February 7, 2019
Today is a "first-timer." For the first time, I saw a full page of newspaper articles (in the Vancouver, Wa. Columbian ) about climate change. They're in a section of the paper called "In the Know."
Here's some of what they have to say:
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tells us that between the years 1980 and 2013 - 33 years, for all you math whizzes - our country averaged six disasters a year that cost us at least $1 billion in repairs. In the last five years, since 2019 has just begun, we've averaged more than a dozen such disasters a year. Last year, we endured 14 billion-dollar disasters (remember, $1 billion is the minimum) at a total cost of $91 billion. There were 3 "main events": Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence, and the wildfires out here in the West. Sadly, 2017 was far worse. Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma, as well as massive wildfires in the West, cost a total of $306 billion. All in all, there were 16 "billion-dollar plus" events that year. Experts tell us the trend indicates more and more disasters in the coming years.
- In the same article ("Billion-dollar weather disasters increasing"), we're told that NASA and NOAA independently released data showing that 2018 was the wettest year in the U.S. in 35 years. Furthermore, it was the third wettest since 1895, when record keeping began. Scientists predict that climate change will fuel more intense hurricanes, hotter wildfires and longer wildfire seasons, more severe drought, and more frequent flooding in the years ahead. The commensurate costs will increase with each passing year. Other catastrophes adding to the bottom line include hailstorms, winter storms, tornadoes and record heat. According to Mark Muro, a senior fellow at the Brookings Instituttion, "There's no doubt, the Southwest [will be] the epicenter of negative economic impacts in coming decades."
- If your penchant is alarming news, this should help satisfy your addiction: British meteorologists forecast ("2018 was 4th warmest, next 5 years could break records") that the next five years will be much hotter on a global basis than any year so far, possibly even record breaking. Several agencies, including American and British organizations, have all come to the same conclusion, which is that 2018 was the fourth-warmest year on record, after 2016, 2015, and 2017. Record keeping began in 1880. Potsdam Institute climate scientist Stefan Rahmsdorf says "The trend is going relentlessly up, and it will continue to do so. Those who live in denial of this fact are in denial of physics." According to NOAA, 2018 was the United States' 14th warmest year.
- And in the news, hundreds of school were closed in parts of the Midwest this week. The culprit? Severe winter weather that brought with it freezing rain, snow, and icy temperatures. Power lines were pulled down by ice and falling trees, streets were covered in ice, and rivers flooded by ice jams caused evacuations. As much as a foot of snow fell in the Northern Plains, heightening the effect of wind chills as low as minus 40. Love that polar vortex!
With thanks to the Washington Post and the Associated Press.
Today is a "first-timer." For the first time, I saw a full page of newspaper articles (in the Vancouver, Wa. Columbian ) about climate change. They're in a section of the paper called "In the Know."
Here's some of what they have to say:
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tells us that between the years 1980 and 2013 - 33 years, for all you math whizzes - our country averaged six disasters a year that cost us at least $1 billion in repairs. In the last five years, since 2019 has just begun, we've averaged more than a dozen such disasters a year. Last year, we endured 14 billion-dollar disasters (remember, $1 billion is the minimum) at a total cost of $91 billion. There were 3 "main events": Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence, and the wildfires out here in the West. Sadly, 2017 was far worse. Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma, as well as massive wildfires in the West, cost a total of $306 billion. All in all, there were 16 "billion-dollar plus" events that year. Experts tell us the trend indicates more and more disasters in the coming years.
- In the same article ("Billion-dollar weather disasters increasing"), we're told that NASA and NOAA independently released data showing that 2018 was the wettest year in the U.S. in 35 years. Furthermore, it was the third wettest since 1895, when record keeping began. Scientists predict that climate change will fuel more intense hurricanes, hotter wildfires and longer wildfire seasons, more severe drought, and more frequent flooding in the years ahead. The commensurate costs will increase with each passing year. Other catastrophes adding to the bottom line include hailstorms, winter storms, tornadoes and record heat. According to Mark Muro, a senior fellow at the Brookings Instituttion, "There's no doubt, the Southwest [will be] the epicenter of negative economic impacts in coming decades."
- If your penchant is alarming news, this should help satisfy your addiction: British meteorologists forecast ("2018 was 4th warmest, next 5 years could break records") that the next five years will be much hotter on a global basis than any year so far, possibly even record breaking. Several agencies, including American and British organizations, have all come to the same conclusion, which is that 2018 was the fourth-warmest year on record, after 2016, 2015, and 2017. Record keeping began in 1880. Potsdam Institute climate scientist Stefan Rahmsdorf says "The trend is going relentlessly up, and it will continue to do so. Those who live in denial of this fact are in denial of physics." According to NOAA, 2018 was the United States' 14th warmest year.
- And in the news, hundreds of school were closed in parts of the Midwest this week. The culprit? Severe winter weather that brought with it freezing rain, snow, and icy temperatures. Power lines were pulled down by ice and falling trees, streets were covered in ice, and rivers flooded by ice jams caused evacuations. As much as a foot of snow fell in the Northern Plains, heightening the effect of wind chills as low as minus 40. Love that polar vortex!
With thanks to the Washington Post and the Associated Press.
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