2012 Another Record-Setter For Weather, Fits Climate Forecasts

Layzej writes "The Associated Press reports: 'In 2012 many of the warnings scientists have made about global warming went from dry studies in scientific journals to real-life video played before our eyes. As 2012 began, winter in the U.S. went AWOL. Spring and summer arrived early with wildfires, blistering heat and drought. And fall hit the eastern third of the country with the ferocity of Superstorm Sandy. Globally, five countries this year set heat records, but none set cold records. 2012 is on track to be the warmest year on record in the United States. Worldwide, the average through November suggests it will be the eighth warmest since global record-keeping began in 1880 and will likely beat 2011 as the hottest La Nina year on record. America's heartland lurched from one extreme to the other without stopping at "normal." Historic flooding in 2011 gave way to devastating drought in 2012. But the most troubling climate development this year was the melting at the top of the world. Summer sea ice in the Arctic shrank to 18 percent below the previous record low. These are "clearly not freak events," but "systemic changes," said climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute in Germany. "With all the extremes that, really, every year in the last 10 years have struck different parts of the globe, more and more people absolutely realize that climate change is here and already hitting us."'"

Comments

in 1975, when I was in High school

[p51d007]

Time magazine & researchers were telling us what to do about the upcoming ICE AGE, and how to survive it. Now, the same idiots are telling us about global warming (whoops...climate change). The earth goes through cycles....and it is billions of years old. 5-10 years of data is but a blink in cosmic time.

Re:in 1975, when I was in High school

[roc97007]

The thing that makes me suspicious is that the same people -- James Hansen in particular -- were the major alarmists for an ice age back then, as they are for global warming now. What Hansen got out of it then, and what he's getting out of it now, is power. I think there may be a root cause that we haven't explored yet -- that people need for this to happen because they are elevated in money, stature, and power as a result.

Fits climate forcasts?

[Anonymous Coward]

That's funny. I just read an article a week ago explaining that the forecasts were off: "Evidence points to a further rise of just 1C by 2100. The net effect on the planet may actually be beneficial."

Of course climate change is happening

[Anonymous Coward]

If there's one thing that is predictable, it is that the climate will change.

If someone says they predicted climate change, big whoop. They had a 50% chance that the climate would get warmer over a certain period.

The globe hasn't gotten warmer in the last 16 years. The recently leaked IPCC report shows that the climate has warmed at a rate much slower than any of their previous predictions.

We will still have alarmists but the wind is going out of their sails. Mother nature just isn't cooperating with the dire predictions they made 20 years ago.

Re:People don't view 2012 as a disaster

[MozeeToby]

"This is no worse than the dust bowl and that was almost 100 years ago! I suppose that was due to global warming too!?"

(Put in quotes in the hopes of avoiding Poe's Law taking effect)

This is no event that will convince the denialists because there is no event that hasn't be equaled at some point in the planets history. That the extreme events are coming faster and faster will be completely lost on them.

Re:-1 for linking to FOX news

[cayenne8]

Hey, if FOX is reporting on Climate change, then you *know* we're in trouble.

Still, my answer to all the "Global Warming" rants is:

"Meh".

What do I really care? I'll be long dead and gone by the time it is a real problem, so, I'll be enjoying my life now as I please thank you.

Re:-1 for linking to FOX news

[mcgrew]

I would rather here about this from Fox News than most anyone else.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Fox gets away with it: an uneducated audience.

Headline Misleading: models are cherry picked

[rubycodez]

of the thousands of climate models generated, most are discarded and a few chosen that conform to what the weather has been doing recently. The draft IPCC climate report for 2013 has been released and they are retracting much of their alarmist nonsense because reality has disappointed, and even their cherry-picked models haven't panned out

Re:-1 for linking to FOX news

[cayenne8]

It isn't so much that I'm going out of my way to harm the earth, but why should I go out of my way to preserve the earth for future people that I don't know, nor will know who I am....if it means any discomfort or the putting out of effort on my part?

I mean, I'm only on earth for a short time, I'm gonna do what I want (within the law) to enjoy my life to the fullest while I'm here.

I'm not going out of my way to add to global warming or pollution, but then again, if it isn't convenient to me, I'm not going out of my way for that either.

Why should I?