, who leads the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, told The Associated Press. Idabor said the slick continued to move toward the shore Thursday night, putting at risk birds, fish and other wildlife in the area.
Read more here.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Tricks to Deceive and Brainwash
Below are methods used to deceive and brainwash individuals and societies:
1. Limit education: Masses that are uninformed, illiterate and uneducated are easily deceived.
2. Limit information: Either limit the information altogether or limit the information to a particular type i.e. make only conservative or liberal radio available in certain regions of the country. Information being pushed needs to be reinforced in the circles that the people you want to manipulate often attend i.e. churches, schools, certain radio stations or news networks. People rarely ever check facts. If the information is said by someone people trust, then that is all that is needed for people to believe.
3. Push Fundamentalist Evangelical Religion: These people grow up to be nieve and innocent and are easily manipulated by people they believe have their best interest at heart when the opposite is actually true. Tend to be faith-based value voters. Morality issues are easily swept to the side and cost nothing to a business or politician. Easy to fake being religious and easy to push value concepts without following through. Evangelical fundamentalist are some of the most easy to deceive. Christian schools that are anti-science breed students ignorant in the laws of nature which did not matter in the Middle Ages, but is of huge consequence today. They are the next generation defenders of fossil fuels.
4. Concept must be reinforced within society itself: If everybody believes it then peer-pressure is a powerful force that keeps everybody else in line. Families must teach it, schools must reinforce it, churches must preach it, news must echo it, politicians must affirm it. Repeat information over and over. Doesn't have to be true- just say that it's true.
5. Keep people distracted: With their jobs; with their families; with sports; with events; just keep the people busy. Busy people don't keep up with current events or politics. Political incumbents are difficult to beat in an election because they have name recognition. If all seems well then the politician must be doing an okay job. Nobody really keeps up with what's going on.
6. Keep it short and simple: If the information gets too complicated then people tune out. Make it short and simple. Use words that resonate with the crowd you want to manipulate. Use focus groups to figure out which words resonate best with your target audience. Say and use those words over and over again.
7. Make people concerned about their financial future: Money is of the highest attainment in our society. We believe that happiness is bought whether we actually realize it or not. The majority of people are overly concerned about their money. That is a good thing. Keep it that way. As long as people are concerned about their money, they will give other issues less focus. Keep retirement, debt, investments, banking, recession, and depression a constant talking point. If the U.S. is doing ok, then focus on another countries debt problems and say that we are inexplicably tied to them also. If they fail, then we fail too. Why else do you think the Republicans are focusing so much on trying to make Obama an economic failure? Presidents are rarely re-elected when the economy is bad.
8. Demonize: Hate is a big factor in energizing a base of voters, and encouraging them to get to the polls. If there seems to be a lot of anger in one political party, it is done on purpose. Frenzied and angry people are more likely to vote.
9. Keep people afraid, uncertain and doubting: Tie an issue to fear, uncertainty and doubt and the people will believe. Example: Loss of oil will destroy our energy supply and threaten our national security. Example: OWS supporters will take you out of your homes and kill you. Example: They will be known as the party that killed medicare or social security or ______________ (you fill in the blank). Example: Scientist are still uncertain about global warming. All of these examples are false, but are used to deceive and brainwash.
10. Become larger than life: Make people appreciate and adore you OR some status quo policy like oil and fossil fuels. Have others talk about you in glowing terms. Make it seem like it would be impossible to exist without you.
11. Become an expert at game theory or hire someone who is: Game theory helps you plan out the best strategy. Whether you realize it or not - life is a game and is being played at every waking moment. Knowing the next best move will give you an edge over your opponent.
1. Limit education: Masses that are uninformed, illiterate and uneducated are easily deceived.
2. Limit information: Either limit the information altogether or limit the information to a particular type i.e. make only conservative or liberal radio available in certain regions of the country. Information being pushed needs to be reinforced in the circles that the people you want to manipulate often attend i.e. churches, schools, certain radio stations or news networks. People rarely ever check facts. If the information is said by someone people trust, then that is all that is needed for people to believe.
3. Push Fundamentalist Evangelical Religion: These people grow up to be nieve and innocent and are easily manipulated by people they believe have their best interest at heart when the opposite is actually true. Tend to be faith-based value voters. Morality issues are easily swept to the side and cost nothing to a business or politician. Easy to fake being religious and easy to push value concepts without following through. Evangelical fundamentalist are some of the most easy to deceive. Christian schools that are anti-science breed students ignorant in the laws of nature which did not matter in the Middle Ages, but is of huge consequence today. They are the next generation defenders of fossil fuels.
4. Concept must be reinforced within society itself: If everybody believes it then peer-pressure is a powerful force that keeps everybody else in line. Families must teach it, schools must reinforce it, churches must preach it, news must echo it, politicians must affirm it. Repeat information over and over. Doesn't have to be true- just say that it's true.
5. Keep people distracted: With their jobs; with their families; with sports; with events; just keep the people busy. Busy people don't keep up with current events or politics. Political incumbents are difficult to beat in an election because they have name recognition. If all seems well then the politician must be doing an okay job. Nobody really keeps up with what's going on.
6. Keep it short and simple: If the information gets too complicated then people tune out. Make it short and simple. Use words that resonate with the crowd you want to manipulate. Use focus groups to figure out which words resonate best with your target audience. Say and use those words over and over again.
7. Make people concerned about their financial future: Money is of the highest attainment in our society. We believe that happiness is bought whether we actually realize it or not. The majority of people are overly concerned about their money. That is a good thing. Keep it that way. As long as people are concerned about their money, they will give other issues less focus. Keep retirement, debt, investments, banking, recession, and depression a constant talking point. If the U.S. is doing ok, then focus on another countries debt problems and say that we are inexplicably tied to them also. If they fail, then we fail too. Why else do you think the Republicans are focusing so much on trying to make Obama an economic failure? Presidents are rarely re-elected when the economy is bad.
8. Demonize: Hate is a big factor in energizing a base of voters, and encouraging them to get to the polls. If there seems to be a lot of anger in one political party, it is done on purpose. Frenzied and angry people are more likely to vote.
9. Keep people afraid, uncertain and doubting: Tie an issue to fear, uncertainty and doubt and the people will believe. Example: Loss of oil will destroy our energy supply and threaten our national security. Example: OWS supporters will take you out of your homes and kill you. Example: They will be known as the party that killed medicare or social security or ______________ (you fill in the blank). Example: Scientist are still uncertain about global warming. All of these examples are false, but are used to deceive and brainwash.
10. Become larger than life: Make people appreciate and adore you OR some status quo policy like oil and fossil fuels. Have others talk about you in glowing terms. Make it seem like it would be impossible to exist without you.
11. Become an expert at game theory or hire someone who is: Game theory helps you plan out the best strategy. Whether you realize it or not - life is a game and is being played at every waking moment. Knowing the next best move will give you an edge over your opponent.
Rachel Maddow Discusses Why Obama Hates Christmas...Or Does He?
Pandango: Palin gets the big middle finger from me on this one.
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Watch the video here.
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Watch the video here.
Rachel Maddow Discusses EPA's Decision to Regulate Harmful Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants
Pandango: The EPA has announced regulations to reduce harmful emissions like mercury pollution from coal and oil-fired power plants. These emissions have never before been regulated by the government, even though their harmful effects on people and the environment are well known. Her discussion on this issues starts at 2:52 into the video.
----------------------------------
Watch the video here.
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Watch the video here.
What is Global Warming?
National Resources Defense Council/2005
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Global Warming Basics
What it is, how it's caused, and what needs to be done to stop it.
Tipping Point (Climatology)
Wikipedia: Tipping Point (Climatology)
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"A climate tipping point is a somewhat ill-defined concept, of a point when global climate changes from one stable state to another stable state, in a similar manner to a wine glass tipping over. After the tipping point has been passed, a transition to a new state occurs. The tipping event may be irreversible, comparable to wine spilling from the glass: standing up the glass will not put the wine back."
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"A climate tipping point is a somewhat ill-defined concept, of a point when global climate changes from one stable state to another stable state, in a similar manner to a wine glass tipping over. After the tipping point has been passed, a transition to a new state occurs. The tipping event may be irreversible, comparable to wine spilling from the glass: standing up the glass will not put the wine back."
Estimated 7,560 Gallons of Base Oil Leaked from Appomattox Well #5 near Louisiana
Gulf Oil Spill Tracker/Dec. 18, 2011
Report DetailsNRC Report ID: 998417
Incident Time: 2011-12-18 09:30:00
Nearest City: LA
Location: APPOMATTOX WELL #5, SIDE-TRACK 001 LAT: 28N 38' 03.939" LONG: 87W 58' 55.743"
Incident Type: VESSEL
Material: BASE OIL MIXED WITH SYNTHETIC BASED MUD
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: SHELL INTERNATIONAL
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 28.634428, -87.982151 (Explicit)
Reported Spill Volume: 7560 gallons
Report Description
CALLER IS REPORTING A DISCHARGE OF BASE OIL MIXED WITH SYNTHETIC BASED MUD FROM A MARINE RISER CONNECTED TO A VESSEL DUE TO A LEAK IN THE BOOST LINE.
Report DetailsNRC Report ID: 998417
Incident Time: 2011-12-18 09:30:00
Nearest City: LA
Location: APPOMATTOX WELL #5, SIDE-TRACK 001 LAT: 28N 38' 03.939" LONG: 87W 58' 55.743"
Incident Type: VESSEL
Material: BASE OIL MIXED WITH SYNTHETIC BASED MUD
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: SHELL INTERNATIONAL
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 28.634428, -87.982151 (Explicit)
Reported Spill Volume: 7560 gallons
Report Description
CALLER IS REPORTING A DISCHARGE OF BASE OIL MIXED WITH SYNTHETIC BASED MUD FROM A MARINE RISER CONNECTED TO A VESSEL DUE TO A LEAK IN THE BOOST LINE.
Crude Oil Spill in Gulf Of Mexico
Pandango: Don't believe those ass-wipes when they tell you that their oil pipelines and oil platforms are safe and that there are never any spills. Just because the media doesn't report it, doesn't mean spills don't happen. Spills happen all the time.
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Gulf Oil Spill Tracker/Dec 21, 2011
Report DetailsNRC Report ID: 998598
Incident Time: 2011-12-20 09:00:00
Nearest City: LA
Location: PLATFORM INCIDENT GULF OF MEXICO
Incident Type: PLATFORM
Material: OIL: CRUDE
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: TAYLOR ENERGY
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 28.936111, -88.968889 (Explicit)
Reported Sheen Size: 0.19 miles by 4.2 miles (area 509.09 acres)
Reported Spill Volume: 9 gallons
SkyTruth Minimum Estimate: 544.25 gallons
Report Description
CALLER STATED AN OVERFLIGHT DISCOVERED A SPILL COMING FROM A PLATFORM THAT WAS DAMAGED BY HURRICANE IVAN.
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Gulf Oil Spill Tracker/Dec 21, 2011
Report DetailsNRC Report ID: 998598
Incident Time: 2011-12-20 09:00:00
Nearest City: LA
Location: PLATFORM INCIDENT GULF OF MEXICO
Incident Type: PLATFORM
Material: OIL: CRUDE
Medium Affected: WATER
Suspected Responsible Party: TAYLOR ENERGY
SkyTruth Analysis
Lat/Long: 28.936111, -88.968889 (Explicit)
Reported Sheen Size: 0.19 miles by 4.2 miles (area 509.09 acres)
Reported Spill Volume: 9 gallons
SkyTruth Minimum Estimate: 544.25 gallons
Report Description
CALLER STATED AN OVERFLIGHT DISCOVERED A SPILL COMING FROM A PLATFORM THAT WAS DAMAGED BY HURRICANE IVAN.
Shell reports Up to 1.7 MIllion Gallon Oil Spill in off Nigerian Coast
Pandango: Sorry, but those people deserve better. We have our high standard of living because of fossil fuels, not realizing what the extreme cost is to people we never hear about on the other side of the planet.
Some might say, "Better them than me!"
I don't think so mother fucker. We are all the same. They deserve better...
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Sky Truth/December 21, 2011
Royal Dutch Shell's Nigerian drilling operations in the highly productive Bonga Field were officially brought to a halt yesterday after "less than 40,000 barrels of oil" (1.7 million gallons) were reportedly leaked during a transfer of crude to a tanker. We've just processed a radar satellite image taken this morning (December 21, 2011) of the field, with the spill clearly visible. Here it is showing the slick outlined in yellow; it is about 70 km (45 miles) long, 17 km (10 miles) wide at it's widest, and covers 923 square kilometers (356 square miles) of ocean:
Read the full article and view the satellite images here.
Some might say, "Better them than me!"
I don't think so mother fucker. We are all the same. They deserve better...
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Sky Truth/December 21, 2011
Royal Dutch Shell's Nigerian drilling operations in the highly productive Bonga Field were officially brought to a halt yesterday after "less than 40,000 barrels of oil" (1.7 million gallons) were reportedly leaked during a transfer of crude to a tanker. We've just processed a radar satellite image taken this morning (December 21, 2011) of the field, with the spill clearly visible. Here it is showing the slick outlined in yellow; it is about 70 km (45 miles) long, 17 km (10 miles) wide at it's widest, and covers 923 square kilometers (356 square miles) of ocean:
Read the full article and view the satellite images here.
Heartland Institutes Latest Climate Related Media Advisory Filled with the Usual Distortions
Pandango: If you're interested in knowing more about the Heartland Institute, then you'll enjoy reading the article below.
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Scholars and Rogues/Oct. 21, 2011
"The Heartland Institute has a history of distorting peer-reviewed papers, lying in newspaper editorials and Institute blogs, and claiming extensive scientific expertise where little actually exists with respect to climate science and the reality of human-driven climate disruption. Given this history, the distortions in the Heartland Institute’s latest media advisory regarding the results of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (BEST) project are only to be expected."
To read the full article click here.
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Scholars and Rogues/Oct. 21, 2011
"The Heartland Institute has a history of distorting peer-reviewed papers, lying in newspaper editorials and Institute blogs, and claiming extensive scientific expertise where little actually exists with respect to climate science and the reality of human-driven climate disruption. Given this history, the distortions in the Heartland Institute’s latest media advisory regarding the results of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (BEST) project are only to be expected."
To read the full article click here.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Game Theory: Losing the Game of Climate Change.
Pandango: It doesn't matter how you roll the dice, there are no winning numbers. This article is from 2009, but it doesn't matter, it's still relevant today. We are repeating history - Copenhagen and Durban are the same - just different places, but with the same results. It's a game of futility.
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Nature/2009
"...But what makes climate change so complex a problem? One contributing factor is that emissions disperse quickly throughout the atmosphere. If one country cuts their greenhouse gas emissions, this benefit gets shared across billions of people. But suppose there's a country — call it Slackistan — that is emitting loads of carbon dioxide, and doesn't want to cut back. If Slackistan can somehow convince all the other countries to take action, but do nothing itself, it gets all of the benefits of a cooler climate with none of effort. In game theory lingo, that's called free riding."
Read the full article here.
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Nature/2009
"...But what makes climate change so complex a problem? One contributing factor is that emissions disperse quickly throughout the atmosphere. If one country cuts their greenhouse gas emissions, this benefit gets shared across billions of people. But suppose there's a country — call it Slackistan — that is emitting loads of carbon dioxide, and doesn't want to cut back. If Slackistan can somehow convince all the other countries to take action, but do nothing itself, it gets all of the benefits of a cooler climate with none of effort. In game theory lingo, that's called free riding."
Read the full article here.
The Rise and Fall of Climate Change Denial
Forbes.com/Peter Gleick
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"Climate change denial is ultimately doomed to whither from natural causes, overwhelmed by the science and reality of climate change, the compelling observational evidence from every corner of the planet (OK, trolls, I know the planet doesn’t have “corners” in the flat Earth sense), and the increasing severity of extreme weather events influenced by climate change. I don’t mean to suggest that climate denial will disappear. It never will..."
Read full article here.
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"Climate change denial is ultimately doomed to whither from natural causes, overwhelmed by the science and reality of climate change, the compelling observational evidence from every corner of the planet (OK, trolls, I know the planet doesn’t have “corners” in the flat Earth sense), and the increasing severity of extreme weather events influenced by climate change. I don’t mean to suggest that climate denial will disappear. It never will..."
Read full article here.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Climate Abyss
Climate Abyss is a blog by John Nielsen-Gammon that discusses weather and climate issues. The issues discussed can be pretty technical. So technical in fact, that you might fall asleep trying to wade your way through his articles, but if you want to really try and understand climate, this might be a good website for you.
I immediately took a liking to his website when I read one of his articles entitled - Idiots. Hehe. Now that was an entertaining read...
I immediately took a liking to his website when I read one of his articles entitled - Idiots. Hehe. Now that was an entertaining read...
Researching the Texas Drought
Pandango: Information on everything you would want to know about the drought that has impacted Texas can be found at the link below...
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Office of the Texas State Climatologist Reports:
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Office of the Texas State Climatologist Reports:
River of Blood Flows in China
by Jacob Sloan at Disinfo.com
The Jian River in Luoyang, China had become a “river of blood”…Locals were subject to the water’s eerie, blood-like color for several days before government officials tracked the source of the color not to a Moses-like End Times but to two small chemical plants.
Read the full story here
The Jian River in Luoyang, China had become a “river of blood”…Locals were subject to the water’s eerie, blood-like color for several days before government officials tracked the source of the color not to a Moses-like End Times but to two small chemical plants.
Read the full story here
Denialist Talking Points from Republicans
Oh, just what are the mindless puppet politicians saying about climate change now? Well, let's see...
* Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) stated that while he accepts that 2010 was one of the warmest years in the last decade, “I do not say that it is man-made.” Pandango says: Fred Fred we'll end up dead if the people keep listening to you. It is man-made aka anthropogenic. You must come from the moronogenic species - heavy emphasis on moron...
*Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX) stated that “the science is not settled and the science is actually going the other way.” Pandango says: Joe - you blow - hot air. The science is settled.
*Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, called on Al Gore to “come clean about the real science surrounding climate change and let the American people come to their own conclusions on global warming.” Pandango says: It's not about Al Gore. He's not a scientist. The real scientists have sent out the true message. Your Exxon boy's keep drowning out the message with their junk science shit-kit.
*Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and the
Economy, rejected the dire warnings of climate scientists and said the Earth “will end only God declares it is time to be over. Man will not destroy this earth. This earth will not be destroyed by a flood.” Pandango says: About 90-99% of life has become extinct since life began on this planet. You screw with Mother Nature you're gonna get burned.
*Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK), vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, stated, “I don’t think anyone could come to any conclusion whether it is real or not. Until we can see sound science that’s truthful, I don’t think anyone can make a decision based on that.” Pandango says: The debate is over. If you don't think the climate science is sound, then you must either watch Fox News, or your scientist is this boy's school teacher...
*Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) stated that “no one knows” whether man is responsible for climate change. He said it is “just the height of chutzpah for us to be claiming that man-made effects can change something as profound as the climate on this planet. The climate has changed over eons. Man has had nothing to do with it.” Pandango says: Your a "chutzpah"...Sorry friendo, we are causing climate change.
*Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told reporters that she does not believe that the science
behind climate change is “settled.” Pandango says: The science is settled and you're a fraud.
*Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) stated that “anthropogenic global warming is still an issue
that the scientists are still debating.” Pandango says: The science is settled. Only thing unsettling is your views on climate change.
*Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) called it “reckless” to cut greenhouse gas emissions “in order to address a scientific theory — man-made global warming — that many scientists do not even believe is happening. Pandango says: You have lost touch with reality. Exxon oil fumes have penetrated your brain making you a witless zombie. Most scientists do believe this is happening.
*Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) admitted that the climate is changing but said that he does not “believe humans are causing that change to the extent that’s been in the news.” Pandango says Fox News rots your brain. Besides, why are you taking the news's word for it? Talk to a legitimate scientist for C's sake. The climate is changing dangerously and maybe uncontrollably.
*Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said that the cause of climate change “could just be a shift on the axis.”
Pandango says your axis has shifted and caused you to lose touch with reality. You've been hanging out too much with the Waterboy's mama. Just cause "Mama says" doesn't mean it's so. Happiness doesn't come from little rays of sunshine and climate change isn't happening because of the Earth's tilt on its axis...
These are the politicians that need to be voted out ASAP. These legislators are a political disaster of epic proportions. They are bought and paid for by big oil and big polluters. Their break with reality has caused them to lose consciousness and spout utter nonsense. Their time in Washington should only last until their term is up - hopefully in 2012...
Thanks to Daily Kos for the quotes...
* Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) stated that while he accepts that 2010 was one of the warmest years in the last decade, “I do not say that it is man-made.” Pandango says: Fred Fred we'll end up dead if the people keep listening to you. It is man-made aka anthropogenic. You must come from the moronogenic species - heavy emphasis on moron...
*Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX) stated that “the science is not settled and the science is actually going the other way.” Pandango says: Joe - you blow - hot air. The science is settled.
*Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, called on Al Gore to “come clean about the real science surrounding climate change and let the American people come to their own conclusions on global warming.” Pandango says: It's not about Al Gore. He's not a scientist. The real scientists have sent out the true message. Your Exxon boy's keep drowning out the message with their junk science shit-kit.
*Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and the
Economy, rejected the dire warnings of climate scientists and said the Earth “will end only God declares it is time to be over. Man will not destroy this earth. This earth will not be destroyed by a flood.” Pandango says: About 90-99% of life has become extinct since life began on this planet. You screw with Mother Nature you're gonna get burned.
*Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK), vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, stated, “I don’t think anyone could come to any conclusion whether it is real or not. Until we can see sound science that’s truthful, I don’t think anyone can make a decision based on that.” Pandango says: The debate is over. If you don't think the climate science is sound, then you must either watch Fox News, or your scientist is this boy's school teacher...
*Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) stated that “no one knows” whether man is responsible for climate change. He said it is “just the height of chutzpah for us to be claiming that man-made effects can change something as profound as the climate on this planet. The climate has changed over eons. Man has had nothing to do with it.” Pandango says: Your a "chutzpah"...Sorry friendo, we are causing climate change.
*Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told reporters that she does not believe that the science
behind climate change is “settled.” Pandango says: The science is settled and you're a fraud.
*Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) stated that “anthropogenic global warming is still an issue
that the scientists are still debating.” Pandango says: The science is settled. Only thing unsettling is your views on climate change.
*Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) called it “reckless” to cut greenhouse gas emissions “in order to address a scientific theory — man-made global warming — that many scientists do not even believe is happening. Pandango says: You have lost touch with reality. Exxon oil fumes have penetrated your brain making you a witless zombie. Most scientists do believe this is happening.
*Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) admitted that the climate is changing but said that he does not “believe humans are causing that change to the extent that’s been in the news.” Pandango says Fox News rots your brain. Besides, why are you taking the news's word for it? Talk to a legitimate scientist for C's sake. The climate is changing dangerously and maybe uncontrollably.
*Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said that the cause of climate change “could just be a shift on the axis.”
Pandango says your axis has shifted and caused you to lose touch with reality. You've been hanging out too much with the Waterboy's mama. Just cause "Mama says" doesn't mean it's so. Happiness doesn't come from little rays of sunshine and climate change isn't happening because of the Earth's tilt on its axis...
These are the politicians that need to be voted out ASAP. These legislators are a political disaster of epic proportions. They are bought and paid for by big oil and big polluters. Their break with reality has caused them to lose consciousness and spout utter nonsense. Their time in Washington should only last until their term is up - hopefully in 2012...
Thanks to Daily Kos for the quotes...
Record Profits for ExxonMobil - Forever
Pandango: ExxonMobil Corp. announces record profits of $10.71 billion for the fourth quarter and $36.13 billion for the year. Sounds like a great a year for Exxon in 2011 doesn't it? Well, you'd be wrong. This is an article from 2006.
The more things change the more they stay the same. Going back in time and reading articles like these helps me understand that things really are not changing for the big oil companies. They might bitch and complain that they need our taxpayer subsidies and bemoan how it's becoming more and more difficult to find oil that is easily accessible, but when you look at their profits, they are still chugging along quite happily.
October 27, 2011 article on CNNMoney website has this headline: ExxonMobil Profit Soars 41%. Oh, okay. Hell, gas prices are expensive right now but...so guess what, that's exactly why Exxon turned over such a good quarterly profit, because gas prices have been so much higher. What was their profit? $10.3 billion. Oh, shit. Things really don't change much do they?
Here's an article from January 31, 2011 about Exxon's profits. The article is again from the CNNMoney website headlined: ExxonMobil Posts 53% Jump in Profit. Well shit a brick, what was their profit? $9.25 billion. Holy hell...
Let's go back in time again. Here's an article from October 30, 2008. The article is again from (you guessed it) CNNMoney headline: Exxon Mobil Biggest Profit in History. What was their profit this time? $14.8 billion...
This isn't just about Exxon making a shit-load of money. It's about how they drive politics and drive our future. They lobby our politicians for what is best for their company and for their shareholders. It's about how they profit from high gas prices year in and year out without giving us alternatives to go to another source of energy that's a little cleaner and a little nicer for the environment. I say they don't give us alternatives because they lobby for themselves. Their lobby groups are numerous and powerful. They single handily control our infrastructure by controlling the politics of our infrastructure in Washington. They want to make sure that we will drive cars on fossil fuels for forever, or at least until every ounce of oil has been used. I don't want to buy their fucking gas, but sometimes I have to. I don't want to drive a dirty car that burns fossil fuels, but I have to. They are stopping progress to prop up status quo. It's about how they shit on our world with their oil spills. It's about how they fund disinformation about global warming and buy politicians and scientists to echo their lies so they can continue to rake in these obscene profits. Right now, the majority of the U.S. public believes in science that has been cleverly pushed by Exxon, not by NASA or NOAA or any other reputable climate scientist. They tell us, without us realizing it, what the science really says... and their science is a big fucking Pinocchio liar liar pants on fire.
Making money is okay, but when you do it at the expense and health of the people and our environment to the extent that Exxon has, then you're a fucking psycho. Exxon is psychotic. They are out of touch with reality. Their reality is record profits at the expense and detriment of just about everybody on this planet - except them - they're doing fine.
The more things change the more they stay the same. Going back in time and reading articles like these helps me understand that things really are not changing for the big oil companies. They might bitch and complain that they need our taxpayer subsidies and bemoan how it's becoming more and more difficult to find oil that is easily accessible, but when you look at their profits, they are still chugging along quite happily.
October 27, 2011 article on CNNMoney website has this headline: ExxonMobil Profit Soars 41%. Oh, okay. Hell, gas prices are expensive right now but...so guess what, that's exactly why Exxon turned over such a good quarterly profit, because gas prices have been so much higher. What was their profit? $10.3 billion. Oh, shit. Things really don't change much do they?
Here's an article from January 31, 2011 about Exxon's profits. The article is again from the CNNMoney website headlined: ExxonMobil Posts 53% Jump in Profit. Well shit a brick, what was their profit? $9.25 billion. Holy hell...
Let's go back in time again. Here's an article from October 30, 2008. The article is again from (you guessed it) CNNMoney headline: Exxon Mobil Biggest Profit in History. What was their profit this time? $14.8 billion...
This isn't just about Exxon making a shit-load of money. It's about how they drive politics and drive our future. They lobby our politicians for what is best for their company and for their shareholders. It's about how they profit from high gas prices year in and year out without giving us alternatives to go to another source of energy that's a little cleaner and a little nicer for the environment. I say they don't give us alternatives because they lobby for themselves. Their lobby groups are numerous and powerful. They single handily control our infrastructure by controlling the politics of our infrastructure in Washington. They want to make sure that we will drive cars on fossil fuels for forever, or at least until every ounce of oil has been used. I don't want to buy their fucking gas, but sometimes I have to. I don't want to drive a dirty car that burns fossil fuels, but I have to. They are stopping progress to prop up status quo. It's about how they shit on our world with their oil spills. It's about how they fund disinformation about global warming and buy politicians and scientists to echo their lies so they can continue to rake in these obscene profits. Right now, the majority of the U.S. public believes in science that has been cleverly pushed by Exxon, not by NASA or NOAA or any other reputable climate scientist. They tell us, without us realizing it, what the science really says... and their science is a big fucking Pinocchio liar liar pants on fire.
Making money is okay, but when you do it at the expense and health of the people and our environment to the extent that Exxon has, then you're a fucking psycho. Exxon is psychotic. They are out of touch with reality. Their reality is record profits at the expense and detriment of just about everybody on this planet - except them - they're doing fine.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
NWS: Drought Information Statement for San Antonio/Austin for Dec 18, 2011
Pandango: This is a Drought Information Statement from the National Weather Service. I have cut and pasted what is interesting to me. You can go here to get the full statement.
---------------------------------------------
DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
115 PM CST THU DEC 15 2011
...ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...THE HILL COUNTRY AND RIO
GRANDE PLAINS REMAIN IN MODERATE TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT
STATUS...
SYNOPSIS...
DROUGHT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. DECEMBER
HAS SEEN SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL EVENTS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS
FOR THE MONTH TO DATE RANGE FROM LESS THAN ONE INCH ACROSS THE
RIO GRANDE PLAINS TO THREE INCHES ACROSS THE EASTERN SECTIONS
OF THE HILL COUNTRY. THIS RAINFALL WAS VERY BENEFICIAL...HOWEVER
MORE FREQUENT AND WIDESPREAD RAINFALL EVENTS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS
WILL BE NECESSARY TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LONG TERM
DROUGHT IMPACTS LIKE FILLING LAKES AND RESERVOIRS.
THE LA NINA PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE
EQUATORIAL PACIFIC THROUGH THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE WINTER.
THIS USUALLY MEANS BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL AND WARMER THAN
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES DURING THE LATE FALL AND INTO THE
WINTER ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THIS DOES NOT MEAN
THAT WE WILL NOT SEE RAINFALL EVENTS AND THAT COLD OUTBREAKS
WILL NOT OCCUR.
THE US DROUGHT MONITOR (USDM) VALID DECEMBER 13TH AND ISSUED ON
DECEMBER 15TH...SHOWED ALL OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS IN MODERATE (D1) TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT (D4) CONDITIONS.
MOST OF THE STATE IS CURRENTLY IN MODERATE DROUGHT (D1) TO
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT (D4). SEVENTY-SIX PERCENT OF THE STATE IS
CURRENTLY IN EXTREME (D3) TO EXCEPTIONAL (D4) DROUGHT STATUS
AND FORTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE STATE IS IN EXCEPTIONAL (D4)
DROUGHT STATUS. THESE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE AS
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS OBSERVED ACROSS THE STATE.
FIRE DANGER IS CURRENTLY LOW DUE TO THE RECENT RAINFALL AND
COOLER TEMPERATURES. AS OF DECEMBER 15TH
THE DECEMBER 15TH KEETCH-BYRAM DROUGHT INDEX (KBDI) SHOWED KBDI
VALUES RANGED FROM 300 TO 500 ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN
PORTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND ALONG I-35. THE REMAINDER OF
THE AREA HAS KBDI VALUES OF 500 TO 700.
MOST LOCATIONS HAVE SEEN ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL DURING THE FIRST
HALF OF DECEMBER. THIS RAINFALL HAS HELPED TO CHIP AWAY AT THE
RAINFALL DEFICITS THAT HAVE GROWN VERY LARGE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
RAINFALL DEFICITS ARE 15 TO 20 INCHES OVER THE EASTERN PORTIONS
OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. LOCATIONS OVER THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS
CURRENTLY HAVE RAINFALL DEFICITS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES.
THROUGH MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 14TH...SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT HAS RECEIVED 1.55 INCHES OF RAIN. THIS IS 0.72
OF AN INCH ABOVE THE NORMAL OF 0.83 OF AN INCH. THE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE AT THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SO FAR
FOR DECEMBER HAS BEEN 54.1 DEGREES. THIS IS THE NORMAL.
THROUGH MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 14TH...AUSTIN MABRY HAS RECEIVED
2.70 INCHES OF RAIN. THIS IS 1.63 INCHES ABOVE THE NORMAL OF
1.07 INCHES. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE SO FAR FOR DECEMBER
AT AUSTIN MABRY HAS BEEN 51.8 DEGREES. THIS IS 2.0 DEGREES
BELOW THE NORMAL OF 53.8 DEGREES.
DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...THERE WILL BE PERIODS OF RAIN
WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM ONE HALF INCH ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS
TO TWO INCHES ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY
AND COASTAL PLAINS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN BELOW NORMAL VALUES
FOR MID DECEMBER.
THE LATEST CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
ISSUED ON DECEMBER 14TH AND VALID DECEMBER 22ND THROUGH DECEMBER
29TH IS CALLING FOR GREATER CHANCES FOR BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES
AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL.
THE LONGER RANGE OUTLOOK FOR JANUARY 2012 THROUGH MARCH
2012...CREATED ON DECEMBER 15TH IS CALLING FOR GREATER CHANCES
FOR ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND GREATER CHANCES FOR BELOW
NORMAL RAINFALL.
DUE TO THE LACK OF SOIL MOISTURE MANY LAKES AND RESERVOIRS HAVE
SEEN LITTLE OR NO INCREASE DESPITE THE RAINFALL. MOST OF THE CREEKS
AND STREAMS REMAIN DRY OR VERY LOW FLOWS AND THE WATER IS NOT
RUNNING OFF TO HELP REPLENISH THE LEVELS IN THE LAKES AND
THE MAIN DROUGHT CONCERNS ARE CURRENTLY LONG TERM HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS
ACROSS THE REGION. MANY STOCK TANKS REMAIN EXTREMELY LOW OR DRY. IF
THE WETTER THAN AVERAGE CONDITIONS CONTINUE THEN THE LONG TERM
HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS WILL BEGIN TO LESSEN.
THE 7 DAY STREAM FLOW AVERAGE IS IN THE TO 10 TO 24 PERCENT
(BELOW NORMAL) RANGE OR LESS THAN 10 PERCENT (MUCH BELOW) FOR
BASINS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS.
AREA LAKES...RIVERS AND RESERVOIRS REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL
POOL ELEVATIONS. MOST LEVELS CONTINUE TO FALL EVEN WITH THE
RECENT RAINFALL. A FEW LOCATIONS HAVE SEEN SMALL INCREASES
AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE WET PATTERN EXPECTED FOR SEVERAL MORE
DAYS MAYBE ADDITIONAL RISES WILL BE NOTED.
THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM (SAWS) REMAINS IN STAGE 2 WATER
RESTRICTIONS. THE MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS AND SPOTTY RAIN HAVE
HELPED TO KEEP THE EDWARDS AQUIFER LEVEL ABOVE THE STAGE 3
LEVEL OF 640 FEET.
THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS CURRENTLY READING 651.7 FEET AS OF
DECEMBER 15TH. THIS IS 17.4 FEET BELOW THE HISTORICAL MONTHLY
AVERAGE FOR DECEMBER WHICH IS 669.1 FEET. THE AQUIFER LEVEL
IS 20.0 FEET BELOW THE LEVEL OBSERVED ON THIS DATE IN
DECEMBER 2010.
NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...
THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED AROUND JANUARY 6, 2012 OR
SOONER IF NECESSARY.
---------------------------------------------
DROUGHT INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
115 PM CST THU DEC 15 2011
...ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...THE HILL COUNTRY AND RIO
GRANDE PLAINS REMAIN IN MODERATE TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT
STATUS...
SYNOPSIS...
DROUGHT CONTINUES TO PLAGUE ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. DECEMBER
HAS SEEN SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL EVENTS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS
FOR THE MONTH TO DATE RANGE FROM LESS THAN ONE INCH ACROSS THE
RIO GRANDE PLAINS TO THREE INCHES ACROSS THE EASTERN SECTIONS
OF THE HILL COUNTRY. THIS RAINFALL WAS VERY BENEFICIAL...HOWEVER
MORE FREQUENT AND WIDESPREAD RAINFALL EVENTS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS
WILL BE NECESSARY TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LONG TERM
DROUGHT IMPACTS LIKE FILLING LAKES AND RESERVOIRS.
THE LA NINA PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE
EQUATORIAL PACIFIC THROUGH THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE WINTER.
THIS USUALLY MEANS BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL AND WARMER THAN
AVERAGE TEMPERATURES DURING THE LATE FALL AND INTO THE
WINTER ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. THIS DOES NOT MEAN
THAT WE WILL NOT SEE RAINFALL EVENTS AND THAT COLD OUTBREAKS
WILL NOT OCCUR.
THE US DROUGHT MONITOR (USDM) VALID DECEMBER 13TH AND ISSUED ON
DECEMBER 15TH...SHOWED ALL OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL
TEXAS IN MODERATE (D1) TO EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT (D4) CONDITIONS.
MOST OF THE STATE IS CURRENTLY IN MODERATE DROUGHT (D1) TO
EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT (D4). SEVENTY-SIX PERCENT OF THE STATE IS
CURRENTLY IN EXTREME (D3) TO EXCEPTIONAL (D4) DROUGHT STATUS
AND FORTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE STATE IS IN EXCEPTIONAL (D4)
DROUGHT STATUS. THESE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO DECREASE AS
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL IS OBSERVED ACROSS THE STATE.
FIRE DANGER IS CURRENTLY LOW DUE TO THE RECENT RAINFALL AND
COOLER TEMPERATURES. AS OF DECEMBER 15TH
THE DECEMBER 15TH KEETCH-BYRAM DROUGHT INDEX (KBDI) SHOWED KBDI
VALUES RANGED FROM 300 TO 500 ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN
PORTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND ALONG I-35. THE REMAINDER OF
THE AREA HAS KBDI VALUES OF 500 TO 700.
MOST LOCATIONS HAVE SEEN ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL DURING THE FIRST
HALF OF DECEMBER. THIS RAINFALL HAS HELPED TO CHIP AWAY AT THE
RAINFALL DEFICITS THAT HAVE GROWN VERY LARGE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
RAINFALL DEFICITS ARE 15 TO 20 INCHES OVER THE EASTERN PORTIONS
OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. LOCATIONS OVER THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS
CURRENTLY HAVE RAINFALL DEFICITS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES.
THROUGH MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 14TH...SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT HAS RECEIVED 1.55 INCHES OF RAIN. THIS IS 0.72
OF AN INCH ABOVE THE NORMAL OF 0.83 OF AN INCH. THE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE AT THE SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SO FAR
FOR DECEMBER HAS BEEN 54.1 DEGREES. THIS IS THE NORMAL.
THROUGH MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 14TH...AUSTIN MABRY HAS RECEIVED
2.70 INCHES OF RAIN. THIS IS 1.63 INCHES ABOVE THE NORMAL OF
1.07 INCHES. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE SO FAR FOR DECEMBER
AT AUSTIN MABRY HAS BEEN 51.8 DEGREES. THIS IS 2.0 DEGREES
BELOW THE NORMAL OF 53.8 DEGREES.
DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...THERE WILL BE PERIODS OF RAIN
WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. RAINFALL
AMOUNTS WILL RANGE FROM ONE HALF INCH ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS
TO TWO INCHES ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY
AND COASTAL PLAINS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN BELOW NORMAL VALUES
FOR MID DECEMBER.
THE LATEST CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER (CPC) 8 TO 14 DAY OUTLOOK
ISSUED ON DECEMBER 14TH AND VALID DECEMBER 22ND THROUGH DECEMBER
29TH IS CALLING FOR GREATER CHANCES FOR BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES
AND ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL.
THE LONGER RANGE OUTLOOK FOR JANUARY 2012 THROUGH MARCH
2012...CREATED ON DECEMBER 15TH IS CALLING FOR GREATER CHANCES
FOR ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES AND GREATER CHANCES FOR BELOW
NORMAL RAINFALL.
DUE TO THE LACK OF SOIL MOISTURE MANY LAKES AND RESERVOIRS HAVE
SEEN LITTLE OR NO INCREASE DESPITE THE RAINFALL. MOST OF THE CREEKS
AND STREAMS REMAIN DRY OR VERY LOW FLOWS AND THE WATER IS NOT
RUNNING OFF TO HELP REPLENISH THE LEVELS IN THE LAKES AND
THE MAIN DROUGHT CONCERNS ARE CURRENTLY LONG TERM HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS
ACROSS THE REGION. MANY STOCK TANKS REMAIN EXTREMELY LOW OR DRY. IF
THE WETTER THAN AVERAGE CONDITIONS CONTINUE THEN THE LONG TERM
HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS WILL BEGIN TO LESSEN.
THE 7 DAY STREAM FLOW AVERAGE IS IN THE TO 10 TO 24 PERCENT
(BELOW NORMAL) RANGE OR LESS THAN 10 PERCENT (MUCH BELOW) FOR
BASINS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS.
AREA LAKES...RIVERS AND RESERVOIRS REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL
POOL ELEVATIONS. MOST LEVELS CONTINUE TO FALL EVEN WITH THE
RECENT RAINFALL. A FEW LOCATIONS HAVE SEEN SMALL INCREASES
AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE WET PATTERN EXPECTED FOR SEVERAL MORE
DAYS MAYBE ADDITIONAL RISES WILL BE NOTED.
THE SAN ANTONIO WATER SYSTEM (SAWS) REMAINS IN STAGE 2 WATER
RESTRICTIONS. THE MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS AND SPOTTY RAIN HAVE
HELPED TO KEEP THE EDWARDS AQUIFER LEVEL ABOVE THE STAGE 3
LEVEL OF 640 FEET.
THE EDWARDS AQUIFER IS CURRENTLY READING 651.7 FEET AS OF
DECEMBER 15TH. THIS IS 17.4 FEET BELOW THE HISTORICAL MONTHLY
AVERAGE FOR DECEMBER WHICH IS 669.1 FEET. THE AQUIFER LEVEL
IS 20.0 FEET BELOW THE LEVEL OBSERVED ON THIS DATE IN
DECEMBER 2010.
NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...
THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED AROUND JANUARY 6, 2012 OR
SOONER IF NECESSARY.
Senate Approves Short-Term Extension of Payroll Tax Cut, Gives Obama Two Months to OK Keystone XL Pipeline
Pandango: It's a dead deal...I agree with Susan Casey-Lefkowitz -- Congressional Republicans fast-tracked their way to a defeat on Keystone. Two thumbs up for Obama. It's a win in my book.
Bernie Sanders, you're my hero -- always taking the high road.
-----------------------------------------
Common Dreams Reports:
"Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, director of the international program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, was optimistic the two-month deadline would kill the project. 'The Republican stampede to build the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is going to backfire. In forcing President Obama to reach a hasty decision -- which he has said he would not do -- the president will have no choice but to reject the pipeline as not in the national interest.'"
Bernie Sanders, you're my hero -- always taking the high road.
-----------------------------------------
Common Dreams Reports:
"Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, director of the international program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, was optimistic the two-month deadline would kill the project. 'The Republican stampede to build the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is going to backfire. In forcing President Obama to reach a hasty decision -- which he has said he would not do -- the president will have no choice but to reject the pipeline as not in the national interest.'"
Detailed Action Plan: Defeating Disinformation on Climate Change
Pandango: Pass along to those who care.
-----------------------
Global Climate Change Action Plan: Detailed Plan for Winning the War on Climate Change
Victory Will Be Achieved When1. Average citizens "understand" (recognize) the certainties of climate science. Recognition of certainties becomes part of the "conventional wisdom".
2. Media "understands" (recognizes) the certainties in climate science.
3. Media coverage reflects balance on climate science and recognition of the validity of viewpoints that challenges the current "skeptical disinformation".
4. Industry senior leadership understands certainties in climate science, making them stronger ambassadors to those who shape climate policy.
5. Those promoting climate change denial should appear to be out of touch with reality...
6. Politicians promoting climate change denial should be identified and appear out of touch with reality -- Voters should be strongly discouraged from supporting this kind of political candidate...
7. Occupy Wall Street Supporters must begin to identify climate change as an important issue to "Occupy" for.
Current Reality Unless climate change becomes an issue (meaning defeating denialist politicians) and there are no further initiatives to propel the US government into action against the harmful impacts of climate change, there may be no moment when we can declare victory for our actions to stop climate change.
Strategies and Tactics
I. National Media Relations: Develop and implement a national media relations program to inform the media about the certainties in climate science. Educate and inform the public, stimulating them to raise questions with policy-makers about their denialist positions.
TACTICS: These tactics should be undertaken NOW -- IMMEDIATELY...and should continue indefinitely as appropriate.
Identify and train a group of climate scientists (at least 7) to participate in media outreach. These should be scientists who do not have a long history of visibility and/or participation in the climate change debate i.e. (NOT Al Gore or James Hansen)...Rather, this team will add their voices to those recognized scientists who are already vocal.
**Develop a global climate science information kit for media including peer-reviewed papers that undercut the "denialist skeptical contrarian unconventional wisdom" on climate change. This kit should also include understandable communications, including simple fact sheets that include present scientific certainties in language that the media and public can understand.
**Conduct briefings by media-trained scientists for science writers in the top 20 media markets using the information kits. Distribute the information kits to daily newspapers nationwide with an offer of scientists to brief reporters at each newspaper. Develop, disseminate radio news releases featuring scientists nationwide and offer scientists to appear on radio talk shows across the country.
**Produce and distribute a steady stream of science information via fax or email to science writers across the country.
**Convince several of the news national TV journalists (i.e. Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, Ed Schulz, Chris Matthews) to produce a report examining the scientific certainties of climate change. Repeat...
**Organize, promote and conduct through grassroot organizations a series of campus/community debates/workshops on climate science in the 10 most important states leading up to the election in 2012 during the period of August through November.
II. Global Climate Science Information Source: Develop and implement a program to inject credible science and scientific accountability into the global climate debate, thereby raising questions about and undercutting the "prevailing denialist skeptical contrarian wisdom." The platform will have the added benefit of providing a platform for credible, constructive, criticism of the oppositions position on junk science.
Tactics: As with the National Media Relations Program, these activities should take place between now and the upcoming election in 2012 and continue thereafter...
**Establish a Science Action Working Group with a board of respected climate scientists. SAWG should be staffed with professionals with knowledge in the following areas:
------------------Overall history of climate research and the IPCC process.
------------------Congressional relations and a knowledge of where each Senator and Representative stands on climate change.
-----------------Knowledge of focus groups and the impact certain words have on an audience.
------------------Knowledge and expertise in media relations and with established relationships with science and energy writers, columnists and ------------------editorial writers.
------------------Expertise in grassroots organizations.
------------------Campaign organizations and administration.
SAWG should be led by a dynamic senior executive with a major personal commitment to the goals of the campaign with easy access to leaders at the CEO level. The center should be run on a day-to-day basis by an executive director ensure that targets are met. The Center should be run at a level that will ensure its success. Major critiques should be made of junk science passing as credible peer-reviewed science.
SAWG should become a one-stop resource on climate science for members of Congress, the media, industry and all others concerned. It should be in contact with the best climate scientists and ensure that their findings and views are heard and receive the proper attention it deserves. It should provided them with the logistical and moral support they have been lacking. IN short, it will be a sound alternative to junk science produced by conservative members of Congress, blogs, FOX News, and conservative radio.
***Develop opportunities to maximize the impact of scientific views consistent with climate scientists with Congress, the media and other key audiences.
*****Monitoring and serving as an early warning system for junk scientific efforts to undermine the climate change debate.
***** Responding to claims from all major junk science pundits and media.
III. National Outreach and Education: Direct and implement a direct outreach program to inform and educate members of Congress, state officials, industry leaders, and school teachers/students about the certainties in climate science. This strategy will enable Congress, state officials and industry leaders to raise serious questions about climate change denial's scientific underpinnings that American policymakers not only will refuse to endorse it, but will be threatened with the certainty of losing their election campaign if they support such junk science. Informing teachers/students about the certainties of climate change will begin to tear down barriers in imposing climate change regulations in the future.
Tactics: Informing members of Congress, industry leaders and state officials should be undertaken immediately. Teachers/students outreach program should be developed and launched immediately.
-----------------Develop information kits on climate science targeted specifically at the needs of government officials and industry leaders to be used in conjunction with and separately from in-person briefings to further disseminate information on climate change certainties thereby arming the influentials to raise serious questions about the climate science denial skeptic contrarain views
-----------------Organize a "Science Education Task Group" that will serve as a point of outreach to the National Science Teachers Association and other influential science education organizations. Work with the NSTA to develop school materials that show that the science on global warming is certain and that there is no longer a debate among climate scientists that the Earth is warming.
-----------------Distribute educational materials directly to schools and through grassroots organizations of climate science partners (companies and organizations that participate in this effort).
Funding ----Funding should come from organizations/businesses /corporations that support the science behind climate change (e.g. Google ) and other organizations recently disenchanted by the actions of the Chamber of Commerce and American Petroleum Institute (API).
------Scientific agencies (e.g. NASA) within the U.S. government should allocate funds to support this project.
Measurements Various metrics should be used to track progress
------Baseline government and public opinion surveys and periodic follow-up surveys on percentage of Americans and government officials who recognize the significant certainties of climate science.
-------Tracking the percent of media articles that attack and denounce information that would discredit climate science/scientists.
-------Tracking the percent of media articles that confirm realities of climate change.
-------Tracking false information about climate change.
-------Number of members of Congress exposed to our materials on climate change.
-------Number of communications received by Congress about climate change from their constituents.
------Number of radio talk show appearances by climate scientists affirming realities of global warming.
------Number of radio talk show appearances by climate scientists "questioning" climate science.
------Number of school teachers and students reached with appropriate climate science materials.
------Number of climate scientists briefed and reporting on climate certainties (must be more than those scientists reporting on climate uncertainties).
----------Total audience exposed to climate science certainties.
-----------------------
Global Climate Change Action Plan: Detailed Plan for Winning the War on Climate Change
Victory Will Be Achieved When1. Average citizens "understand" (recognize) the certainties of climate science. Recognition of certainties becomes part of the "conventional wisdom".
2. Media "understands" (recognizes) the certainties in climate science.
3. Media coverage reflects balance on climate science and recognition of the validity of viewpoints that challenges the current "skeptical disinformation".
4. Industry senior leadership understands certainties in climate science, making them stronger ambassadors to those who shape climate policy.
5. Those promoting climate change denial should appear to be out of touch with reality...
6. Politicians promoting climate change denial should be identified and appear out of touch with reality -- Voters should be strongly discouraged from supporting this kind of political candidate...
7. Occupy Wall Street Supporters must begin to identify climate change as an important issue to "Occupy" for.
Current Reality Unless climate change becomes an issue (meaning defeating denialist politicians) and there are no further initiatives to propel the US government into action against the harmful impacts of climate change, there may be no moment when we can declare victory for our actions to stop climate change.
Strategies and Tactics
I. National Media Relations: Develop and implement a national media relations program to inform the media about the certainties in climate science. Educate and inform the public, stimulating them to raise questions with policy-makers about their denialist positions.
TACTICS: These tactics should be undertaken NOW -- IMMEDIATELY...and should continue indefinitely as appropriate.
Identify and train a group of climate scientists (at least 7) to participate in media outreach. These should be scientists who do not have a long history of visibility and/or participation in the climate change debate i.e. (NOT Al Gore or James Hansen)...Rather, this team will add their voices to those recognized scientists who are already vocal.
**Develop a global climate science information kit for media including peer-reviewed papers that undercut the "denialist skeptical contrarian unconventional wisdom" on climate change. This kit should also include understandable communications, including simple fact sheets that include present scientific certainties in language that the media and public can understand.
**Conduct briefings by media-trained scientists for science writers in the top 20 media markets using the information kits. Distribute the information kits to daily newspapers nationwide with an offer of scientists to brief reporters at each newspaper. Develop, disseminate radio news releases featuring scientists nationwide and offer scientists to appear on radio talk shows across the country.
**Produce and distribute a steady stream of science information via fax or email to science writers across the country.
**Convince several of the news national TV journalists (i.e. Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, Ed Schulz, Chris Matthews) to produce a report examining the scientific certainties of climate change. Repeat...
**Organize, promote and conduct through grassroot organizations a series of campus/community debates/workshops on climate science in the 10 most important states leading up to the election in 2012 during the period of August through November.
II. Global Climate Science Information Source: Develop and implement a program to inject credible science and scientific accountability into the global climate debate, thereby raising questions about and undercutting the "prevailing denialist skeptical contrarian wisdom." The platform will have the added benefit of providing a platform for credible, constructive, criticism of the oppositions position on junk science.
Tactics: As with the National Media Relations Program, these activities should take place between now and the upcoming election in 2012 and continue thereafter...
**Establish a Science Action Working Group with a board of respected climate scientists. SAWG should be staffed with professionals with knowledge in the following areas:
------------------Overall history of climate research and the IPCC process.
------------------Congressional relations and a knowledge of where each Senator and Representative stands on climate change.
-----------------Knowledge of focus groups and the impact certain words have on an audience.
------------------Knowledge and expertise in media relations and with established relationships with science and energy writers, columnists and ------------------editorial writers.
------------------Expertise in grassroots organizations.
------------------Campaign organizations and administration.
SAWG should be led by a dynamic senior executive with a major personal commitment to the goals of the campaign with easy access to leaders at the CEO level. The center should be run on a day-to-day basis by an executive director ensure that targets are met. The Center should be run at a level that will ensure its success. Major critiques should be made of junk science passing as credible peer-reviewed science.
SAWG should become a one-stop resource on climate science for members of Congress, the media, industry and all others concerned. It should be in contact with the best climate scientists and ensure that their findings and views are heard and receive the proper attention it deserves. It should provided them with the logistical and moral support they have been lacking. IN short, it will be a sound alternative to junk science produced by conservative members of Congress, blogs, FOX News, and conservative radio.
***Develop opportunities to maximize the impact of scientific views consistent with climate scientists with Congress, the media and other key audiences.
*****Monitoring and serving as an early warning system for junk scientific efforts to undermine the climate change debate.
***** Responding to claims from all major junk science pundits and media.
III. National Outreach and Education: Direct and implement a direct outreach program to inform and educate members of Congress, state officials, industry leaders, and school teachers/students about the certainties in climate science. This strategy will enable Congress, state officials and industry leaders to raise serious questions about climate change denial's scientific underpinnings that American policymakers not only will refuse to endorse it, but will be threatened with the certainty of losing their election campaign if they support such junk science. Informing teachers/students about the certainties of climate change will begin to tear down barriers in imposing climate change regulations in the future.
Tactics: Informing members of Congress, industry leaders and state officials should be undertaken immediately. Teachers/students outreach program should be developed and launched immediately.
-----------------Develop information kits on climate science targeted specifically at the needs of government officials and industry leaders to be used in conjunction with and separately from in-person briefings to further disseminate information on climate change certainties thereby arming the influentials to raise serious questions about the climate science denial skeptic contrarain views
-----------------Organize a "Science Education Task Group" that will serve as a point of outreach to the National Science Teachers Association and other influential science education organizations. Work with the NSTA to develop school materials that show that the science on global warming is certain and that there is no longer a debate among climate scientists that the Earth is warming.
-----------------Distribute educational materials directly to schools and through grassroots organizations of climate science partners (companies and organizations that participate in this effort).
Funding ----Funding should come from organizations/businesses /corporations that support the science behind climate change (e.g. Google ) and other organizations recently disenchanted by the actions of the Chamber of Commerce and American Petroleum Institute (API).
------Scientific agencies (e.g. NASA) within the U.S. government should allocate funds to support this project.
Measurements Various metrics should be used to track progress
------Baseline government and public opinion surveys and periodic follow-up surveys on percentage of Americans and government officials who recognize the significant certainties of climate science.
-------Tracking the percent of media articles that attack and denounce information that would discredit climate science/scientists.
-------Tracking the percent of media articles that confirm realities of climate change.
-------Tracking false information about climate change.
-------Number of members of Congress exposed to our materials on climate change.
-------Number of communications received by Congress about climate change from their constituents.
------Number of radio talk show appearances by climate scientists affirming realities of global warming.
------Number of radio talk show appearances by climate scientists "questioning" climate science.
------Number of school teachers and students reached with appropriate climate science materials.
------Number of climate scientists briefed and reporting on climate certainties (must be more than those scientists reporting on climate uncertainties).
----------Total audience exposed to climate science certainties.
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