Dumb question: what's up with the weather? | 30 comments (30 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Another dumb question: (4.00 / 3)

I'm sort of concerned by a perceived tendency in the news to attribute this rather warm winter to global warming, which I'm pretty sure isn't very much the case. Which means that next year, when we get a really cold winter, people will start saying "what global warming".

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 08:08:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Another dumb question: (none / 0)

In Sweden, the tendency of late has been to attribute the crazy and quickly shifting weather (today is snow and sunny, like it should be, a week ago it was almost +10 degrees (C) which was very odd) to climate change.

This conceptual change has occured in the mainstream during the last year or so, but it has finally occured.

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se

by A swedish kind of death on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 08:38:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Another dumb question: (none / 1)

The problem with that is that next year, when we get extra cold weather in October (or whatever) people will start saying climate change was a sham.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 08:42:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Another dumb question: (4.00 / 3)

But the same idea of extreme, quirky weather from day to day can be extended to year-to-year.

"It's the statue, man, The Statue."

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 08:48:46 AM EST
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Re: Another dumb question: (none / 0)

Sure, if we had journalists and media willing to explain that.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 08:49:43 AM EST
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Re: Another dumb question: (4.00 / 3)

And in Sweden we are getting there. The common view is tilting towards climate change being strange weather, not warmer weather, and journalists and media this autumn tilted en mass - this is a rather typical page during november in Aftonbladet, the largest evening paper. It is a chat with Erland Källén, professor in meteorologi at Stockholm university. The right column is filled with other related news - the papers protestlist against climate change (it is an evening paper after all), an op-ed on climate change, questions to scientists and their answers, and so on, ending with "Five simple tips for your home - save environment and money".

Within that discuorse a cold winter will naturally raise the question of if it is uncommonly cold. Could the Gulf Stream be slowing down already?

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se

by A swedish kind of death on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 09:43:15 AM EST
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Re: Another dumb question: (4.00 / 3)

I should add that I got quite surprised when the papers started to compete with climate change this autumn. But it is the same as with changing political discourse, the whole field can shift at once when there is enough momentum. This can probably be observed in many other areas. Humans being pack-animals and all.

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se

by A swedish kind of death on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 09:46:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Another dumb question: (none / 0)

... next year, when we get a really cold winter, people will start saying "what global warming".

That is why I prefer to use the term 'Global Climate Change.' People get fixated on the gerund - "warming" - and forget the adjective - global. "Global warming" as a Chaotic system means any particular geographical location could end-up being colder or warmer or the same. The local affect is unknowable although it can be stated, with a high degree of confidence, climate is moving towards higher temperatures overall.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 at 12:43:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Dumb question: what's up with the weather? | 30 comments (30 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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