General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAs a heat wave rolls across U.S., scientists predict more to come
Climate scientists have this to say about the record-breaking heat wave rippling across the country: Get used to it.
This weeks spike toward triple-digit temperatures is unusual, they say. But as Earth gets warmer and greenhouse gases build, highs will keep getting higher.
There have always been heat spells, said Glen MacDonald, the director of the UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Thats just the climate system. But
if youre generally warming things, you have a greater chance to reach new highs. Your hot spells become even hotter than they had in the past.
According to federal climate data, dozens of heat records have fallen or been tied in the past week, and even more in the past month. In the past 30 days, the number of broken daily records climbed beyond 2,360, hitting nearly 35,000 over the past year.
more...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-heat-wave-climate-20120629,0,1202636.story
video also at the link.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)It was really weird. Continuous lightning and very high winds. No doubt the very hot weather fueled it.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/record-heat-scorches-washington-region/2012/06/29/gJQAgOlUCW_story.html
Still over a million people out of power. Im one of the lucky few who have power.
NutmegYankee
(16,177 posts)It' going to hit 100 degrees again today but there is no AC.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Maybe by then the power will back on. Hope so for your mother and others without power.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I can't afford to cool the whole house down enough, but I do use a window unit for one room, ( the one with the puter, natch) and hunker down here for most of the hottest days.
Best investment I have made, very low cost to buy.
NutmegYankee
(16,177 posts)The storms have knocked out the power for 1.5 million people in the DC area.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)I am very aware my physical condition makes no A/C dangerous, but at least have the option to find a motal for a few days if power goes out here.
NutmegYankee
(16,177 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)A violent line of organized severe thunderstorms called a derecho swept across the U.S. from Illinois to Virginia on Friday, damaging houses, toppling trees, bringing down power lines. The storms killed six people in Virginia, two in New Jersey, and one in Maryland, and left at least 3.4 million people without power.
Friday's derecho began near Chicago in the early afternoon, then marched east-southeast, peaking in intensity over Virginia and Washington D.C. on Friday evening. The derecho was unusually intense due to the extreme heat, which helped create an unstable atmosphere with plenty of energy to fuel severe thunderstorms.
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2141
xchrom
(108,903 posts)Xipe Totec
(43,872 posts)NoMoreWarNow
(1,259 posts)greiner3
(5,214 posts)You forgot the 'sarcasm' icon.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)morningglory
(2,336 posts)raccoon
(31,089 posts)neeksgeek
(1,214 posts)raccoon
(31,089 posts)brovibes
(5 posts)Last night I was just staring at my window at the madness of it all. It felt like a tornado of heat was blowing through northern virginia and my power kept fluctuating on and off, luckily my power remains.
greiner3
(5,214 posts)And thanks for my new Sig line to Gmail; "There is no medicine to cure Stupidity"
AsahinaKimi
(20,776 posts)you are welcome. Also come by the Asian group, we are building up some interesting Japanese sayings.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)Where are they now? Where are the climate scientists with global warming warnings now? It's 100 in many cities today. We are a receptive bunch. Take advantage of the heat to get the message out.
Edit: I know Bill Mckibben is out front every day with warnings and info, but where is everybody else.
nobodyspecial
(2,286 posts)Climate change is more accurate and understandable than global warming for just the reason you cited.
flamingdem
(39,304 posts)and that it's gone to far -?
I'd like to hear something assuring but the truth is there wasn't enough will to stop this, worldwide.
Ezlivin
(8,153 posts)I believe that the PTB are not dumb; they are very well-informed and know that the climate is warming.
But I suspect that they know:
- The cost to try to mitigate it now is astronomical;
- It's too late to successfully mitigate it;
- People would riot if they knew industry had covered this up and doomed us;
- You have to make your own personal life raft as comfortable as possible.
flamingdem
(39,304 posts)We all have to confront this, maybe that's why there is silence ... people are absorbing what it means.
NickB79
(19,113 posts)Life rafts are what we need to strive for. For example, I'm a big follower of the Transition Town movement. While it was originally designed to address Peak Oil, the principles of local sustainability are just as applicable to dealing with the impacts of climate change.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Bandit
(21,475 posts)The coldest and wettest May and June anyone can remember.....I am not complaining though, not at all. Fifty degrees is just fine and as far as being wet, the trees and grass love it...
uppityperson
(115,674 posts)sitting here with a blanket on my shoulders, watching it drizzle into the tall grass. Slugs love it.
raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)To agree otherwise would be admitting they have spent their lives mortgaging the future of every living thing on this planet for short term luxury for themselves.
They will never be convinced. There will always be a shield between Wall St and the fruits of the labor they nurture. Comforting and protecting them in gilded, climate controlled towers while we all suffer the agony of their indifference.
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)And by the time people realize there is a problem, it'll be too late.
But there are two problems. People cannot even agree there is a problem. And people don't act until there are symptoms.
The prognosis is bad.