What's the Weather Like Elsewhere?

With yet another blast of Arctic air chilling the US and another 6 inches of snow blanketing the ground, the talk about how this particularly cold winter refutes Climate Change has again spiked. I mean, it makes sense, right? Cold weather today, or this week, or last month are indicative of a region's climate from one year to the next, right?

Wrong.

Climate is not daily weather, but long term weather patterns. Big difference. Not to mention, while all of the talk in this country by climate change deniers continues (conversations riddled with dismissals of global warming and what not), Northern Europe is experiencing one of its warmest winters on record. Usually, that region experiences winters like the one we are having now here in the Eastern US. Cold dry air flows down from the Pole and slams into warmer wet air, bringing with it frequent snow events and temperatures in the teens and single digits (Fahrenheit, of course).

But, this winter Europe has had spring like temperatures and very little snow. If you watched the Winter Olympics, you would know that temps in Sochi were abnormally high. My in-laws in Southern Germany (near the Alps) have said it has been so warm that the skiing industry there has suffered greatly due to the lack of snowfall.

You can't discuss global warming without looking at the whole globe. You would think that someone who preaches to look at the big picture wouldn't be so narrow minded. Or so America-centric.

So, when you are looking at things globally, you can't just stick to the West, the Mountain, the Central and the Eastern Time Zones of the United States. There are 20 other times zones across the globe that you need to take into account. Judging by what has happened in Europe, coupled with the record breaking Summer in Australia and South Africa, it is safe to say that the weather has been very abnormal this year...and I mean on a global scale.

Things That Don't Make Sense to Me

Consider for a moment:

Gun-wielding Christian Conservatives who are only concerned with keeping whats their's and do not believe in helping those less fortunate are considered God's chosen people...

...while liberal-minded Christian Environmentalists who are concerned with our negative impact on the environment and how to help those in need to ensure a better and more stable future are considered dishonest fear mongers.

I wonder which category Noah would have fallen into...

Milestones

Thank you everyone! Last weekend I reached 1000 site views for Climate Guy '73. I appreciate everyone coming by and taking a look around.

Even better, Saturday morning I reached 100 views for the week. Thats the most views in one week for this insignificant blog! And there is still the rest of today and tomorrow to go. I guess the new look is working.

It's just 1000 views, I know. But I am enjoying myself here. I hope you are as well.  Here's to the next milestone.

Let's Put Things Into Perspective...

     A lot of people out there are against Wind Farms. They complain about the number of birds that are killed each year by spinning wind turbines, which to them is an enemy of nature. Being a bird lover and an environmentalist, naturally this concerns me. Is it true? Do Wind Farms (either off-shore or on the sides of mountains) kill that many birds? Are some of those birds on the Endangered Species List? Are wind farms going to cause any birds species to become extinct?

     Well, the truth is that birds are killed by Wind Farms. Some of the birds killed each year are indeed on the Endangered Species list. But how many are just killed by wind farms vs other killers of birds? Estimates vary depending on where you find your information and there are more than a few unknowns.

     Let's do a quick and unscientific comparison. Just to get the mind working.

     While wind turbines do kill birds, there are other technologies out there that kill far more birds than all the wind farms combined. For example: buildings, cars, buses, trucks, airplanes, helicopters, boats, highways, pipelines, power lines and canals. Just to name a few. Human activities that also kill birds? Habitat destruction caused by coal mining, oil drilling, deforestation, the filling in of wetlands, oil spills, toxic run-off from refineries, chemical spills and air pollution. Just to scratch the surface. So, when you look at it like that and see the bigger picture...what do you think kills more birds? Wind Farms or all of the things associated with oil and chemical industries?

     Eagles and other birds of prey are the most at risk since they fly with eyes to the ground, searching for prey. If they would only look up! Wind Power companies are working on bird warning systems to prevent birds from flying into wind turbines. So we should see a decline in bird deaths due to wind generated energy. As the industry grows and more turbines are installed, the industry will be able to locate wind farms away from the migratory patterns of birds and help reduce the impact.

     What have the other industries done to reduce their number of bird kills? Have those that say they are against wind energy so they can save the birds stopped driving their cars? Have they stopped flying in planes? Have they divested from companies that pollute the oceans, fill in the wetlands and cut down the forests? Because, that kills birds too.