Climate extremes are 'unprecedented'

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23154073

The Earth experienced unprecedented recorded climate extremes during the decade 2001-2010, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.

Its new report says more national temperature records were reported broken than in previous decades.

There was an increase in deaths from heatwaves over that decade.

This was particularly pronounced during the extreme summers in Europe in 2003 and in the Russian Federation during 2010.

[Demeter]

1. I'm sorry, but I just don't buy the hype any more

When I go to investigate the databases they are using to make such claims, I find that they have maybe 30 years' worth of measurements, in random locations.

People didn't used to have a good way to micro-measure the weather...there wasn't the technology nor the training nor the interest. People didn't obsess about the weather--they coped. They made contingency plans; they worked to survive by building community.

And even today there's uneven data recording, as weather satellites drop out of the sky, wars ravage significantly large areas, funding gets cut... and even now, the data collection process is still quite spotty.

When you want to track climate, 200 years is a good start, 2000 years might show a trend. We don't have that kind of data for the planet. We don't have that kind of data for even specific locations. Much of the historical data is uncorroborated and suspect when it is not incomplete or totally missing.

If we want to influence the weather, reforestation is a proven technique on all continents over thousands of years. But that basic conservation technique goes against High Finance and Big Corporate Plundering.

End the tyranny of Profit Uber Alles, and you will find that Climate is not the crisis that they want you to believe it is.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Maybe you should read the report

Report: http://library.wmo.int/opac/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=15112
Summary: http://library.wmo.int/opac/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=15110

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Foreword[/font]

[font size=3]The first decade of the 21st century was the warmest decade recorded since modern measurements began around 1850. It saw above-average precipitation, including one year – 2010 – that broke all previous records. It was also marked by dramatic climate and weather extremes such as the European heatwave of 2003, the 2010 floods in Pakistan, hurricane Katrina in the United States of America (USA), cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and long-term droughts in the Amazon Basin, Australia and East Africa.

Many of these events and trends can be explained by the natural variability of the climate system. Rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, however, are also affecting the climate. Detecting the respective roles being played by climate variability and human- induced climate change is one of the key challenges facing researchers today.

…

A decadal perspective makes it possible to assess trends and anticipate the future. It can also inform efforts to develop operational climate services that provide information and forecasts for decision-making in agriculture, health, disaster risk, water resources and other sectors. These efforts are being coordinated through the WMO-led Global Framework for Climate Services.

To learn more about the 2001–2010 decade of extremes, including the detailed results of the WMO survey of countries, you are strongly encouraged to read the complete technical report (WMO-No. 1103), which is available online on the WMO website.

…



…[/font][/font]

[intaglio]

3. Ok, so when did Ireland last run out of grass?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s89gh

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/agribusiness-and-food/grass-and-fodder-shortages-forcing-extra-costs-on-farmers-1.1361014
/snip

Farmers should consider early weaning of calves or selling them in an effort to cut costs, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association is advising.

Grass scarcity and fodder shortage following the harsh winter and late onset of spring has left farmers throughout Ireland facing increased costs which is pushing some into financial difficulty.

“Calves born in the autumn can certainly be weaned, even calves born around Christmas time can be weaned,” said Dermot Kelleher, the association’s suckler chairman.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22601090
/snip

The shortage is due to poor weather conditions over the past year and there are reports of cattle dying in fields.

The crisis could cost the farming industry more than a billion euros (£844m), according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.

Its president, John Comer, described the situation as a "catastrophe