((Doyle Rice)
The winter of 2012-13 in the USA was both warmer and wetter than average, according to data released Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Meteorological winter is considered to be the three months of December, January and February.
The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during the winter season was 34.3 degrees, which is 1.9 degrees above the 20th-century average, marking the 20th-warmest winter on record, NOAA reported.
As for precipitation, while the Southeast and upper Midwest were wetter than average, much of the West was quite dry, especially in January and February, contributing to below-average snowpack in the Sierra and Rockies.
“Drought conditions continued to plague much of the Great Plains and West,” according to the NOAA report.
Winter was warmer than average for every state east of the Rockies. The warmest states were along the East Coast. Florida, Delaware and Vermont each had one of their 10 warmest winters on record.
Conversely, the Southwest was cooler than average, while near-average winter temperatures were reported in the Northwest.
Based on NOAA’s “Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index,” due to the overall mild winter, the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand was less than half of average. This was the 14th-smallest such value on record.
When western range snowpack is below average, the chance of range fire increases dramatically. Many folks throughout the west will be under water use restrictions from lawn watering to car washing. Outdoor fires will also be restricted.
Storms like Hurricane Sandy once again devastated coastal areas in New Jersey and New York, then went on to ravage the New England coasts. Beach erosion along the Atlantic coast has changed the shape of America.
How have things changed since you were a child? Remember on Halloween when you used to have to wear a coat with your costume?
Those who are denying should probably come up with an explantion. Frankly, I am not so sure we can afford, as a civilization, to deny much longer.
Man made global warming has dire consequences.
This issue, more than any other, is misunderstood by most people, because of partisan politics and the way we see reality through the warped prism of party talking points.
In fact, we should expect the earth to get warmer, and colder – climate is not stable. There are two “wobbles” in earth’s orbit, which will cause temperature to vary. One has a cycle length of 26,000 years and the other millions. We don’t have a long enough record of precise temperatures on Earth to really understand where we are in the cycle, and whether it might be much cooler or much hotter here in 100 years.
And that’s PRESUMING the Sun’s output were constant, which it is not. We don’t know whether its output will wax or wane, also. We have no real idea at this point whether the future holds warming, or cooling.
The alarmist models about greenhouse gases that were in vogue a while back don’t stand up to scientific scrutiny. Real-world data including temperature measurements from satellites show a less alarmist picture. Carbon dioxide will disperse to a greater extent than we had onec feared.
Al Gore did us all a disservice politicising this issue, and creating a climate for bad science to be rewarded. If we want to reduce pollution, let’s do so, but let’s not miscategorize science and create elaborate alarmist fictions as a pretense to do so.
Since many are discovering that we SHOULD be in a cooling phase, due to cycles and sun output, I hope that AGW IS correct and the increased carbon is keeping us from an ice age.
Hint: “AGW” is a moderation trigger word. Lets stick to climate change. It makes more sense and deals more with science than politics.
People havent been on the earth long enough to record long periods of time with any accuracy.
Carbon emissions haven’t been around to evaluate how it affects the atmosphere and thus, our climate.
I do know this. The time since I have been a child isn’t all that long ago and there hsas been significant change since then.
I do know that climate change is happening, for whatever reason, just from observtions. I do know that pollution is very bad for you. So…why make either of those two things an argument or political. That’s tantamound to arguing that sdmoking cigarettes is good for you.
It may do some folks less harm than other folks, but no one can argue that it’s good for you.
Carg–how are classes going? Any more observations?
@Moon-howler
manmade global warming then…because “climate change” is happening all the time, regardless of cause.
@Moon-howler
Classes are fine. Spring break now.
Aren’t you the lucky one @ Cargo
Does your daughter have off now of is hers a couple week from now?
I do not get the point you are making … this past winter was only the 20th warmest winter on record for the U.S., with statistically insignificant warming over the past 15 years. This is hardly a clarion call for action.
I was not necessarily making any one point. You know that my opinion on this topic is that we can’t afford to be in denial that what man does on earth affects its climate.
Let’s not be in denial either that what we do will have limited effect – climate change is mostly not to do with pollution.
But breathing has to do with pollution. Therefore lets not sing the praises of pollution.
I think our studies of the impact of carbon emissions and other pollutants on the atmosphere are in an infancy stage. I don’t think any of us here know enough to be making proclamations.
I would sure hate to be wrong on this one. All this talk about debt and our grandchildren. How about clean air and a climate that sustains life for our grandchildren? Mine are already here. It does make you think.
@Moon-howler
Not so lucky. Dealing with sick child. She has an ongoing headache….4 months….dizziness/vertigo…about 1 month, and triple vision. 2 weeks. She’s missed 32 days of school and been tardy 31 times…not counting this week.
Its all a big mystery.
Vertigo is really hard to deal with. More later.
http://www.redstate.com/2013/03/10/alternate-new-york-times-headline-global-warming-saves-civilization/
Interesting article on the subject. Its all a matter of interpreting the data.
Now THAT’s pretty good, Cargo. Global warming saved us from an ice age! And all figured out by an engineer with no training or study in climate science! And writing for Red State, so he must be unbiased!
Next month, the feature article will be that the air pollution in China’s cities is actually good for people because it weeds out the unhealthy who would only need more health care in the future!
Too funny. that air sure didn’t do our athletes any good.
Saved from the ice age.