Baby, it's cold outside...

Recently our family engaged in a rather rowdy discussion with a young friend who suggested that Global Climate Change, specifically Global warming, was pretty much a hoax.  Poor guy.  It was not pretty.  We rather ganged up on him. "Spirited discussion" ensued.  J and A have each taken classes on the topic.  J can get a bit overly "spirited".

The friend's (yes, he is still a friend) argument was essentially two pronged:  a) it's actually getting colder and b) climate change is part of a huge cycle that is a natural phenomenon and it influenced very little by human/industrial activity.

So, take it or leave it, but here is a little commentary on the topic.

First, an article by Judah Cohen, op-ed contributor for the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/opinion/26cohen.html?_r=1

Cohen points to the various blizzards and extensive snowfall in Siberia, Seattle, Minnesota, London, Frankfurt, as well as the Eastern United States.  As this was occurring, the World Meteorological Organization report was released showing that 2001-2010 was the warmest decade on record.

  Huh?

http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_904_en.html

Well, here is the deal:  Overall warming of the atmosphere is actually creating cold-weather extremes.  It is well documented that Arctic sea ice is thinning.  In short, this creates a situation where there is more moisture in the atmosphere resulting in more snow cover in areas like Siberia.  The sun's energy reflects off the bright snow and escapes back to space.  Temperatures cool and create "waves" of cold air which spread horizontally, accounting for snow and colder temperatures in areas that do not normally experience much of either.  So, says Cohen, if you want an explanation for all the snow, look to Siberia.

Look how rapidly the ice mass is diminishing.  Some scientists who originally predicted the Arctic would be ice-free by the end of the century are revising their estimates to ... scarily... as early as 2013, though some are sticking to a date closer to 2030.

Much of the research currently conducted involves the Inuit who not only work at the research stations, but contribute observations relative to snow and ice, wildlife, eroding coastlines, permafrost thaw, ice instability, and migration of animal species.  One of these researchers is Wenzel, who began his research following a 1992 whale watch.  He noticed the eroding sea ice and saw a pod of narwhal moving along the deteriorating floe edge.  This was in July, and normally narwhal don't show up until August. By 2000 whaling during July was the new "norm".  Wenzel is concerned about Polar Bear conservation, wild resource production, and how changing food production and transfer affects the social economy of the Inuit. (Canadian Inuit subsistence and ecological stability-- if the climate changes, must the Inuit?  Polar Research, 28, 2009).  Dan Whipple (Breaking the Ice. Nature Reports Climate Change, April 2008) is also working with international efforts to engage the Inuit.

Want to read more?

http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar

 In the meantime, it is 38 degrees outside this morning, and almost as chilly inside.  The "coupler", whatever that is, on our ancient furnace is malfunctioning, and our wonderful furnace guy, Mario, can't make it here until this afternoon.  We will be jumping from ice floe to ice floe to avoid the chilly areas of the house.  Luckily we have two fireplaces, a couple of space heaters, and a separate heating system for the office..