Weather or Not….

We all hear that the extended forecast is for warmer years ahead. Looking at the poor azalea blooms this week following the Easter freeze gives one pause for doubt. Researchers have been in the news a lot lately and they contend that it’s very likely global warming is real and it’s spurred on by our robust use of fossil fuels. The debate has begun.

Folks have to at least recognize a threat before they can act. A recent BBC poll showed that only 57% of Americans surveyed expressed concern about global warming and, even though that’s a slim majority, we’re all much less concerned about it than peoples are elsewhere around the world. Why is that? Do we have a better innate sense of the natural variability of our planet’s climate, or have some been “spinning” the issue here so much that the rest of us are just a bit too dizzy to know what we think? Over just the last few years the findings have become more definitive. The issue is quickly moving from talk around the water cooler to arenas with much more of an impact on our daily lives. This problem is insidious. It’s worthy of investigation.

Let’s take a look at that Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) we’ve been hearing so much about. It’s the most cited source for climate change research findings. Formed sixteen years ago by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program, the IPCC has gained respect as a credible Panel that has been very, very careful to develop its findings through rigorous open and objective discourse. Their reports are based on peer-reviewed studies contributed by thousands of scientists worldwide. The reports survive intense scrutiny to make publication. The most recent, released last week, was based on nearly thirty thousand sets of data. Ninety percent of the data indicate global warming is taking place planet-wide. Over forty United Nations Member States fund the IPCC. Each report undergoes line-by-line review first by leading experts in this field and then by governments. They aren’t taking any money from big oil, or Greenpeace. So, in reality, the IPCC is a credible advisory Panel performing their roles, just as we should expect them to do, they are not, as some have asserted a small band of misguided researchers inventing this matter just to keep their funding flowing. Try starting your personal research at their website perhaps.

Then there is the issue of water vapor. Meteorologists know that clouds can both warm or cool the planet. We know low lying clouds can snuggle in warmth like blankets through the night. They can also shade and cool the earth on sunny days. High frozen cirrus clouds also warm things. The key to understanding lies within the temperature difference between clouds and to the ground surface. Will we have more of one type cloud than another in the future? Study meteorology and form your own opinion. Warmer weather means more and more water vapor in the air above us. One thing about the hydrologic cycle; when water goes up it surely comes on back down. Invest in umbrellas right? So, if clouds will save the day and moderate this warming trend, why haven’t they so far? The temperature keeps rising. I sure hope my children’s children don’t live under a cloud filled sky. I can’t help but think that would stifle their spirits just a wee bit.

Initially, I was worried that learning more about global warming would bring too much bad news. It turns out that it’s much more positive than I expected. One of the first things you note is that there are wonderful opportunities imagined and developed daily now that can address global warming. A spirit of change intended for a better environment makes an excellent springboard for accomplishment. Conserving energy is tantamount to saving money. I’m tired of pushing on the accelerator and hanging onto the wheel. You can have it. Imagine how easy a trip with the family would be if you could face each other, talk and dine while in transit? The list of opportunities goes way too long to cover here. Reducing CO₂ can’t harm us. Studies show that investing in clean solutions is an economic windfall. Silicon Valley is ramping up.

A group we called The Climate Change Coalition meets to explore the topic each month. We’ve all made a few new friends and learned a great deal together. One project we’ve been building is the “Think-And-Do Series”, short features we hope to run in this paper and others that couple a relevant quote to an action you can take to reduce greenhouse gasses. We welcome your attendance at our meetings, and/or you can send comments, quotes, and conservation suggestions to our blog site www.ghgnotes.org. Maybe you’ll get published, or better still save the planet.

Whether or not you think we’re changing the climate, you can still try to address the problem. It’s like a friend told me recently. “A thousand cuts require a thousand band-aids”. Let the healing begin.