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<i><font size="+1"><b>August 27, 2020</b></font></i><br>
<br>
[Serious hurricanes]<br>
<b>Hurricane Laura Moves Inland Across Louisiana With Damaging
Winds, Flooding Rain and Tornadoes After Category 4 Landfall<br>
</b><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2020-08-27-hurricane-laura-landfall-forecast-louisiana-inland-flooding-wind">https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2020-08-27-hurricane-laura-landfall-forecast-louisiana-inland-flooding-wind</a><b><br>
</b>- -<br>
<b>Oil Industry Shuts Platforms, Rigs, Refineries Before Storm</b><br>
The energy industry is bracing for catastrophic storm surges and
winds as Hurricane Laura cuts a dangerous path toward the coastlines
of Texas and Louisiana.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-08-26/oil-industry-shuts-platforms-rigs-refineries-before-storm">https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-08-26/oil-industry-shuts-platforms-rigs-refineries-before-storm</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
[California Fires]<br>
<b>Check incidents map</b><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/">https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/</a><br>
- -<br>
<b>Check interactive smoke map</b><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://fire.airnow.gov/?lat=47.7167616&lng=-122.3262208&zoom=10">https://fire.airnow.gov/?lat=47.7167616&lng=-122.3262208&zoom=10</a><br>
- -<br>
[Colorado fire]<br>
<b>Pine Gulch Fire could become largest in Colorado history</b><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://wildfiretoday.com/2020/08/26/pine-gulch-fire-could-become-largest-in-colorado-history/">https://wildfiretoday.com/2020/08/26/pine-gulch-fire-could-become-largest-in-colorado-history/</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
[Top opinion]<br>
<b>On Climate Change, We've Run Out of Presidential Terms to Waste</b><br>
By Bill McKibben - Aug 26, 2020<br>
- - <br>
This is one of those terrifying moments in the early history of the
global-warming era. As of this writing, Hurricane Laura is headed
for the coasts of Texas and Louisiana as a monster storm; meanwhile,
the West has been erupting in flames. In California, a heat wave
that had produced record-high temperatures ran into a dry storm
that, within a couple of days, produced a tenth of the state's
average annual lightning discharges. (Increase the planet's
temperature just a degree Celsius, by the way, and you increase
lightning activity by about twelve per cent.) Authorities told all
forty million people in California to be prepared to
evacuate--indeed, they told them to park their cars facing out of
the driveway, in case they had to leave in seconds. But the pandemic
has made evacuation more complicated, because heading to a shelter
might carry its own dangers, and it has left California's
firefighting force depleted, because the state relies on prison
inmates, a group that has been hit especially hard by covid-19, to
fill out its ranks. And that's just California. The flooding crisis
in China intensified again last week, as record amounts of water
poured into the reservoir behind Three Gorges Dam.<br>
<br>
Here's what this means: if Joe Biden and Kamala Harris take over the
White House, in January, they're going to be dealing with an
immediate and overwhelming climate crisis, not just the prospective
dilemma that other Administrations have faced. It's not coming; it's
here. The luxury of moving slowly, the margin for zigging and
zagging to accommodate various interests, has disappeared. So, if
the Democrats win, they will have to address the pandemic and the
resulting economic dislocation, and tackle the climate mess all at
the same time. Any climate plan must be, in some way or another, the
solution to the current widespread loss of jobs...<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-a-warming-planet/on-climate-change-weve-run-out-of-presidential-terms-to-waste">https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-a-warming-planet/on-climate-change-weve-run-out-of-presidential-terms-to-waste</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
[video travelogue]<br>
<b>Greenland Surface Air Temperature Changes and Implications for
Melt and Mass Balance Change</b><br>
Aug 26, 2020<br>
Paul Beckwith<br>
A new paper by Hanna et al. shows how weather stations on Greenland
operating over 3 decades (1991-2019) show 4.4C warming in winters
and 1.7C warming in summers. For each 1C of summer warming, there is
91GT of surface mass loss (Melt - Snowfall) and 26GT of discharge
(Calving + Submarine Melt). The Greenland Blocking Index shows that
high pressure blocking has strengthened in Spring and Summer in
recent decades, greatly increasing net ice mass loss. Previously
solid surface ice in regions like Swiss Camp now have crevasses, one
of which Konrad Steffen recently perished in.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G7nfywF9AI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G7nfywF9AI</a><br>
<p><br>
</p>
<br>
[Arctic as military theater - THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE & SECURITY]<br>
<b>Emerging Threat: As the Arctic Melts, Russian Plans to Militarize
Could Create a Nuclear Hotspot</b><br>
By Jasmine Owens<br>
New opportunities are arising for various countries as climate
change devastates the Arctic. However, Russia has already begun to
stake its claim by increasing its military presence in the region.<br>
<br>
The Arctic is experiencing momentous transformations as climate
change wreaks havoc in the region. It is warming at twice the rate
than the rest of the world. This is creating a positive feedback
loop: as the temperatures rise in the Arctic, the sea ice that used
to reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere is melting more, which
causes the darker ocean water or land to absorb more light and thus
increases the temperatures in the region. Due to the rising
temperatures, the Arctic is predicted to be completely ice-free
during the summer by 2050, even if significant international action
is taken now to reduce carbon emissions. There is also a major
concern that over time, the Arctic will lose all ability to produce
ice, leaving it ice-free year-round.<br>
<b><br>
</b><b>Russia & Climate Change</b><br>
However, the effects of climate change in the region are not limited
to the Arctic. Russia has been warming at a rate of 2.5 times faster
than the entire planet since the mid-1970's. Large parts of Russia
are- and will continue to be- greatly impacted by climate change.<br>
An extensive report published by the Center for Strategic and
International Studies detailed how Russia plans to utilize the
melting of the Arctic to further its own national security
interests. According to the report, there are three overarching
goals of Russia's military presence in the Arctic: to boost defense
along its northern border, especially as interest in the Arctic
begins to rise due to ice melt and potential new passageways; to
protect its economic future; and, to establish a stage upon which it
can project power.<br>
<br>
<b>Arctic Territory & Russia's Nuclear Posture</b><br>
The main issue lies with the fact that Russia views the Northern Sea
Route (NSR), its maritime passage, as a domestic passageway, while
other countries see it as an international passageway. As Russia
increases its control over the area, tensions will surely rise as
other countries seek to use the passageway as well. China has
already expressed interest, creating plans for a "Polar Silk Road"
once the Arctic becomes ice free...<br>
- -<br>
As Russia increases its military and nuclear presence in the Arctic,
it will become increasingly difficult for other countries to utilize
the region without conflict arising. It is important to watch this
region as climate change persists, to see how Russian actions in the
name of national security will influence broader international
security.<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://climateandsecurity.org/2020/08/emerging-threat-as-the-arctic-melts-russian-plans-to-militarize-could-create-a-nuclear-hotspot/">https://climateandsecurity.org/2020/08/emerging-threat-as-the-arctic-melts-russian-plans-to-militarize-could-create-a-nuclear-hotspot/</a><br>
<br>
<p><br>
</p>
[Boston - Sen Ed Markey ]<br>
<b>The climate case against Ed Markey</b><br>
As a senator, Markey has played a big role fighting the climate
crisis. As one of the main congressional critics of nuclear power in
the 1980s, he also played a big role creating it.<br>
When Ed Markey arrived in Congress, in 1976, American utility
companies were in the early stages of a major transition, building
the next generation of electric power plants. Decades before wind
and solar became viable, and after the early '70s oil crisis scared
utilities and regulators away from oil-fired plants, most utilities
had only two viable options: coal or nuclear power.<br>
<br>
At around the same time, scientists began ramping up their warnings
that coal had a downside -- even beyond pollution that causes
thousands of annual deaths. Burning coal also releases carbon
dioxide that causes global warming.<br>
<br>
"We may have to limit our burning of fossil fuel because of a
possible C02 catastrophe," Alvin Weinberg, former head of the Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, wrote in 1977, citing studies predicting
a noticeable increase in world temperatures by 2025. "It may result
in a complete destruction of the Arctic sea-ice," said the first
issue of Climate Change, published the same year...<br>
- - <br>
As the "establishment" predicted, the world is now in the grips of
climate change, and faces almost unfathomable costs to limit the
damage. Of all the what-ifs and could-have-beens, one of the
greatest tragedies is that the technology existed to stop the crisis
before it started, and New England and other parts of the world were
even shifting in that direction -- but, under pressure from leaders
like Markey, chose to stop.<br>
<br>
So why does Markey get such a pass? The reality is that many
environmentalists made the same miscalculation he did -- that the
world could forgo nuclear power and still avoid catastrophe with
renewables and energy conservation. Some of them even misled the
public in the same way. At a separate 1980 hearing, for instance, a
Union of Concerned Scientists witness testified that "the major
barrier to the transition to coal which will take place is the
perception that coal is a dirty fuel; if we move to more coal we are
inevitably sacrificing our environment. This is not the case."<br>
<br>
Honestly reckoning with the legacy of the anti-nuclear movement
would also complicate the crop of lawsuits against the fossil fuel
industry, which revolve around the narrative that climate change is
a fate oil companies tricked us into -- rather than one that
Americans, including environmentalists, chose. Doug Foy, who as the
head of the Conservation Law Foundation led the effort to derail
Boston Edison's planned transition to a more decarbonized portfolio
-- on the basis of its cost, ironically -- even claimed recently,
"In the early '80s climate change wasn't on anyone's radar."<br>
<br>
But that's not true. As Markey himself said, by 1980 the greenhouse
effect had "turned a lot of people off to coal." Markey and his
allies just weren't yet among them. The world is living with the
consequences.<br>
<br>
Alan Wirzbick is Globe deputy editor for editorials.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/26/opinion/climate-case-against-ed-markey/">https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/26/opinion/climate-case-against-ed-markey/</a><br>
<br>
<p><br>
</p>
<br>
[Digging back into the internet news archive]<br>
<font size="+1"><b>On this day in various years of history of global
warming - August 27 </b></font><br>
<p><b>1989: The New York Times reports:</b><br>
"Top Soviet and American scientists, environmentalists,
policymakers, industry leaders and artists today urged President
Bush and President Mikhail S. Gorbachev of the Soviet Union to
form an 'environmental security alliance' to reverse what they
fear could be a catastrophic warming of the planet.<br>
<br>
"The gathering urged that the superpowers promote energy-efficient
technologies and phase out production and use of
chlorofluorocarbons no later than the year 2000. The group said
the countries should 'substantially reduce' carbon dioxide
emissions, reduce the loss of forests and promote tree planting
worldwide. Participants asked that the two leaders appeal directly
to their citizens to help.<br>
<br>
"The joint letter avoided specific goals to achieve a compromise
between the Soviet and American participants and within the
American contingent, even though some participants had wanted
specific numerical and time goals on cutting emissions. But it
represented the most concerted Soviet-American action yet over
fears that the emission of industrial chemicals into the
atmosphere is causing a worldwide warming trend, or 'greenhouse
effect.'<br>
<br>
"'Soviet and U.S. scientists agreed that continued buildup of
greenhouse gases at present rates will insure that global
temperatures rise before the middle of the next century above
anything in human history,' an accompanying report stated. The
report said disruptions in agriculture and rising sea levels would
cause 'massive refugee problems.'"<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/27/us/summit-of-sorts-on-global-warming.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm">http://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/27/us/summit-of-sorts-on-global-warming.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm</a>
<br>
<br>
<b>2004: The New York Times reports that in an interview the
previous day with President George W. Bush</b>, he "appeared
unfamiliar with an administration report delivered to Congress on
Wednesday that indicated that emissions of carbon dioxide and
other heat-trapping gases were the only likely explanation for
global warming over the last three decades. Previously, Mr. Bush
and other officials had emphasized uncertainties in understanding
the causes and consequences of global warming.<br>
<br>
"The new report was signed by Mr. Bush's secretaries of energy and
commerce and his science adviser. Asked why the administration had
changed its position on what causes global warming, Mr. Bush
replied, 'Ah, we did? I don't think so.'<br>
<br>
"Scott McClellan, Mr. Bush's press secretary, said later that the
administration was not changing its position on global warming and
that Mr. Bush continued to be guided by continuing research at the
National Academy of Sciences."<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/27/us/the-2004-campaign-the-president-bush-dismisses-idea-that-kerry-lied-on-vietnam.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/27/us/the-2004-campaign-the-president-bush-dismisses-idea-that-kerry-lied-on-vietnam.html</a>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/27/politics/campaign/bush_excerpts.html?pagewanted=all">http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/27/politics/campaign/bush_excerpts.html?pagewanted=all</a>
<br>
<br>
<b>2007: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann mocks a shameless climate lie
from Fox News Channel's Brit Hume:</b><br>
"New Scientist magazine reporting University of Washington
mathematics and atmospheric science Professor Ka-Kit Tung's very
complex findings about solar activity and the heating atmosphere.
It writes, 'Climate change skeptics may seize on the findings as
evidence that the sun's variability can explain global warming,
but Professor Tung says quite the contrary is true.' So, of
course, Brit Hume seizes on the findings as evidence that the
sun's variability can explain global warming.<br>
<br>
"'Skeptics,' Hume mumbled, 'are increasingly certain that the
scare is vastly overblown. New research by University of
Washington mathematicians shows a correlation between high solar
activity and periods of global warming.' Come on, Brit, don't make
these so easy for me."<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/08/28/hannity-is-olbermanns-worst-person-for-defendin/139696">http://mediamatters.org/research/2007/08/28/hannity-is-olbermanns-worst-person-for-defendin/139696</a>
<br>
<br>
</p>
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