California logs hottest winter ever

March 18, 2014

PHOENIX HEATCalifornia has just completed the hottest winter in the state’s history. [Mercury News]

The average temperature statewide for December, January and February was 48.0 degrees, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The previous high for those months was 47.2 degrees, which occurred in 1980-81.

“When we talk about differences across a state by seasons, we’re usually talking about tenths of a degree,” said Jake Crouch, a NOAA climate scientist. “So the fact that California beat is record by almost one entire degree is a pretty large jump.

Though not included in the winter calculations, temperatures in March have risen as well. Temperatures eclipsed 90 degrees in parts of San Luis Obispo County on Sunday.

That also happened once in January, when San Luis Obispo recorded the national high of 91 degrees.

This past winter was also the third driest in California’s history, according to NOAA.

“When the atmosphere is drier, it tends to be warmer during the day,” Crouch said. “It takes more energy to warm moist air than it does to warm dry air.”

 


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A degree here, a degree there. Pretty soon you’re talking about real climate change.


Roy…I can understand how some folks might not accept peer-reviewed science from a vast preponderance of, you know, actual scientists throughout the world. You just can’t trust them since they gave up slide rules and buzz cuts. But what do you say to photographic evidence that glaciers and arctic sea ice are disappearing? Are your own eyes part of the vast conspiracy?


You mean like the peer-reviewed science that told us in the 1970’s we’re in for another ice age? Or would that be the vast preponderance of, you know, actual scientists that provided Al Gore’s awesome and totally accurate predictions (i.e. the ice caps would be completely melted by now and we’d all be swimming in the warm ocean)? Or could that mean the “real scientists” who advised Obama to issue an executive order warning of “Excessively high temperatures” way back in November 2013… you know, around the beginning of that super-hot winter we ALL just had?


Here’s a hint: there is no money in real science anymore. Not even fifteen minutes of fame. If you want to feed your family and/or keep that cushy university non-work job, then you toe the line. Period. After a few years: POOF! all the “actual scientists” (that are left) will all agree with whatever they’re paid to. Sorry if that does not fit into your ideological world view.


The climate changes with or without us. Always has. Always will.


May I suggest that you query an article done by National Geographic about three or four years ago? It was in regards to the North Pole. The article showed an overlay of it from 10,000 years ago vs today. Guess what?? It was smaller then, than now! I don’t see NG with a slant in this.


I can understand the hysteric crowd going around toting information from the last 150 years, while TOTALLY ignoring the past millions of years. It helps to support their hypothesis.


Speaking of a hysteric crowd “You cherry-picked a data cluster to suit your argument, or found a pattern to fit a presumption.”


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080620-north-pole.html


Arctic warming has become so dramatic that the North Pole may melt this summer, report scientists studying the effects of climate change in the field.


“We’re actually projecting this year that the North Pole may be free of ice for the first time [in history],” David Barber, of the University of Manitoba, told National Geographic News aboard the C.C.G.S. Amundsen, a Canadian research icebreaker.


Well thanks for making my point. You post an article from NG talking about present. You notice the article I reference about NG was talking about 10,000 years ago. Again the earth has been changing since the beginning of time and will continues to.


Did you know that when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, it was like a hot house? There was NO ice at the poles? Yea let’s keep looking at the same 150 year span and calling it fact.


Look, if you want to pretend that our weather and climate are normal and tiny mankind has no influence on it “the earth has been changing since the beginning of time” then go for it.


Don’t be surprised if people don’t trust your opinion.


“Leon Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance focuses on how humans strive for internal consistency. When inconsistency (dissonance) is experienced, individuals largely become psychologically distressed. His basic hypotheses are listed below:


“The existence of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance”

“When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance””


Hey I’m not saying the climate isn’t changing, point is that it is ALWAYS changing. You know what? If we all (humans) were removed from the face of the earth tomorrow it will still keep changing. Did for millions of years before us and will long after us. That isn’t denial, that is FACT!!! Sorry to confuse you with facts.


FINALLY! After 33 years we have global warming! I just KNEW we’d get some one day!


(ducks the organic tomatoes being thrown)


The funny thing is weather never is consistent. If it had gone the other direction, people would be running around saying, look how cold it is. See it is this and that. Funny thing about climate. 10 million plus years ago, Death Valley was a lush jungle. Yep weather never stays constant.


It is actually “local” warming rather than global warming. My relatives in the northeast are on suicide watch due to the freezing temperatures and tons of snow they have been getting,


It’s all part of climate change, there is a finite amount of warm air, if we get more, they get less. I read that on the Huff-Po site. ;)


There is plenty of hot air coming out of Washington D.C.


Then it obviously must be correct :)