[TheClimate.Vote] May 16, 2017 - Daily Global Warming News
Richard Pauli
richard at theclimate.vote
Tue May 16 08:45:58 EDT 2017
/May 16, 2017/
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0ebaeb14fdbf5dc65289113c1&id=9b4cf97208
*Jim Hansen's April Global Temperature Update
<http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0ebaeb14fdbf5dc65289113c1&id=9b4cf97208>*
Almost a year after the strong 2015-2016 El Nino, global mean
temperature remains well above the pre-El Nino level. Global
temperature with short-term variability removed has been rising
about 0.18C per decades since 1970. Warming of 1.5C above the
1880-1920 mean will be reached in the early 2040s if this rate is
maintained.
The immediate drive for this warming is the planetary energy
imbalance. Warming by itself would reduce the imbalance and the
warming rate, but continued growth of greenhouse gases maintains the
imbalance and the rapid warming rate.
To sign up for our monthly update of global temperature (Maps and
Graphs),click here
<http://columbia.us1.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=0ebaeb14fdbf5dc65289113c1&id=e318b2b9ff>.
Additional figures are on our global temperature web page
<http://www.columbia.edu/%7Emhs119/Temperature/>.
http://*news.mit.edu*/2017/varied-increases-extreme-rainfall-global-warming-0515
Varied increases in extreme rainfall with*global warming*
<http://news.mit.edu/2017/varied-increases-extreme-rainfall-global-warming-0515>
If*global*average temperatures rise by 4 degrees Celsius over the next
hundred years, as many climate models predict given relatively high CO2
emissions, much of North America and Europe would experience increases
in the intensity of extreme rainfall*...*
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/15/uk-faces-sharp-rise-destructive-wind-storms-global-warming
UK faces sharp rise in destructive wind storms due to*global
warming*
<https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/15/uk-faces-sharp-rise-destructive-wind-storms-global-warming>
Even the minimum*global warming*now expected - just 1.5C - is projected
to raise the cost of windstorm destruction by more than a third in parts
of the country.
https://www.*eenews.net*/climatewire/2017/05/15/stories/1060054516
*Carbon tax attempts sweeping the Northeast States
<https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/05/15/stories/1060054516>*
Published: Monday, May 15, 2017
A group of states - predominantly in the Northeast - are renewing
attempts to adopt a carbon tax.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Washington
have all announced legislation that would put a tax or fee on carbon
emissions. In Massachusetts, 80 state lawmakers have sponsored two
bills, one in the House and the other in the Senate.
Massachusetts state Sen. Mike Barrett (D) conceded that legislation
like this could take time to come into effect but added that he's
hopeful.
"My hope is that the Senate, at least, will act in this 2017-2018
session. Then the pressure really builds on the House, the other
branch - the more conservative branch, I might add. I think they
want to see the Senate take the first step," he said.
If Massachusetts' legislation passes, Rhode Island and Connecticut
will be able to go ahead with their bills, both of which are
contingent on Massachusetts' adoption.
Rhode Island state Rep. Aaron Regunberg (D) said this is to prevent
his state from becoming less competitive in the market.
"Understanding the strength of those concerns, we included trigger
language, and we've been working with folks in Massachusetts and
Connecticut and other states to try to be pushing this forward
together," he said.
Many of these states have tried to pass a carbon tax before, but
proponents think they'll be successful this time because of a spike
in interest in the subject (Chelsea Harvey, Washington Post, May
12). - KB
http://*evidencesquared.com*/ep13/
*Evidence Squared Episode 13: THE SCIENCE OF CLIMATE SCIENCE DENIAL*
<http://evidencesquared.com/ep13/>
John Cook and Peter Jacobs critique a National Review article by
Oren Cass that misrepresents their 2016 paper on the scientific
consensus on climate change. They discuss the techniques of climate
science denial, focusing on the technique of fake experts that Cass
uses to cast doubt on expert agreement.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/447617/john-cook-climate-change-consensus-claims-unsupported
*John Cook's Leap of Faith
<http://www.nationalreview.com/article/447617/john-cook-climate-change-consensus-claims-unsupported>*
Those who don't accept absolutist and unsubstantiated claims about a
scientific consensus on climate change are not in 'denial.' Crying
"consensus" to defend absolutist assertions, climate activists are
charging well beyond the threshold of what mainstream science can
support. When they turn back toward the ledge to shout "denial" at
anyone who has not leapt with them, the word no longer means what
they think it does. This was my argument in "Who's The Denier Now?,"
published in National Review last month. John Cook, lead author of
the "97 percent consensus" studies, has responded to that piece by
overstating a consensus in defense of an absolutist assertion and
then accusing me of "denial."
Read more at:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/447617/john-cook-climate-change-consensus-claims-unsupported
http://www.*climatechangenews.com/*2017/05/15/ocean-acidification-global-warmings-forgotten-crisis/
Ocean acidification is*global warming's* forgotten crisis
<http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/05/15/ocean-acidification-global-warmings-forgotten-crisis/>
But a UN meeting this week about climate change and oceans reminds us a
related crisis is unfolding largely away public attention: the one-two
punch of ocean*warming*and acidification. With record temperatures
sweeping over continents year after year*...*
https://www.*sciencedaily.com*/releases/2017/05/170515111532.htm
*How satellite data led to a breakthrough for Lake Erie toxic algal
blooms <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170515111532.htm>*
Carnegie Institution for Science
Summary:
With the growing frequency and magnitude of toxic freshwater algal
blooms becoming an increasingly worrisome public health concern,
scientists have made new advances in understanding the drivers
behind Lake Erie blooms and their implications for lake restoration.
Using data from NASA's Landsat 5 instrument, the researchers
generated new estimates of historical algal blooms in Lake Erie,
more than doubling the number of years previously available for
scientists to investigate, from 14 to 32. (This first study was
published in Remote Sensing of Environment.) Exploring this new
historical record, they discovered that decadal-scale cumulative
phosphorus loading -- that is the runoff that enters the waterway --
helps to predict bloom size in addition to the effects from
same-year phosphorus inputs. The work suggests that it may take up
to a decade to reap the benefits of recently proposed nutrient
loading reductions. (This second study was published in the Journal
of Great Lakes Research.)
Harmful freshwater algal blooms result when excessive amounts of
phosphorus are added to the water, often as runoff from fertilizer.
The excess phosphorus stimulates the growth of aquatic plants and
phytoplankton like the blue-green algae Microcytsis sp., an organism
that produces a toxin affecting the human liver and can also cause
skin irritation.
Nowhere has the problem of toxic algal blooms been felt more acutely
than Lake Erie, which borders the U.S. states of Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario. In the 1960s and
1970s, algal blooms were a major nuisance, but bi-national
phosphorus targets led to lake recovery. More recently, the blooms
have returned with greater intensity and consequences, with
record-setting blooms in 2011 and 2015. Toxins from a Microcystis
bloom in 2014 led to a three-day "do not drink tap water" advisory
for the 500,000 residents of Toledo, Ohio, and the surrounding area.
"The water quality in the western portion of Lake Erie has been
declining for two decades," remarked lead author Jeff Ho. "Some 11
million people depend on Lake Erie for drinking water."
This urgent problem prompted the development of new phosphorus
targets from the bi-national International Joint Commission in 2016.
The new targets are an important step in safeguarding Lake Erie's
water, but recovery is likely to take several years even after the
amount of phosphorus entering the lake has decreased.
http://www.*theolympian.com*/news/local/article149454489.html
*'Extremely high levels' of toxic algae confirmed at Summit Lake
<http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article149454489.html>*
BY LISA PEMBERTON lpemberton at theolympian.com
Thurston County Environmental Health officials are warning people
and pets to stay away from Summit Lake.
Tests confirmed that a blue-green algae bloom on the northwest
Thurston County lake is producing "extremely high levels" of the
toxin Anatoxin-a, a neurotoxin, according to Thurston County
Environmental Health.
A sample taken last week was at 354 micrograms per liter, while just
1 microgram per liter is reason for concern, officials say.
Anatoxin-a is a potent toxin that affects the nervous system.
Symptoms include lethargy, muscle aches, confusion and memory
impairment, according to the state's freshwater algae bloom
monitoring program. If the concentration is high enough, it can
cause death, officials say.
At this time, residents and lake users should not:
▪ Drink water taken from the lake until laboratory tests show the
water is safe. Disinfection, boiling and treatment systems do not
remove or deactivate algae toxin.
▪ Shower in water taken from the lake.
▪ Fish, swim or otherwise be in contact with the water.
▪ Allow pets and children near the water.
For more information on the advisory, call Jane Mountjoy-Venning at
360-867-2643.
https://*arstechnica.com*/science/2017/04/harmful-algal-blooms-occur-more-often-now-that-oceans-are-warming/
*/Toxic algae/on the rise as our oceans warm
<https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/04/harmful-algal-blooms-occur-more-often-now-that-oceans-are-warming/>*
Ars Technica Apr 29, 2017
The rapidly warming Atlantic sees a big boost in toxic
algae..../harmful//algal blooms/have already become more intense.
Some types ...
While the authors only had the data to show a correlation here,
other work has provided a clear mechanism to explain that
correlation: oceanic temperature is known to be one of the most
important environmental factors shaping the structure of ocean algae
growth. Other important factors include availability of nutrients
and presence of predators-these factors work together to control the
occurrence of harmful algal blooms. But sea-surface temperature has
emerged as the most important factor contributing to recent changes
in algal blooms.
http://*civileats.com*/2017/04/27/the-2017-algae-almanac/
*The 2017 Algae Almanac
<http://civileats.com/2017/04/27/the-2017-algae-almanac/>*
Devastating algal blooms are becoming more common-and more toxic-and
agriculture and climate change are prime culprits.
Toxic algae season is upon us...This week hundreds of sea birds
washed up on the Southern California coast, dying from algae
poisoning, and environmental advocates filed suit against the EPA
over algae outbreaks that have turned Lake Erie a sick green again
and contaminated local drinking water.
http://www.*blackstarnews.com*/us-politics/white-house/global-warming-drought-and-coming-crisis-for-the-world%E2%80%99s
*Global Warming*, Drought, and Coming crisis for the World's Farmers
<http://www.blackstarnews.com/us-politics/white-house/global-warming-drought-and-coming-crisis-for-the-world%E2%80%99s>
The points he made were common sense: The majority of the world's poor
in the*Global*South are farmers, and the changing climate is already
making it harder for them to produce the food they need.
https://*undark.org/*2017/05/15/tipping-the-scales-on-climate-change/
Tipping the Scales on*Climate Change*
<https://undark.org/2017/05/15/tipping-the-scales-on-climate-change/>
In its physical, political, and ethical dimensions, the*climate
change*problem is mind-boggling - and perhaps more complex than any
other humanity has ever faced
(video) https://vimeo.com/216194038
"Belief that climate change is happening is at an all-time high, at
70 percent of Americans," noted Leiserowitz, "and that shift upwards
that we've seen in just the past couple years? That's not happened
among Democrats, it hasn't happened among independents, it's
happened among Republicans. And not just liberal-moderate
Republicans. The real shift has happened among conservative
Republicans."
And that, the panel agreed, is reason for hope, given that the
political dimensions to the problem have proven far more difficult
to overcome than the technological ones.
The full panel discussion - along with the debut of Cheney's
visually stunning short film, "Measure of a Fog," can be viewed above.
https://*undark.org*/tag/the-measure-of-a-fog/
*The Measure of a Fog (video series)
<https://undark.org/tag/the-measure-of-a-fog/>*
Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Ian Cheney, whose yearlong Measure
of a Fog series for Undark took a unique look at climate change as a
scale problem
Ethics, Politics, Geoengineering, Energy, Carbon, and Distance.
http://www.*france24.com*/en/20170515-focus-usa-tangier-island-rising-sea-levels-climate-change-islanders-trump
*(video) Climate change*in the US: Tangier Island in Virginia is
disappearing
<http://www.france24.com/en/20170515-focus-usa-tangier-island-rising-sea-levels-climate-change-islanders-trump>
Donald Trump has previously dismissed climate change as a "hoax".
Later this month, the US president will announce whether the country
will leave or reduce its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement.
But just a few hours from the US capital, Tangier Island in Virginia
is slowly disappearing, amid land erosion and a steady rise in sea
levels. Despite the obvious effects of climate change, most
islanders remain staunch Trump supporters. Our correspondent went to
meet them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw1AokdZWPU (6 mins)
(video) Climate change in the US: Tangier Island in Virginia is
disappearing <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw1AokdZWPU>
https://phys.org/news/2017-05-dying-guatemala-lake-underlines-climate.html
Dying Guatemala lake underlines*climate change*threat
<https://phys.org/news/2017-05-dying-guatemala-lake-underlines-climate.html>
Phys.Org -7 hours ago
"*Climate change*is really affecting the lives and future of these
countries and those of our children in Central America," said Hector
Aguirre, coordinator of Mancomunidad Trinacional, a group representing
towns and villages around the junction of the
https://blog.greenamerica.org/2017/05/15/environmental-and-community-groups-urge-delay-on-ferc-commissioner-hearings/
*Environmental and Community Groups Urge Delay on FERC Commissioner
Hearings
<https://blog.greenamerica.org/2017/05/15/environmental-and-community-groups-urge-delay-on-ferc-commissioner-hearings/>*
PRESS RELEASE
National Coalition to Senators: No Vote on FERC Commissioners Until
Hearings on FERC's Abuses and Investigations Into Trump's
Connections to Russia Conclude
President Trump's Recent Firing and Threatening of former FBI
Director James Comey Deepen the Cloud of Suspicion Over the
Administration and FERC Commissioners Directing An Agency Deeply
Tied to National Security.
WASHINGTON, DC – May 15, 2017 – A coalition of national and regional
organizations sent a letter today to Senator Lisa Murkowski,
chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee,
asking that the Committee postpone hearings for President Trump's
*nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)*.
Senator Murkowski has been urging the Trump Administration to move
quickly with FERC commissioner nominations. The organizations
continued their call for the committee to delay nominations in order
to pursue a hearing into multiple and documented reports of FERC
misusing its authority regarding the approval process for
pipelines. FERC's rubber stamping of pipelines negatively impacts
the health and safety, property values, and livelihoods of people
nationwide.
The coalition is also calling on Senator Murkowski to*postpone the
hearings until an investigation into the Trump Administration and
campaign's potential conflicts of interest and ties to foreign
governments can be concluded.* FERC plays a key role in securing
and maintaining the nation's electric power grid and energy
infrastructure overall, which is an important part of the country's
national security. With a cloud hanging over the president that has
only deepened with his firing of and threats against FBI Director
Comey, it would be prudent for the Senate to investigate President
Trump's actions prior to considering any nominees his administration
puts forward the organizations assert.
The full letter to Senator Murkowski can be found here:
http://bit.ly/2pNq0AB . Groups which want to sign on to it can do so
here: http://bit.ly/NoFERCHrgs
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/us/washington-governor-declares-drought-emergency.html
*This Day in Climate History May 16, 2015
<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/us/washington-governor-declares-drought-emergency.html>-
from D.R. Tucker*
The New York Times reports:
"Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency for Washington
on Friday, with mountain snowpack at 16 percent of average and water
levels in rivers and streams drying to a trickle not seen since the
1950s. He said that residents should also be prepared for an early and
active fire season that could reach higher elevations in the Cascade and
Olympic mountain ranges, where many spots are already completely clear
of snow."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/us/washington-governor-declares-drought-emergency.html
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