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Online nowAliasinkhorn: .Ink. is a single guy from Huntington, New York, USA.; Likes 3,860 pages, 78 videos, 338 photos • 187 fans • Received 43 reviews; Member since Nov 01, 2007

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RSS: Unprecedented Ice Storms In Kenya: Sep 6, 3:33pm 1 review science, weather, climate-change, climatology, global-cooling
http://www.mathaba.net/rss?x=605119; Unprecedented Ice Storms In Kenya From the page: "Evidence that the planet is tip-toeing towards the onset of a new mini ice age continues to present itself following unprecedented ice storms in Kenya as well as Sydney experiencing its coldest August for 60 years. But don’t worry because according to the World Wildlife Fund, global cooling can just as easily be blamed on CO2 emissions as can global warming. The cold snap arrives on the back of the Sun reaching a milestone not observed in nearly 100 years - the entire month of August passed without a single sunspot being noted. Lack of solar activity in 2008 has coincided with evidence of a cooling trend across the world. Earlier this year, China experienced its coldest winter in 100 years while northeast America was hit by record snow levels and Britain suffered its coldest April in decades as late-blooming daffodils were pounded with hail and snow on an almost daily basis. The British summer also left many yearning for global warming, with temperatures in June and July rarely struggling to get over 16 degrees and on one occasion even dropping as low as 9 degrees in the middle of the afternoon. “Summer heat continues in short supply, continuing a trend that has dominated much of the 21st Century’s opening decade,” reports the Chicago Tribune. “There have been only 162 days 90 degrees or warmer at Midway Airport over the period from 2000 to 2008. That’s by far the fewest 90-degree temperatures in the opening nine years of any decade on record here since 1930.” According to an Associated Press report, The Farmers Almanac is now also predicting “below-average temperatures for most of the U.S.” The publication boasts of an 85 per cent accuracy rate for its forecasts which are given two years in advance. According to a report from the World Meteorological Organization last month, the first half of 2008 was the coolest for at least five years, adding that it may actually be the coolest since 2000. Meanwhile, Arctic ice has expanded by 30 per cent since this time last year as respected scientists predict a new mini ice age within 10 years. Continuing the trend, parts of Kenya just experienced unprecedented ice storms after which 4 inch deep hail covered the ground. “Residents of a village in central Kenya were shocked to see a blanket of hail resembling snow covering their land,” reports the BBC. “I have not seen such a thing ever since I was born,” said one resident of Nyahururu. Hail storms in western Kenya are not unknown, but the hail normally melts instantly because of high temperatures on the ground. Not this time around, and Kenyans were keen to take advantage of the rare event by enjoying numerous photo opportunities. .

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 08/31/2008 | Scientists fear impact of Asian pollu…: Sep 2, 11:17pm 1 review environment, asia, weather, pollutants, us-weather
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/51148.html; Scientists fear impact of Asian pollutants on U.S. From the page: "From 500 miles in space, satellites track brown clouds of dust, soot and other toxic pollutants from China and elsewhere in Asia as they stream across the Pacific and take dead aim at the western U.S. A fleet of tiny, specially equipped unmanned aerial vehicles, launched from an island in the East China Sea 700 or so miles downwind of Beijing, are flying through the projected paths of the pollution taking chemical samples and recording temperatures, humidity levels and sunlight intensity in the clouds of smog. On the summit of 9,000-foot Mt. Bachelor in central Oregon and near sea level at Cheeka Peak on Washington state's Olympic Peninsula, monitors track the pollution as it arrives in America. By some estimates more than 10 billion pounds of airborne pollutants from Asia -- ranging from soot to mercury to carbon dioxide to ozone -- reach the U.S. annually. The problem is only expected to worsen: Some Chinese officials have warned that pollution in their country could quadruple in the next 15 years. While some scientists are less certain, others say the Asian pollution could destabilize weather patterns across the North Pacific, mask the effects of global warming, reduce rainfall in the American West and compromise efforts to meet air-pollution standards. "East Asia pollution aerosols could impose far reaching environmental impacts at continental, hemispheric and global scales because of long-range transport," according to a report earlier this year in the Journal of Geophysical Research. The report said that a "warm conveyor belt" lifts the pollutants into the upper troposphere -- the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere -- over Asia, where winds can bring it to the U.S. in a week or less." .

Decade has had fewest 90-degree days since 1930 -- chicagotribune.com: Aug 13, 5:51pm 3 reviews weather, climate-change, meterology
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-tom-skilling-explainer-13aug13,0...; Decade has had fewest 90-degree days since 1930 From the page: "August is the wettest and often the muggiest month of the year. Yet, summer heat continues in short supply, continuing a trend that has dominated much of the 21st Century's opening decade. There have been only 162 days 90 degrees or warmer at Midway Airport over the period from 2000 to 2008. That's by far the fewest 90-degree temperatures in the opening nine years of any decade on record here since 1930. This summer's highest reading to date has been just 91 degrees. That's unusual. Since 1928, only one yearâ€"2000â€"has failed to record a higher warm-season temperature by Aug. 13." I feel continually vindicated for my views on climate change these recent years. But it isn't good news that a point of scientific perspective is vindicated, it's the consequences that matter. Global warming advocates were anticipating severe impact to humans. There'd be droughts, starvation, etc. My concern has been the impact of Global Cooling: manipulation, coercion and blackmail by producers of countries not liked, out of favor, etc. How so? Applied: how does one stay warm in Europe if the Russians decide to turn the oil tap off? There are other outcomes, just as serious, but this is enough to get the dendrites and synapses to snap, crackle and pop for a wee bit. In the end, Europe has more to fear from Global Cooling than Global Warming than North America has. And, as current news reveals to the discerning viewer and listerner, U.S. citizens have more to fear in their Liberal Democrats than any oil exporting nation. .

http://earthchangesmedia.com/secure/3247.326/article-9162522329.php: Jul 15, 9:56am 1 review weather, climate, sun-spots
http://earthchangesmedia.com/secure/3247.326/article-9162522329.php; Could Solar Cycle 24 Have a Latent and Unwanted Surprise? From the page: "The Sun has been too quiet --- the question is: does this indicate another long period of zero to little sunspot activity ushering in a new 'little ice age'? Or is Father Sun playing peak-a-boo with us, only to release its full thrust beginning late next year reaching its 'apex' (maximum) in late 2011 and into 2012. Either scenario certainly demands we pay attention and utilize our resources accordingly. A person I often disagree with is David Hathaway, NASA's solar forecasting star performer. (star as in bling-bling - not necessarily science). He has been dead wrong on many occasions, as outlined in our time-to-time head banging arguments noted in the ECM archives -- but like all science, one needs to keep an open mind and a razor sharp skill of 'critical thinking'. Hathaway believes we are still in Cycle 23 and witnessing a normal slow decaying cycle which in his opinion is "neither low nor long". He reports he has studied international sunspot counts stretching back to 1749 and indicated period cycles which were longer than the average 11 year cycle. However, I and a list of highly respected and qualified scientific researchers believe Cycle 24 has already begun. Furthermore, we believe it will be even stronger than Cycle 23, as much as 50% stronger. Now here is where Hathaway and I do agree. The 'Sun' is the major player in climate fluctuation. In a period when there is very little sunspot activity, the Earth experiences a 'cooling trend'. Of course the opposite is just as true. The Maunder Minimum of 1645-1715 (Also known as the Little Ice Age) is the longest minimum on record which lasted a very long 70 years. Sunspots were rarely observed and the solar cycle seemed to have broken down completely. In describing the events of the Little Ice Age, Hathaway and his colleagues endorse ECM's "Equation". Hathaway states: "The period of quiet sunspot activity coincided with the Little Ice Age, ushering in a series of extraordinarily bitter winters in Earth's northern hemisphere." Many researchers are convinced that low solar activity, acting in concert with increased volcanism and possible changes in ocean current patterns, played a role in that 17th century cooling.". .

Earth Changes Media - for the latest info on our changing earth.: Jul 15, 8:25am 3 reviews environment, weather, climate, sun-spots
http://earthchangesmedia.com/

ABC News: In Russia, Sometimes It Rains Cement: Jun 17, 9:40pm 1 review russia, weather, cement
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=5184101; In Russia, Sometimes It Rains Cement From the page: "Russian air force planes dropped a 25-kg (55-lb) sack of cement on a suburban Moscow home last week while seeding clouds to prevent rain from spoiling a holiday, Russian media said on Tuesday. "A pack of cement used in creating ... good weather in the capital region ... failed to pulverize completely at high altitude and fell on the roof of a house, making a hole about 80-100 cm (2.5-3 ft)," police in Naro-Fominsk told agency RIA-Novosti. Ahead of major public holidays the Russian Air Force often dispatches up to 12 cargo planes carrying loads of silver iodide, liquid nitrogen and cement powder to seed clouds above Moscow and empty the skies of moisture. A spokesman for the Russian Air Force refused to comment. June 12 was Russia Day, a patriotic holiday celebrating the country's independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Weather specialists said the cement's failure to turn to powder was the first hiccup in 20 years. The homeowner was not injured, but refused an offer of 50,000 roubles ($2,100) from the air force, saying she would sue for damages and compensation for moral suffering, Interfax said."

Electromagnetic Energy May Hold the Key to Climate Change :: The Market Oracle …: Jun 5, 10:33am 1 review science, weather, climate-change, electromagnetic-energy
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article4900.html; Electromagnetic Energy May Hold the Key to Climate Change :: The Market Oracle :: Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting Free Website From the page: "Forces impacting on Climate Change In summary, my desk research led me to conclude that the “drivers” of climate change are certainly not as cut and dried as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change believes. What most analysts and commentators appear to be focussing on is the change in global surface temperatures, which can be seen from the HadCRUT3 chart below (Source: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk /research/hadleycentre/obsdata /HadCRUT3.html ). Since around 1860, ‘best estimate' temperatures have risen by about 1 o C, with half of this increase occurring in the last 25 odd years. But focusing only on atmospheric temperature is like listening only to the “tick” of a grandfather clock. There is also a “tock”. Our oceans also play a role in climate. To quote from one particular article, “ .. the oceans and the atmosphere constitute intertwined components of Earth's climate system” (Source: http://www.whoi.edu/page.do ?cid=9986&pid=12455&tid=282 ). When one listens to the “tock” one discovers the mechanism by which the seasonal storage and release of heat by our oceans also has an influence on Climate Change (For a detailed explanation see: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu /res/div/ocp/gs/pubs/Seager _etal_QJ_2002.pdf ) Whilst the heat content of our oceans – to a depth of 3,000 meters – certainly rose overall from 1955 to 1998, it fell between 2003 and 2005. ( see http://www.pmel.noaa.gov /people/lyman/Pdf/heat_2006.pdf ). Common sense dictates that the 1955 -1998 rise could not possibly have been caused by the rising temperature of our atmosphere. The reason (apart from the 2003-2005 heat content reduction) relates to the significantly different amounts of heat energy required to raise the temperatures of the same quantities of water and air by one degree. This can be seen from the Table below. ... If CO 2 has not been causing global warming, what has been causing it? The general consensus of the “other side” argument is that global warming has been caused by a cyclical increase in the sunspot activity on our sun's surface. It can be seen from the top chart below that, since around 1929 (the peak of cycle #16), the 11 year solar cycle has become more pronounced. Source: http://www.ucar.edu/news /releases/2006/sunspot.shtml Some climatologists attempt to rebut this on the basis that the measured irradiation arriving from our sun has shown little change. But, all one needs to do is look at the “Y” axis on the lower chart. Simulated magnetic flux has demonstrably increased by almost 100% relative to the 1880 – 1929 average. So who do we believe? Well, let's apply some common sense: Arguably, if the surface of the earth is warmed by the sun's rays (demonstrably true); and the sun flares (which it demonstrably does); and if the average number of flares rises (which has demonstrably been the case since the 1930s) – then it will have been getting warmer on the earth's surface. One can play with statistics all one likes, but that logic seems unassailable. It is far more reasonable to conclude that greenhouse gases (including water vapour from the evaporating surfaces of the oceans) have served to trap the increased heat of our sun being reflected off the earth's surface, and that CO 2 emissions have been exacerbating global warming rather than causing it."

Cape Times: Warning! Obesity can lead to really heavy weather: May 16, 5:16pm 1 review weather, climate-change, obesity
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4404459; As silly as the title is, based on this article, I am not a drag on the weather. While in Asia there were long periods I fasted on bread and water. In Europe, there were several months I lived on juice and one trokut, a slice of thin pizza, a day. And I walk nearly everywhere there has been no public transportation. A considerable distance daily. I have not owned a car since 1999. The reasons are not necessary to explain. The point is occassional fasting and eating moderately can be done. I am not the only example. There are others all around the world. Gluttony is not a life necessity. Walking a couple of miles a day is. Warning! Obesity can lead to really heavy weather From the page: "At least 400 million adults worldwide are obese. In their model, the researchers pegged 40% of the global population as obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of near 30. The researchers found that obese people require 1 680 daily calories to sustain normal energy and a further 1 280 calories to maintain daily activities - 18% more than someone with a stable BMI. Because thinner people eat less and are more likely to walk than rely on cars, a slimmer population would lower demand for fuel for transportation and for agriculture, Edwards said. This is also important because 20% of greenhouse gas emissions stem from agriculture, he added. - Reuters"

Climate change will boost farm output | The Australian: May 11, 5:01pm 1 review agriculture, weather, global-warming, climate-change, farming
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23681267-11949,00.html; Climate change will boost farm output AUSTRALIAN agricultural output will double over the next 40 years, with climate change predicted to increase, rather than hinder, the level of production. From the page: "In fact, Mr Keogh says, if global warming does occur, some areas such as southeast Queensland will receive more rain, and as a result will greatly benefit. Recent research has shown increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lifts plant production by up to 30 per cent in a phenomenon known as carbon fertilisation." Which ever the discussion goes on Climate Change, there's continual news that is good as well as bad. This article is on the side of good news. Read the whole article to be sure.

Curious cloud formations linked to quakes - earth - 11 April 2008 - New Scientis…: Apr 14, 3:37am 1 review science, weather, earthquakes, clouds
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg19826514.600-curious-clou...; Curious cloud formations linked to quakes 'From the page: "CAN unusual clouds signal the possibility of an impending earthquake? That's the question being asked following the discovery of distinctive cloud formations above an active fault in Iran before each of two large earthquakes occurred. Geophysicists Guangmeng Guo and Bin Wang of Nanyang Normal University in Henan, China, noticed a gap in the clouds in satellite images from December 2004 that precisely matched the location of the main fault in southern Iran. It stretched for hundreds of kilometres, was visible for several hours and remained in the same place, although the clouds around it were moving. At the same time, thermal images of the ground showed that the temperature was higher along the fault. Sixty-nine days later, on 22 February 2005, an earthquake of magnitude 6.4 hit the area, killing more than 600 people. In December 2005, a similar formation again appeared in the clouds for a few hours. Sixty-four days later, an earthquake of magnitude 6 shook the region (International Journal of Remote Sensing, vol 29, p 1921). Guo and Wang suggest that an eruption of hot gases from inside the fault could have caused water in the clouds to evaporate. Another idea is that ionisation may be involved: Friedemann Freund at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, recently demonstrated that when rocks are squeezed, positively charged ions form in the air above. The trouble is that ions usually help to form clouds, not dissipate them. The authors say that if recognisable cloud formations precede large quakes, they could be used for prediction, but other seismologists are sceptical. "There is no physical model that explains why something would suddenly occur two months before an earthquake, and then shut off and not occur again," says Mike Blanpied of the US Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Program. From issue 2651 of New Scientist magazine, 11 April 2008, page 12"