Diane Rehm's show today was on global warming. You can listen to it on NPR.org.
An Inconvenient Truth
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http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2007-01-09-warmest-year_x.htm
TOP 10 WARMEST YEARS IN U.S. HISTORY
Rank Year Average temperature (F)
1. 2006 55.01
2. 1998 54.94
3. 1934 54.91
4. 1999 54.53
5. 1921 54.49
6. 1931 54.34
7. 1990 54.24
8. 2001 54.23
9. 1953 54.18
10. 1954 54.13
Source: National Climatic Data Center
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
DENVER ? Last summer's deadly heat wave and a balmy December helped make 2006 the warmest year ever recorded in the USA, federal climate officials announced Tuesday.
The National Climatic Data Center says factors include the El Ni?o climate pattern and "the long-term warming trend" of climate change, due in part to greenhouse gases. The center says drought in the Plains and parts of the West also played a role. Wildfire agencies say warmth helped make it the worst wildfire season ever, with 9.8 million acres burned.
"There's no denying that climate change is occurring, and warmer winters and warmer years are more common for that reason," says Jay Lawrimore, monitoring chief for the center, which keeps the nation's weather records. "What we're seeing (in 2006) is just becoming so much more common."
New York City, still without snow this winter, last week broke a 129-year record for latest date for the first snowfall. In the Northeast, ski resorts report little snow and temperatures too warm to make artificial snow.
Temperatures were above normal even in Colorado, where major snowstorms before Christmas and New Year's paralyzed Denver and socked the Great Plains. The city's average reading for December was still 1.4 degrees warmer than usual.
A side benefit: Residential energy demand for heating was 13.5% lower than normal for October through December, the center said.
An average national temperature of 55.01 degrees pushed 2006 past 1998 as the warmest on record. Fifteen of the years since 1981 rank among the 25 warmest since national record-keeping began in 1895.
The climate center says the current El Ni?o, the periodic warming of Pacific waters, is the biggest factor for 2006, and global warming is "a contributing factor." This is believed to be the first time the annual temperature report mentions climate change as a cause.
It was the warmest year ever in New Jersey, and five states had their warmest December ? Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.
During last summer's heat wave, record highs from South Dakota across the Plains taxed water supplies for crops and livestock. Heat was blamed for at least 140 deaths in California.
The year's warmth wasn't just about extreme highs. Lawrimore says more than 40% of the USA had higher-than-average overnight lows last summer, compared with 10% in a typical year. Daily records for the highest overnight low were tied or broken more than 3,000 times last summer in hundreds of cities and towns, especially in the West. About 100 locations recorded their all-time highest lows for any date, from 88 in Cedar Butte, S.D., to 102 in Death Valley, Calif.
TOP 10 WARMEST YEARS IN U.S. HISTORY
Rank Year Average temperature (F)
1. 2006 55.01
2. 1998 54.94
3. 1934 54.91
4. 1999 54.53
5. 1921 54.49
6. 1931 54.34
7. 1990 54.24
8. 2001 54.23
9. 1953 54.18
10. 1954 54.13
Source: National Climatic Data Center
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
DENVER ? Last summer's deadly heat wave and a balmy December helped make 2006 the warmest year ever recorded in the USA, federal climate officials announced Tuesday.
The National Climatic Data Center says factors include the El Ni?o climate pattern and "the long-term warming trend" of climate change, due in part to greenhouse gases. The center says drought in the Plains and parts of the West also played a role. Wildfire agencies say warmth helped make it the worst wildfire season ever, with 9.8 million acres burned.
"There's no denying that climate change is occurring, and warmer winters and warmer years are more common for that reason," says Jay Lawrimore, monitoring chief for the center, which keeps the nation's weather records. "What we're seeing (in 2006) is just becoming so much more common."
New York City, still without snow this winter, last week broke a 129-year record for latest date for the first snowfall. In the Northeast, ski resorts report little snow and temperatures too warm to make artificial snow.
Temperatures were above normal even in Colorado, where major snowstorms before Christmas and New Year's paralyzed Denver and socked the Great Plains. The city's average reading for December was still 1.4 degrees warmer than usual.
A side benefit: Residential energy demand for heating was 13.5% lower than normal for October through December, the center said.
An average national temperature of 55.01 degrees pushed 2006 past 1998 as the warmest on record. Fifteen of the years since 1981 rank among the 25 warmest since national record-keeping began in 1895.
The climate center says the current El Ni?o, the periodic warming of Pacific waters, is the biggest factor for 2006, and global warming is "a contributing factor." This is believed to be the first time the annual temperature report mentions climate change as a cause.
It was the warmest year ever in New Jersey, and five states had their warmest December ? Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.
During last summer's heat wave, record highs from South Dakota across the Plains taxed water supplies for crops and livestock. Heat was blamed for at least 140 deaths in California.
The year's warmth wasn't just about extreme highs. Lawrimore says more than 40% of the USA had higher-than-average overnight lows last summer, compared with 10% in a typical year. Daily records for the highest overnight low were tied or broken more than 3,000 times last summer in hundreds of cities and towns, especially in the West. About 100 locations recorded their all-time highest lows for any date, from 88 in Cedar Butte, S.D., to 102 in Death Valley, Calif.
I just have 2 comments to add to this already exhasuting thread.
It's great to see there is a large group of people in our county that are starting to come together regarding the sustainability of our future here.
...and for those seeking more information, I read the Energy Bulletin everyday, which covers blogs, essays and latest news from sources all over the world regarding sustainability, peak oil, global warming, alternative fuels, etc. It links to reviews of the CERA report, the Hirsch report, supporting and opposing views. I have found it to be the most comprehensive source for trying to make some sense of these issues.
I've seen An Inconvenient Truth and I believe it's delivery is well done to reach the masses, though I strongly urge everyone to dig deeper, for your own knowledge. I'm more interested in what AEC & WM have to say as well as connecting with other people in the community. Sorry I'll miss it, I'm out of town. Best to all!
Here's the link for the Energy Bulletin: http://www.energybulletin.net/
It's great to see there is a large group of people in our county that are starting to come together regarding the sustainability of our future here.
...and for those seeking more information, I read the Energy Bulletin everyday, which covers blogs, essays and latest news from sources all over the world regarding sustainability, peak oil, global warming, alternative fuels, etc. It links to reviews of the CERA report, the Hirsch report, supporting and opposing views. I have found it to be the most comprehensive source for trying to make some sense of these issues.
I've seen An Inconvenient Truth and I believe it's delivery is well done to reach the masses, though I strongly urge everyone to dig deeper, for your own knowledge. I'm more interested in what AEC & WM have to say as well as connecting with other people in the community. Sorry I'll miss it, I'm out of town. Best to all!
Here's the link for the Energy Bulletin: http://www.energybulletin.net/
Enjoyed the event tonight - a little chilly, but Amore Pizza warmed us up after the movie. I'm curious how many other SoWal members were there ......?
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i was there. it was a little breezy and cold toward the end of the movie. and, of course, after the event, the wind all but stopped. nice turnout for a first time, grassroots event. great info out there at the tables, and great food too.
thanks to those who donated their time and energy to bring this about, and especially the reps from AEC and WM. good talks afterward.
thanks to those who donated their time and energy to bring this about, and especially the reps from AEC and WM. good talks afterward.
I was there. the turnout was great, around 200. the weather got a bit chilly but most hung in until the end of the movie. WM and AEC both shared good information:
AEC provides what the people want, cheap power. AEC is slowly introducing green forms of energy which cost an additional $2 a month to opt into (methane emissions from landfill purchased from waste management). As the people begin opting into programs AEC will continue to introduce more options and the tables will slowly turn toward green energy.
WM: Walton county will have home pick-up recycling by the end of 2007.
For more information please contact CHELCO or WM, or if your looking for one of the speakers drop a line and I will connect you to them.
The other guests that set up tables had a tremendous amount of information to share from their friendly booths...and For the Health of It had a great spread of warm food and tea...a list of participating guests and contact information to follow.
Thanks to everyone who shared the effort and energy to make this happen, a true community event.
peace
AEC provides what the people want, cheap power. AEC is slowly introducing green forms of energy which cost an additional $2 a month to opt into (methane emissions from landfill purchased from waste management). As the people begin opting into programs AEC will continue to introduce more options and the tables will slowly turn toward green energy.
WM: Walton county will have home pick-up recycling by the end of 2007.
For more information please contact CHELCO or WM, or if your looking for one of the speakers drop a line and I will connect you to them.
The other guests that set up tables had a tremendous amount of information to share from their friendly booths...and For the Health of It had a great spread of warm food and tea...a list of participating guests and contact information to follow.
Thanks to everyone who shared the effort and energy to make this happen, a true community event.
peace
Bdarg and Will attended, but we decided Kate would get a bit antsy at age 5, so the gals stayed behind. Both said it was excellent- the movie and speakers after.
We felt like it was important for Will to attend this event- since he is the future generation. He said there were just a few other kids (more high school age).
This event would have been a great "extra credit" opportunity if teachers had "glommed on" to it.
Kylie (12 years old) and I went. She does get extra credit in her science class for attending and writing a summary and opinion. They gave the website www.climatecrisis.com in the movie for more info. It has a lot of great info, especially on what we can do to help reduce global warming. Interesting that on our thread of what we would like in South Walton, the need of Farmer's markets, produce stands, if we purchase locally that is a small thing but saves on expenses of transporting the produce. Maybe in our park we want to do, we can start a community garden!