Wow! White House sends out its climate big gun to educate about the 'polar vortex'

[ProSense]

Wow! White House sends out its climate big gun to educate about the 'polar vortex'

by VL Baker.

In amazing news, the White House is taking an aggressive move to educate about the effects of climate change by releasing a highly produced scientific video entitled, "The Polar Vortex Explained in 2 Minutes."

In the video, White House science adviser and physicist John Holdren dismantles silly claims that cold weather refutes global warming. "The fact is that no single weather episode can either prove or disprove global climate change," explains Holdren. He then describes how, in fact, climate change could make extreme winter weather in the mid-latitudes more common. "A growing body of evidence suggests that the kind of extreme cold being experienced by much of the United States as we speak is a pattern that we can expect to see with increasing frequency as global warming continues," Holdren asserts.

With the news that climate coverage has drastically dropped in U.S. media, the information that the White House will be aggressive in its coverage is much welcomed and perhaps shows that they are preparing to be more advancing in climate policy.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/15/1269821/-Wow-White-House-sends-out-its-climate-big-guns-to-educate-about-the-polar-vortex

[adirondacker]

1. The National Weather Service is a treasure trove of everything you ever wanted to know. It's a shame

more people aren't directed to their site for information. It's an agency I have personal experience with and high regards for.
Instead, they tune to the corporate clowns on the Weather Channel

I only turn to the local weather channel if there is something major happening and the local doppler has higher resolution. Otherwise I can usually see the longterm forecast in much more detail and accuracy on the NWS site.

[ProSense]

2. People who are in denial aren't going to go there. n/t

[adirondacker]

3. True, but I think it has more to do with an uneducated public. Teachers should be directing their

students to this site, and the Government could do more in promoting it to the general public. I have a relative that is a long time ski patroler and he just found out about the snowfall probability map via a friend of his that is a pilot.

http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/winter_wx.shtml#snow

I also realize not everyone is interested in science, but there should be safe havens that they can go to if they desire.

I'm glad to see the Whitehouse taking action on dispelling the myths and appreciate you posting the clip. It's a good start.

[ProSense]

8. Good idea, it should be introduced as part of a science curriculum. n/t

[emmadoggy]

6. I love the NOAA.gov site and the

National Weather Service. I get ALL my weather from there. What little I've seen of the Weather Channel led me to believe it was useless dreck.
Our local stations are decent, but I can get much more info and details from the NWS.

[Cha]

4. Thank you, ProSense and The White House.. looking

at you Pres Obama.

[Harmony Blue]

5. This was a good video to explain it to the everyday American

It was brief, but insightful, and could be comprehended as most of the jargon used in geo-sciences was not utilized. The best way I have convinced economic conservatives in the state of Florida that climate change is real is from the money angle. Economic conservatives understand the money angle and the fact that home insurance in designated flood zones in Florida will rise and continue to rise due to sea level rise because of global climate change. Most of the human population on earth lives on the coasts and the largest cities in the world are on the coasts (China has the most). Home insurance is about the bottom line and that is they can't ignore the data and must create new policies to reflect the new flood zones and high risk areas.

Unfortunately the remaining die hards and deniers of global climate change are religious conservatives, but they can't be swayed by facts or information. They are pretty much a lost cause.

[liberalla]

7. K&R