I woke up this morning to a surprisingly frank and sober discussion on Face the Nation, about Weather vs Climate, Extreme Weather events as they relate to Climate Change.
The general consensus of the expert panel is that Climate Change is real, and Climate Change is a serious problem, that deserves our attention as a nation. Even Bob Schieffer seems to be catching on to the "fact" of a warming planet.
Here it is in case you missed it:
Extreme weather patterns and the possible role of climate change
Face the Nation, CBS -- May 26, 2013
link to video
WFOR's Chief Meteorologist David Bernard, Climate Central's Chief Climatologist Heidi Cullen, TIME Magazine's Jeffrey Kluger and American Meteorological Society President Marshall Shepherd discuss recent extreme weather events, the upcoming hurricane season, and the role of climate change in recent disruptive events.
Bob Schieffer even presented this "warming trends" map, as a primer for discussion:
Here's my partial transcript of some of the more insightful observations:
[3:30]
Climate Central's Chief Climatologist Heidi Cullen:
It's not going to get any better if we don't do anything about it. Right now we've added about a degree and an half of warming to our atmosphere, the planet is that much warmer. And so what were taking about is, how does that extra a degree and an half effect our day to day weather. And so right now, the jury is still out on how Global Warming will effect tornadoes -- which of those two variables will win out. But when it comes to things like heat waves, when it comes to things like heavy rainstorms, drought, wildfires -- we know that the atmosphere is 'On Steroids' if you will.
So basically we know we have to live with weather-related risks. We live in a country that has always seen extreme weather. Were basically moving in a direction where were going to see more and more of certain of these extremes. And as we heard before, that stuff is really expensive.
[...]
[7:20]
American Meteorological Society President Marshall Shepherd:
What's most important about that, is that on top of this 'natural variability' as Heidi mentioned, we now have a steroid. Think of a basketball player, I mean, I'm a big basketball fan, were in the middle of the playoffs right now. A basketball [basket is] 10-feet high -- think of it this way, Climate Change is actually adding about a foot to the basketball floor, so that more people can dunk the basketball. There's just more amplification: that warmer and more moist climate is amplifying, as Heidi mentioned, some of the weather systems that we see.
And one quick point I want to make: I often get the question, well what's the big deal, 1 and 1/2 degree? Well if our child gets a 1 and 1/2, or a 2 degree fever -- that may not sound like a lot, but our body responses to that; our climate systems as well. But the scary news is were talking about an additional 3 to 10 -- to 14 degrees in some models -- in the next 100 years.
[12:30]
TIME Magazine's Jeffrey Kluger:
These [our 6 Geo-synchronous weather satellites] are all set to go down, at one form or another to 'wink out' between 2015 and 2016. The earliest we can replace them, will be those very years. Which means if there is any lag at all in launch and construction schedules, were going to be struck blind. [... such a failure hampered the Super-storm Sandy forecasts.]
If we don't take care of this now, and allocate the necessary money, we are going to be vulnerable to whatever is out there.
Bob Schieffer: I take it you would endorse that?
Heidi Cullen: You know, I couldn't have said it better myself. Right now 90% of the data that goes into our weather models comes from satellites. And this infrastructure, it's critical -- it's our 'Eyes in the Sky' and if we lose it, were flying blind. And as a country that sees a lot of extreme weather across the board, we need strong, forward-looking forecasts.
Very well said Weather and Climate experts. Thank you.
For a few moments there, I thought I had woken up in a country where Climate Change Denial, was NOT a cottage industry -- that has prevented any frank and sober discussion on the topic of Climate Change for well over a decade now.
All despite the overwhelming consensus of most Scientists to the contrary:
Data Source: DeSmogBlog; -- Link: Republican Senator Calls Out Climate Change Hoax Creators.
Any 'fair and balanced' reporting would require, we actually listen to what the overwhelming majority of Non-Skeptics (13,926 of them) what they actually have to say -- about the 3-10 degree temperature increase, we are leaving as our inheritance, as our thoughtless and callous gift to future generations.
What a legacy, eh?
But, but those 24 Climate Change Skeptics, and their fossil-industry backers said:
"Don't worry, Nothing is certain. So Full Steam ahead carbon-consumers.
Why mess up a good thing?"
Something tells me, future very-toasty generations won't be buying it. Our lame apologies ... about
'how nobody could've known.' Would you?