78 F. high temperature in the Twin Cities Friday.
68 F. average high on September 25.
77 F. high on September 25, 2014.
September 26, 1980: Cold morning across Minnesota, with a low of 20 degrees at Tower and 16 at Embarrass.
September 26, 1942: 1.8 inches of snow fell in St. Cloud.
Supernaturally GreenSuper-Sized Summer Continues
I'm thinking of moving to Bemidji. I drove north to give a talk to the American Planning Association
on Thursday.
I was reminded that most of Minnesota is still undeveloped. Untouched.
Pristine. I was amazed to hear that Bemidji has 1 gigabit Internet
speeds. Holy bandwidth!
But I was baffled to see so much green, so
far north, in late September. A few splashes of yellow on sugar maples,
but no vibrant Crayola colors just yet. Our extended summer may dull
fall colors a bit; peak times pushed back at least 1-2 weeks from
average.
Symptoms of the warmest year on record, worldwide, and El Nino? Probably.
One more weekend of shorts and T-shirts: 70s today, 80F
tomorrow
before cooling off next week. No full-frontal Canadian belch of cold
air is brewing; more of a minor correction, with highs in the 60s. You
know, "average". More showers and storms are possible
Wednesday; again next weekend, as a temperature tug-of-war plays out overhead.
Finally, the ECMWF (European) model prints out a possible tropical system near New Jersey on the first
Sunday in October. What can possibly go wrong?
Sunday Night's "Super Blood Moon". It may be a spectacular lunar eclipse, if the weather cooperates, the last one of these until 2013. here's an excerpt from
Discover: "...
Every
object in the solar system casts a shadow. Large objects, like Earth,
create big shadows that can engulf entire worlds, even if those worlds
loom bigger than normal. On the night of September 27/28, the Full Moon
plunges through Earth’s shadow for the second time this year, and this
time, it’s the biggest Full Moon of 2015. The resulting total lunar
eclipse lasts more than an hour and occurs during the evening across the
Americas..."
Photo credit above: "
Earth’s shadow will
cover the Moon in shades of orange and red the evening of September 27,
just as it did during this August 1989 eclipse." Credit: Bill and Sally Fletcher.
Prime Time for Fog.
September is peak month for fog, lazy clouds that form on the ground as
temperatures fall to the dew point. The atmosphere is still moist (rain
lingered longer than expected Thursday) and nights are longer, allowing
the temperature to drop further, increasing the potential for dense
fog. The midday visible satellite on Friday showed morning fog and
stratus giving way to slow clearing. Loop: WeatherTap.
Monday Cool Front - Watching the Tropics.
NOAA's NAM model brings a puff of cooler, more seasonable air to
Minnesota and the Upper Midwest by Monday, possibly sparking a few
showers (ECMWF is wetter for Monday - we'll see). There's little doubt
we'll cool into the 60s for highs next week with some 50-degree highs up
north. Meanwhile we're watching a plume of moisture pushing across the
Gulf of Mexico, and NHC says a 10% chance of tropical storm development
in the coming days well south and east of the Carolinas.
Monsoon Season.
NOAA's 7-day rainfall model ensemble shows some 2-4" amounts for the
Gulf Coast, as much as 5-7" for the Outer Banks of North Carolina - next
week promises to be very wet for the east coast with a nagging flash
flood risk.
Brisk Second Week of October.
No major storms are brewing, but troughiness over the Upper Midwest may
spark bouts of showers with 50s and a few 60s the second week of
October, maybe a few degrees cooler than average. Source:
GrADS:COLA/IGES.
The Ultimate Cold and Flu Survival Guide.
CNN has some timely tips on steps you can take to lower your risk of a nasty bug this winter; here's a snippet: "
Each
year, the typical adult can expect to contract two or three colds,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Skip the
annual flu vaccine and you set yourself up for a bout of that as well.
But it doesn't have to be this way! Aside from good hand washing (with
soap, for at least 20 seconds), "there's a lot you can do to drastically
cut your risk of getting sick," says Holly Phillips, MD, a general
internist in New York City. "And even if you do catch a bug, you may be
able to cut short the duration of your illness." Arm yourself with these
tips from the experts, and make this cold and flu season your
healthiest yet..."
Breathing By The Numbers: Real-Time Global Air Pollution Data. Here's an excerpt of a story at
onEarth: "...
Last
week, a staggering environmental health statistic emerged: Air
pollution is responsible for about 3.3 million premature deaths every
year, more than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. The authors of the study noted that quantifying pollution’s toll has been difficult due to a lack of data. But the World Air Quality Index,
a new interactive map that broadcasts air-quality measurements from
around the globe in real time, is helping us see where in the world we
need to clear the air. Based in Beijing, the project works with
international environmental agencies to glean information from more
than 8,000 government monitoring stations across 1,000 cities..."
Scientists Discover "Weather" on Rosetta's Comet. Here's an excerpt of an interesting post at
Gizmodo: "...
Earth’s favorite comet is chock full of surprises. The latest? Weather, of sorts. According to research
published this week in Nature, Comet 67P has a small weather system
driven by an intense day-night cycle. We got our first hint of comet
weather last August, when the Rosetta probe’s VIRTIS instrument sniffed a
square kilometer-sized patch of ice in 67P’s “neck” region. Turns out,
that ice patch sublimates into a cloud of water vapor when the sun
rises, growing again when the neck rotates into darkness..."
When Tesla and Apple Compete to Out-Do Each Other on Electric Cars, the Planet Wins. Here's a clip from a story at
ThinkProgress: "...
Whatever
the outcome of this fight — and there is room for both companies — the
real winner will be the public and the planet. Because electric cars are
by far the best bet for the carbon-free car of the future as we’ve discussed many times.
If an affordable mass-market EV can be built, hydrogen fuel-cell cars
don’t have a value proposition. Apple’s entry into the arena — including
its decision to triple the size of its car team to 1,800 — makes the
electric car future that much more likely...."
Can Local TV Adapt To An On-Demand World.
I've asked myself that question countless times; how do local
broadcasters evolve their content to go from speech to conversation?
What will make younger consumers want to watch clips on their
smartphones? Relevance comes to mind. Here's an excerpt from
TVNewsCheck: "...
For
network affiliates, this powerful on-demand trend has been mostly bad
news. Stuck in the linear rut, they not only have lost their exclusivity
to network programming (and thus viewership), but they have not been
able to take advantage of the trend themselves. That's because pretty
much the only programming they own is news. And, as I said, news has
limited on-demand value. But is does have some. Whatever it is, stations
have to milk it and many are -- by liberating newscasts from the daily
schedule and making them available along with news clips through various
digital media..."
Always Wear Your Seatbelt In a Tornado.
I have no idea where this was shot (Thailand?) but it's a subtle, yet
blunt, reminder that your seatbelt should be on at all times. I think
the person who got sucked out of the vehicle is OK, but I have no other
details. The video clip is quite remarkable, like nothing I've ever seen
before. Almost like it's CG from a Hollywood movie, but this
YouTube clip was real.
TODAY: Warm sun, beautiful. Winds: SE 7-12. High: 78
SATURDAY NIGHT: Clear and mild. Low: 60
SUNDAY: Sunny, warm winds. Total lunar eclipse Sunday night. Winds: South 10-20. High: 82
MONDAY: Clouds increase - showers develop. Wake-up: 63. High: 72
TUESDAY: Blue sky, cooling off. Wake-up: 57. High: 64
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny, comfortable. Wake-up: 51. High: 65
THURSDAY: Mix of clouds & sun, quiet. Wake-up: 49. High: 67
FRIDAY: Some sun, average temps. Wake-up: 51. High: 68
Climate Stories....Because Weather & Climate are Flip-Sides of the Same Coin:
Pope Francis Tells Congress: Be Courageous, Do Something About Climate Change. Here's an excerpt from
Newsweek: "
In
his address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress Thursday morning,
Pope Francis minced no words when it came to climate change. Referencing
his recent influential encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, the
pope called on the United States to make a “courageous and responsible
effort” to “avert the most serious effects of the environmental
deterioration caused by human activity...”
Photo credit above: "
Speaking slowly and clearly in English, Pope Francis addresses the joint meeting of Congress." Kevin Lamarque/Reuters.
Pope Francis Addresses Congress: Full Remarks. Vox has a transcript of the Pope's remarks on Thursday; here's an excerpt focused on stewardship: "...In
Laudato Si’, I call for a courageous and responsible effort to
"redirect our steps" (ibid., 61), and to avert the most serious effects
of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity. I am
convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the
United States – and this Congress – have an important role to play. Now
is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing
a "culture of care" (ibid., 231) and "an integrated approach to
combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same
time protecting nature" (ibid., 139). "We have the freedom needed to
limit and direct technology" (ibid., 112); "to devise intelligent ways
of... developing and limiting our power" (ibid., 78); and to put
technology "at the service of another type of progress, one which is
healthier, more human, more social, more integral" (ibid., 112). In this
regard, I am confident that America’s outstanding academic and research
institutions can make a vital contribution in the years ahead..."
We Must United to Safeguard God's Creation: Column. Four religious leaders have an Op-Ed at
USA TODAY; here's a clip: "...
We
also have the responsibility to act together for the common good,
especially for those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Climate change and poor air quality are already posing risks to economic
stability and human health. From increases in heat related deaths to
higher numbers of asthma attacks, from lost job opportunities to
increases in food prices, low-income communities, Indigenous
communities and communities of color suffer disproportionately from
climate change impacts, particularly in nations that lack the resources
to help these communities adapt..."
Purdue Study: Climate Change Consensus Extends Beyond Climate Scientists. Here's an excerpt of a press release from
Purdue University:
"
A Purdue University-led survey of nearly 700 scientists from
nonclimate disciplines shows that more than 90 percent believe that
average global temperatures are higher than pre-1800s levels and that
human activity has significantly contributed to the rise. The study is
the first to show that consensus on human-caused climate change extends
beyond climate scientists to the broader scientific community, said Linda Prokopy,
a professor of natural resource social science. "Our survey indicates
that an overwhelming majority of scientists across disciplines believe
in anthropogenic climate change, are highly certain of these beliefs and
find climate science to be credible," Prokopy said..."
Musk: We're Headed for a Climate Refugee Nightmare.
Tech Insider has the story - here's a clip: "
Billionaire
visionary Elon Musk painted a bleak picture of the future on Wednesday
when he said the current refugee crisis is just a glimpse of what we can
expect if nothing is done to address climate change. “Today’s
refugee problem is perhaps a small indication of what the future will be
like if we do not take action with respect to climate change,” Musk
said during his opening remarks at a business seminar organized by the
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Berlin on Thursday..."
File photo above: Michael Nagle/The New York Times.
Exxon's Global Warming Projections Were Nearly Spot On. Here's the intro to a story at
Clean Technica: "
Look at the graph at the top of the post. This is a graph from the now
famous Exxon documents that date to 1981, explaining how Exxon
scientists were projecting global warming with continued release of the
greenhouse gas CO2 into the atmosphere. There is a lot written about
that work which remained secret until just a few days ago. The timing
of this expose is interesting because it comes at about the same moment
as a
call to use US RICO laws to investigate and possibly prosecute those
who seem to have been conspiring for a long time muddy the waters about
the science of climate change in order to put off taking action that
might financially hurt Big Petrol..."
China to Launch National Pollution-Trading System to Cut Emissions.
It's a version of cap and trade; China appears to be serious about
lowering (all) forms of pollution. Their leaders realize they have a
problem that could lead to civil unrest, even revolution. Across much of
China you can't breathe the air, drink the water or eat the food. Other
than that things are going well. Here's an excerpt from
Bloomberg Business: "
China
will start a national pollution-trading system to cut global warming
emissions and make a substantial financial commitment to help poorer
countries move away from fossil fuels, two U.S. officials said. In a
joint announcement with the U.S., China also will outline changes
intended to favor electricity produced domestically by sources that will
pollute less, the officials told reporters on a conference call
Thursday..."
Obama Takes on Climate Change.
The reaction I get from a lot of Republicans is: "If Al Gore and
President Obama are for it a). it must be wrong, and b). I should do
exactly the opposite. Probably not the most intellectually sound
reaction, but this issue has gotten caught up in the political
food-fight. Where can we find consensus? Here's the excerpt of an
interview at
RollingStone: "...
But
if we're going to get our arms around this problem, which I think we
can, then we are going to have to take into account the fact that the
average American right now, even if they've gotten past climate denial,
is still much more concerned about gas prices, getting back and forth
from work, than they are about the climate changing. And if we are not
strategic about how we talk about the issue and work with all the
various stakeholders on this issue, then what will happen is that this
will be demagogued and we will find ourselves in a place where we
actually have slower progress rather than faster progress. So the
science doesn't change. The urgency doesn't change. But part of my job
is to figure out what's my fastest way to get from point A to point B —
what's the best way for us to get to a point where we've got a
clean-energy economy..."
Photo credit above: "
President Obama in Kotzebue, Alaska."
Photograph by Mark Seliger.
Climate Change Reporting in Nation's Leading Newspapers Influenced by Management's Political Leanings, Study Finds.
Is the media "fueling polarization" or merely reporting on the politcal
polarization around climate change? I know...shocking; details and an
excerpt from
phys.org: "
When
it comes to reporting on climate change, the nation's four most widely
read newspapers are being influenced by management's political
positions, despite the tradition in American print journalist that
editorials should not have any effect on straight news coverage..."
Image credit: "
Rutger's
Lauren Feldman says study makes her feel concerned about the media's
role in potentially fueling the polarization around climate change."
The Deeply Moving Video on Climate Change That Every World Leader Should See.
Future Tense at Slate has a link to the video; here's an explanation excerpt: "..
.It’s
rare to find a way to explain all that in two minutes that’s easily
accessible, but that’s exactly what this video does. The poet Savon
Bartley’s message reminds me of another poem, by the Marshall Islands’
Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, which brought leaders to tears
at last year’s General Assembly. It seems the U.N. is beginning to
realize that impenetrable diplomatic jargon just isn’t enough when
you’re talking about the fate of the planet. “We have to reach the
audience that isn’t being spoken to,” Bartley told me. “There’s an
entire generation that has no idea what’s going on...”
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