iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Irony Alert: Cloudier Climate Leaves Weather Worriers Panicking About Future for Solar Power

Apparently , not every cloud is silver lined , especially when it ’ s a bank of cumulonimbus stubbornly parked between your solar panels and the Sun .
Since ‘ global warming ’ was rebadged as ‘ climate change ’ , we ’ ve been told to expect all sorts of ‘ unprecedented ’ extremes .
Which means there ’ s a possibility of more calm weather ( with unprecedented calmness ) , which doesn ’ t augur well for our wind powered future .
Likewise , we ’ re now being told to expect more heavily clouded skies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If , indeed , our days become cloudier and/or there are more of them , then solar ’ s occasional contribution to our daily demand for power will plummet to a measly trickle .
What a delicious irony it will be if it ’ s a changing climate that throws a spanner in the works , and brings our ‘ inevitable transition ’ to an all wind and sun powered future to a grinding halt .
Olivia Rudgard takes a look at a new source of worry for those bent on running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Climate change to make solar power less reliable as the sunniest parts of the world become cloudier The Telegraph Olivia Rudgard 8 October 8 , 2020 Climate change could make solar panels less reliable as it increases cloud cover in the sunniest parts of the world , researchers warn .
While solar in some areas is set to benefit , higher temperatures , humidity and pollution will reduce the reliability of sunlight strength in areas such as the Middle East , where countries have invested heavily in the technology .
Researchers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded that the region was particularly susceptible to the pattern , which could lead to more cloudy days .
In Dubai , which has invested millions in solar power including building a huge solar park and the world ’ s tallest solar tower , changing winter weather patterns increase by eight per cent the probability that solar panels will fail to meet the demand they are designed by the middle of this century .
This is because higher temperatures lead to greater weather turbulence and hold more moisture , conditions which make cloudiness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heat leads to drier soil creating more dust and pollution , which can also block sunlight .
The country plans to generate 75 per cent of its power from renewable sources by 2050 , 25 per cent of which is supposed to come from solar .
Co-author Amilcare Porporato , of Princeton University , said : “ In terms of solar power , semiarid places are now like students who get an A nearly every day .
“ Now , climate change is disturbing the usual dynamics of the atmosphere and the regularity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s surface .
We tried to quantify how much more often those As could become Bs , or even Cs , as a result.
” A similar wintertime trend can be seen across a swathe of the middle east , south Asia , north-east , central and west Africa .
However , in the summer it ’ s better news for mainland Europe as climate change means this likelihood decreases by up to four per cent .
South-east England also sees a positive summertime effect , though this is less strong .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work was needed to develop efficient power storage and technology to send solar power to the grid more gradually .
The study , published in the journal Nature Climate Change , is the first to examine the potential impacts of a changing climate on the day-to-day reliability of solar technology .
Hotter , drier conditions in some parts of the world also create conditions where out-of-control forest fires are more likely , with smoke blocking sunlight and hampering solar power .
As fires raged across California in the first two weeks of September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the July average and was 13.4 per cent lower than at the same time last year , despite a rise in capacity .
“ This matter reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches solar panels , decreasing solar-powered electricity generation , ” the US Energy Information Administration said in a report last month .
Solar ’ s varying power supply has long been recognised as a challenge among scientists trying to integrate it into existing power grids .
Unlike traditional coal or nuclear power stations , it can not be switched on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source of power .
A particular challenge is that demand for electricity tends to peak in the evenings , when solar is no longer available .
Energy storage technology developed to solve this problem has become increasingly popular in recent years as prices come down , though there are still issues with cost , capacity and the relatively short lifespan of batteries .
The Telegraph

Apparently, not every cloud is silver lined, especially when it’s a bank of cumulonimbus stubbornly parked between your solar panels and the Sun.
Since ‘global warming’ was rebadged as ‘climate change’, we’ve been told to expect all sorts of ‘unprecedented’ extremes. Which means there’s a possibility of more calm weather (with unprecedented calmness), which doesn’t augur well for our wind powered future.
Likewise, we’re now being told to expect more heavily clouded skies, no doubt, unprecedented, as well.
If, indeed, our days become cloudier and/or there are more of them, then solar’s occasional contribution to our daily demand for power will plummet to a measly trickle.
What a delicious irony it will be if it’s a changing climate that throws a spanner in the works, and brings our ‘inevitable transition’ to an all wind and sun powered future to a grinding halt.
Olivia Rudgard takes a look at a new source of worry for those bent on running on sunshine, weather and wishes.
Climate change to make solar power less reliable as the sunniest parts of the world become cloudier
The Telegraph
Olivia Rudgard
8 October 8, 2020
Climate change could make solar panels less reliable as it increases cloud cover in the sunniest parts of the world, researchers warn.
While solar in some areas is set to benefit, higher temperatures, humidity and pollution will reduce the reliability of sunlight strength in areas such as the Middle East, where countries have invested heavily in the technology.
Researchers at the University of Princeton examined climate models and concluded that the region was particularly susceptible to the pattern, which could lead to more cloudy days.
In Dubai, which has invested millions in solar power including building a huge solar park and the world’s tallest solar tower, changing winter weather patterns increase by eight per cent the probability that solar panels will fail to meet the demand they are designed by the middle of this century.
This is because higher temperatures lead to greater weather turbulence and hold more moisture, conditions which make cloudiness more likely.
At ground level, heat leads to drier soil creating more dust and pollution, which can also block sunlight.
The country plans to generate 75 per cent of its power from renewable sources by 2050, 25 per cent of which is supposed to come from solar.
Co-author Amilcare Porporato, of Princeton University, said: “In terms of solar power, semiarid places are now like students who get an A nearly every day.
“Now, climate change is disturbing the usual dynamics of the atmosphere and the regularity of the solar radiation reaching the planet’s surface. We tried to quantify how much more often those As could become Bs, or even Cs, as a result.”
A similar wintertime trend can be seen across a swathe of the middle east, south Asia, north-east, central and west Africa.
However, in the summer it’s better news for mainland Europe as climate change means this likelihood decreases by up to four per cent. South-east England also sees a positive summertime effect, though this is less strong.
Scientists said the findings showed that more work was needed to develop efficient power storage and technology to send solar power to the grid more gradually.
The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, is the first to examine the potential impacts of a changing climate on the day-to-day reliability of solar technology.
Hotter, drier conditions in some parts of the world also create conditions where out-of-control forest fires are more likely, with smoke blocking sunlight and hampering solar power.
As fires raged across California in the first two weeks of September, solar generation declined 30 per cent from the July average and was 13.4 per cent lower than at the same time last year, despite a rise in capacity.
“This matter reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches solar panels, decreasing solar-powered electricity generation,” the US Energy Information Administration said in a report last month.
Solar’s varying power supply has long been recognised as a challenge among scientists trying to integrate it into existing power grids.
Unlike traditional coal or nuclear power stations, it cannot be switched on to run long-term and produce a reliable source of power. A particular challenge is that demand for electricity tends to peak in the evenings, when solar is no longer available.
Energy storage technology developed to solve this problem has become increasingly popular in recent years as prices come down, though there are still issues with cost, capacity and the relatively short lifespan of batteries.
The Telegraph


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-19--We still Have a Chance? Norwegian Climate Doomsday Authors Issue a “Clarification”

A few days ago WUWT reported on a Norwegian “ past the point of no return ” global warming paper whose outlook was so pessimistic even climate alarmists were upset .
The authors now appear to have responded to academic pressure , and have publicly accepted that it is never too late to pay the penalty for our climate sins by taking expensive remedial action .
Please note that this press release was updated to provide clarity on the model used in this study .
The changes are highlighted in bold .
Even if human-induced greenhouse gas emissions can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to rise for centuries afterwards , according to a reduced complexity model of the global climate between 1850 and 2500 published in Scientific Reports .
The authors encourage other researchers to explore their results using alternative models .
Jorgen Randers and Ulrich Goluke used a reduced complexity earth system model to studythe effect of different greenhouse gas emission reductions on changes in the global climate from 1850 to 2500 and created projections of global temperature and sea level rises .
The modelling suggests that under conditions where anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 2100 , global temperatures will be 3°C warmer and sea levels 3 metres higher by 2500 than they were in 1850 .
Under conditions where all anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions are reduced to zero during the year 2020 the authors estimate that , after an initial decline , global temperatures will still be around 3°C warmer and sea levels will rise by around 2.5 metres by 2500 , compared to 1850 .
The authors suggest that global temperatures could continue to increase after anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have reduced , as continued melting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase the greenhouse gases ’ water vapour , methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere .
Melting of Arctic ice and permafrost would also reduce the area of ice reflecting heat and light from the sun .
To prevent the projected temperature and sea level rises , the authors suggest that all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions would have had to be reduced to zero between 1960 and 1970 .
To prevent global temperature and sea level rises after greenhouse gas emissions have ceased , and to limit the potentially catastrophic impacts of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society , at least 33 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide would need to be removed from the atmosphere each year from 2020 onwards through carbon capture and storage methods , according to the authors .
An earth system model shows self-sustained melting of permafrost even if all man-made GHG emissions stop in 2020 Please link to the article in online versions of your report ( the URL will go live after the embargo ends ) : https : //www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75481-z Disclaimer : AAAS and EurekAlert !
are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system .

Guest essay by Eric Worrall
A few days ago WUWT reported on a Norwegian “past the point of no return” global warming paper whose outlook was so pessimistic even climate alarmists were upset.
The authors now appear to have responded to academic pressure, and have publicly accepted that it is never too late to pay the penalty for our climate sins by taking expensive remedial action.
NEWS RELEASE 12-NOV-2020
Climate change: Ending greenhouse gas emissions may not stop global warming
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Please note that this press release was updated to provide clarity on the model used in this study. The changes are highlighted in bold.
Even if human-induced greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced to zero, global temperatures may continue to rise for centuries afterwards, according to a reduced complexity model of the global climate between 1850 and 2500 published in Scientific Reports. The authors encourage other researchers to explore their results using alternative models.
Jorgen Randers and Ulrich Goluke used a reduced complexity earth system model to studythe effect of different greenhouse gas emission reductions on changes in the global climate from 1850 to 2500 and created projections of global temperature and sea level rises.
The modelling suggests that under conditions where anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions peak during the 2030s and decline to zero by 2100, global temperatures will be 3°C warmer and sea levels 3 metres higher by 2500 than they were in 1850. Under conditions where all anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions are reduced to zero during the year 2020 the authors estimate that, after an initial decline, global temperatures will still be around 3°C warmer and sea levels will rise by around 2.5 metres by 2500, compared to 1850. The authors suggest that global temperatures could continue to increase after anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have reduced, as continued melting of Arctic ice and carbon-containing permafrost may increase the greenhouse gases’ water vapour, methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Melting of Arctic ice and permafrost would also reduce the area of ice reflecting heat and light from the sun.
To prevent the projected temperature and sea level rises, the authors suggest that all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions would have had to be reduced to zero between 1960 and 1970. To prevent global temperature and sea level rises after greenhouse gas emissions have ceased, and to limit the potentially catastrophic impacts of this on Earth’s ecosystems and human society , at least 33 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide would need to be removed from the atmosphere each year from 2020 onwards through carbon capture and storage methods, according to the authors.
###Article details
An earth system model shows self-sustained melting of permafrost even if all man-made GHG emissions stop in 2020
DOI:
10.1038/s41598-020-75481-z
Corresponding Author:
Jorgen Randers
BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
Email: jorgen.randers@bi.no
Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75481-z
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Donegal: Peat landslide linked to wind farm raised in Dáil

So much for that wonderful “ Green Energy ” !
The river flows into the Foyle catchment which has EU protection as an important salmon habitat .
Work on the wind farm development has been suspended and several agencies on both sides of the border are investigating how it happened .
Donegal independent TD Thomas Pringle raised the incident in the Dail and said concerns about the wind farm had been well flagged by environmentalists .
He said pictures of the collapse made for `` stark viewing '' .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was aware of the case and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farm development .
The Irish Environmental Protection Agency , a statutory body , said there would be another meeting in the coming days involving all those investigating , to co-ordinate any further necessary response .
The Ulster Angling Federation ( UAF ) has warned the river may struggle to recover fully from the landslide , which a spokesman labelled one of the largest pollution events in the history of Northern Ireland and Ireland .
He said anglers were devastated and were expecting a complete fish kill in the Mourne Beg .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said they were working with the authorities and there was no risk to public health on the day of the landslide .
Authorities on both sides of the Irish border have moved to assure the public there is no risk to drinking water quality .
However , NI Water temporarily suspended drinking water supplies connected to the river as a precaution .
This no doubt is an uncommon occurrence .
But it is symptomatic of peat degradation in the vast majority of upland wind farm constructions , so typical in Scotland particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the net of the BBC ’ s environmental editorial censorship .
But I will be very surprised if the BBC ’ s “ Environmental Analyst ” , Mr Harrabin will get round to reporting it !
via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT

By Paul Homewood
h/t John Smyth
So much for that wonderful “Green Energy”!
The river flows into the Foyle catchment which has EU protection as an important salmon habitat.
Work on the wind farm development has been suspended and several agencies on both sides of the border are investigating how it happened.
Donegal independent TD Thomas Pringle raised the incident in the Dail and said concerns about the wind farm had been well flagged by environmentalists.
He said pictures of the collapse made for "stark viewing".
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was aware of the case and wanted to progress guidelines on future wind farm development.
The Irish Environmental Protection Agency, a statutory body, said there would be another meeting in the coming days involving all those investigating, to co-ordinate any further necessary response.
The Ulster Angling Federation (UAF) has warned the river may struggle to recover fully from the landslide, which a spokesman labelled one of the largest pollution events in the history of Northern Ireland and Ireland.
He said anglers were devastated and were expecting a complete fish kill in the Mourne Beg.
The company building the wind farm, Invis Energy, said they were working with the authorities and there was no risk to public health on the day of the landslide.
Authorities on both sides of the Irish border have moved to assure the public there is no risk to drinking water quality.
However, NI Water temporarily suspended drinking water supplies connected to the river as a precaution.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-54994865
This no doubt is an uncommon occurrence. But it is symptomatic of peat degradation in the vast majority of upland wind farm constructions, so typical in Scotland particularly.
This report has somehow escaped through the net of the BBC’s environmental editorial censorship. But I will be very surprised if the BBC’s “Environmental Analyst”, Mr Harrabin will get round to reporting it!
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November 18, 2020 at 03:57PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Pennsylvania is Flirting with Self-Imposed Energy Disaster

Americans can ’ t afford to pay more for electricity , especially with millions out of work in the midst of pandemic-induced economic upheaval .
Yet , higher electricity costs and economic turmoil are coming if lawmakers continue to pursue policies that mandate an aggressive pivot away from existing baseload power to intermittent , more expensive alternatives .
Pennsylvania is now on the front lines of this policy battle .
Governor Tom Wolf is trying to circumvent the Pennsylvania General Assembly and push the commonwealth into the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ( RGGI ) .
The move promises little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee extraordinary costs .
By the governor ’ s own estimates , joining the RGGI would impose a $ 2.36 billion tax on fossil fuel power plants in Pennsylvania over the next 10 years .
That $ 2.36 billion RGGI tax will have a cascading effect on communities across the state .
Thousands of Pennsylvanians will lose their jobs , and electricity consumers – especially low-income and fixed-income households – will likely face significantly higher bills that they simply can ’ t afford .
How much more ?
Virginia , which recently moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so will impose as much as $ 6 billion more in electricity costs on its ratepayers over the next 10 years .
That estimate could very well prove to be too low .
States currently in the RGGI , like New York , Connecticut and Massachusetts , boast some of the highest electricity rates in the country .
In fact , on average , electricity rates in RGGI states are 50 percent more than they are in Pennsylvania .
If the RGGI fancies itself a trailblazer in addressing carbon emissions , it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New England has dismantled its own fuel diversity , closing well operating coal plants , throttling the construction of needed natural gas pipeline capacity , and even closing reliable , baseload nuclear power capacity .
The result of this policy malpractice is some of the highest electricity prices in the country coupled with an escalating fuel security crisis .
The New England grid operator has gone so far as to warn that 30 percent of the region ’ s natural gas generating fleet could be without fuel on particularly cold days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or any other state – should want or pay more to achieve .
What Pennsylvanians want – what consumers across the country want – is a recommitment to energy affordability and a path towards emissions reduction that doesn ’ t impose higher energy prices or the dismantling of critical industries .
In fact , a staggering 85 percent of Americans are concerned with rising electricity rates .
Governor Wolf ’ s agenda is diametrically opposed to the leadership consumers are looking for .
Energy and emissions leadership is not going to be achieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy taxes on consumers who can ’ t afford them .
All the Governor has to do is look just outside Pittsburgh for a better approach .
Pennsylvania ’ s Consol Energy recently received a grant from the Department of Energy to design a small coal-fired power plant that would capture its carbon dioxide emissions and store it underground .
And the U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory is pursing cutting-edge research to develop the energy technologies of tomorrow that can reduce emissions from the fuels that meet the vast majority of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so well into the future .
The right approach to U.S. energy and emissions leadership is through technology – technology that holds down energy costs , improves reliability and creates globally replicable solutions .

Americans can’t afford to pay more for electricity, especially with millions out of work in the midst of pandemic-induced economic upheaval. Yet, higher electricity costs and economic turmoil are coming if lawmakers continue to pursue policies that mandate an aggressive pivot away from existing baseload power to intermittent, more expensive alternatives. Pennsylvania is now on the front lines of this policy battle. Governor Tom Wolf is trying to circumvent the Pennsylvania General Assembly and push the commonwealth into the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The move promises little in the way of benefits but does guarantee extraordinary costs. By the governor’s own estimates, joining the RGGI would impose a $2.36 billion tax on fossil fuel power plants in Pennsylvania over the next 10 years. That $2.36 billion RGGI tax will have a cascading effect on communities across the state. Thousands of Pennsylvanians will lose their jobs, and electricity consumers – especially low-income and fixed-income households – will likely face significantly higher bills that they simply can’t afford. How much more? Virginia, which recently moved to joined RGGI, estimates that doing so will impose as much as $6 billion more in electricity costs on its ratepayers over the next 10 years. That estimate could very well prove to be too low. States currently in the RGGI, like New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, boast some of the highest electricity rates in the country. In fact, on average, electricity rates in RGGI states are 50 percent more than they are in Pennsylvania. If the RGGI fancies itself a trailblazer in addressing carbon emissions, it has blazed a trail no state should follow. New England has dismantled its own fuel diversity, closing well operating coal plants, throttling the construction of needed natural gas pipeline capacity, and even closing reliable, baseload nuclear power capacity. The result of this policy malpractice is some of the highest electricity prices in the country coupled with an escalating fuel security crisis. The New England grid operator has gone so far as to warn that 30 percent of the region’s natural gas generating fleet could be without fuel on particularly cold days. This is hardly the future Pennsylvania – or any other state – should want or pay more to achieve. What Pennsylvanians want – what consumers across the country want – is a recommitment to energy affordability and a path towards emissions reduction that doesn’t impose higher energy prices or the dismantling of critical industries. In fact, a staggering 85 percent of Americans are concerned with rising electricity rates. Governor Wolf’s agenda is diametrically opposed to the leadership consumers are looking for. Energy and emissions leadership is not going to be achieved by killing community-supporting jobs and imposing de-facto energy taxes on consumers who can’t afford them. All the Governor has to do is look just outside Pittsburgh for a better approach. Pennsylvania’s Consol Energy recently received a grant from the Department of Energy to design a small coal-fired power plant that would capture its carbon dioxide emissions and store it underground. And the U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory is pursing cutting-edge research to develop the energy technologies of tomorrow that can reduce emissions from the fuels that meet the vast majority of the world’s energy and will continue to do so well into the future. The right approach to U.S. energy and emissions leadership is through technology – technology that holds down energy costs, improves reliability and creates globally replicable solutions.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--More snowfall in one week than is average for entire month of November

More than five feet ( 152 cm ) of snow in one week .
“ Series of powerful storms boost @ @ @ @ @ Tetons , ” reads the headline .
From November 9 through 16 , the Rendezvous @ @ @ @ @ Mountain Resort recorded 60 inches of snow , and if you go back to November @ @ @ @ @ to 68 inches .
The Rendezvous Bowl Plot eclipsed its average November snowfall ( which @ @ @ @ @ just one week .
Heavy snow fell in the valley as well , with one-week @ @ @ @ @ .
Impressive for mid-November !
The next storm will arrive on Wednesday today ) .
@ @ @ @ @ storm will range from 5-10 inches in the Tetons with anywhere from a trace to @ @ @ @ @ .
Thanks to Laurel for this link The post More snowfall in one week than @ @ @ @ @ of November appeared first on Ice Age Now .

More than five feet (152 cm) of snow in one week.
“Series of powerful storms boost early season snowpack in the Tetons,” reads the headline.
From November 9 through 16, the Rendezvous Bowl Plot at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort recorded 60 inches of snow, and if you go back to November 7, that total expands to 68 inches. The Rendezvous Bowl Plot eclipsed its average November snowfall (which is 59 inches) in just one week.
Heavy snow fell in the valley as well, with one-week totals ranging from 1-2 feet. Impressive for mid-November!
The next storm will arrive on Wednesday today).
Total snow amounts with this storm will range from 5-10 inches in the Tetons with anywhere from a trace to 3 inches in the valley.
See entire article by Meteorologist Alan Smith :
Thanks to Laurel for this link
The post More snowfall in one week than is average for entire month of November appeared first on Ice Age Now.
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November 18, 2020 at 02:21PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Current Decade Globally Warmer Than Previous Decade – Due To Powerful Natural Oceanic Cycles, Not CO

Current Decade Globally Warmer Than Previous Decade – Due To Powerful Natural Oceanic Cycles, Not CO2

Early in 2011 , NTZ readers and I entered a climate bet with Rob Honeycutt and climate warming dogmatist Dana Nuccitelli .
The bet , which I dubbed the Honeycutt Climate Bet for Charity , was whether globally the 2011-2020 decade would be warmer or cooler than the previous 2001-2010 decade .
Myself and and a number of NTZ followers that bet the 2011-2020 decade would see no warming , or even cooling .
Conversely Messieurs Honeycutt and Nuccitelli claimed global warming would continue , due to manmade greenhouse gas emissions , of course .
To decide the winner of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RSS and UAH datasets would be used .
Now we are at the end of 2020 , and the data suffices to declare a winner .
The following chart is the latest UAH from Dr. Roy Spencer : As we can see , before 2016 the global mean temperature had been cooling since 1998 , thus establishing what came to be known as “ the hiatus ” .
The early half of the 2011-2020 decade had been running a bit cooler than the previous decade .
But then came the monster 2015/16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the equatorial Pacific and it saved the warmists from losing the bet : That ENSO event was the strongest in memory , and thus drove global surface temperatures to a new level .
As we can see from the UAH chart above , the overall current decade indeed did become warmer than the previous 2011-2020 decade .
I haven ’ t crunched the numbers , but I think no one will dispute it .
Congratulations to the warmists on winning the bet , all thanks to the natural factors that coolists keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the bet winners will boast and insist it ’ s all due to human activity .
But it isn ’ t .
Such a claim is Dominion-voting-machine science .
The one deciding factor was the powerful mid-decade El Nino event , which is natural and has little to do with people burning fossil fuels .
Personally the results do not change my skeptic view of CO2 ’ s role in climate at all .
In fact the results only reinforce my view because it ’ s crystal clear that the 2016- 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a natural factor , and not CO2 .
Those participating in the bet of course must honor their bets and pay the pledged amounts to a charity helping needy children .
I myself will be paying to SOS Kinderdorf e.V.
, a Germany-based charity set up to aid needy kids , 200 euros ( ca .
230 USD ) .
I ’ ll be posting proof of payment in the days ahead , as soon as the bank statement comes in ) .
I ’ ll also be sending an e-mail to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay up .
Hopefully they are all still with us .
I don ’ t ever lose my climate bets .
But as you can see , there ’ s always a first time .

Early in 2011, NTZ readers and I entered a climate bet with Rob Honeycutt and climate warming dogmatist Dana Nuccitelli. The bet, which I dubbed the Honeycutt Climate Bet for Charity, was whether globally the 2011-2020 decade would be warmer or cooler than the previous 2001-2010 decade.
Myself and and a number of NTZ followers that bet the 2011-2020 decade would see no warming, or even cooling. Conversely Messieurs Honeycutt and Nuccitelli claimed global warming would continue, due to manmade greenhouse gas emissions, of course. To decide the winner of the bet, it was agreed that the RSS and UAH datasets would be used.
Now we are at the end of 2020, and the data suffices to declare a winner. The following chart is the latest UAH from Dr. Roy Spencer:
Chart: Dr. Roy Spencer.
As we can see, before 2016 the global mean temperature had been cooling since 1998, thus establishing what came to be known as “the hiatus”. The early half of the 2011-2020 decade had been running a bit cooler than the previous decade.
But then came the monster 2015/16 El Nino, a natural event occurring at the equatorial Pacific and it saved the warmists from losing the bet:
That ENSO event was the strongest in memory, and thus drove global surface temperatures to a new level. As we can see from the UAH chart above, the overall current decade indeed did become warmer than the previous 2011-2020 decade. I haven’t crunched the numbers, but I think no one will dispute it.
Congratulations to the warmists on winning the bet, all thanks to the natural factors that coolists keep arguing in favor of.
Of course, the bet winners will boast and insist it’s all due to human activity. But it isn’t. Such a claim is Dominion-voting-machine science. The one deciding factor was the powerful mid-decade El Nino event, which is natural and has little to do with people burning fossil fuels.
Personally the results do not change my skeptic view of CO2’s role in climate at all. In fact the results only reinforce my view because it’s crystal clear that the 2016- 2020 warming was due to the El Nino, a natural factor, and not CO2.
200 euros for SOS Kinderdorf e.V.
Those participating in the bet of course must honor their bets and pay the pledged amounts to a charity helping needy children. I myself will be paying to SOS Kinderdorf e.V., a Germany-based charity set up to aid needy kids, 200 euros (ca. 230 USD). I’ll be posting proof of payment in the days ahead, as soon as the bank statement comes in).
I’ll also be sending an e-mail to the other bet participants and asking them to pay up. Hopefully they are all still with us.
I don’t ever lose my climate bets. But as you can see, there’s always a first time.
Donate – choose an amount
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November 18, 2020 at 02:20PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Winter storm warning – California

Winter storm warning – California

Greater Lake Tahoe ares , Western Plumas County , Lassen Volcanic National Park and the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada including I-80 over Donner Pass , Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass .
* WHAT…Heavy wet snow expected , mostly above 6500 feet .
Additional accumulations of 4 to 8 inches above 7000 feet with up to 14 inches along the crest .
Up to 2 inches of wet snow possible for locations below 6500 feet .
Wind gusts up to 45 mph possible with waves 2 to 4 feet on Lake Tahoe .
* @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passes .
…WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING ABOVE 6500 FEET… * WHAT…Heavy wet snow occurring .
Travel will be very difficult .
Tree branches could fall as well .
Additional wet snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches are expected .
* WHERE…Western Plumas County , Lassen Volcanic National Park and the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada including Interstate 80 over Donner Pass , Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass .
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Be prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times .
Gusty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the higher northern Sierra passes .
A Winter Storm Warning for wet snow means there will be snow covered roads and limited visibilities .
Travel is not recommended while the warning is in effect .
If you must travel , keep an extra flashlight , food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency .
The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1 .
Thanks to Oly for these links The post Winter storm warning – California appeared first @ @ @ @ @

Greater Lake Tahoe ares, Western Plumas County, Lassen Volcanic National Park and the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada including I-80 over Donner Pass, Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass.
…WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…Heavy wet snow expected, mostly above 6500 feet.
Additional accumulations of 4 to 8 inches above 7000 feet with
up to 14 inches along the crest. Up to 2 inches of wet snow
possible for locations below 6500 feet. Wind gusts up to 45 mph
possible with waves 2 to 4 feet on Lake Tahoe.
* WHERE…Greater Lake Tahoe Area.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be difficult, especially over passes.
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=CA125F70781A2C.WinterStormWarning.125F7085F3E0CA.REVWSWREV.f2cddb07c3c7506d93f817b18a22c308
…WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS EVENING ABOVE 6500 FEET…
* WHAT…Heavy wet snow occurring. Travel will be very difficult.
Tree branches could fall as well. Additional wet snow
accumulations of 8 to 12 inches are expected.
* WHERE…Western Plumas County, Lassen Volcanic National Park and
the West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada including Interstate 80
over Donner Pass, Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88
over Carson Pass.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Be prepared for significant reductions in
visibility at times. Gusty winds will also be likely, especially
through the higher northern Sierra passes.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Winter Storm Warning for wet snow means there will be snow
covered roads and limited visibilities. Travel is not recommended
while the warning is in effect. If you must travel, keep an extra
flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an
emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are
calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=CA125F7078170C.WinterStormWarning.125F7085F3E0CA.STOWSWSTO.51a439430ce69f1233fea00795e5c599
Thanks to Oly for these links
The post Winter storm warning – California appeared first on Ice Age Now.
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November 18, 2020 at 02:07PM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Claim: The USA’s Largest Radio Observatory is on the Verge of Structural Collapse

According to The Register , after two recent cable failures the 900 ton platform suspended above the gigantic Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico is literally hanging by a thread .
Fraying has been observed in the other cables .
Engineers are refusing to certify whether the remaining cables can hold the central platform .
America ’ s largest radio telescope close to collapse as engineers race to fix fraying cables 900-ton receiver platform threatens to plummet into dish below The remaining cables supporting a 900-ton platform hanging over America ’ s largest radio telescope are struggling to take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dish .
The Arecibo Observatory instrument , located in a national forest in Puerto Rico , was the largest radio telescope of its kind in the world until 2016 when the Chinese built a bigger one .
Now the US installation ’ s future hangs in the balance as engineers attempt to reinforce the structure after one of the cables holding up the overhead platform fell away and tore a 100-ft-long gash in the telescope ’ s dish below .
Some of the wires in the platform ’ s remaining cables are already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the structure holding the telescope ’ s receiver will come tumbling down with disastrous results , according to the University of Central Florida , which operates the observatory .

Guest essay by Eric Worrall
According to The Register, after two recent cable failures the 900 ton platform suspended above the gigantic Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico is literally hanging by a thread. Fraying has been observed in the other cables. Engineers are refusing to certify whether the remaining cables can hold the central platform.
America’s largest radio telescope close to collapse as engineers race to fix fraying cables
900-ton receiver platform threatens to plummet into dish below
Katyanna Quach Tue 17 Nov 2020 // 15:37 UTCSHARE
The remaining cables supporting a 900-ton platform hanging over America’s largest radio telescope are struggling to take the load, threatening the 1,000-ft wide reflector dish.
The Arecibo Observatory instrument, located in a national forest in Puerto Rico, was the largest radio telescope of its kind in the world until 2016 when the Chinese built a bigger one. Now the US installation’s future hangs in the balance as engineers attempt to reinforce the structure after one of the cables holding up the overhead platform fell away and tore a 100-ft-long gash in the telescope’s dish below.
…
Some of the wires in the platform’s remaining cables are already fraying, and if they snap, the structure holding the telescope’s receiver will come tumbling down with disastrous results, according to the University of Central Florida, which operates the observatory.
…


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Drivers slam Boris Johnson’s ‘Stalinist’ order to ban new petrol and diesel cars from 2030

Drivers today let rip at Boris Johnson ’ s ‘ Stalinist ’ ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 – warning rushing the transition is impossible and electric vehicles are still too expensive for ordinary Britons .
The PM heralded a ‘ green industrial revolution ’ as he launched a ten-point , £12billion plan for the environment , saying it could create 250,000 jobs and slash the country ’ s carbon emissions .
But the Alliance of British Drivers , condemned the plan as flying in the face of the free market , saying the charging infrastructure was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether enough electric vehicles will be in production to meet demand by 2030 , suggesting the costs will be so high that only the ‘ wealthy ’ will be able to drive… Nigel Humphries of the Alliance of British Drivers told MailOnline : ‘ If you ’ ve got to the point that you need to ban something then that shows you ’ ve got no confidence in the alternative .
There ’ s something Stalinist about it .
‘ Where ’ s the free market in all of this that the so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It ’ s also far , far too early and does not give the motor industry much time to prepare .
‘ There ’ s also something serious that needs to be done with the charging infrastructure if everybody is going to be able to use one.
’ Professor Peter Wells , Director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff University , told MailOnline : ‘ There are few things that might get in the way of this .
‘ I ’ m not sure the UK industry – including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be ready to deliver enough electric vehicle by that point .
‘ The chief bottleneck so far is on battery supply .
That is being solved across Europe but we ’ re a bit behind the pace here in the UK .
‘ There ’ s also a concern on the retail side too .
Repairing and maintaining these cars requires new skills and I ’ m not sure there enough people trained up .
‘ It ’ s a nice vision but I think there has to be concern about whether it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicholas Lyes of the RAC warned that many motorists would be nervous about the switch to electric cars , given their limited driving range and charging problems .
Urging ministers to revive discount schemes for buyers , he said the biggest barrier by far was the high upfront cost .
The post Drivers slam Boris Johnson ’ s ‘ Stalinist ’ order to ban new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum ( GWPF ) .

Drivers today let rip at Boris Johnson’s ‘Stalinist’ ban on new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 – warning rushing the transition is impossible and electric vehicles are still too expensive for ordinary Britons.
The PM heralded a ‘green industrial revolution’ as he launched a ten-point, £12billion plan for the environment, saying it could create 250,000 jobs and slash the country’s carbon emissions.
But the Alliance of British Drivers, condemned the plan as flying in the face of the free market, saying the charging infrastructure was not even ready.
Other experts questioned whether enough electric vehicles will be in production to meet demand by 2030, suggesting the costs will be so high that only the ‘wealthy’ will be able to drive…
Nigel Humphries of the Alliance of British Drivers told MailOnline: ‘If you’ve got to the point that you need to ban something then that shows you’ve got no confidence in the alternative. There’s something Stalinist about it.
‘Where’s the free market in all of this that the so-called Conservative Party is meant to be protecting? It’s also far, far too early and does not give the motor industry much time to prepare.
‘There’s also something serious that needs to be done with the charging infrastructure if everybody is going to be able to use one.’
Professor Peter Wells, Director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff University, told MailOnline: ‘There are few things that might get in the way of this.
‘I’m not sure the UK industry – including companies like Jaguar Land Rover – will be ready to deliver enough electric vehicle by that point.
‘The chief bottleneck so far is on battery supply. That is being solved across Europe but we’re a bit behind the pace here in the UK.
‘There’s also a concern on the retail side too. Repairing and maintaining these cars requires new skills and I’m not sure there enough people trained up.
‘It’s a nice vision but I think there has to be concern about whether it can be realisable by the industry.’
Nicholas Lyes of the RAC warned that many motorists would be nervous about the switch to electric cars, given their limited driving range and charging problems.
Urging ministers to revive discount schemes for buyers, he said the biggest barrier by far was the high upfront cost.
The post Drivers slam Boris Johnson’s ‘Stalinist’ order to ban new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
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November 18, 2020 at 10:07AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-18--Big Tech is a censorship cartel — tracking you across the internet and sharing it with each other

Whistleblowers reveal just how well coordinated Big Tech collusion is at the Senate Judiciary Committee Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley ( a new Republican Senator ) were on fire today at the Senate Committee hearing titled “ Breaking the News : Censorship , Suppression , and the 2020 Election , ” Insiders had leaked information about two programs of the most insidious kinds .
Facebook has a program called Centra , which tracks the pages people visit , the links , and not just in Facebook , but across the entire internet .
( Tucker Carlson wonders , if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zuckerberg says he ’ s not familiar with it .
Hawley grilled Zuckerberg .
When pressed to say whether there is some program that can do that , Zuckerberg evades answering .
Apparently , Centra is run in order to spot “ coordinated inauthentic behaviour ” or astroturfing .
The second program is called Tasks , and Twitter , Google and Facebook use it which helps them coordinate their censorship .
That way they can exile people together .
Handy , eh ?
Zuckerberg said they are just checking in with their peers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under oath that Facebook does have tools to track users , across platforms and accounts , all without their knowledge .
Hawley pushed Zuckerberg to say how many times this tool had been [ … ]

Whistleblowers reveal just how well coordinated Big Tech collusion is at the Senate Judiciary Committee
Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley (a new Republican Senator) were on fire today at the Senate Committee hearing titled “Breaking the News: Censorship, Suppression, and the 2020 Election,” Insiders had leaked information about two programs of the most insidious kinds.
Facebook has a program called Centra, which tracks the pages people visit, the links, and not just in Facebook, but across the entire internet. (Tucker Carlson wonders, if it’s even legal). Mark Zuckerberg says he’s not familiar with it. Hawley grilled Zuckerberg. When pressed to say whether there is some program that can do that, Zuckerberg evades answering. Apparently, Centra is run in order to spot “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” or astroturfing.
The second program is called Tasks, and Twitter, Google and Facebook use it which helps them coordinate their censorship. That way they can exile people together. Handy, eh?
Zuckerberg said they are just checking in with their peers. Josh Hawley got Zuckerberg to admit under oath that Facebook does have tools to track users, across platforms and accounts, all without their knowledge. Hawley pushed Zuckerberg to say how many times this tool had been […]
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November 18, 2020 at 10:05AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-19--The Fatal Flaw In Boris Johnson’s Ten-Point Carbon Manifesto

There is nothing wrong with the general direction of the policy contained within the government ’ s ten-point plan to cut carbon emissions announced today .
Who doesn ’ t want clean energy and more energy-efficient homes and vehicles ?
The problem is the perverse target that lies at its heart : the legally-binding demand , laid down in the Climate Change Act , to cut carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 .
This is so badly defined that the government ’ s ten-point plan becomes really little more than a manifesto to export much of British industry , food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK ’ s definition of carbon emissions , as used in the Climate Change Act , covers only ‘ territorial ’ emissions – i.e .
those spewed out physically within the confines of Britain .
It excludes carbon emissions from factories in Southeast Asia which are making products for UK consumers .
It excludes the emissions from container ships bringing those goods to Britain – at least until they reach the last few miles before docking at Felixstowe .
It also excludes international aviation , emissions caused by producing and transporting imported food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance this makes : UK carbon emissions in 2017 stood at 460 million tonnes .
That was down 42 percent from the 794 million tonnes emitted in 1990 – which makes the UK appear incredibly successful at cutting emissions .
Indeed , in some ways , we have been successful : coal , once the beating heart of our electricity industry , has all but disappeared as a source of power .
But once you add the carbon emissions embedded in food and goods imports , as well as those from shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were a whacking 784 million tonnes .
What we have really done is offshore our emissions .
Huge swathes of the UK ’ s manufacturing industry have drained away to Southeast Asia , taking their territorial emissions with them .
Meanwhile , we are importing more food – our self-sufficiency in food has fallen from 74 percent in 1990 to 60 percent in 2019 .
We are also importing more electricity – last year three percent of our electricity was generated on the near-Continent , and this figure is inevitably going to grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solar and wind capacity without the necessary storage capacity .
Last week , when wind speeds were low in Britain and solar farms were producing little power , over 10 percent of our electricity came from abroad .
It is all too easy to foresee the day when a UK government announces the net-zero target has been reached .
But it will have been achieved by offshoring the remains of UK manufacturing , by ending steel and cement-making in Britain ( two industries which are going to prove very hard to decarbonize ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food , and by making up the shortfall in electricity-generation with imports via subsea cables from Europe .
And it won ’ t matter if our imported goods and electricity are carbon-intensive – all that counts for the government ’ s target will be that emissions don ’ t physically occur in Britain .
As long as the government proceeds with the net-zero target , we are doomed to follow perverse policies that make the country poorer while doing little or nothing to reduce global net carbon emissions .
via NOT A LOT @ @ @ @

By Paul Homewood
Ross Clark writes:
There is nothing wrong with the general direction of the policy contained within the government’s ten-point plan to cut carbon emissions announced today. Who doesn’t want clean energy and more energy-efficient homes and vehicles?
The problem is the perverse target that lies at its heart: the legally-binding demand, laid down in the Climate Change Act, to cut carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.
This is so badly defined that the government’s ten-point plan becomes really little more than a manifesto to export much of British industry, food production, and power generation.
The UK’s definition of carbon emissions, as used in the Climate Change Act, covers only ‘territorial’ emissions – i.e. those spewed out physically within the confines of Britain.
It excludes carbon emissions from factories in Southeast Asia which are making products for UK consumers.
It excludes the emissions from container ships bringing those goods to Britain – at least until they reach the last few miles before docking at Felixstowe.
It also excludes international aviation, emissions caused by producing and transporting imported food, and imported electricity.
To underline the importance this makes: UK carbon emissions in 2017 stood at 460 million tonnes. That was down 42 percent from the 794 million tonnes emitted in 1990 – which makes the UK appear incredibly successful at cutting emissions.
Indeed, in some ways, we have been successful: coal, once the beating heart of our electricity industry, has all but disappeared as a source of power.
But once you add the carbon emissions embedded in food and goods imports, as well as those from shipping and aviation, UK emissions in 2017 were a whacking 784 million tonnes.
What we have really done is offshore our emissions. Huge swathes of the UK’s manufacturing industry have drained away to Southeast Asia, taking their territorial emissions with them.
Meanwhile, we are importing more food – our self-sufficiency in food has fallen from 74 percent in 1990 to 60 percent in 2019.
We are also importing more electricity – last year three percent of our electricity was generated on the near-Continent, and this figure is inevitably going to grow sharply as we build more and more solar and wind capacity without the necessary storage capacity.
Last week, when wind speeds were low in Britain and solar farms were producing little power, over 10 percent of our electricity came from abroad.
It is all too easy to foresee the day when a UK government announces the net-zero target has been reached.
But it will have been achieved by offshoring the remains of UK manufacturing, by ending steel and cement-making in Britain (two industries which are going to prove very hard to decarbonize), by importing far more of our food, and by making up the shortfall in electricity-generation with imports via subsea cables from Europe.
And it won’t matter if our imported goods and electricity are carbon-intensive – all that counts for the government’s target will be that emissions don’t physically occur in Britain.
As long as the government proceeds with the net-zero target, we are doomed to follow perverse policies that make the country poorer while doing little or nothing to reduce global net carbon emissions.
Read more at Spectator UK
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November 19, 2020 at 04:45AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-19--New footage reveals Netflix faked walrus climate deaths

In a GWPF video released today , Dr. Susan Crockford , a Canadian wildlife expert , provides new evidence that the 2019 Netflix documentary film series , ‘ Our Planet ’ , withheld facts behind the controversial walrus story it promoted as evidence of climate change .
If there was ever any doubt that polar bears , not climate change , were the cause of walrus falling to their deaths from a rocky cliff in Siberia a few years ago , new evidence presented here seals the deal : a Russian photographer has released independent video of the event that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cliff to their deaths .
In 2019 , a sequence in the Netflix documentary ‘ Our Planet ’ showed a highly disturbing piece of footage of several walrus bouncing off sharp rocks as they fell from a high cliff to their deaths .
It transpired this event happened in late September 2017 at a well-known walrus haulout at Cape Schmidt on the Chukchi Sea .
Narrator Sir David Attenborough blamed the tragedy on climate change , insisting that lack of summer sea ice due to climate change was to blame for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A few months later , however , using some of the same walrus footage , Attenborough ’ s BBC series called Seven Worlds , One Planet featured a number of polar bears driving walrus off the very same cliff .
It was damning evidence that the ‘ Our Planet ’ account of walrus deaths had been a false narrative constructed to elicit an emotional response from the public .
New independent video footage of the same event shot by Russian photographer Yevgeny Basov corroborates the BBC evidence that polar bears drove the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a friend of Netflix ‘ science advisor ’ Anatoly Kochnev and was apparently invited to observe the commercial filming .
Like the original Netflix footage , this scene is not for the faint of heart .
It captures a raw but natural encounter between predator and prey .
Walrus hauling out on land during the summer are natural events that happen even when sea ice is available .
Polar bears are known to stalk such herds until they stampede , leaving the weak or unwary crushed in their wake .
Cliffs are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but are especially efficient .
This brutal film footage of nature in action is not evidence of climate change or species on the brink of extinction .
It does prove , however , that the walrus narrative promoted by Sir David Attenborough in the Netflix documentary ‘ Our Planet ’ is a manipulative sham with no resemblance to reality .
Note : Although the location is not specified in the video , which is entitled simply “ Walruses and polar bears of Chukotka ” ( posted 17 May 2020 ) , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the film footage ( up to the 4:00 mark ) is of the cliff and walrus haulout at Cape Schmidt , which the author described in a photo essay published in November 2017 , see it here : See also : The truth about Attenborough ’ s falling walruses The post New footage reveals Netflix faked walrus climate deaths appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum ( GWPF ) .

In a GWPF video released today, Dr. Susan Crockford, a Canadian wildlife expert, provides new evidence that the 2019 Netflix documentary film series, ‘Our Planet’, withheld facts behind the controversial walrus story it promoted as evidence of climate change.
If there was ever any doubt that polar bears, not climate change, were the cause of walrus falling to their deaths from a rocky cliff in Siberia a few years ago, new evidence presented here seals the deal: a Russian photographer has released independent video of the event that clearly shows polar bears driving walrus over the cliff to their deaths.
In 2019, a sequence in the Netflix documentary ‘Our Planet’ showed a highly disturbing piece of footage of several walrus bouncing off sharp rocks as they fell from a high cliff to their deaths. It transpired this event happened in late September 2017 at a well-known walrus haulout at Cape Schmidt on the Chukchi Sea.
Narrator Sir David Attenborough blamed the tragedy on climate change, insisting that lack of summer sea ice due to climate change was to blame for the walrus falling to their deaths without provocation. A few months later, however, using some of the same walrus footage, Attenborough’s BBC series called Seven Worlds, One Planet featured a number of polar bears driving walrus off the very same cliff. It was damning evidence that the ‘Our Planet’ account of walrus deaths had been a false narrative constructed to elicit an emotional response from the public.
New independent video footage of the same event shot by Russian photographer Yevgeny Basov corroborates the BBC evidence that polar bears drove the walrus over the cliff. Basov is a friend of Netflix ‘science advisor’ Anatoly Kochnev and was apparently invited to observe the commercial filming.
Like the original Netflix footage, this scene is not for the faint of heart. It captures a raw but natural encounter between predator and prey. Walrus hauling out on land during the summer are natural events that happen even when sea ice is available. Polar bears are known to stalk such herds until they stampede, leaving the weak or unwary crushed in their wake. Cliffs are not essential to this polar bear hunting strategy but are especially efficient.
This brutal film footage of nature in action is not evidence of climate change or species on the brink of extinction. It does prove, however, that the walrus narrative promoted by Sir David Attenborough in the Netflix documentary ‘Our Planet’ is a manipulative sham with no resemblance to reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51RIVY1RRM8&feature=youtu.be
Note: Although the location is not specified in the video, which is entitled simply “Walruses and polar bears of Chukotka” (posted 17 May 2020), it is clear that the location shown early in the film footage (up to the 4:00 mark) is of the cliff and walrus haulout at Cape Schmidt, which the author described in a photo essay published in November 2017, see it here:
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://basov-chukotka.livejournal.com/319273.html
See also: The truth about Attenborough’s falling walruses
The post New footage reveals Netflix faked walrus climate deaths appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
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November 19, 2020 at 04:22AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-19--Claim: Study confirms contribution of bioenergy to climate change mitigation

Across-border team of researchers refute arguments that carbon debt , opportunity cost and indirect land-use change prevent greenhouse gas mitigation by biofuels .
That biofuels can contribute to a cleaner global energy mix is widely accepted , but the net benefits of bioenergy in terms of mitigating greenhouse gases ( GHG ) are moot .
Some argue , for example , that biofuels are not sustainable because the conversion of non-agricultural land to grow energy crops could lead to a significant initial decrease in carbon storage , creating what is known as a “ biofuel carbon debt ” .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( PNAS ) could help refute this argument .
The study showed that the GHG mitigation potential of switchgrass cultivation for cellulosic ethanol production in the US was comparable on a per-hectare basis to that of reforestation and several times greater than that of grassland restoration .
Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ) is a widely grown North American native grass proposed as biomass for the biobased economy .
More advanced technology and integration of carbon capture and storage ( CCS ) could further increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a factor of six , according to the study , which was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP via a project led by John J. Sheehan .
Sheehan is affiliated with the University of Minnesota in the US and is currently a visiting fellow at the University of Campinas ’ s School of Agricultural Engineering ( FEAGRI-UNICAMP ) in the state of São Paulo , Brazil , under the aegis of the ( São Paulo Excellence Chair ( SPEC ) .
Co-lead author of the study , Lee R. Lynd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hanover , New Hampshire ( USA ) , began a project in February at UNICAMP ’ s Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering ( CBMEG ) , with funding from FAPESP under the SPEC program .
“ The study highlights in detail the factors and strategies that are important to the implementation of biofuel production in a way that helps stabilize the climate , ” Lynd told .
According to the authors , critics of bioenergy question whether feedstock crops can be sustainably sourced without causing self-defeating reductions in ecosystem carbon storage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting from the conversion of non-agricultural land into energy crop plantations , the use of existing productive agricultural land with low carbon stocks can also be counterproductive if food production is displaced and GHG emissions increase elsewhere .
This effect , known as indirect land-use change , can be minimized or avoided by growing biofuel feedstocks on low-yield or abandoned cropland , or land spared from continued agricultural use through future agricultural intensification or changes in diet .
Reforestation offers an alternative use of such land for GHG mitigation .
However , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production in these areas should consider their “ opportunity cost ” , i.e .
the carbon sequestration foregone when land is used for feedstock production instead of reforestation .
“ The main studies published to date suggest zero net land-use change , but indirect land-use change continues to be invoked as a key criticism of biofuels , ” Lynd said .
These arguments were initially directed at first-generation biofuels – obtained from sugar , starch or vegetable oil in food crops grown on farmland – but questions focusing on carbon debt , indirect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since been raised regarding the production of cellulosic biomass for use in advanced biofuel production or electricity generation .
Based on these and other arguments , recent studies suggest that using land to produce bioenergy feedstocks has a less-than-ideal impact in terms of mitigating the climate crisis , and recommend research and policy be refocused toward land-based biological carbon management .
However , those studies are often based on secondary estimates of bioenergy system performance and mitigation opportunity costs .
Furthermore , they generally exclude consideration of CCS or future technology improvements , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the critiques we discuss in the study has some legitimacy in terms of pointing to factors that can cancel out the beneficial impact of biofuels on the climate , but they shouldn ’ t be taken as proof that biofuels can ’ t or don ’ t have any beneficial impact at all , ” Lynd said .
To refute the arguments presented by critics of biofuel sustainability , the researchers used ecosystem simulation combined with models of cellulosic biofuel production and CCS , estimating the potential of biofuel from energy grass to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared with other land-based mitigation schemes , such as reforestation and grassland restoration .
They calibrated the ecosystem model to perform temporally explicit simulations of atmosphere-biosphere carbon exchange under different land-use choices at three case study sites in the US .
The analysis showed that where farmers transitioned from switchgrass to cellulosic ethanol the per-hectare mitigation potential was comparable to that of reforestation and several times greater than that of grassland restoration .
It also showed that the mitigation potential of plausible future improvements in energy crop yields and biorefining technology , together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater than that of reforestation and 15 times greater than that of grassland restoration .
“ In addition , we found that natural land cover and the technological maturity of the supply chain make a significant difference when it comes to estimating the relative benefits of GHG mitigation by biofuels and restoration of natural vegetation , ” Lynd said .
Switchgrass cultivation can be particularly useful in parts of the US where the natural plant cover consists of grass rather than trees , according to the study .
In future , the researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss these issues for the US on a nationwide scale .
“ An important direction in which the study points is an analysis of a broader range of sites , energy crops , and conversion processes , including those designed to include biofuel production in a manner consistent with the circular economy , ” Lynd said .
The methodology could also be used to analyze the production of biofuel from sugarcane in Brazil , he added .
The São Paulo Research Foundation ( FAPESP ) is a public institution with the mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of knowledge by awarding scholarships , fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo , Brazil .
FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally .
Therefore , it has established partnerships with funding agencies , higher education , private companies , and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at http : //www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs , awards and research centers .
You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http : //agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe .

Across-border team of researchers refute arguments that carbon debt, opportunity cost and indirect land-use change prevent greenhouse gas mitigation by biofuels.
FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO
Research News
IMAGE: A CROSS-BORDER TEAM OF RESEARCHERS REFUTE ARGUMENTS THAT CARBON DEBT, OPPORTUNITY COST AND INDIRECT LAND-USE CHANGE PREVENT GREENHOUSE GAS MITIGATION BY BIOFUELS. view more CREDIT: OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LAB
That biofuels can contribute to a cleaner global energy mix is widely accepted, but the net benefits of bioenergy in terms of mitigating greenhouse gases (GHG) are moot. Some argue, for example, that biofuels are not sustainable because the conversion of non-agricultural land to grow energy crops could lead to a significant initial decrease in carbon storage, creating what is known as a “biofuel carbon debt”.
A study by a cross-border group of researchers published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) could help refute this argument.
The study showed that the GHG mitigation potential of switchgrass cultivation for cellulosic ethanol production in the US was comparable on a per-hectare basis to that of reforestation and several times greater than that of grassland restoration. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a widely grown North American native grass proposed as biomass for the biobased economy.
More advanced technology and integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) could further increase the per-hectare mitigation potential of bioenergy systems by a factor of six, according to the study, which was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP via a project led by John J. Sheehan.
Sheehan is affiliated with the University of Minnesota in the US and is currently a visiting fellow at the University of Campinas’s School of Agricultural Engineering (FEAGRI-UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, under the aegis of the (São Paulo Excellence Chair (SPEC).
Co-lead author of the study, Lee R. Lynd, a professor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (USA), began a project in February at UNICAMP’s Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), with funding from FAPESP under the SPEC program.
“The study highlights in detail the factors and strategies that are important to the implementation of biofuel production in a way that helps stabilize the climate,” Lynd told.
Questions answered
According to the authors, critics of bioenergy question whether feedstock crops can be sustainably sourced without causing self-defeating reductions in ecosystem carbon storage.
Besides the “carbon debt” resulting from the conversion of non-agricultural land into energy crop plantations, the use of existing productive agricultural land with low carbon stocks can also be counterproductive if food production is displaced and GHG emissions increase elsewhere.
This effect, known as indirect land-use change, can be minimized or avoided by growing biofuel feedstocks on low-yield or abandoned cropland, or land spared from continued agricultural use through future agricultural intensification or changes in diet.
Reforestation offers an alternative use of such land for GHG mitigation. However, it is often claimed that assessment of bioenergy production in these areas should consider their “opportunity cost”, i.e. the carbon sequestration foregone when land is used for feedstock production instead of reforestation.
“The main studies published to date suggest zero net land-use change, but indirect land-use change continues to be invoked as a key criticism of biofuels,” Lynd said.
These arguments were initially directed at first-generation biofuels – obtained from sugar, starch or vegetable oil in food crops grown on farmland – but questions focusing on carbon debt, indirect land-use change, and opportunity cost have since been raised regarding the production of cellulosic biomass for use in advanced biofuel production or electricity generation.
Based on these and other arguments, recent studies suggest that using land to produce bioenergy feedstocks has a less-than-ideal impact in terms of mitigating the climate crisis, and recommend research and policy be refocused toward land-based biological carbon management.
However, those studies are often based on secondary estimates of bioenergy system performance and mitigation opportunity costs. Furthermore, they generally exclude consideration of CCS or future technology improvements, the authors note.
“Each of the critiques we discuss in the study has some legitimacy in terms of pointing to factors that can cancel out the beneficial impact of biofuels on the climate, but they shouldn’t be taken as proof that biofuels can’t or don’t have any beneficial impact at all,” Lynd said.
To refute the arguments presented by critics of biofuel sustainability, the researchers used ecosystem simulation combined with models of cellulosic biofuel production and CCS, estimating the potential of biofuel from energy grass to replace fossil fuels and sequester carbon directly compared with other land-based mitigation schemes, such as reforestation and grassland restoration.
They calibrated the ecosystem model to perform temporally explicit simulations of atmosphere-biosphere carbon exchange under different land-use choices at three case study sites in the US.
The analysis showed that where farmers transitioned from switchgrass to cellulosic ethanol the per-hectare mitigation potential was comparable to that of reforestation and several times greater than that of grassland restoration.
It also showed that the mitigation potential of plausible future improvements in energy crop yields and biorefining technology, together with CCS, could be four times greater than that of reforestation and 15 times greater than that of grassland restoration.
“In addition, we found that natural land cover and the technological maturity of the supply chain make a significant difference when it comes to estimating the relative benefits of GHG mitigation by biofuels and restoration of natural vegetation,” Lynd said.
Switchgrass cultivation can be particularly useful in parts of the US where the natural plant cover consists of grass rather than trees, according to the study.
In future, the researchers plan to use the same modeling approach to discuss these issues for the US on a nationwide scale. “An important direction in which the study points is an analysis of a broader range of sites, energy crops, and conversion processes, including those designed to include biofuel production in a manner consistent with the circular economy,” Lynd said.
The methodology could also be used to analyze the production of biofuel from sugarcane in Brazil, he added.
###
About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at http://www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at http://www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.
From EurekAlert!
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iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-19--EU crisis throws climate targets and ‘green recovery’ in doubt

Poland and Hungary have blocked the EU ’ s ‘ green recovery ’ deal , casting doubt over the financing of the transition to a low-carbon economy .
Hungary and Poland have plunged the EU into a deep crisis by blocking its £1.65 trillion ‘ recovery budget .
On Monday , the two countries blocked the EU ’ s 2021-2027 budget and the green recovery plan , worth a combined 1.85 trillion euros ( £1.65 trillion ) , because access to the funds would be conditional on respecting the rule of EU law .
In July EU leaders proposed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of €550 billion ( £500 billion ) , half a trillion of green handouts to be doled out to ‘ climate ’ projects and green subsidy farmers over the next seven years – the largest single climate pledge ever made .
As a result of the current crisis , however , EU leaders may have to delay a final decision on its climate budget and a stricter 2030 climate goal .
The European Union may have to delay a decision on a stricter 2030 climate goal as a quarrel over strings attached to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over into other policy areas .
Leaders of the bloc are supposed to discuss the draft European Climate Law , which would commit their countries to climate neutrality by 2050 , at a Dec. 10-11 summit .
But one key plank in the so-called European Green Deal , the target of reducing emissions by 55 % compared to 1990 levels by the end of this decade , has yet to garner the required unanimous backing , according to an official familiar with the deliberations .
Reaching an agreement on the target , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trickier following a spat over the bloc ’ s budget for the next seven years and its economic recovery package funded by jointly backed borrowing .
Poland and Hungary have blocked a deal , casting doubt over the financing of the transition to a low-carbon economy .
Their move is likely to dominate next month ’ s summit , leaving little room for discussion on climate goals , the official said .
A potential delay could keep businesses from gaining clarity as they prepare for unprecedented changes under the European Green Deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ability to realize major initiatives , and have knock-on effects on secondary legislation expected in coming months in areas ranging from transportation to environmental levies .
The post EU crisis throws climate targets and ‘ green recovery ’ in doubt appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum ( GWPF ) .

Poland and Hungary have blocked the EU’s ‘green recovery’ deal, casting doubt over the financing of the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Hungary and Poland have plunged the EU into a deep crisis by blocking its £1.65 trillion ‘recovery budget.
On Monday, the two countries blocked the EU’s 2021-2027 budget and the green recovery plan, worth a combined 1.85 trillion euros (£1.65 trillion), because access to the funds would be conditional on respecting the rule of EU law.
In July EU leaders proposed a European Green Deal and a climate budget of €550 billion (£500 billion), half a trillion of green handouts to be doled out to ‘climate’ projects and green subsidy farmers over the next seven years – the largest single climate pledge ever made.
As a result of the current crisis, however, EU leaders may have to delay a final decision on its climate budget and a stricter 2030 climate goal.
The European Union may have to delay a decision on a stricter 2030 climate goal as a quarrel over strings attached to a jointly financed stimulus package risks spilling over into other policy areas. Leaders of the bloc are supposed to discuss the draft European Climate Law, which would commit their countries to climate neutrality by 2050, at a Dec. 10-11 summit. But one key plank in the so-called European Green Deal, the target of reducing emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels by the end of this decade, has yet to garner the required unanimous backing, according to an official familiar with the deliberations. Reaching an agreement on the target, which looked challenging to begin with, appears trickier following a spat over the bloc’s budget for the next seven years and its economic recovery package funded by jointly backed borrowing. Poland and Hungary have blocked a deal, casting doubt over the financing of the transition to a low-carbon economy. Their move is likely to dominate next month’s summit, leaving little room for discussion on climate goals, the official said. A potential delay could keep businesses from gaining clarity as they prepare for unprecedented changes under the European Green Deal. It could also shake trust in Europe’s ability to realize major initiatives, and have knock-on effects on secondary legislation expected in coming months in areas ranging from transportation to environmental levies.
The post EU crisis throws climate targets and ‘green recovery’ in doubt appeared first on The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF).
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November 19, 2020 at 03:04AM


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-19--COP 26 Climate Conference Report (November 9–19, 2020)

The United Nations Conference of Parties ( COP 26 ) concludes this week from Glasgow , UK .
The general @ @ @ @ @ was made–and all will try again November 1–9 , 2021 , in the same location @

The United Nations Conference of Parties (COP 26) concludes this week from Glasgow, UK. The general consensus is that no progress was made–and all will try again November 1–9, 2021, in the same location.


iowaclimatescienceeducation--2020-11-19--California Governor Apologises for Breaching his Own Covid-19 Lockdown Rules

h/t Breitbart ; More evidence strict Covid-19 lockdown rules do not apply to Democrats .
FOX 11 obtains exclusive photos of Gov .
Newsom at French restaurant allegedly not following COVID-19 protocols LOS ANGELES – FOX 11 obtained exclusive photos on Tuesday night of Governor Gavin Newsom allegedly eating at the French Laundry restaurant in Yountville , California at a dinner party he attended on November 6 not following his own COVID-19 protocols he set forth for the state .
EXCLUSIVE : We ’ ve obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he ’ s in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into question just how outdoors the dinner was .
A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud , the sliding doors had to be closed .
10pm on @ FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864 This is the latest in a series of recent embarrassing cases of high profile Democrats apparently acting in a way which contradicts their public position on the need for strict Covid-19 lockdowns .
Governor Newsom apparently suggested that the dinner event at which he violated his own Covid-19 lockdown rules was an outdoor event .
The risk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open air .
But the photos obtained by Fox seem to suggest the dinner guests were surrounded by four walls and a ceiling , at least for part of the evening .

Guest essay by Eric Worrall
h/t Breitbart; More evidence strict Covid-19 lockdown rules do not apply to Democrats.
FOX 11 obtains exclusive photos of Gov. Newsom at French restaurant allegedly not following COVID-19 protocols LOS ANGELES – FOX 11 obtained exclusive photos on Tuesday night of Governor Gavin Newsom allegedly eating at the French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, California at a dinner party he attended on November 6 not following his own COVID-19 protocols he set forth for the state. EXCLUSIVE: We’ve obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he’s in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed. 10pm on @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864 — Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) November 18, 2020 … Read more: https://www.foxla.com/news/fox-11-obtains-exclusive-photos-of-gov-newsom-at-french-restaurant-allegedly-not-following-covid-19-protocols
This is the latest in a series of recent embarrassing cases of high profile Democrats apparently acting in a way which contradicts their public position on the need for strict Covid-19 lockdowns.
Governor Newsom apparently suggested that the dinner event at which he violated his own Covid-19 lockdown rules was an outdoor event. The risk of Covid-19 transmission is substantially reduced in the open air.
But the photos obtained by Fox seem to suggest the dinner guests were surrounded by four walls and a ceiling, at least for part of the evening.
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