Coldest December in Sweden in 110 years

And you guys thought last winter was cold. Good thing I'm only there during the summers. Hang in there, summer will come again.

lucky me. Merry Christmas.

Global WHAT!!!! or Mother Nature at her best... Ha! Ha!...

Wait until the Know It Alls tell us that these cold and snowy winters represent CLIMATE CHANGE... and that we poor sots have misunderstood all the SCIENCE out there. You know, the "science" of global warming.

I give it five minutes after I post.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/opinion/26cohen.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

"The reality is, we're freezing not in spite of climate change but because of it."

@saab

Climate is different than weather. My feeling is that you haven't misunderstood the science...but you're simply ignorant and uneducated. Please, prove me wrong. And throw in some creationist hysterics while you're at it. ;-)

Funny how every heat wave and hurricane is caused by global warming, but every deep freeze is 'just weather.'

The definition of a scientific hypothesis is that it is a proposal that is falisfiable. Global warming is not falsifiable - no matter what happens, all outcomes are 'consistent with global warming.' It's the global warming nutters who are the creationists - no evidence will dissuade them of their belief system.

From The Independent, UK:

"Snowfalls are now just a thing of the past

By Charles Onians

Monday, 20 March 2000

Britain's winter ends tomorrow with further indications of a striking environmental change: snow is starting to disappear from our lives.

Sledges, snowmen, snowballs and the excitement of waking to find that the stuff has settled outside are all a rapidly diminishing part of Britain's culture, as warmer winters - which scientists are attributing to global climate change - produce not only fewer white Christmases, but fewer white Januaries and Februaries. "

And:

"According to Dr David Viner, a senior research scientist at the climatic research unit (CRU) of the University of East Anglia,within a few years winter snowfall will become "a very rare and exciting event".

"Children just aren't going to know what snow is," he said. "

Let me repeat that little gem: in the UK, "Children just aren't going to know what snow is,"

These are the same people telling us to turn the modern industrial world upside down. Thanks, but no thanks.

@MarkinBoston: Excellent post

@mojofat: Actually, I am a professor, have several advanced degrees and work in the sciences. You can bet I know something about hypothesis generation, experimental methodology, proof of concept, etc etc. If I did not, I would not be able to put food on the table to feed my family. Indeed, it is precisely when Al Gore-ites decide that what they read in the media or see in a film is The Truth that we should fear for our lives. The big mistake of the Global Warmers is this: you did not argue that we are polluting too much (we are), you did not expose the Chinese for dumping tons of waste into the water and air (they are), you did not remind the West that dependency on Middle East oil has far reaching political and social consequences (it does). Had that been your modus operandi, even Luddites, Birthers and Creationists like me might have joined your cause.

So please leave us alone with your misdirected scare tactics. And insults. Makes you look bad. And that comment, my friend, should send a chill down your spine (pun intended).

Enjoy the sledding!

Unusual loads of Snow in Europe, floods in Australia, South America, melting glaciers all mean one thing - an increase in precipitation which eventually goes into the sea and causes the level to rise and flood low lying land = CLIMATE CHANGE

Comment: @saab: Surely you jest - "The big mistake of the Global Warmers is this: you did not argue that we are polluting too much (we are), you did not expose the Chinese for dumping tons of waste into the water and air (they are), you did not remind the West that dependency on Middle East oil has far reaching political and social consequences (it does)."

While our personal beliefs may differ, I can respect the fact that most individuals choose to believe in a divine being of some sort. I am on the opposite side of the fence, however. This does not mean that either of us have a "misguided" sense of reason, nor does it mean that we are not capable of understanding the truth as it pertains to the science of climate change.

Deduction is part of the scientific process - one might deduce that if someone is a "Global Warmer" they most likely are aware of at least some of the facts you listed in your post, though there is much you left out... I'm assuming for the purposes of keeping it short.

The evidence, in my humble opinion, points to man-induced climate change. A bad winter in one part of the world does not mean the rest of the world is experiencing the same below average temperatures. In fact, extreme weather, even blizzards, can be a by-product of above average global temperatures. As far as flooding and blizzards, one might argue that it is due to more moisture in the atmosphere - a product of higher than average temperatures.

To claim that because someone believes in the greatest man-made disaster in history that we must be big followers of the media, and therefore we must be a mindless buffoons incapable of conducting research on our own is just plain old fashioned ludicrous.

Happy New Year!

Hahaha always something to complain about and to turn into a debate!!!

Why are there no anti-Swedish or racist remarks this time?

What happened? No Chinese readers?

@saab

Now, I know it's popular among the creationist set to claim that after Noah's Ark God super-duper promised not to ever make a big ol' mess on the Earth again. However, a warmer "climate" means there's more energy in the atmosphere...and these models predict more severe weather (i.e., stronger hurricanes, more of them, and, as we transition to this warmer climate, stronger blizzards and even severe winters in the higher latitudes).

I'm curious, what sort of "science" do you work in that affords you the luxury to ignore what is generally regarded as scientific consensus on the matter? Do you doubt evolution as well? Perhaps the theory of gravity is suspect in your mind??

Here are data you may find interesting (Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change http://www.ipcc.ch/):

*Of the last 12 years, 11 have ranked among the warmest years since 1850.

The warming trend of the last 50 years is nearly double that of the last 100 years, meaning that the rate of warming is increasing.

*The ocean's temperature has increased at least to depths of 3,000 meters (over 9,800 feet); the ocean absorbs more than 80 percent of all heat added to the climate system.

*Glaciers and snow cover have decreased in regions both in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, which has contributed to the rise of sea levels.

*Average Arctic temperatures increased by nearly twice the global average rate over the last 100 years (the IPCC also noted that Arctic temperatures have are highly variable from decade to decade).

*The area covered by frozen ground in the Arctic has decreased by approximately 7 percent since 1900, with seasonal decreases of up to 15 percent.

*Precipitation has increased in eastern regions of the Americas, northern Europe and parts of Asia; other regions such as the Mediterranean and southern Africa have experienced drying trends.

*Westerly winds have been growing stronger.

*Droughts are more intense, have lasted longer and covered larger areas than in the past.

*There have been significant changes in extreme temperatures -- hot days and heat waves have become more frequent while cold days and nights have become less frequent.

*While scientists have not observed an increase in the number of tropical storms, they have observed an increase in the intensity of such storms in the Atlantic correlated with a rise in ocean surface temperatures.

Also, during the last 100 years, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have risen from 290 parts per million (ppm) to 369 ppm, with strong evidence pointing to the burning of fossil fuels as a primary cause of these increases. (Source: NOAA http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/ctl/cliihis100.html)

Keep sticking your head in the ground, praying to some supernatural cult figure. The rest of us have the responsibility of trying to save the real world.

mojofat, what makes you believe CO2 is the primary cause? Let's suppose what you list there are all accurate, for the sake of argument.

Sigh. I don't have the space here to rehash the thousands of separate data points, studies, and computer models that have been done on this topic. Here is a fairly in-depth article on the discovery of global warming: http://www.aip.org/history/climate/co2.htm

did you believe those financial computer models "proving" sub-prime mortgage was safe? there were tons of data points too, and what was the "consensus" on that a few years ago? I think the question is, why do these set of papers make sense to you? Few people have read all the stuff out there, including Al Gore. You may have faith in "consensus" pushed by some groups (there are special interest forces behind them, don't you think?), but that's hardly considered scientific.

I thought public schools teach critical thinking. Accepting whatever "consensus" happens to be at the time has very little to do with critical thinking. Sometimes it takes a little boy to see the obvious: The Emperor Has No Clothes.

You're wrong. There wasn't any consensus about sub-prime mortgages...in fact, a lot of economists were sounding the alarm about them. But what does that have to do with climate change?

I don't have to have "faith" in consensus...there are data at hand. What is it you dispute? The 100 years worth of data showing a warming climate? Or do you dispute the effects of releasing billions upon billions of tons of CO2 into the environment every year has to cause such warming? Please enlighten us o'critical thinker...is it all a conspiracy theory so that "socialist muslims" like Obama can destroy America? Maybe a trick by satan to test the faith of the believers?

" why do these set of papers make sense to you? " For starters...again...there is indisputable evidence of a warming planet. Shut your eyes all you wish, but it's there. From multiple, independent sources. Everything from ice cores to ocean temperatures to melting glaciers. I'm not a climatologist, so no I'm not an "expert"...I'm not a physicist either, but I take the experts word when they tell me what the speed of light is (perhaps you dispute that as well?). What are fossil fuels? They are stores of energy many millions of years old...trapped sunlight if you're poetic and philosophical. Not only has the human population doubled in the last 50 years but we've greatly accelerated the releasing of this stored energy. That simplistic explanation coupled with reams of data, predictive computer models, and...yes (gasp!)...the consensus of the scientific community who've spent careers studying this stuff...should be enough for any reasonable person. Is your suggestion we should burn more fossil fuels? I'm curious, are you one of these flat-earthers I've heard about?

I asked "what makes you believe CO2 is the primary cause", you pointed me to some other place. I thought you were able to explain your understanding. When people ask me why I believe in God, I wouldn't say go read the Bible or CS Lewis. If I can't explain it with my words, I probably don't understand my claimed faith very much.

I think CO2 is blamed as the cause is because the greenhouse effect, you seem to suggest that "the releasing of this stored energy" from burning fossil fuels causes global warming. Am I missing something?

Just went up the east coast of the USA, so it may head your way?

Sorry, I don't have all the conversions for these.

Strong Winds Recorded Across The State

New London: 68mph

Bridgeport: 60mph

New Haven: 60pmh

Danbury: 60 mph

Groton: 59mph

Madison: 56mph

Meriden: 54mph

Waterbury: 55mph

New Haven: 54mph

Groton: 52mph

Preliminary Snowfall Totals Begin Coming In

Wilton: 18 inches

Norwalk: 16 inches

Bristol: 15 inches

Canan: 14 inches

Danbury: 14 inches

Middletown: 12.75 inches

Burlington: 12 inches

Colebrook: 12 inches

Harwinton: 12 inches

South Windsor: 10 inches

Gales Ferry: 7.5 inches

By the way, did those "predictive computer models" predict the global temperatures (let's assume they can measure global temperatures accurately) were basically flat in the past 15 years or so, while the CO2 emission kept moving upward?

@samwise

Where do you get your info? Ahhh...yes, nevermind. Anyway, of the last 12 years, 11 have ranked among the warmest years since 1850. So what is leading you to state that "the past 15 or so" have been flat?

The reason I pointed you to "those other places" is because I was citing my statements. I bet it would do you some good to actually read those sources and reflect upon them. I answered your question in addition to citing the reasons for my answer. This is like having a conversation with a wall.

You and your ilk are on the wrong side of history on this one.

Here is one of the sources about the 15 years flat temperatures claim.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1335798/Global-warming-halted-Thats-happened-warmest-year-record.html

Did you suggest that "the releasing of this stored energy" from burning fossil fuels causes global warming? I may be on the wrong side of history, but I still want to know if I understand you correctly.

Carbon dioxide traps heat at the surface of the planet. The Keeling curve shows a steady increasing level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/science/earth/22carbon.html?ref=science

2010 would be probably one of the three warmest years on record by the World Meteorological Organization, and 2001 through 2010 the warmest decade. Yet it's cold and snowy in most of Europe and eastern United States. It's because the globe warming has been affecting the snow cover in Siberia.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/opinion/26cohen.html?src=me&ref=homepage

From Rose's article: "...global temperatures have been flat, not for ten, but for the past 15 years." Well, he's just flat out wrong. As wrong as he was when he wrote unequivocally that Saddam Hussein was joined with Al Qaeda. This is typical sensationalist writing for this tabloid. Please, can you provide any better source material? Like an NGO, an academic journal, an actual scientist?

I've provided you with plenty of credible material...you should read it. Don't rely on just tabloids or the ranting of your conservative tea-bagger church groups. On one side, you have Republicans (with vested corporate interests) and religious nuts who say global warming isn't possible or it isn't happening. On the other side, you have well-credentialed scientists who study this for a living explaining in fairly specific terms that it is happening. To me, it's a no-brainer who is more believable on this matter.

As for my statement about releasing stored energy. Fossil fuels contain large amounts of carbon. The burning of these fuels produces large amounts of carbon dioxide as a byproduct. Carbon dioxide contributes to global warming by absorbing heat energy from the earth, trapping it and preventing its release into space. CO2 does not, however, absorb the light energy from the sun. In short, carbon dioxide lets in the light energy emitted by the sun but traps the earth's heat energy. Rising levels of carbon dioxide mean that more of the earth's heat energy is trapped. I think you're correct in saying that maybe my earlier statement wasn't very clear...rereading it now I think I was just going stream of consciousness. I didn't mean to suggest it was the release of energy that was causing climate warming, only that the exercising of this stored energy is connected to the increase in CO2 levels.

"Now we have seen a decade of little change in the average global temperature — but that doesn't mean climate change has stopped, it's just another part of natural variability." From the AGW camp the british MET.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climatechange/policymakers/policy/slowdown.html

I can see you work pretty hard explaining the "releasing stored energy" thing. Is nuclear power considered a form of releasing stored energy too? If so, why is that a problem of global warming? I'm glad I didn't ask the question about population growth you addressed, who knows what "byproduct" your explanation produces.

You didn't answer my question "what makes YOU believe CO2 is the PRIMARY　ＣＡＵＳＥ" though. In other words, why CO2? Note "it can" doesn't prove "it is", why there are no other factors, and/or other factors don't contribute?

The best thing about this AGW theory is that we can probably see what it turns out, with our naked eyes. It'll be very clear by 2020, don't you think?

Some of you cite the New York Times, scientific reports, statistical analyses. Some of you blovivate, and some of you (sigh) cite the Daily Mirror.

this is a BBC report from 2009, hope it feels credible in your sight.

"But it is true. For the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8299079.stm

_{Comment removed by The Local for breach of our terms.}

From reading that article it sounds like there are a handful, at most, of people who claim global warming is caused by other factors than man made reasons. And then an overwhelming consensus of scientists who have data to back up their reasoning...hmmm, not really sure what you were intending by posting that article. Other than cherry picking the above quote.

Again, visit any of the links I've posted above. NASA also has a good site dedicated to tracking earth's vital signs: http://climate.nasa.gov/. There you can see the past decade is the hottest on record. They have a good section on the causes: http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/. You may need to pull your head out of your rear though before any of this starts making sense. Good luck with that...judging by your comments, it's pretty well lodged in there.

first, you didn't acknowledge the global temperatures were basically flat in the recent 10+ years.

then, you dismissed the source.

after all that, you still didn't respond my original question: did those "predictive computer models" predict the global temperatures (let's assume they can measure global temperatures accurately) were basically flat in the past 15 years or so, while the CO2 emission kept moving upward?

What causes the flat global temperatures is a separate issue, I hope you understand that. The fact that you are not aware of the information does not help your point.

You're the first one I've seen linking releasing stored energy to global warming.

I should have asked: what conditions are required to prove CO2 is the PRIMARY CAUSE of global warming, logic wise? It should be implied when I asked what makes you believe...Apparently it's not as obvious as I thought.

By the way, Merry Christmas and happy new year.

There's this neat and tidy scientific axiom called Le Chatelier's Principle that states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Thus any increase in CO2 production on earth would be absorbed by the adaptation of plant life which uses CO2 during photosynthesis to produce food and oxygen. Were it not for the massive reduction in trees and other plant life currently being thrust upon the earth in the name of clearing land for the planting of corn for use in "biofuels" and for windmills and solar fields, of course. Sigh.

Anyway, a bit frustrating to read the stories about the Swedish weather without specifics; what are the actual average and extreme temperatures being experienced this winter in Sweden? What are the normals?

Lets make sure I have this right

Warm winters are due to Global Warming.

No snow is due to Global Warming.

Cold winters are due to Global Warming.

Lots of snow is due to Global Warming.

Droughts in Australia are due to Global Warming.

Floods in Australia are due to Global Warming.

Katrina destroying New Orleans was due to Global Warming.

No landfall hurricanes this year was due to Global Warming.

Election of Obama was due to Global Warming.

Destruction of Zimbabwe was due to Glibal Warming.

An increase in the Atlantic Gulf Stream is due to Global Warming

A reduction in the Atlantic Gulf Stream is due to Global Warming

All we need now is an increase in prosecutions of the scam artist pushing the global warming scam.

It is climate change, that leads to a rise in the level of the sea and an increase in the average temperature.

Go ahead ridicule and stick your head in the sand with the rest of the Neanderthals. Just do not come crying when you are over your head in flood water