iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--United States Warned About Internationally Mandated “Coronavirus Economy’ In The Name Of Paris

Why the America must pay attention to developments in Europe in the name of climate change The United States should pay close attention to developments in Europe , beyond their governments ’ response to the COVID-19 virus .
Other contagions loom .
For example , we now see proof that the retrenchment embodied by the current “ coronavirus economy ” could become legally mandated , with no recovery permitted but only worsening , in the name of climate change .
While extreme , this is actually unfolding , and the United States ignores the warnings at its peril .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court of Appeal blocked construction of a third runway at London ’ s Heathrow Airport .
While additional runways seem quaint amid travel lockdowns , the longer view reminds us that infrastructure expansion is vital to economic growth .
Ask any candidate for president , vowing massive infrastructure programs that , this ruling confirms , are irreconcilable with their climate promises like the Green New Deal and rejoining the Paris climate treaty .
The Heathrow opinion has caused political and economic upheaval , and ecstasy among “ green ” campaigners .
That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
v. Secretary of State for Transport requires any airport expansion , and apparently any major infrastructure project going forward , comply with the 2015 Paris agreement .
As only the most recent judicial intervention leveraging purportedly “ non-binding ” commitments into legal obligations , this is also a very timely reminder for the United States .
President Obama agreed to Paris and submitted a ratification instrument on behalf of the U.S in September 2016 , claiming it was not a treaty requiring Senate advice and consent .
“ Non-binding !
” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This claim , deficient in too many ways to recount here , is now overtaken by events .
Although the U.K. court also cited the U.K. ’ s own Climate Change Act and European Union Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA ) Directive , the judges ruled that the failure to account for the U.K. ’ s promised emission reductions under Paris was “ legally fatal.
” Any expansion plan must satisfy both domestic law and the U.K. ’ s Paris agreement promise to reduce carbon dioxide emissions .
Get used to hearing this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear : Just because an international agreement doesn ’ t purport to be “ binding ” doesn ’ t mean you don ’ t have to comply with it .
In 2018 , in Urgenda Foundation v. State of the Netherlands , The Hague Court of Appeals also turned these ostensibly hortatory climate promises and declarations into enforceable obligations .
That court ordered the Dutch emission-reduction laws match years of governmental rhetoric manifested in supposedly aspirational climate pacts , asserting that parties to these agreements have assumed a “ duty of care.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Certainly , activist state attorneys general intend to sue .
As The Wall Street Journal ’ s Kim Strassel wrote in 2017 , one of us “ unearthed a legal memo from the New York attorney general ’ s office that laid out a strategy to get courts to force C02 cuts under international treaties.
” Already , federal judges have lined up to block proposed and even permitted projects , such as the Keystone XL Pipeline , citing to the National Environmental Policy Act ( NEPA ) and a failure to consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate impacts .
Under Paris , the United States vowed massive emission reductions and promised deeper cuts , every five years , in perpetuity .
In a June 2017 Rose Garden speech , Mr. Trump announced his intention to withdraw from Paris , citing U.S. sovereignty and “ serious legal and constitutional concerns , ” among others .
Critics pounced .
Why bother , they keened , with seemingly disproportionate and self-contradicting fury , it ’ s not even binding !
Well .
Editorialists harrumphed that , by leaving Paris , Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only nation not signed up .
Why , even China and India agreed .
But , not really .
Like most countries , China and India did not promise emission reductions under Paris .
Between them , they plan to build 320 airports in the next decade .
The Maldives , self-styled poster child for the horrors of man-made global warming , is opening four more airports this year alone .
That is four more than the U.K. likely will be able to build , under the Court of Appeals ’ Heathrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the United States should expect , should it rejoin Paris , which it might .
The post United States Warned About Internationally Mandated “ Coronavirus Economy ’ In The Name Of Paris appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum ( GWPF ) .

Why the America must pay attention to developments in Europe in the name of climate change
The United States should pay close attention to developments in Europe, beyond their governments’ response to the COVID-19 virus. Other contagions loom. For example, we now see proof that the retrenchment embodied by the current “coronavirus economy” could become legally mandated, with no recovery permitted but only worsening, in the name of climate change. While extreme, this is actually unfolding, and the United States ignores the warnings at its peril.
In February, the United Kingdom’s Court of Appeal blocked construction of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport. While additional runways seem quaint amid travel lockdowns, the longer view reminds us that infrastructure expansion is vital to economic growth. Ask any candidate for president, vowing massive infrastructure programs that, this ruling confirms, are irreconcilable with their climate promises like the Green New Deal and rejoining the Paris climate treaty.
The Heathrow opinion has caused political and economic upheaval, and ecstasy among “green” campaigners. That is because the decision in Spurrier et al. v. Secretary of State for Transport requires any airport expansion, and apparently any major infrastructure project going forward, comply with the 2015 Paris agreement.
As only the most recent judicial intervention leveraging purportedly “non-binding” commitments into legal obligations, this is also a very timely reminder for the United States.
President Obama agreed to Paris and submitted a ratification instrument on behalf of the U.S in September 2016, claiming it was not a treaty requiring Senate advice and consent. “Non-binding!” was a key talking point in support.
This claim, deficient in too many ways to recount here, is now overtaken by events. Although the U.K. court also cited the U.K.’s own Climate Change Act and European Union Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, the judges ruled that the failure to account for the U.K.’s promised emission reductions under Paris was “legally fatal.” Any expansion plan must satisfy both domestic law and the U.K.’s Paris agreement promise to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Get used to hearing this. The lesson for President Trump is clear: Just because an international agreement doesn’t purport to be “binding” doesn’t mean you don’t have to comply with it.
In 2018, in Urgenda Foundation v. State of the Netherlands, The Hague Court of Appeals also turned these ostensibly hortatory climate promises and declarations into enforceable obligations. That court ordered the Dutch emission-reduction laws match years of governmental rhetoric manifested in supposedly aspirational climate pacts, asserting that parties to these agreements have assumed a “duty of care.”
Cheap environmental virtue can be costly. Certainly, activist state attorneys general intend to sue. As The Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel wrote in 2017, one of us “unearthed a legal memo from the New York attorney general’s office that laid out a strategy to get courts to force C02 cuts under international treaties.”
Already, federal judges have lined up to block proposed and even permitted projects, such as the Keystone XL Pipeline, citing to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a failure to consider a project’s contribution to cumulative climate impacts. Under Paris, the United States vowed massive emission reductions and promised deeper cuts, every five years, in perpetuity.
In a June 2017 Rose Garden speech, Mr. Trump announced his intention to withdraw from Paris, citing U.S. sovereignty and “serious legal and constitutional concerns,” among others. Critics pounced. Why bother, they keened, with seemingly disproportionate and self-contradicting fury, it’s not even binding! Well.
Editorialists harrumphed that, by leaving Paris, Mr. Trump would also leave the United States as the only nation not signed up. Why, even China and India agreed.
But, not really. Like most countries, China and India did not promise emission reductions under Paris. Between them, they plan to build 320 airports in the next decade. The Maldives, self-styled poster child for the horrors of man-made global warming, is opening four more airports this year alone.
That is four more than the U.K. likely will be able to build, under the Court of Appeals’ Heathrow opinion. It is also four more than the United States should expect, should it rejoin Paris, which it might.
The post United States Warned About Internationally Mandated “Coronavirus Economy’ In The Name Of Paris appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
via The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF)
https://ift.tt/2UcSSng
March 23, 2020 at 03:43AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--UK ELECTRICITY BILLS TO RISE TO PAY FOR SCOTS WIND FARM COMPENSATION

In the two months of this year , £69 million was paid out in constraint payments , according to research @ @ @ @ @ which described it as an “ extreme spike ” .
This is four times greater @ @ @ @ @ January-February period on record , which was in 2016 .

This article explains what is happening.
In the two months of this year, £69 million was paid out in constraint payments, according to research by the Renewable Energy Foundation which described it as an “extreme spike”.
This is four times greater than the previous most expensive January-February period on record, which was in 2016.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Post Modern Power: Scots Face Whopping Bill For Government’s Wind Power Obsession

Scotland ’ s energy policy was hijacked by lunatics and the canny Scot , renowned for their parsimony , is @ @ @ @ @ , indeed .
The subsidies paid to wind power outfits have been colossal ; and @ @ @ @ @ being tacked onto Scottish power bills and/or picked up by taxpayers , south of the @ @ @ @ @ … ]

Scotland’s energy policy was hijacked by lunatics and the canny Scot, renowned for their parsimony, is paying a very heavy price, indeed. The subsidies paid to wind power outfits have been colossal; and all that state-mandated largess is being tacked onto Scottish power bills and/or picked up by taxpayers, south of the border. One of […]
via STOP THESE THINGS
https://ift.tt/3dkTT4d
March 23, 2020 at 01:31AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Doc talks about his “Holy S***” moment — horrible lung failure even in young patients

For most people Coronavirus is like the flu or even a cold , but for 20 % it ’ s something awful .
Even in younger patients — a few seemingly fit and healthy 40 and 50 year olds are gasping for air as their lungs fill with blood and fluid and it ’ s “ like a near death drowning ” or “ inhaling caustic gas ” .
Forgive the language in the headline — those were this docs exact words .
He ’ s working at a New Orleans hospital and his whole attitude to the virus has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients “ It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad .
I was like , Holy shit , this is not the flu .
Watching this relatively young guy , gasping for air , pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube and out of his mouth .
The ventilator should have been doing the work of breathing but he was still gasping for air , moving his mouth , moving his body , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With all the coronavirus patients , we ’ ve had to restrain them .
They really hyperventilate , [ … ]

For most people Coronavirus is like the flu or even a cold, but for 20% it’s something awful. Even in younger patients — a few seemingly fit and healthy 40 and 50 year olds are gasping for air as their lungs fill with blood and fluid and it’s “like a near death drowning” or “inhaling caustic gas”. Forgive the language in the headline — those were this docs exact words. He’s working at a New Orleans hospital and his whole attitude to the virus has changed dramatically.
A Medical Worker Describes Terrifying Lung Failure From COVID-19 — Even in His Young Patients
by Lixzzie Presser, ProPublica
“It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad. I was like, Holy shit, this is not the flu. Watching this relatively young guy, gasping for air, pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube and out of his mouth. The ventilator should have been doing the work of breathing but he was still gasping for air, moving his mouth, moving his body, struggling. We had to restrain him. With all the coronavirus patients, we’ve had to restrain them. They really hyperventilate, […]
Rating: 9.7/10 (6 votes cast)
via JoNova
https://ift.tt/3bgA6kD
March 23, 2020 at 01:19AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Energy & Environmental Newsletter: March 23, 2020

The Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions ( AWED ) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national , state , and local energy , environmental and education policies .
Our premise is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science ( please consult WiseEnergy.org for more information ) .
A key element of AWED ’ s efforts is public education .
Towards that end , every two± weeks we put together a newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and the environment .
We appreciate MasterResource for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the more important articles in this issue are : Dirty Secrets About the CLEAN Future Act “ Clean , renewable ” energy is neither Renewable Energy Industry Seeks to Scam Public During Health Crisis The Great Wind Delusion The conflict between wind turbines and wildlife Nuclear is the solution – and SMRs are the future of nuclear Putin takes aim at US shale oil industry McKibben Goes Over the Edge for His Rockefeller Benefactors No , Michael Mann , You Aren ’ t Going to ‘ Ruin ’ this ‘ Filthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Required Petition filed to Appeal the EPA ’ s Endangerment Finding Short Video : How Bad is CO2 ?
About Immigration : Life in Denmark- Real food for thought EPA : Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science Short video : Why Are So Many Young People Unhappy ?
COVID-19 : Latest version : A Summary of Suggestions and Commentary for COVID-19 ( Includes a one page doc : COVID-19 : Prevention & Treatment Suggestions ) PLEASE PASS THIS ON WIDELY !
Greed Energy Economics : Europe ’ s Green Suicide : Eleven Million Jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government ’ s energy policy could cripple global Britain 3± million seniors turn off heating as ‘ they can not afford energy bills ’ Are wind farms better in theory than they are in practice ?
Turbine battle heating up Climate change activists calls for economic shutdown to decarbonize Why Have Wind Energy Constraint Payments Spiked in 2020 ?
UK Govt Punishes Voters As Costly Climate Policies Drive Up Electricity Bills Renewable Energy : Health and Ecosystem Consequences : The conflict between wind turbines and wildlife What ’ s more important a lithium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowers ?
Nuclear Energy : American Decade of Energy One of the World ’ s Tiniest Nuclear Plants Is Coming to Idaho Nuclear is the solution – and SMRs are the future of nuclear US Federal Legislation Proposed : Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act Natural Gas Energy : Putin takes aim at US shale oil industry Price War on Oil Proves the Power of America ’ s Shale Revolution Germany Proves How Essential Natural Gas Is – And The U.S. Must Supply Study : Fracking Ban Could Cripple U.S .
The unholy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Study Yet Another Case of Junk Science ; More “ Fracsearch ” Fracking in NM helps create jobs , lower carbon emissions Hearing on LNG Terminal Plan for South Jersey California Gas Bans Ensure Less Choice and Ever Higher Prices NYS Energy : CLCPA Begins , But Some Advice Regarding the Baloney Legislators , officials ‘ outraged ’ by Cuomo power site plan Cuomo fast-track for green energy projects gets pushback on LI Editorial : Push for more control of energy projects troubling Editorial : Cuomo picks developers over residents in siting energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shock Troops Archive : Monsters on the Ridge Before raising taxes , NY Democrats should check out these numbers Governor ’ s energy proposal poses threat to municipalities Erie County ’ s NY opposes Cuomo ’ s renewables push Recommendations to Siting Board ‘ a gut punch ’ for Alle-Catt opponent US Energy Legislation : Dirty Secrets About the CLEAN Future Act US Marquee Energy Innovation Bill Stumbles on Senate Floor Questionable new US Legislation : American Energy Innovation Act It ’ s Time for Conservatives to Own the Climate-Change Issue Biden goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal takeover of electricity production Miscellaneous Energy News : Renewable Energy Industry Seeks to Scam Public During Health Crisis The Great Wind Delusion “ Clean , renewable ” energy is neither BP Caves to Green Pressure Response to 2019 Energy Action Report to Reduce CO2 in Vermont Short video : Wind turbine interference of TV signals Short Video : EV Dream Short video : Energy 101 : Mining and Rare Earths Why green hydrogen is key to the global energy transition Water splitting advance holds promise for affordable renewable energy Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kitty Hawk ( NC ) offshore wind project moving forward Virginia approves 100 % clean energy legislation US military squeezes wind energy development off California Coast Green New Deal Fanatics Have No Concept of What They Propose Manmade Global Warming — Some Deceptions : The Carbon Capture Con McKibben Goes Over the Edge for His Rockefeller Benefactors No , Michael Mann , You Aren ’ t Going to ‘ Ruin ’ this ‘ Filthy Organization ’ Short video : No Data Required Is Manhattan About To Get Drowned By The Sea ?
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Eco-Assault on Our Liberty Scientist : There actually ARE ways to reduce global temperature Wikipedia Airbrushes List of Climate Sceptic Scientists Out of History The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices should “ fact check ” Greta preaches many of the first Earth Day ’ s failed predictions Why the DNC Doesn ’ t Want a Climate Debate Manmade Global Warming — Miscellaneous : Eliminate fossil fuels now — U.S. “ MAGICC ” model says why bother ?
Petition filed to Appeal the EPA ’ s Endangerment Finding Short Video : How Bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Acceleration In All The Wrong Places Can History Cast Doubt on the Evidence of Global Warming ?
Even coronavirus couldn ’ t stop the climate madness Democrats want climate action included in coronavirus aid Zero carbon is a crime against humanity Freeman Dyson , RIP Archive : Dyson — Heretical Thoughts about Science and Society Legal Gaps And US Elections May Turn COP26 Into Damp Squib Archive : The Disgraceful Episode Of Lysenkoism Brings Us Global Warming Theory New ( short ) Book : All What Matters : The Facts about Global Climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simple Physics ” Slogan About Climate Change Study : How Much Human-Caused Global Warming Should We Expect with Business-As-Usual Climate Policies ?
The Physician and ‘ Climate Change ’ Education Related : Multiple new US arrests for China-sponsored academic stealing American Higher Education : Beset with Problems , but Solutions Exist What Colleges Can Do to Defend Free Expression COVID-19 Can Kill Colleges as Well as People COVID-19 : Is It Academic Armageddon ?
COVID-19 Presents New Challenges and Opportunities to Higher Ed Modern Doomsday Cult Is Threatening the Mental Health of Millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Corrupt Mega-Business Why Art Matters US Politics and Socialism : Short Video : The Intolerance of Tolerance The Communist Plan to Overthrow America from Within Marxism a Nightmare , Not a Future Sanders Not Alone in Willful Ignorance of Communist Realities Archive : Globalization , Communism at Its Core The long-anticipated death of the Great American Experiment What Bernie and Greta have in common Bernie ’ s Soviet Honeymoon Missed Marxist Miseries Other US Politics and Related : The Democratic Disaster Just Got Even More Hilarious Liberal-Funded Eco-Right Infiltrates CPAC , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denmark- Real food for thought Banks Must Not Be Used as Pawns of the Left 21 words uttered by FISA court that changed the Russia collusion case Science and Miscellaneous Matters : Short video : Why Are So Many Young People Unhappy ?
The Collapse of Intellectual Standards in Science Greta : women equality and climate justice… EPA : Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science ( an update ) EPA Makes Big Changes To Rule Banning ‘ Secret Science ’ — Obama-Era Officials Rage For Newsletter Archives , go here .

The Alliance for Wise
Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations
interested in improving national, state, and local energy, environmental and education
policies. Our premise is that technical matters like these should be addressed by
using Real Science (please consult WiseEnergy.org for more information).
A key element of AWED’s
efforts is public education. Towards that end, every two± weeks we put together
a newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and the
environment. We appreciate MasterResource for their assistance in publishing
this information.
Some of the more important articles in this issue are:
Dirty Secrets About the CLEAN Future Act
“Clean, renewable” energy is neither
Renewable Energy Industry Seeks to Scam Public During Health Crisis
The Great Wind Delusion
The conflict between wind turbines and wildlife
Nuclear is the solution – and SMRs are the future of nuclear
Putin takes aim at US shale oil industry
McKibben Goes Over the Edge for His Rockefeller Benefactors
No, Michael Mann, You Aren’t Going to ‘Ruin’ this ‘Filthy Organization’
Short video: No Data Required
Petition filed to Appeal the EPA’s Endangerment Finding
Short Video: How Bad is CO2?
About Immigration: Life in Denmark- Real food for thought
EPA: Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science
Short video: Why Are So Many Young People Unhappy?
COVID-19:
Latest version: A Summary of Suggestions and Commentary for COVID-19
(Includes a one page doc: COVID-19: Prevention & Treatment Suggestions)
PLEASE PASS THIS ON WIDELY!
Greed Energy Economics:
Europe’s Green Suicide: Eleven Million Jobs At Risk From EU Green Deal
The Government’s energy policy could cripple global Britain
3± million seniors turn off heating as ‘they cannot afford energy bills’
Are wind farms better in theory than they are in practice?
Turbine battle heating up
Climate change activists calls for economic shutdown to decarbonize
Why Have Wind Energy Constraint Payments Spiked in 2020?
UK Govt Punishes Voters As Costly Climate Policies Drive Up Electricity Bills
Renewable Energy: Health and Ecosystem Consequences:
The conflict between wind turbines and wildlife
What’s more important a lithium (for batteries) mine, or flowers?
Nuclear Energy:
American Decade of Energy
One of the World’s Tiniest Nuclear Plants Is Coming to Idaho
Nuclear is the solution – and SMRs are the future of nuclear
US Federal Legislation Proposed: Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act
Natural Gas Energy:
Putin takes aim at US shale oil industry
Price War on Oil Proves the Power of America’s Shale Revolution
Germany Proves How Essential Natural Gas Is – And The U.S. Must Supply
Study: Fracking Ban Could Cripple U.S.
The unholy crusade against gas appliances
“Fraccidents” Study Yet Another Case of Junk Science; More “Fracsearch”
Fracking in NM helps create jobs, lower carbon emissions
Hearing on LNG Terminal Plan for South Jersey
California Gas Bans Ensure Less Choice and Ever Higher Prices
NYS Energy:
CLCPA Begins, But Some Advice Regarding the Baloney
Legislators, officials ‘outraged’ by Cuomo power site plan
Cuomo fast-track for green energy projects gets pushback on LI
Editorial: Push for more control of energy projects troubling
Editorial: Cuomo picks developers over residents in siting energy projects
Short video: Cuomo’s Shock Troops
Archive: Monsters on the Ridge
Before raising taxes, NY Democrats should check out these numbers
Governor’s energy proposal poses threat to municipalities
Erie County’s NY opposes Cuomo’s renewables push
Recommendations to Siting Board ‘a gut punch’ for Alle-Catt opponent
US Energy Legislation:
Dirty Secrets About the CLEAN Future Act
US Marquee Energy Innovation Bill Stumbles on Senate Floor
Questionable new US Legislation: American Energy Innovation Act
It’s Time for Conservatives to Own the Climate-Change Issue
Biden goes extreme on fossil fuels
Bernie calls for federal takeover of electricity production
Miscellaneous Energy News:
Renewable Energy Industry Seeks to Scam Public During Health Crisis
The Great Wind Delusion
“Clean, renewable” energy is neither
BP Caves to Green Pressure
Response to 2019 Energy Action Report to Reduce CO2 in Vermont
Short video: Wind turbine interference of TV signals
Short Video: EV Dream
Short video: Energy 101: Mining and Rare Earths
Why green hydrogen is key to the global energy transition
Water splitting advance holds promise for affordable renewable energy
Trump’s punt on offshore wind sparks lobbying blitz
Kitty Hawk (NC) offshore wind project moving forward
Virginia approves 100% clean energy legislation
US military squeezes wind energy development off California Coast
Green New Deal Fanatics Have No Concept of What They Propose
Manmade Global Warming — Some Deceptions:
The Carbon Capture Con
McKibben Goes Over the Edge for His Rockefeller Benefactors
No, Michael Mann, You Aren’t Going to ‘Ruin’ this ‘Filthy Organization’
Short video: No Data Required
Is Manhattan About To Get Drowned By The Sea?
Trump wants prime-time climate science challenge — Happer
The Eco-Assault on Our Liberty
Scientist: There actually ARE ways to reduce global temperature
Wikipedia Airbrushes List of Climate Sceptic Scientists Out of History
The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices should “fact check”
Greta preaches many of the first Earth Day’s failed predictions
Why the DNC Doesn’t Want a Climate Debate
Manmade Global Warming — Miscellaneous:
Eliminate fossil fuels now — U.S. “MAGICC” model says why bother?
Petition filed to Appeal the EPA’s Endangerment Finding
Short Video: How Bad is CO2?
SLR: Looking For Acceleration In All The Wrong Places
Can History Cast Doubt on the Evidence of Global Warming?
Even coronavirus couldn’t stop the climate madness
Democrats want climate action included in coronavirus aid
Zero carbon is a crime against humanity
Freeman Dyson, RIP
Archive: Dyson — Heretical Thoughts about Science and Society
Legal Gaps And US Elections May Turn COP26 Into Damp Squib
Archive: The Disgraceful Episode Of Lysenkoism Brings Us Global Warming Theory
New (short) Book: All What Matters: The Facts about Global Climate Genesis
Archive video: Debunking the “Simple Physics” Slogan About Climate Change
Study: How Much Human-Caused Global Warming Should We Expect with Business-As-Usual Climate Policies?
The Physician and ‘Climate Change’
Education Related:
Multiple new US arrests for China-sponsored academic stealing
American Higher Education: Beset with Problems, but Solutions Exist
What Colleges Can Do to Defend Free Expression
COVID-19 Can Kill Colleges as Well as People
COVID-19: Is It Academic Armageddon?
COVID-19 Presents New Challenges and Opportunities to Higher Ed
Modern Doomsday Cult Is Threatening the Mental Health of Millions of Children
How College Sports Turned into a Corrupt Mega-Business
Why Art Matters
US Politics and Socialism:
Short Video: The Intolerance of Tolerance
The Communist Plan to Overthrow America
from Within
Marxism a Nightmare, Not a Future
Sanders Not Alone in Willful Ignorance of Communist Realities
Archive: Globalization, Communism at Its Core
The long-anticipated death of the Great
American Experiment
What Bernie and Greta have in common
Bernie’s Soviet Honeymoon Missed Marxist
Miseries
Other US Politics and Related:
The Democratic Disaster Just Got Even More Hilarious
Liberal-Funded Eco-Right Infiltrates CPAC, and Conservative Movement
About Immigration: Life in Denmark- Real food for thought
Banks Must Not Be Used as Pawns of the Left
21 words uttered by FISA court that changed the Russia collusion case
Science and Miscellaneous Matters:
Short video: Why Are So Many Young People Unhappy?
The Collapse of Intellectual Standards in Science
Greta: women equality and climate justice…
EPA: Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science (an update)
EPA Makes Big Changes To Rule Banning ‘Secret Science’ — Obama-Era Officials Rage
For Newsletter Archives, go here.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Every day matters. See which day each US state loses the chance to protect thousands

Look at State by State outcomes : visit Covid Act Now Its an excellent display of modeled outcomes across the US .
Click on each state in the US to find out predicted death tolls and the day hospitals will be overwhelmed with too little action .
Dear readers , get out of the way of this virus .
My advice is to stay home .
Order online .
Wear masks if you have to venture out .
Keep kids home from school .
Don ’ t visit anyone or allow visitors in to your home who have not strictly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We started this last week .
Eg It ’ s too late now for New York State to avoid losing control of hospitals But they could still Crush the Curve and save a lot of people , but even that action now will have far higher death tolls that it would if it had been started last week .
There are four levels of action modeled here ( from March 19th ) .
The final death tolls are very different .
The advantage of “ Crushing the Curve ” now means we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
[ … ]

Look at State by State outcomes: visit Covid Act Now
Its an excellent display of modeled outcomes across the US. Click on each state in the US to find out predicted death tolls and the day hospitals will be overwhelmed with too little action.
Dear readers, get out of the way of this virus. My advice is to stay home. Order online. Wear masks if you have to venture out. Keep kids home from school. Don’t visit anyone or allow visitors in to your home who have not strictly quarantined for the last two weeks. We started this last week.
h/t Bill in Oz.
Eg It’s too late now for New York State to avoid losing control of hospitals
But they could still Crush the Curve and save a lot of people, but even that action now will have far higher death tolls that it would if it had been started last week.
There are four levels of action modeled here (from March 19th). The final death tolls are very different.
The advantage of “Crushing the Curve” now means we can wait to find out which treatments work. […]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
via JoNova
https://ift.tt/3acPz59
March 23, 2020 at 12:22AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Sen Tom Cotton Calls Democrats’ Fight To Hold Coronavirus Bill Hostage Over Climate Change, Other Li

Sen Tom Cotton Calls Democrats ’ Fight To Hold Coronavirus Bill Hostage Over Climate Change , Other Liberal Dreams A ‘ Disgrace ’ Republican Sen. Tom Cotton said Monday that his Democratic colleagues are holding up the Senate ’ s coronavirus bill so they can push green energy policies , among a slew of other “ radical ” measures .
The Arkansas senator railed against his colleagues , telling his Twitter followers that they were putting Americans ’ lives at risk over global warming .
His criticism came after Senate Democrats failed to pass a procedural cloture vote on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report is correct .
Pelosi & Schumer are willing to risk your life , your job , your retirement savings for a radical , left-wing wish list that has nothing to do with this virus .
Disgraceful , ” Cotton told his Twitter followers Monday after senators failed to hash out an agreement .
Democrats on the House select committee were among the first to ask leadership to consider climate change before jumping into the legislation .
( RELATED : Senate Fails To Pass Cloture Vote On Coronavirus Stimulus Bill ) “ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be careful not to exacerbate the ongoing climate crisis , ” Democratic Reps. Kathy Castor of Florida , Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico , and Jared Huffman of California wrote in a March 20 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
They want any such bill helping the aviation industry to include “ adoption of low-carbon fuels , support for greenhouse gas efficiency standards , and/or electrification of ground support equipment at airports.
” “ We must strongly oppose misguided or surreptitious attempts to boost polluters at the expense of the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for solutions that can also move us toward a clean energy economy and to a healthier , stronger and more just America , ” they wrote .
“ We have a few ideas.
” Phase-three of the Senate bill would give $ 1,200 checks to every American , with married couples receiving $ 2,400 .
That check will go to Americans making less than $ 75,000 per year .
Income earners who make above $ 99,000 would not receive any money .
Some activists argued for using the country ’ s Strategic Petroleum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID Stimulus 3 bill does include funds to purchase oil for the SPR .
That ’ s the leverage to get ITC with direct pay/cash grant included , ” Jigar Shah , co-founder and president of Generate Capital , said in a tweet Monday .
“ I think there is an outside chance we could get the ITC with direct pay on COVID Stimulus 3 .
As long as the SPR money is in play , we have a chance , ” he added , referring to the bill , which contains the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Energy requested Friday to restock the SPR with low-priced oil .
The DOE ’ s move came after crude prices fell into the $ 30s as the Saudis push for a cut in output to prop up prices before Russia insisted flooding the market with hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil .
Moscow is worried the United States will use shale oil to take advantage if Saudi Arabia ease off production .
Oil prices have hovered around $ 30 per barrel ever since .

From The Daily Caller
Energy
Sen Tom Cotton Calls Democrats’ Fight To Hold Coronavirus Bill Hostage Over Climate Change, Other Liberal Dreams A ‘Disgrace’
Chris White Tech Reporter
March 23, 2020 3:08 PM ET
Republican Sen. Tom Cotton said Monday that his Democratic colleagues are holding up the Senate’s coronavirus bill so they can push green energy policies, among a slew of other “radical” measures.
The Arkansas senator railed against his colleagues, telling his Twitter followers that they were putting Americans’ lives at risk over global warming. His criticism came after Senate Democrats failed to pass a procedural cloture vote on a phase-three coronavirus stimulus bill.
“This report is correct. Pelosi & Schumer are willing to risk your life, your job, your retirement savings for a radical, left-wing wish list that has nothing to do with this virus. Disgraceful,” Cotton told his Twitter followers Monday after senators failed to hash out an agreement.
Democrats on the House select committee were among the first to ask leadership to consider climate change before jumping into the legislation. (RELATED: Senate Fails To Pass Cloture Vote On Coronavirus Stimulus Bill)
“In responding to this crisis, we must be careful not to exacerbate the ongoing climate crisis,” Democratic Reps. Kathy Castor of Florida, Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, and Jared Huffman of California wrote in a March 20 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
They want any such bill helping the aviation industry to include “adoption of low-carbon fuels, support for greenhouse gas efficiency standards, and/or electrification of ground support equipment at airports.”
“We must strongly oppose misguided or surreptitious attempts to boost polluters at the expense of the public health. Instead, we should look for solutions that can also move us toward a clean energy economy and to a healthier, stronger and more just America,” they wrote. “We have a few ideas.”
Phase-three of the Senate bill would give $1,200 checks to every American, with married couples receiving $2,400. That check will go to Americans making less than $75,000 per year. Income earners who make above $99,000 would not receive any money.
Some activists argued for using the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve as leverage.
“The Republican COVID Stimulus 3 bill does include funds to purchase oil for the SPR. That’s the leverage to get ITC with direct pay/cash grant included,”Jigar Shah, co-founder and president of Generate Capital, said in a tweet Monday.
“I think there is an outside chance we could get the ITC with direct pay on COVID Stimulus 3. As long as the SPR money is in play, we have a chance,” he added, referring to the bill, which contains the $3 billion in the Department of Energy requested Friday to restock the SPR with low-priced oil.
The DOE’s move came after crude prices fell into the $30s as the Saudis push for a cut in output to prop up prices before Russia insisted flooding the market with hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil. Moscow is worried the United States will use shale oil to take advantage if Saudi Arabia ease off production. Oil prices have hovered around $30 per barrel ever since.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Solar cycle 24 to 25 transition watch COVID-19 outbreak

Chart updated through Feb 2020 – the previous post has been quarantined – will see if the proponents of the @ @ @ @ @ can come up with better statistics .
Interesting new item from NY Times 2 years @ @ @ @ @ of Viruses Fall From the Sky Each Day .

Chart updated through Feb 2020 – the previous post has been quarantined – will see if the proponents of the pandemic correlation with sunspots cycles can come up with better statistics. Interesting new item from NY Times 2 years ago – Trillions Upon Trillions of Viruses Fall From the Sky Each Day.
via Errors in IPCC climate science
https://ift.tt/2UzuR8Q
March 23, 2020 at 01:26PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Tom Hanks on the mend

Tom Hanks on the mend

“ Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are on the mend and recovering well after contracting coronavirus earlier this month , @ @ @ @ @ “ Hey , folks .
Two weeks after our first symptoms and we ( Rita @ @ @ @ @ ” Hanks wrote on Facebook .
Both Hanks and his wife are self-quarantined in a @ @ @ @ @ on March 11 , Hanks ’ son Chet Hanks announced on Instagram that the two @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re not even that sick , ” wrote Chet .
“ They ’ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ re not tripping , but they ’ re going through the necessary @ @ @ @ @ But I don ’ t think it ’ s anything to be too worried about.
@ @ @ @ @ on the mend appeared first on Ice Age Now .

“Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are on the mend and recovering well after contracting coronavirus earlier this month,” according to MSN.com.
“Hey, folks. Two weeks after our first symptoms and we (Rita Wilson) feel better,” Hanks wrote on Facebook.
Both Hanks and his wife are self-quarantined in a house in Australia.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/tom-hanks-and-wife-rita-wilson-feel-better-two-weeks-after-showing-first-coronavirus-symptoms/ar-BB11yOqQ?li=BBnb7Kz
Back on March 11, Hanks’ son Chet Hanks announced on Instagram that the two were not worried.
“They’re not even that sick,” wrote Chet. “They’re not worried about it, they’re not tripping, but they’re going through the necessary health precautions, obviously. But I don’t think it’s anything to be too worried about.”
https://www.etonline.com/chet-hanks-says-parents-tom-hanks-and-rita-wilson-arent-worried-after-testing-positive-for-142980
The post Tom Hanks on the mend appeared first on Ice Age Now.
via Ice Age Now
https://ift.tt/2UbnS7e
March 23, 2020 at 01:18PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Monday Mirthiness – Greta

Monday Mirthiness – Greta

Now that the # Coronvirus has taken hold and schools are closing globally ( along with everything else ) Josh @ @ @ @ @ minions who are stuck at home with parents , might be saying this right about @ @

Now that the #Coronvirus has taken hold and schools are closing globally (along with everything else) Josh imagines that Greta’s minions who are stuck at home with parents, might be saying this right about now:


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--HKU marine biologist and international team unveil impacts of heatwave on reef fishes

The marine heatwave of 2016 was one of longest and hottest thermal anomalies recorded on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia , influencing multiple species of marine ectotherms , including coral reef fishes .
Dr Celia Schunter from School of Biological Sciences and the Swire Institute of Marine Science ( SWIMS ) , The University of Hong Kong ( HKU ) and a team of international scientists conducted a study attempting to understand the molecular response of five species to the 2016 heatwave conditions that killed a third of the Great Barrier Reef corals .
This is the world-first study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a severe marine heatwave .
The results of the study were published in the journal Science Advances .
Marine heatwaves ( MHWs ) are elevated extreme temperatures in the oceans for an extended period of time , similar to an atmospheric heatwave .
These elevated temperatures can have a significant impact on marine life , possibly pushing the thermal limits of many organisms .
With the frequency and intensity of heatwaves predicted to increase in the future , this could have greater impacts on the performance of ectotherms , when compared to slight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To understand the challenges fish face under such conditions we used a molecular approach to evaluate how acute warming events directly affect reef fish communities in nature , ” said Dr Celia Schunter .
“ We chose to work with five different species which are commonly found on the reef to be able to understand differences in reactions among fish species with different life histories to get a broader overview of the reaction and impact.
” “ Our study shows that reef fishes are directly affected by heatwaves , but their responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-author Associate Professor Jodie Rummer from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University ( Coral CoE at JCU ) .
Dr Rummer was part of the international team that studied changes in the expression of thousands of different genes in five species of coral reef fish , collected at different points before , during and after the 2016 heatwave .
“ Changes in gene expression can tell us how an animal responds physiologically to an environmental shock , such as a heatwave , ” said Dr Celia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and SWIMS , one of the lead authors in the study .
“ We measured RNA levels in livers in the fish .
This can control when proteins are made and in what amount , and these proteins dictate how the cells of the body function .
We saw many genes change expression levels across the timepoints of a heatwave revealing important functions such as cellular stress response and changes in metabolic functions.
” Through these genetic analyses , the team identified species-specific physiological responses to the heightened temperatures .
“ Fast water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands in fishes , which are similar to what happens to an athlete doing intense exercises .
When water temperature increases , fishes have a higher demand for energy and oxygen , which leaves a signal that is measurable with genetic techniques .
This higher energy demand at warming can affect their reproduction , swimming and development , and that is why it is important to understand the response to warming.
” said Dr Moisés A Bernal , co-author of the study from Auburn University .
Interestingly , “ these patterns of gene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heatwave , ” said Dr Rummer .
“ This suggests that the physiological mechanisms the fish use to cope with the warmer waters changed as the heatwave progressed .
The results suggest fish populations are influenced by both the intensity of a heatwave and how long it lasts.
” This signals potential long-term consequences for the health of fish populations as extreme heat events increase in frequency , duration and magnitude under human-induced climate change .
At a species level , Dr Rummer says the responses varied in intensity .
Some fish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiny damselfish responded strongly to the warmer conditions , with changes in the expression of thousands of genes , suggesting it is particularly sensitive to heatwaves .
Other species appear to be more tolerant , with fewer changes in gene expression.
” said Dr Rummer .
Two of the five studies species studied can also be found in waters around Hong Kong and Southern China as well as many more closely related fish species providing also some context for possible effects for waters around Hong Kong .
The study provides a possible approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk under repeated heatwave conditions , said another co-author Professor Timothy Ravasi , from the Marine Climate Change Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University ( OIST ) .
“ This has ramifications for policy makers and for the fishing industry , because not all species will be equally affected .
We need to screen a large number of species to predict which will be sensitive and which will be more tolerant to warming waters and heatwaves.
” “ Over time , the fish may adapt to rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waters , ” Professor Ravasi said .
“ But these heatwaves are happening now , and it ’ s necessary to understand and consider the immediate consequences.
” In 2015 the South China Sea experienced a heatwave of a similar magnitude than the heatwave on the Great Barrier Reef studied here .
The coastal waters of Hong Kong and the South China Sea are predicted to experience more frequent and intense marine heatwave events as seen on the global scale .
It is now clear that these extreme events can have far-reaching effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implications on aquaculture and fishing industries Dr Celia Schunter urges the need for more research into the impacts of such events in the marine waters of Hong Kong to avert the potential collapse in the marine ecosystem and the industries relying on it .
‘ Species-specific molecular responses of wild coral reef fishes during a marine heatwave.
’ in Science Advances by Moisés A Bernal , Celia Schunter , Robert Lehmann , Damien J Lightfoot , Bridie J M Allan , Heather D Veilleux , Jodie L Rummer , Philip L Munday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Celia Schunter ’ s research , please visit : http : //www.celiaschunter.com/

The University of Hong Kong
The marine heatwave of 2016 was one of longest and hottest thermal anomalies recorded on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, influencing multiple species of marine ectotherms, including coral reef fishes.
Dr Celia Schunter from School of Biological Sciences and the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS), The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and a team of international scientists conducted a study attempting to understand the molecular response of five species to the 2016 heatwave conditions that killed a third of the Great Barrier Reef corals. This is the world-first study tracking how wild fish populations respond to a severe marine heatwave. The results of the study were published in the journal Science Advances.
Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are elevated extreme temperatures in the oceans for an extended period of time, similar to an atmospheric heatwave. These elevated temperatures can have a significant impact on marine life, possibly pushing the thermal limits of many organisms. With the frequency and intensity of heatwaves predicted to increase in the future, this could have greater impacts on the performance of ectotherms, when compared to slight thermal increments over years or decades.
“To understand the challenges fish face under such conditions we used a molecular approach to evaluate how acute warming events directly affect reef fish communities in nature,” said Dr Celia Schunter. “We chose to work with five different species which are commonly found on the reef to be able to understand differences in reactions among fish species with different life histories to get a broader overview of the reaction and impact.”
“Our study shows that reef fishes are directly affected by heatwaves, but their responses vary greatly among species,” said co-author Associate Professor Jodie Rummer from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University (Coral CoE at JCU). Dr Rummer was part of the international team that studied changes in the expression of thousands of different genes in five species of coral reef fish, collected at different points before, during and after the 2016 heatwave.
“Changes in gene expression can tell us how an animal responds physiologically to an environmental shock, such as a heatwave,” said Dr Celia Schunter from HKU School of Biological Sciences and SWIMS, one of the lead authors in the study. “We measured RNA levels in livers in the fish. This can control when proteins are made and in what amount, and these proteins dictate how the cells of the body function. We saw many genes change expression levels across the timepoints of a heatwave revealing important functions such as cellular stress response and changes in metabolic functions.”
Through these genetic analyses, the team identified species-specific physiological responses to the heightened temperatures. “Fast water warming causes an increase of the metabolic demands in fishes, which are similar to what happens to an athlete doing intense exercises. When water temperature increases, fishes have a higher demand for energy and oxygen, which leaves a signal that is measurable with genetic techniques. This higher energy demand at warming can affect their reproduction, swimming and development, and that is why it is important to understand the response to warming.” said Dr Moisés A Bernal, co-author of the study from Auburn University.
Interestingly, “these patterns of gene expression also changed with the duration of the heatwave,” said Dr Rummer. “This suggests that the physiological mechanisms the fish use to cope with the warmer waters changed as the heatwave progressed. The results suggest fish populations are influenced by both the intensity of a heatwave and how long it lasts.” This signals potential long-term consequences for the health of fish populations as extreme heat events increase in frequency, duration and magnitude under human-induced climate change.
At a species level, Dr Rummer says the responses varied in intensity. Some fish struggled less than others. “The spiny damselfish responded strongly to the warmer conditions, with changes in the expression of thousands of genes, suggesting it is particularly sensitive to heatwaves. Other species appear to be more tolerant, with fewer changes in gene expression.” said Dr Rummer . Two of the five studies species studied can also be found in waters around Hong Kong and Southern China as well as many more closely related fish species providing also some context for possible effects for waters around Hong Kong.
The study provides a possible approach for predicting which fish species are most at risk under repeated heatwave conditions, said another co-author Professor Timothy Ravasi, from the Marine Climate Change Unit at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). “This has ramifications for policy makers and for the fishing industry, because not all species will be equally affected. We need to screen a large number of species to predict which will be sensitive and which will be more tolerant to warming waters and heatwaves.”
“Over time, the fish may adapt to rising temperatures, or even migrate to cooler waters,” Professor Ravasi said. “But these heatwaves are happening now, and it’s necessary to understand and consider the immediate consequences.”
In 2015 the South China Sea experienced a heatwave of a similar magnitude than the heatwave on the Great Barrier Reef studied here. The coastal waters of Hong Kong and the South China Sea are predicted to experience more frequent and intense marine heatwave events as seen on the global scale. It is now clear that these extreme events can have far-reaching effects on marine fishes, but also economic implications on aquaculture and fishing industries Dr Celia Schunter urges the need for more research into the impacts of such events in the marine waters of Hong Kong to avert the potential collapse in the marine ecosystem and the industries relying on it.
###
The paper:
‘Species-specific molecular responses of wild coral reef fishes during a marine heatwave.’ in Science Advances by Moisés A Bernal, Celia Schunter, Robert Lehmann, Damien J Lightfoot, Bridie J M Allan, Heather D Veilleux, Jodie L Rummer, Philip L Munday and Timothy Ravasi.’
Link of journal paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/12/eaay3423
For more information about Dr Celia Schunter’s research, please visit: http://www.celiaschunter.com/


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--One of the Northern Hemisphere’s snowiest winters since records began

Highly unusual volumes of snow .
So much for snowfall soon becoming a thing of the past… the trend appears to be the exact opposite .
This year ’ s Northern Hemisphere snowfall data , collated by the Finnish Meteorological Institute ( FMI ) reveals that the 2019/2020 season has become one of the snowiest NH Winters on record , joining the uptick witnessed over the past few years .
Looking at the FMI chart below , during some points of the season , the total snow mass across the Northern Hemisphere reached 3 standard deviations above the average , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North America , Northern Europe , and Russia have contributed to this seasons amazing totals .
Countries like Sweden , for example , are breaking all-time seasonal snowfall records this year .
In an email , the FMI confirms that this has indeed been “ one of the snowiest winters on record ” since books began in 1979 , since the dawn of the satellite era .
The institute also points out that the 2017-2018 winter was even more exceptional , and that the following winter ( 2018-2019 ) was greater still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2001 recording higher masses at their seasonal peaks .
For peak snow mass , it looks like 2018-2019 was the fifth snowiest Northern Hemisphere season of the past 41 years , with 2017-2018 the sixth , and this season , 2019-2020 preliminary looking like the seventh .
But if you look at the overall mean March snow mass , then the year 2018 holds the record for the snowiest NH Winter .
According to the FMI that year saw a 3190 Gt mean March snow mass , putting it in the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and some 330 Gt above the 1979-2018 average .
Thanks to Bill Sellers for this link The post One of the Northern Hemisphere ’ s snowiest winters since records began appeared first on Ice Age Now .

Highly unusual volumes of snow. So much for snowfall soon becoming a thing of the past… the trend appears to be the exact opposite.
This year’s Northern Hemisphere snowfall data, collated by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) reveals that the 2019/2020 season has become one of the snowiest NH Winters on record, joining the uptick witnessed over the past few years.
Looking at the FMI chart below, during some points of the season, the total snow mass across the Northern Hemisphere reached 3 standard deviations above the average, indicating highly unusual volumes of snow.
North America, Northern Europe, and Russia have contributed to this seasons amazing totals. Countries like Sweden, for example, are breaking all-time seasonal snowfall records this year.
In an email, the FMI confirms that this has indeed been “one of the snowiest winters on record” since books began in 1979, since the dawn of the satellite era.
The institute also points out that the 2017-2018 winter was even more exceptional, and that the following winter (2018-2019) was greater still, with only 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2001 recording higher masses at their seasonal peaks.
For peak snow mass, it looks like 2018-2019 was the fifth snowiest Northern Hemisphere season of the past 41 years, with 2017-2018 the sixth, and this season, 2019-2020 preliminary looking like the seventh.
But if you look at the overall mean March snow mass, then the year 2018 holds the record for the snowiest NH Winter. According to the FMI that year saw a 3190 Gt mean March snow mass, putting it in the top spot in 41 years of record keeping, and some 330 Gt above the 1979-2018 average.
See entire article:
https://electroverse.net/the-northern-hemisphere-is-having-one-of-its-snowiest-winters-ever/
Thanks to Bill Sellers for this link
The post One of the Northern Hemisphere’s snowiest winters since records began appeared first on Ice Age Now.
via Ice Age Now
https://ift.tt/2vMYQ50
March 23, 2020 at 11:39AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Amid viral pandemic UK photographer captures images of Canadian polar bear cubs

The Sun ran a photo-essay yesterday ( 22 March 2020 , below ) taken by a UK photographer who went to Wapusk National Park just south of Churchill , Manitoba in order to get much-coveted images of polar bear mothers and cubs newly emerged from winter maternity dens .
The photos were said to have been taken “ early last week ” ( 16-17 March ? )
.
The trees in the photos are a give-away to the location : no other subpopulation regions except Western and Southern Hudson Bay are below the treeline .
Scrubby little spruces but ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern regions won ’ t come out with their cubs until April .
The question is : what was this photographer thinking to travel to a remote Arctic location in the middle of a global pandemic ?
Let ’ s just hope “ Brian Matthews , 41 , from Hartlepool , Co Durham ” didn ’ t take the Chinese coronovirus with him when he went to Canada .
By the end of February , it was quite apparent that something very serious was going on and travel was ill-advised .
I therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic in play across the world , Mr Matthews was not only willing to risk exposing the aboriginal people who run these spring polar bear cub emergence tours to this novel virus but all other people he came in contact with along the way .
Perhaps Sun reporter John Sturgis , responsible for putting the feature together , should have thought to ask .
As it is , we don ’ t know the details : perhaps Matthew had been in Canada for weeks , well before the seriousness of the global situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his timing was lucky on this trip : at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday 19 March , Wapusk National Park was closed because of the Chinese virus and on Wednesday 18 March , Canada banned entry of virtually all non-Canadian travelers into the country .
Amstrup , S.C. and Gardner , C. 1994 .
Polar bear maternity denning in the Beaufort Sea .
The Journal of Wildlife Management 58:1-10. http : //www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3809542 ?
uid=3739400 & uid=2 & uid=3737720 & uid=4 & sid=21101008172123 Ramsay , M.A .
and Stirling , I .
1988 .
Reproductive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Ursus maritimus ) .
Journal of Zoology London 214:601-624. http : //onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb03762.x/abstract Obbard , M. E. and Walton , L.R .
2004 .
The importance of polar bear provincial park to the southern Hudson Bay polar bear population in the context of future climate change .
Proceedings of the Parks Research Forum of Ontario ( PRFO ) :105-116 .
[ added July 26 , 2013 ] pdf here .
Van de Velde ( OMI ) , F. , Stirling , I. and Richardson , E. 2003 .
Polar bear ( Ursus maritimus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simpson Peninsula , Nunavut .
Arctic 56:191-197. http : //arctic.synergiesprairies.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/view/615

The Sun ran a photo-essay yesterday (22 March 2020, below) taken by a UK photographer who went to Wapusk National Park just south of Churchill, Manitoba in order to get much-coveted images of polar bear mothers and cubs newly emerged from winter maternity dens. The photos were said to have been taken “early last week” (16-17 March?).
The trees in the photos are a give-away to the location: no other subpopulation regions except Western and Southern Hudson Bay are below the treeline. Scrubby little spruces but ‘trees’ nonetheless. Mothers in more northern regions won’t come out with their cubs until April.
The question is: what was this photographer thinking to travel to a remote Arctic location in the middle of a global pandemic?
Let’s just hope “Brian Matthews, 41, from Hartlepool, Co Durham” didn’t take the Chinese coronovirus with him when he went to Canada. By the end of February, it was quite apparent that something very serious was going on and travel was ill-advised.
I therefore found it surprising that with a deadly pandemic in play across the world, Mr Matthews was not only willing to risk exposing the aboriginal people who run these spring polar bear cub emergence tours to this novel virus but all other people he came in contact with along the way. Perhaps Sun reporter John Sturgis, responsible for putting the feature together, should have thought to ask. As it is, we don’t know the details: perhaps Matthew had been in Canada for weeks, well before the seriousness of the global situation was apparent.
Ultimately, however, his timing was lucky on this trip: at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday 19 March, Wapusk National Park was closed because of the Chinese virus and on Wednesday 18 March, Canada banned entry of virtually all non-Canadian travelers into the country.
Suggested reading
Amstrup, S.C. and Gardner, C. 1994. Polar bear maternity denning in the Beaufort Sea. The Journal of Wildlife Management 58:1-10. http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3809542?uid=3739400&uid=2&uid=3737720&uid=4&sid=21101008172123
Ramsay, M.A. and Stirling, I. 1988. Reproductive biology and ecology of female polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Journal of Zoology London 214:601-624. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1988.tb03762.x/abstract
Obbard, M. E. and Walton, L.R. 2004. The importance of polar bear provincial park to the southern Hudson Bay polar bear population in the context of future climate change. Proceedings of the Parks Research Forum of Ontario (PRFO):105-116. [added July 26, 2013] pdf here.
Van de Velde (OMI), F., Stirling, I. and Richardson, E. 2003. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) denning in the area of the Simpson Peninsula, Nunavut. Arctic 56:191-197. http://arctic.synergiesprairies.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/view/615
via polarbearscience
https://ift.tt/2wop0eK
March 23, 2020 at 11:30AM


CoV discussion thread

Here are some articles I ’ ve flagged for discussion ; I am not personally endorsing anything here : Coronavirus : The Hammer and the Dance NYT : Harsh Steps Are Needed to Stop the Coronavirus New Yorker : The Coronavirus and better strategy for fighting pandemics Coronavirus will change the world permanently .
Here ’ s How How the coronavirus became a national catastrophe .
Flattening the curve : The South Korean Approach to CoV Friedman : A plan to get America back to work The number of cases of COVID-19 reported in Italy is still rising exponentially as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is no obviously visible change since ten northern regions were put under restricted movement regulations on 8th March and this was extended to all italian territory between 8th and 11th March 2020 .
However , studying the logarithm of the number of new cases reported each day does reveal and change .
On a logarithmic scale an exponential rise becomes a straight line .
The slope represents the constant term which describes the form of the exponential .
The linear regression of the logarithm shows the slope reduced by more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced .
This will mean that ( all other conditions remaining the same ) the outbreak will take twice as long to reach its peak but the rise in daily new cases will make it more manageable for the local health services .
This strategy is often referred to as “ flattening the curve ” .
Over the limited period since these measures were put in place this appears to have had a detectable effect , though it remains limited in magnitude .
On the 21st March 2020 , a limited military deployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lombardy , the centre of the epidemic , to more effectively enforce the existing measures .
The lengthening of the doubling time for new cases will allow more time for already swamped emergency services to adapt to increasing case load but it remains an exponential growth .
So far there is no indication of a peak in cases or an end to the exponential phase of the epidemic in Italy .
For details of the analysis method , see Greg ’ s post at climategrog This is really the kind of graph we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change during early exponential phase .
Here is a similar log graph including China and France , which looks like it is flattening out as clampdown has had time to pass through incubation period .
USA is still in very aggressive growth which is faster than any EU countries even in early phase .
Only S. Korea was faster , they rose fast , peaked early and contained the epidemic faster than China .
( Probably having gained from being pre-warned ) .
Today my wife and I talked to a gas station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so about the situation in town due to this response .
He first just mentioned what was happening to business in the vicinity of the gas station.. After a moment , though , he told us how this was affecting him directly .
He said he has stomach cancer and fortunately he was diagnosed in Stage 1 .
The prognosis was very good when he was diagnosed because it was caught so early .
But he was supposed to get an evaluation at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland ( about 90 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the best course of aggressive treatment to give him the best chance of cure .
It ’ s been cancelled without being rescheduled so OHSU can prepare for the COVID-19 epidemic we are told is coming soon , even though SARS-CoV-2 with an R0 of 3 , a doubling time of 3-4 days , and a CFR of perhaps 3 % may have been circulating in the US since late December 2019 .
He ’ s now on a maintenance protocol under the direction of a doctor here for the foreseeable future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care that has the best chance of stopping his cancer from progressing His entire care plan has been disrupted , possibly at risk to his life .
His actual care is being de-prioritized relative to potential care for severe COVID-19 patients projected by a model built on unreliable data .

by Judith Curry
Some articles I’ve flagged, plus emails I’ve received.
Here are some articles I’ve flagged for discussion; I am not personally endorsing anything here:
Coronavirus: The Hammer and the Dance
NYT: Harsh Steps Are Needed to Stop the Coronavirus
New Yorker: The Coronavirus and better strategy for fighting pandemics
N95 Mask shortage is horrible manifestation of America’s crazy defense priorities
Victor Davis Hanson: Some Coronavirus Humility
Coronavirus will change the world permanently. Here’s How
How the coronavirus became a national catastrophe.
Flattening the curve: The South Korean Approach to CoV
Dangerous Curves – American Greatness
Twitter thread from Nicholas Christakis
Friedman: A plan to get America back to work
Greg Goodman’s Italy analysis
The number of cases of COVID-19 reported in Italy is still rising exponentially as is the total number of cases. There is no obviously visible change since ten northern regions were put under restricted movement regulations on 8th March and this was extended to all italian territory between 8th and 11th March 2020.
However, studying the logarithm of the number of new cases reported each day does reveal and change.
On a logarithmic scale an exponential rise becomes a straight line. The slope represents the constant term which describes the form of the exponential.
The linear regression of the logarithm shows the slope reduced by more than a factor of two after the measures were introduced.
This will mean that ( all other conditions remaining the same ) the outbreak will take twice as long to reach its peak but the rise in daily new cases will make it more manageable for the local health services. This strategy is often referred to as “flattening the curve”. Over the limited period since these measures were put in place this appears to have had a detectable effect, though it remains limited in magnitude.
On the 21st March 2020, a limited military deployment was established in the northern region of Lombardy, the centre of the epidemic, to more effectively enforce the existing measures.
The lengthening of the doubling time for new cases will allow more time for already swamped emergency services to adapt to increasing case load but it remains an exponential growth.
So far there is no indication of a peak in cases or an end to the exponential phase of the epidemic in Italy.
For details of the analysis method, see Greg’s post at climategrog
This is really the kind of graph we need to be looking at to detect
change during early exponential phase.
Here is a similar log graph including China and France, which looks like
it is flattening out as clampdown has had time to pass through
incubation period.
USA is still in very aggressive growth which is faster than any EU
countries even in early phase.
Only S. Korea was faster, they rose fast, peaked early and contained the
epidemic faster than China. ( Probably having gained from being
pre-warned ).
Emailed from Oregon – unintended consequences:
Today my wife and I talked to a gas station attendant who looked to be 30 or so about the situation in town due to this response. He first just mentioned what was happening to business in the vicinity of the gas station.. After a moment, though, he told us how this was affecting him directly. He said he has stomach cancer and fortunately he was diagnosed in Stage 1. The prognosis was very good when he was diagnosed because it was caught so early. But he was supposed to get an evaluation at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland (about 90 miles north of Corvallis) on March 24th as the best course of aggressive treatment to give him the best chance of cure. It’s been cancelled without being rescheduled so OHSU can prepare for the COVID-19 epidemic we are told is coming soon, even though SARS-CoV-2 with an R0 of 3, a doubling time of 3-4 days, and a CFR of perhaps 3% may have been circulating in the US since late December 2019. He’s now on a maintenance protocol under the direction of a doctor here for the foreseeable future that makes him immuno-compromised and is not care that has the best chance of stopping his cancer from progressing His entire care plan has been disrupted, possibly at risk to his life. His actual care is being de-prioritized relative to potential care for severe COVID-19 patients projected by a model built on unreliable data.
via Climate Etc.
https://ift.tt/33JESVo
March 23, 2020 at 10:45AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-23--Cheap Coal May Get Boost In Post-Pandemic World

In a post-pandemic world coal , while having lots of problems , is considered to be a cheap and reliable source of energy to rebuild the economy .
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken energy markets to the core this year , creating incredible volatility for fuel prices .
The one energy source that hasn ’ t blinked though is coal , a fuel that may come out stronger through the current crisis , a Rystad Energy analysis shows .
The price of coal was already depressed before the corona virus crisis , and the demand curtailment in China during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop , balancing the market .
Oil , which is used as a fuel in coal mining , has grown cheaper and is seen by Rystad Energy as reducing coal output costs by a few dollars per ton .
“ With ARA prices already so low , any cost decrease will potentially give struggling producers selling to Europe a little breathing room , rather than allowing prices to move down any further , ” says Steve Hulton , Rystad Energy ’ s Head of Global coal research .
The large falls in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Australia and Russia is a significant , but often overlooked factor with regards to coal prices and margins .
In mid-March , the Australian dollar hit a 17-year low as international investors sought the traditional safety of US dollars ; the Russian ruble has also reached new record lows due to the collapsing oil price .
[ … ] However , foreign exchange movements won ’ t help any US-based coal producers , and further export price weakness ( plus ongoing local demand destruction due to gas competition ) will only serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome of the Covid-19 crisis could be an unexpected subtle shift in public opinion and policy regarding the speed of transition towards a low carbon power generating future .
In a post-pandemic world coal , while having lots of problems , is considered to be a cheap and reliable source of energy to rebuild the economy .
Also , in economies struggling to bounce back , there may be less scope for absorbing the unemployment associated with the end of coal mining and power generation .
These factors could potentially lead to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition .
China is an example : Coal mining capacity is now reported as moving quickly back towards full capacity , and power generation is returning to normal levels .
Thermal coal import demand into China , which rose initially on the back of domestic production shutdowns , is likely to total close to the 2019 annual numbers , though reports indicate that some ports have already reached their 2020 annual quota limits .
The post Cheap Coal May Get Boost In Post-Pandemic World appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum ( @ @ @

In a post-pandemic world coal, while having lots of problems, is considered to be a cheap and reliable source of energy to rebuild the economy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken energy markets to the core this year, creating incredible volatility for fuel prices. The one energy source that hasn’t blinked though is coal, a fuel that may come out stronger through the current crisis, a Rystad Energy analysis shows.
The price of coal was already depressed before the corona virus crisis, and the demand curtailment in China during the lockdowns was accompanied by a domestic production drop, balancing the market. Oil, which is used as a fuel in coal mining, has grown cheaper and is seen by Rystad Energy as reducing coal output costs by a few dollars per ton.
“With ARA prices already so low, any cost decrease will potentially give struggling producers selling to Europe a little breathing room, rather than allowing prices to move down any further,” says Steve Hulton, Rystad Energy’s Head of Global coal research.
The large falls in the currency of the major coal exporting countries like Australia and Russia is a significant, but often overlooked factor with regards to coal prices and margins. In mid-March, the Australian dollar hit a 17-year low as international investors sought the traditional safety of US dollars; the Russian ruble has also reached new record lows due to the collapsing oil price. […]
However, foreign exchange movements won’t help any US-based coal producers, and further export price weakness (plus ongoing local demand destruction due to gas competition) will only serve to hasten their demise.
A possible outcome of the Covid-19 crisis could be an unexpected subtle shift in public opinion and policy regarding the speed of transition towards a low carbon power generating future.
In a post-pandemic world coal, while having lots of problems, is considered to be a cheap and reliable source of energy to rebuild the economy. Also, in economies struggling to bounce back, there may be less scope for absorbing the unemployment associated with the end of coal mining and power generation. These factors could potentially lead to a slowing of the rate of the energy transition.
China is an example: Coal mining capacity is now reported as moving quickly back towards full capacity, and power generation is returning to normal levels. Thermal coal import demand into China, which rose initially on the back of domestic production shutdowns, is likely to total close to the 2019 annual numbers, though reports indicate that some ports have already reached their 2020 annual quota limits.
The post Cheap Coal May Get Boost In Post-Pandemic World appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
via The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF)
https://ift.tt/3bihsJ8
March 23, 2020 at 10:13AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-24--This Week In 1913

This Week In 1913

The true story of our national calamity of flood , fire and tornado … – Logan Marshall – Google Books @ @ @ @ @ history also occurred in 1913 .
The world ’ s record temperature of 134F was @ @ @ @ @ 10 , 1913 .
From August 1 to September 7 , 1913 Nebraska was over @ @ @ @ @ one .
This picture was taken near where I bought my first house – in @ @ @ @ @ flood crest was 56 feet on December 11 , 1913 .

25 Mar 1913, 6 – The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com
23 Mar 1913, Page 9 – The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times at Newspapers.com
Easter Sunday brought tornadoes from coast to coast.
The true story of our national calamity of flood, fire and tornado … – Logan Marshall – Google Books
The worst flooding in Ohio history also occurred in 1913.
09 Dec 1913, 3 – The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com
28 Mar 1913, 6 – The Baltimore Sun at Newspapers.com
27 Mar 1913, Page 1 – The Washington Post at Newspapers.com
27 Mar 1913, Page 1 – Harrisburg Telegraph at Newspapers.com
24 Mar 1913, 1 – Evening Times-Republican at Newspapers.com
25 Mar 1913, Page 5 – Reading Times at Newspapers.com
The world’s record temperature of 134F was set in California on July 10, 1913.
mwr-050-01-0010.pdf
From August 1 to September 7, 1913 Nebraska was over 100 degrees every day but one.
This picture was taken near where I bought my first house – in Richmond, Texas. The flood crest was 56 feet on December 11, 1913.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-24--Chandra Data Tests ‘Theory of Everything’

One of the biggest ideas in physics is the possibility that all known forces , particles , and interactions can be connected in one framework .
String theory is arguably the best-known proposal for a “ theory of everything ” that would tie together our understanding of the physical universe .
Despite having many different versions of string theory circulating throughout the physics community for decades , there have been very few experimental tests .
Astronomers using NASA ’ s Chandra X-ray Observatory , however , have now made a significant step forward in this area .
By searching through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the universe held together by gravity , researchers were able to hunt for a specific particle that many models of string theory predict should exist .
While the resulting non-detection does not rule out string theory altogether , it does deliver a blow to certain models within that family of ideas .
“ Until recently I had no idea just how much X-ray astronomers bring to the table when it comes to string theory , but we could play a major role , ” said Christopher Reynolds of the University of Cambridge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study .
“ If these particles are eventually detected it would change physics forever.
” The particle that Reynolds and his colleagues were searching for is called an “ axion.
” These as-yet-undetected particles should have extraordinarily low masses .
Scientists do not know the precise mass range , but many theories feature axion masses ranging from about a millionth of the mass of an electron down to zero mass .
Some scientists think that axions could explain the mystery of dark matter , which accounts for the vast majority of matter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these ultra-low-mass particles would be that they might sometimes convert into photons ( that is , packets of light ) as they pass through magnetic fields .
The opposite may also hold true : photons may also be converted into axions under certain conditions .
How often this switch occurs depends on how easily they make this conversion , in other words on their “ convertibility.
” Some scientists have proposed the existence of a broader class of ultra-low-mass particles with similar properties to axions .
Axions would have a single convertibility value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particles ” would have a range of convertibility at the same mass .
“ While it may sound like a long shot to look for tiny particles like axions in gigantic structures like galaxy clusters , they are actually great places to look , ” said co-author David Marsh of Stockholm University in Sweden .
“ Galaxy clusters contain magnetic fields over giant distances , and they also often contain bright X-ray sources .
Together these properties enhance the chances that conversion of axion-like particles would be detectable.
” To look for signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team of astronomers examined over five days of Chandra observations of X-rays from material falling towards the supermassive black hole in the center of the Perseus galaxy cluster .
They studied the Chandra spectrum , or the amount of X-ray emission observed at different energies , of this source .
The long observation and the bright X-ray source gave a spectrum with enough sensitivity to have shown distortions that scientists expected if axion-like particles were present .
The lack of detection of such distortions allowed the researchers to rule out the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass range their observations were sensitive to , below about a millionth of a billionth of an electron ’ s mass .
“ Our research doesn ’ t rule out the existence of these particles , but it definitely doesn ’ t help their case , ” said co-author Helen Russell of the University of Nottingham in the UK .
“ These constraints dig into the range of properties suggested by string theory , and may help string theorists weed their theories.
” The latest result was about three to four times more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ axion-like particles , which came from Chandra observations of the supermassive black hole in M87 .
This Perseus study is also about a hundred times more powerful than current measurements that can be performed in laboratories here on Earth for the range of masses that they have considered .
Clearly , one possible interpretation of this work is that axion-like particles do not exist .
Another explanation is that the particles have even lower convertibility values than this observation ’ s detection limit , and lower than some particle physicists have expected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ probed with the Chandra data .
A paper describing these results appeared in the February 10th , 2020 issue of The Astrophysical Journal and is available online .
In addition to Reynolds , Marsh , and Russell , the authors of this paper are Andrew C. Fabian , also from the University of Cambridge , Robyn Smith from the University of Maryland in College Park , Maryland , Francesco Tombesi from the University of Rome in Italy , and Sylvain Veilleux , also from the University of Maryland .
NASA ’ s Marshall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory ’ s Chandra X-ray Center controls science and flight operations from Cambridge and Burlington , Massachusetts .
For more Chandra images , multimedia and related materials , visit :

March 19, 2020
One of the biggest ideas in physics is the possibility that all known forces, particles, and interactions can be connected in one framework. String theory is arguably the best-known proposal for a “theory of everything” that would tie together our understanding of the physical universe.
Despite having many different versions of string theory circulating throughout the physics community for decades, there have been very few experimental tests. Astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, however, have now made a significant step forward in this area.
By searching through galaxy clusters, the largest structures in the universe held together by gravity, researchers were able to hunt for a specific particle that many models of string theory predict should exist. While the resulting non-detection does not rule out string theory altogether, it does deliver a blow to certain models within that family of ideas.
“Until recently I had no idea just how much X-ray astronomers bring to the table when it comes to string theory, but we could play a major role,” said Christopher Reynolds of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, who led the study. “If these particles are eventually detected it would change physics forever.”
The particle that Reynolds and his colleagues were searching for is called an “axion.” These as-yet-undetected particles should have extraordinarily low masses. Scientists do not know the precise mass range, but many theories feature axion masses ranging from about a millionth of the mass of an electron down to zero mass. Some scientists think that axions could explain the mystery of dark matter, which accounts for the vast majority of matter in the universe.
One unusual property of these ultra-low-mass particles would be that they might sometimes convert into photons (that is, packets of light) as they pass through magnetic fields. The opposite may also hold true: photons may also be converted into axions under certain conditions. How often this switch occurs depends on how easily they make this conversion, in other words on their “convertibility.”
Some scientists have proposed the existence of a broader class of ultra-low-mass particles with similar properties to axions. Axions would have a single convertibility value at each mass, but “axion-like particles” would have a range of convertibility at the same mass.
“While it may sound like a long shot to look for tiny particles like axions in gigantic structures like galaxy clusters, they are actually great places to look,” said co-author David Marsh of Stockholm University in Sweden. “Galaxy clusters contain magnetic fields over giant distances, and they also often contain bright X-ray sources. Together these properties enhance the chances that conversion of axion-like particles would be detectable.”
To look for signs of conversion by axion-like particles, the team of astronomers examined over five days of Chandra observations of X-rays from material falling towards the supermassive black hole in the center of the Perseus galaxy cluster. They studied the Chandra spectrum, or the amount of X-ray emission observed at different energies, of this source. The long observation and the bright X-ray source gave a spectrum with enough sensitivity to have shown distortions that scientists expected if axion-like particles were present.
The lack of detection of such distortions allowed the researchers to rule out the presence of most types of axion-like particles in the mass range their observations were sensitive to, below about a millionth of a billionth of an electron’s mass.
“Our research doesn’t rule out the existence of these particles, but it definitely doesn’t help their case,” said co-author Helen Russell of the University of Nottingham in the UK. “These constraints dig into the range of properties suggested by string theory, and may help string theorists weed their theories.”
The latest result was about three to four times more sensitive than the previous best search for axion-like particles, which came from Chandra observations of the supermassive black hole in M87. This Perseus study is also about a hundred times more powerful than current measurements that can be performed in laboratories here on Earth for the range of masses that they have considered.
Clearly, one possible interpretation of this work is that axion-like particles do not exist. Another explanation is that the particles have even lower convertibility values than this observation’s detection limit, and lower than some particle physicists have expected. They also could have higher masses than probed with the Chandra data.
A paper describing these results appeared in the February 10th, 2020 issue of The Astrophysical Journal and is available online. In addition to Reynolds, Marsh, and Russell, the authors of this paper are Andrew C. Fabian, also from the University of Cambridge, Robyn Smith from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, Francesco Tombesi from the University of Rome in Italy, and Sylvain Veilleux, also from the University of Maryland.
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center controls science and flight operations from Cambridge and Burlington, Massachusetts.
Image credit: NASA/CXC/Cambridge Univ./C.S. Reynolds
Read more from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
For more Chandra images, multimedia and related materials, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/chandra
Last Updated: March 19, 2020
Editor: Lee Mohon


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-24--The Enormous and Continuing Cost of Canada’s Climate Policies

In this PowerPoint presentation , I have tried to answer a question about climate policy that is too rarely asked @ @ @ @ @ does it cost ?
Only those with a profound ignorance of economics , or a @ @ @ @ @ say that the answer to this question is unimportant .
The central economic fact of @ @ @ @ @ always more things that we want and need than we can afford ; when we @ @ @ @ @ choices cost , we indirectly deprive ourselves of things that may be far more important @ @ @ @ @ The article includes the following video and links to the downloadable presentation :

By Robert Lyman
In this PowerPoint presentation, I have tried to answer a question about climate policy that is too rarely asked in Canada. How much does it cost? Only those with a profound ignorance of economics, or a contempt for it, would say that the answer to this question is unimportant. The central economic fact of life is that there are always more things that we want and need than we can afford; when we fail to understand what our choices cost, we indirectly deprive ourselves of things that may be far more important to our overall wellbeing.
Read the article at: https://blog.friendsofscience.org/2020/03/20/prosperity-foregone-a-summary/
The article includes the following video and links to the downloadable presentation:
via The Carbon Sense Coalition
https://ift.tt/2QIUV0d
March 24, 2020 at 03:57AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-24--Give Britain A Break: Suspend £15 Billion A Year Energy Policy Costs To Help Households and Business

London , 24 March : The Global Warming Policy Forum is calling on the Government to suspend all energy policy costs for the duration of the pandemic to relieve the burden for households and businesses during this unprecedented crisis .
* A civil emergency requires firm government measures in all areas and energy is no exception .
* Britain can not afford high-cost gas and electricity as we defend our society and families against Covid-19 .
Using data from the Office Budget Responsibility ( Economic and fiscal outlook – March 2020 [ 1 ] , March 2019 [ 2 ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to renewables , as well as the Climate Change Levy , and the EU Emission Trading Scheme , together will cost consumers about £15 billion over the coming year , unless government acts without delay .
These carbon costs will be felt by households both directly and indirectly : * directly on their electricity bills , where prices are nearly 40 % higher than they would be in the absence of policies , according to government ’ s own estimates [ 3 ] .
* indirectly through the general cost of living , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own costs on to households ( if supermarkets pay more for electricity to refrigerate milk , they must recover this cost at the checkout ) .
One leading supplier of electricity for commercial consumers estimates that low-carbon policy costs now account for about 40 % of a typical bill to their customers ( Haven Power , Your Guide to Third Party Costs ( February 2020 ) [ 4 ] .
Such costs can only add to the difficulties faced by businesses already struggling with collapsing demand .
To these extraordinary costs should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managing uncontrollable electricity generation .
Policy impacts on system costs are opaque , but where numbers are known they are high .
The notorious “ constraint payments ” , mostly paid to Scottish windfarms for reduction in output , came to £130 million last year alone and this year amount to a staggering £84 million , £1m a day .
Electricity costs are of particular importance at this time since so many British people and families are confined to their homes , some of the most vulnerable dependent on electric heating .
Nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost can be saved for the duration of this emergency by the expedients of suspending the majority of renewables subsidies ( Renewables Obligation , Contracts for Difference , and FiT , excepting only payments to small domestic generators ) and the Climate Change Levy ( CCL ) and the Emissions Trading Scheme ( ETS ) .
Further savings would arise from reduced system costs .
The post Give Britain A Break : Suspend £15 Billion A Year Energy Policy Costs To Help Households and Businesses appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum @ @ @ @

London, 24 March: The Global Warming Policy Forum is calling on the Government to suspend all energy policy costs for the duration of the pandemic to relieve the burden for households and businesses during this unprecedented crisis.
* A civil emergency requires firm government measures in all areas and energy is no exception.
* Britain cannot afford high-cost gas and electricity as we defend our society and families against Covid-19.
Using data from the Office Budget Responsibility (Economic and fiscal outlook – March 2020 [1] , March 2019 [2] it can be seen that direct subsidies to renewables, as well as the Climate Change Levy, and the EU Emission Trading Scheme, together will cost consumers about £15 billion over the coming year, unless government acts without delay.
These carbon costs will be felt by households both directly and indirectly:
* directly on their electricity bills, where prices are nearly 40% higher than they would be in the absence of policies, according to government’s own estimates [3].
* indirectly through the general cost of living, as commercial and public sector consumers pass their own costs on to households (if supermarkets pay more for electricity to refrigerate milk, they must recover this cost at the checkout).
One leading supplier of electricity for commercial consumers estimates that low-carbon policy costs now account for about 40% of a typical bill to their customers (Haven Power, Your Guide to Third Party Costs (February 2020) [4].
Such costs can only add to the difficulties faced by businesses already struggling with collapsing demand. To these extraordinary costs should be added the additional grid costs of managing uncontrollable electricity generation.
Policy impacts on system costs are opaque, but where numbers are known they are high. The notorious “constraint payments”, mostly paid to Scottish windfarms for reduction in output, came to £130 million last year alone and this year amount to a staggering £84 million, £1m a day.
Electricity costs are of particular importance at this time since so many British people and families are confined to their homes, some of the most vulnerable dependent on electric heating.
Nearly all of the £15 billion a year cost can be saved for the duration of this emergency by the expedients of suspending the majority of renewables subsidies (Renewables Obligation, Contracts for Difference, and FiT, excepting only payments to small domestic generators) and the Climate Change Levy (CCL) and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Further savings would arise from reduced system costs.
GWPF director, Dr Benny Peiser said,
Continuing to force consumers to stay at home and use high-cost energy in a time of unprecedented crisis will cause severe personal hardship and needless economic damage. Government must act immediately to suspend these burdens for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.”
[1] https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2020/
[2] https://obr.uk/efo/economic-fiscal-outlook-march-2019/
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimated-impacts-of-energy-and-climate-change-policies-on-energy-prices-and-bills-2014
[4]https://assets.ctfassets.net/zb2jbbsrxzqq/4ibOWMWb4syKwYoUIGYuyo/65cb8a6ca2f6b9d2c5e6d5275c656f6f/HP036_TPC_Guide.pdf
The post Give Britain A Break: Suspend £15 Billion A Year Energy Policy Costs To Help Households and Businesses appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
via The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF)
https://ift.tt/2QIwwb0
March 24, 2020 at 03:36AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-24--QUESTION TO UK GOVERNMENT ON UK CLIMATE COSTS

As part of our commitment to net zero , and in line with the recommendation of the Committee onChange , @ @ @ @ @ a review of the costs of net zero .
The Government will also publish full @ @ @ @ @ for future carbon budgets .
So what does this answer tell us ?
Not much @ @ @ @ @ of the costs other than they are carrying out a `` review '' to be @ @ @ @ @ and vague talk of assessing the efforts of other nations `` within five years ''

Climate
As part of our commitment to net zero, and in line with the recommendation of the Committee onChange, HM Treasury is carrying out a review of the costs of net zero. The Government will also publish full impact assessments as we legislate for future carbon budgets.
So what does this answer tell us? Not much – there is no mention of the costs other than they are carrying out a "review" to be published at some unspecified date and vague talk of assessing the efforts of other nations "within five years"


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-03-24--Fossil Fuelled Future: How On Earth Do They Expect Wind & Sunbeams To Power Us?

In their sillier moments , renewable energy zealots pontificate about the end of fossil fuels , to be inevitably replaced @ @ @ @ @ albeit , these days with the addition of $ trillions worth of mythical mega-batteries ) @ @ @ @ @ powered itself on wind and solar alone ; no country ever will .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ [ … ]

In their sillier moments, renewable energy zealots pontificate about the end of fossil fuels, to be inevitably replaced by wind and solar (albeit, these days with the addition of $trillions worth of mythical mega-batteries). No country has ever powered itself on wind and solar alone; no country ever will. Instead, modern economies will continue to […]
via STOP THESE THINGS
https://ift.tt/33FMqs4
March 24, 2020 at 01:30AM