NPR and Brumfiel don't "appreciate" climate engine

I don't have any time to do anything with this, but I was confronted with another inane news story, this time at NPR.  "Why Hurricane Patricia Can't Be Blamed On Climate Change"  Geoff Brumfiel October 23, 2015 4:45 PM ET

But I do want to share my comments over there - because frankly I hope they make sense to a few people out there.  And if they do, you are welcome to any of this, it's all about us nudging each other into better understanding the world around us and dealing with the fools surrounding us.

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I find it absolutely amazing the contortions supposedly educated minds go through to deny the impacts of global warming.  You do such a nice mishmash in this write-up it's tough to figure out which name to blame.  Perhaps all of them, but the quote that's the hair raiser is:

"The warm water that fueled Patricia is available in abundance this year. The Eastern Pacific has been very warm, thanks to an ocean phenomenon known as El Niño. This year's El Niño is likely to be one of the strongest ever recorded, says Mike Halpert of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration."

Why totally ignore that it's global warming that is the reason behind this extremely El Nino?

No storm today is not connected to global warming!  And the intense storms are only a harbringer of what's to come while all we over smart human's keep coming up with complex ways to confuse and fool ourselves.  Contemptible.

Oh that article: "

"Concerning Our Failure to Appreciate the Weather"

http://thehumanist.com/magazine/november-december-2015/up-front/concerning-our-failure-to-appreciate-the-weather

#8 Mangroves, Dr. Cavanaugh, NPR's Joyce - CC/Steele Landscapesandcycles debate

A virtual debate with Jim Steele, based on his interview at Heartland Institute: 

Heartland Daily Podcast | Jim Steele | January 27, 2015 

Research Fellow H. Sterling Burnett (for the National Center for Policy Analysis) interviews Jim Steele, ecologist, director emeritus of the Sierra Nevada field campus of San Francisco State University

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Steele:  "And we trust the scientific theory because its been fairly tested by others - the theory must out perform all alternate explanations, eliminate confounding factors plus lively debate.  But, what I was finding was the scientific process was being defiled when scientists refused to debate in public. ... and any attempt to prevent that debate, in our schools, in the media, in peer reviewed science, it's only denigrating the scientific process.  ... And I think those public debates would help create real climate literacy …"

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Well then Mr. Steele, let's have our Great Global Warming Science Debate.  
I will accept these responses from your Heartland Institute podcast as your opening round.  I'll offer my rebuttals, evidence and questions.  I agree to post your thoughtful responses unaltered. (Though it's looking like you're going to do your best to hide and ignore these critiques of your self-certain claims. Your silence will serve to expose your hypocrisy and inability to defend your statements on an even playing field.)

In this eighth installment I'm debating your denigration of a biology study led by Dr.Kyle Cavanaugh about Mangrove response to freezing temperatures.

Since I do check first sources I've exchanged a few emails with Dr. Cavanaugh.  I will share some quotes, so he can speak for himself.  

It makes another wonderful case study for 'THIS IS WHAT A SCIENTIST SOUNDS LIKE."  Dr. Cavanaugh offered a straight-forward learning experience that I could build on with further research.  Quite the contrast to your constant trickery and contrived gotcha's.

I thank Dr. Cavanaugh for permission to share from our correspondence, 

(Although it's worth pointing out all of this is already part of the public record, 

for those interested enough to seek it out.).

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"How should society contend with those who knowingly 

disseminate misinformation about climate science?"  Lawrence Torcello

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Steele:  Another example, last year NPR and a few media was hyping that Florida's mangroves were marching north because of global warming.  

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I've listen to that NPR story numerous times, there is nothing "hyped" about it - it was a crisp concise report of the known science and a pretty good description of a couple recent studies of mangrove biology.

Mr. Steele, I challenge you to attempt a critique.  Take the time to listen to NPR's three minute report.  

Detail what you believe is misleading about Christopher Joyce's reporting.

http://www.npr.org/2013/12/31/258699479/floridas-mangroves-move-north-as-temperatures-rise)

If you can't accomplish that simple challenge, it'll speak volumes.  

:- |

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Steele:  The red mangroves that declined earlier was because Floridians removed or trimming trees that blocked their water front views. There were black mangroves that suffered because to control mosquitoes they were artificially flooding swamps to greater depths that would drown out the mangroves.  

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I thought there were three major species and asked Dr. Cavanaugh about it, indeed there are.  Curious… Jim why only discuss two?  

More important, he pointed out that you are correct about what you say, but that it doesn't relate to their study.  A non sequitur so to speak.

Dr. Cavanaugh: "Yes, there are three main species of mangroves in Florida: red (R. mangle), black (A. germinans), and white (L. racemosa). I agree with Mr. Steele that coastal development and mosquito impoundments (http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Impoundments.htm) have historically had a big impact on mangroves in Florida. 

However, most of those buildings and impoundments are still there, and I don't think these things are responsible for the recent mangrove expansion that we have seen. 

We are seeing mangroves move into areas that have been salt marsh for at least 50 years. In some of these locations no one remembers mangroves ever being there. We have linked this expansion to a decrease in the frequency of extreme cold events. Again, I can't conclusively attribute those temperature changes to anthropogenic climate change, but our results suggest that future warming due to climate change will cause further northward expansion of mangroves in Florida."  

Happy Thanksgiving Mr. Anthony WUWT and NPR

{edited 1/27/14 am to add some information about North Dakota's oil boom}

Mr. Watts, I read your gleeful headline: "We’re winning – National Public Radio guts its climate reporting team."  I'm thinking that could be your best line ever, perfectly summing up the Republican/Libertarian mentality and their agenda when it comes to learning about our home planet:
"Shut up, go away! It's about THE ECONOMY STUPID !"

Or as Anne Gudenkauf, senior supervising editor of NPR’s science desk puts it; 'the environment doesn’t necessarily requires dedicated reporters.'  
Who cares about our wondrous planet or the biosphere we all depend on.

Yes sir, Mr. WUWT, you, Gudenkauf and your Republican/Libertarian boosters have much to be thankful for this holiday season.  Although, old NPR listeners know full well, this is just the latest amputation of the once proud NPR.  Like a hapless creature being pulled apart by some nasty kids, Republican/Libertarian money interests have been having their way with NPR for quite a while now.  Not as fast or hard as they originally wanted, and once in a while NPR still come through, such as their recent Ebola coverage; nice job, that one.  Still overall, the masters of our universe got the puppy dog public radio they sought.  

Sad thing is, it goes well beyond NPR.  Consider, those changes at NPR would have been impossible had a motivated 'we the people' - you know, an engaged electorate - defended NPR against the special interests.  

But, no.  It's as though every year less and less people want to know about any of it.  As though apathy towards our life sustaining biosphere has become the new coping mechanism in the face of current difficulties and those frightening, but indisputable, trends and changes that are afoot all around us.

I know, i know, Anthony, you simply don't want to hear about it. 

And what's next? Why not shut down observations, and scientific studies? Perhaps you can destroy some scientific records?  Oh yea, already happening big time in Canada, of all places, (see following notes).  That way when keeping track of their oil spill "incidents" they can rubber-stamp the reports "No reported impacts to any water body or wildlife" - nothing to compare it to, nothing to report.  How tidy, fulfilling their commitment to society. Yes, sir.  

When it comes to our society's impacts on the atmosphere, oceans and climate, your message is loud and clear: SHUT UP.  
If forced to hear the news;  you'll refuse to consider it,
outright attack it and then attack the messengers.
You already have your truth, don't need no more.  

It's ludicrous and it's tragic, but it's your story and you're sticking to it, happy thanksgiving to you all and the children in your respective lives.  They will learn to appreciate what you have done.

Sincerely, CC

I've included Anthony's subsequent post regarding latest NPR emasculating, he didn't have anything else to add.  One sentence said it all.  Following that some further reading.

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Watts Up With That | October 25, 2014

From InsideClimate News: (hat tip to Michael E. Mann)

By Katherine Bagley, InsideClimate News

USA Government shutdown may cancel entire Antarctic research season for Americans

It has been heartbreaking realizing that we have a group of Republican Representatives who literally want to destroy the USA government they had sworn themselves to uphold.*  It adds to the growing feeling of hopelessness in the face of global issues that need an adult's objectivity rather than a self-obsessed child's destructive tantrums.

Dogma over thinking and rational problem solving.  Rejection of learning and compromise.  Disregard for all they don't understand.  Contempt for others.  Those seem to be core principles of the TeaParty faction.  And with this attitude we are supposed to meet the growing challenges we have created for ourselves? 

*{All this over a law that got passed fair and square and that had been cleared by US courts.}

To underscore the Republican disconnect from the real world I'm sharing a few news stories including a complete REPOST of Andrew Freedman's October 1st Government Shutdown Affects Weather, Climate Programs.  First there is this NPR story from yesterday:

Even Antarctica Feels Effects Of The Government Shutdown

by NELL GREENFIELDBOYCE