#7 EM Debate - How about, An Essay Concerning Our Weather?

EM, I've been working with your next sentences and your concern for economy prosperity, (as though that justifies ignoring physical realities).  You got me to thinking how Republicans, and you, are approaching all this from way off in deep right field.  That would be, lost in the financial world as though that's all there was to understand or master about the world we live in.  Me, on the other hand, though I've learned to recognize the reality and need to deal with and accommodate the financial world, I appreciate a higher reality holds sway.

Being a handyman, I'm constantly reminded that dealing with the reality at hand demands remaining skeptical of my own pre-conceptions.  For me it's easy to remain extremely skeptical of the Republican "ever increasing growth and profits" mindset, instead I've found more security (and prosperity) in abiding by down to Earth realities.  Such as, it's not how much you earn, it's how much you spend, and such truisms.  

I bring all this up because I'd like to share an essay of mine, three decades in the writing.  I'm hoping it might help you get Earth's physical realities vs. human economic desires, into a more realistic perspective.  Here I'm reposted it December 17, 2015 version.  Enjoy.
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Twenty years ago I came across a cartoon by Mike Keefe in the Denver Post that captured an attitude I had found all too pervasive among my fellow Americans: the attitude of entitlement and detached disregard for understanding how our global climate system operates.

It inspired me to write an essay describing my understanding of our planet’s climate system, and it was published in the November/December 1995 issue of the Humanist magazine. Rereading it recently, I noticed some minor errors but the basic story remains as accurate today as it was back then. Since anniversaries are a good time to reflect on history and how far we’ve come (or not), I wrote a twenty year reflection which the Humanist printed in their recent Nov/Dec 2015 issue.  This is a slightly altered version and I've included a many links to further information.

I thank Mike Keefe for the permission to use his cartoon.

I think it’s worth recalling where our understanding of climate change was twenty years ago.  Though there were fewer media outlets back then, they were more objective and for the most part offered straightforward climate science information. After all, it’s not that tough a story to summarize, even if the details get devilishly difficult.

By ’95 we had learned that weather is the product of climate conditions and that Earth’s climate conditions fluctuated. We knew that CO2 and other greenhouse gases were a major regulator of those fluctuations.

At the same time we were also being forced to confront the reality that it was our own burning of fossil fuels and the machines behind our modern marvels and lavish lifestyles that were increasingly belching “gaseous insulation” into our atmosphere.

Reflecting on our failure to appreciate the weather, our weather.

Yup, "our" weather as in, you break it, you own it.   Republicans believe it's okay to deny observable facts - They believe it's their personal "Free Speech Right" to fabricate lies and malicious nonsense, then insist their cynical misdirections are reputable facts. Which they most certainly are not - as any good-faith full spectrum examination makes clear.   They refuse to listen to any corrections and thoughtful explanations, they slander honest, accomplished and respected scientists with hysterical claims, sans all serious evidence.  Since arguing the facts of the matter is a loser for them, they derail discussions with character assassination attempts on all who dare defend climate scientists against the outlandish paranoid machinations of fiction reporters - all this rather than rationally listening to what scientists have to teach.  

Of course, taking our changing global environment seriously does demand changing the way we think and do things.  It demands growing up and recognizing we have a huge population on a warming planet with shrinking resources and we no longer have the luxury of behaving as though Earth was still a limitless cornucopia.  Since I'm still not getting the time I need to write, I want to share an article from last year where I try to describe our failure of vision and curiosity when it comes to addressing humanity's most fateful "geophysical experiment."   (some touch up editing 12/24)

Reposted from 
 http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2015/12/our-failure-to-appreciate-our-weather.html
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Twenty years ago I came across a cartoon by Mike Keefe in the Denver Post that captured an attitude I had found all too pervasive among my fellow Americans: the attitude of entitlement and detached disregard for understanding how our global climate system operates.

It inspired me to write an essay describing my understanding of our planet’s climate system, and it was published in the November/December 1995 issue of the Humanist magazine. Rereading it recently, I noticed some minor errors but the basic story remains as accurate today as it was back then. Since anniversaries are a good time to reflect on history and how far we’ve come (or not), I wrote a twenty year reflection which the Humanist printed in their Nov/Dec 2015 issue.  This is a slightly altered version and I've included many links to further information.

I thank Mike Keefe for the permission to use his cartoon.

I think it’s worth recalling where our understanding of global warming induced climate change was twenty years ago.  Though there were fewer media outlets back then, they were more objective and for the most part offered straightforward climate science information. After all, it’s not that tough a story to summarize, even if the details get devilishly difficult.

By ’95 we had learned that weather is the product of climate conditions and that Earth’s climate conditions fluctuated. We knew that CO2 and other greenhouse gases were a major regulator of those fluctuations because they regulated how much of the sun's incoming heat was retained within Earth's climate system.

At the same time we were also being forced to confront the reality that it was our own burning of fossil fuels and the machines behind our modern marvels and lavish lifestyles that were increasingly belching “gaseous insulation” into our atmosphere.

{8} Atmospheric Insulation Explained - appreciating our climate engine

In this installment of "Appreciating our Global Heat and Moisture Distribution Engine" I focus on videos about our atmosphere's life sustaining insulating abilities and the molecules that make it possible.  This won't be as pretty as my previous installment, which had those gorgeous NASA data driven animations to look at and ponder.

This is a bit more along the lines of classroom work, particularly my first video featuring the high school teacher Mr. Kemp who does a nice job of describing the various layers of our atmosphere using a cool space station photo of our planet's horizon.  Then a 9 min video by Professor Richard Alley explaining how we know CO2 is responsible for current global warming.  Followed by an 8 min video by PICSClimateInsights reviewing aspects of greenhouse molecules. 

Then comes Ricardo Esplugas's visualization of greenhouse molecules in action, followed by Iain Stewart's demonstrating CO2's infrared capturing abilities and finishing up with Dan Miller demonstrating what 280 ppm looks like.

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Layers of the Atmosphere 

Mr. Kemp - MSHS Science  |  Published on Dec 17, 2012  |  13:26 min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlDqJUjh38Q

0:00 -  Describing the various layers of the atmosphere using a profile picture taken from the Space Station of Earth's atmosphere.

2:00  -  diagram

2:15  -  Stratosphere, Ozone layer, ultra-violet radiation absorption

3:50  -  Troposphere, surface warming

4:50  -  Temperature profile through the atmosphere

5:20  -  Troposphere, mixing layer, air circulation, convection

7:00  -  Stratosphere, temperature gradient, 

7:45  -  ozone absorbing ultraviolet light leading to temperature inversion

8:30  -  Mesosphere, "shooting stars" burn up here

8:45  -  Thermosphere, air very thin, feels cold, but individual atoms extremely hot (high kinetic energy).

10:35  -  Ionosphere, overlaps Mesosphere and Thermosphere, where auroras happen

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Check out this power point.  

It could be the best summation for someone at my level I've seen:

Greenhouse Gas and Climate Science Measurements

The SIM Metrology School October 28 – November 1, 2013

James Whetstone

Special Assistant to the Director for Greenhouse Gas Measurements
National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA

http://www.nist.gov/iaao/upload/SIM_School_Climate_Final_James_Whetstone.pdf

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Who says it's settled physics?  

Our Air Force, that's who!
and
Australia's Air Force, that's who!

CO2 & the Atmosphere

Earth: The Operators' Manual  |  Published on Apr 9, 2012  |  9:03 min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9eGzPxA1Dg

Air Force research on missiles and the story of Ice Ages both reveal the effects of carbon dioxide.

{7} Our Global Heat and Moisture Distribution Engine, visualized

Before I climb back into the mud pit, I want to share this installment of "Appreciating our Global Heat and Moisture Distribution Engine.  This time I feature four short videos produced by NASA Goddard that do a wonderful job of visualizing various facets of our planet's geophysical reality.  Using state of the art computer graphics based on actual satellite observations they visualize how these varied components seamlessly integrate with each other to create the wonderful planet that we were born into… and the climate system we depend on for everything.

The first one is "Dynamic Earth" a 4.5 minute tour starting with our sun and finishing in our oceans, fascinating presentation, (as are all of these YouTube videos).  Then, "The Ocean: A Driving Force for Weather and Climate" is a 6 minutes long grand tour of the oceans.  Following that, the 3 minute "Aquarius: One Year Observing the Salty Seas - Ocean Salinity & Climate" presents the culmination of Aquarius Satellites first full year of data collection.  Finishing with an excellent 6 minute review of "Earth's Water Cycle."  

These visualizations are packed with satellite data and do a wonderfully job rendered our planet as a whole, set against the frigid void of space.  This place we call home is special, nothing else like it in the universe, it's worth getting to know and love and protect.

NASA | Dynamic Earth

0:00  -  Our Sun

0:30  -  Solar winds

0:45  -  Venus exposed to full force of solar wind

1:10  -  Earth's geomagnetic field

1:50  -  Atmosphere, circulation

2:05  -  Solar heating, circulation

2:20  -  Wind currents driving surface ocean currents

2:50  -  Ocean 'river'

3:15  -  {great subsurface current visualization}

3:45  -  Tides, terrain, crosswinds, currents transferring heat

{Behold the components of our Global Heat and Moisture Distribution Engine}

NASA Goddard  | Published on Jun 19, 2012  |  4:26 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujBi9Ba8hqs

Who says understanding Earth’s Evolution is irrelevant?

Sadly all too many.  

I often hear people, not just the religious with their paper thin understanding, but educated rational people who superficially accept the notion of evolution, but who have never spent anytime really absorbing what Earth's pageant of evolution has been all about, dismissing the need to learn anything about it.  

Its all led to a general apathy that I can't for the life of me comprehend.  Especially considering what an amazingly beautiful, complex, mysterious and absolutely relevant story it is.

This general apathy terrifies me, and compels me to share some of the building blocks that have shaped my own developing basic understanding.  I have a head-start since I've been fascinated by this Creation I was born into since my earliest days.  The wonder of it, and the things I've learned makes me want to share some of my experience and perspectives during what time remains for my own, oh so splendid, journey on this wonderful planet.

Tragically, people who never pondered the reality, (that all we have today is the direct product of four and a half billion years of evolution, unfolding one magnificent day after another), lack the foundation to understand what we are doing to our planet and life support system these days.  It explains why we have so many profoundly ignorant, self-deluded and disconnected politicians and 'masters of the universe' these days.

When I toss out a concept such as, our "Global Heat and Moisture Distribution Engine," it's blank faces all around.  Why?   I'm fearing listeners have no fundamental conception for the intricate interconnections between our evolving Earth, oceans and land masses.  Without that awareness, of course they'll never get it. 

After all, our atmosphere is the direct product of a fantastic evolutionary process that married geology and biology and took billions of years to unfold.  Without understanding how it got here, there's no way one can comprehend what we have,... and what we are doing to "it",... that is, the only life, and economy, support system we have.

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January 6, 2016

{1} Our Global Heat and Moisture Distribution Engine

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/01/earths-heat-moisture-engine.html

January 9, 2016

{2} Co-evolution of Minerals and Life | Dr Robert Hazen

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/01/2-coevolution-of-minerals-and-life.html

January 14, 2016

{3} Evolution of Carbon and our biosphere - Professor Hazen focuses on the element Carbon

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/01/3-evolution-carbon-biosphere-hazen.html

January 23, 2016

{4} Evolution-Considering Deep Time and a Couple Big Breaks

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/01/4-evolution-deeptime-moon-geomagnetic.html

February 6, 2016

{5a} The Most Beautiful Graph on Earth - A. Hessler

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/02/most-beautiful-graph-on-earth.html

February 7, 2016

{5b} Earth's Earliest Climate - By Angela Hessler

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/02/earths-earliest-climate-by-hessler.html

February 14, 2016

{6} Evolution of Earth's Atmosphere - easy version

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/02/6-evolution-earths-atmosphere-easy.html

February 18, 2016

{7} Our Global Heat and Moisture Distribution Engine, visualized

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/02/7-global-heat-moisture-distribution.html

February 19, 2016

{8} Atmospheric Insulation Explained - appreciating our climate engine

http://whatsupwiththatwatts.blogspot.com/2016/02/8-atmospheric-insulation-explained.html

providence willing, more to follow.

(Update-8/4/16) Help Stop Larry Marshall from gutting Australia's CSIRO's climate science program.

Update August 3rd, 2016 Breaking News!

It's not great news, but it is pretty good.  CSIRO has been spared the most draconian cuts and their climate science mission appears to have enthusiastic backing from the newly elected Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Trunbull.

Turnbull government orders CSIRO U-turn towards 
climate science

AUGUST 4 2016 - 10:58AM (their time)

By Nicole Hasham and Peter Hatcher  -  The Sydney Morning Herald 

New Science Minister Greg Hunt has ordered a major U-turn in the direction of the CSIRO,

reviving climate research as a bedrock function just months after the national science agency 

slashed climate staff and programs. ...

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Also:

Michael Slezak, August 3, 2016 | The Guardian

Only 20 climate science positions will be lost from the CSIRO, down from an initial 96, 

after the Turnbull government intervened, issuing a ministerial directive to the independent 

agency. ..

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In an echo of Canada's Harper Administration's vicious war on science that destroyed science libraries, facilities, programs and scientists careers, Australia seems ready to follow suit.  

Venture capitalist Larry Marshall (one time cadet scientist at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation). who's now in charge of Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has announced intentions to gut its climate research programs because he believes they are no longer needed.  

I dare say, this is a direct result of Marshall and his backers having sequestered their minds within a fantasy that the gogo, consume everything you can grab, economic growth model that was so viable a hundred years ago and up to quite recently - remains viable today.  

This self-certain Faith of their's, when looked at from the perspective of what's been physically happening to our life sustaining planet these past couple centuries and in particular the past couple decades - is nothing less than insane.  

Yet, they are willing to defend their antiquated mindset with a ruthlessness decent people can't imagine.  When it comes to recognizing the physical realities of our planet, they just don't want to know.  Burn The Books!  

Now we find ourselves as witnesses to the start of crippling yet another one of the world's premiere climate science gathering and understanding organizations.  Make no mistake it is nothing less than dismantling humanity's best last-chance at understanding and confronting the brave new world barreling down upon us all.

Only a strong international backlash against this myopic self-destructive plan might mitigate the intended destruction.  Towards that end CSIRO's scientist have been putting together a letter and are looking for scientists from around the globe to support them and perhaps join them in signing the letter.  Please read the following for more information and a link to their draft letter.  

Following that, I share excerpts and links to a number of recent articles that provide more details regarding Marshall's actions:

Climate science to be gutted as CSIRO swings jobs axe

Peter Hannam | February 4, 2016 | Sidney Morning Herald

CSIRO boss’s failed logic over climate science could waste billions in taxes

February 5, 2016 |  The Conversation

CSIRO head Larry Marshall defends climate research cuts as angry scientists protest in Melbourne

February 8, 2016 | Sidney Morning Herald

CSIRO climate cuts attack a national treasure when we need it most

Michael Slezak | February 8, 2016 | The Guardian

Australia to be 'isolated' from global research after CSIRO climate cuts: WMO

Peter Hannam | February 9, 2016 | Sidney Morning Herald

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Australia's Climate Research Is Far From Done 

{But it sure needs some help in defending itself!}

The recent announcement of devastating cuts to the Australian CSIRO’s Oceans and Atmosphere research program has alarmed the global climate research community. CSIRO’s decision to decimate a vibrant and world-leading research program that is tackling Australia’s toughest climate problems shows a lack of insight into the depth and significance of Australian contributions to global and regional climate research. For the last 79 years, this research has demonstrated how vulnerable Australia is, and will continue to be, to climate change. 

The capacity of Australia to assess future risks and plan for climate change adaptation crucially depends on maintaining and augmenting this research capability.

Reflecting on our failure to appreciate the weather

Twenty years ago I came across a cartoon by Mike Keefe in the Denver Post that captured an attitude I had found all too pervasive among my fellow Americans: the attitude of entitlement and detached disregard for understanding how our global climate system operates.

It inspired me to write an essay describing my understanding of our planet’s climate system, and it was published in the November/December 1995 issue of the Humanist magazine. Rereading it recently, I noticed some minor errors but the basic story remains as accurate today as it was back then. Since anniversaries are a good time to reflect on history and how far we’ve come (or not), I wrote a twenty year reflection which the Humanist printed in their recent Nov/Dec 2015 issue.  This is a slightly altered version and I've included many links to further information.

I thank Mike for the permission to use his cartoon.

I think it’s worth recalling where our understanding of climate change was twenty years ago.  Though there were fewer media outlets back then, they were more objective and for the most part offered straightforward climate science information. After all, it’s not that tough a story to summarize, even if the details get devilishly difficult.

By ’95 we had learned that weather is the product of climate conditions and that Earth’s climate conditions fluctuated. We knew that CO2 and other greenhouse gases were a major regulator of those fluctuations.

At the same time we were also being forced to confront the reality that it was our own burning of fossil fuels and the machines behind our modern marvels and lavish lifestyles that were increasingly belching “gaseous insulation” into our atmosphere.

Why Protecting Rio Grande Source Waters Trumps Destructive Development

Changing the subject for a moment.  Because this is down home and personal and since the struggle to save Wolf Creek's Alberta Park has reignited and I want to broadcast this information far and wide as possible.  Never know were help might come from. 

{Could say this was a work in progress, it's finished now.  Final edit 5/24/15 mid-day}
{For more information visit No-VillageAtWolfCreek.blogspot.com}

Up in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, below Wolf Creek Pass, an epic wetlands-preservation struggle has been going on.

The smoldering mess was reignited in May when the Rio Grande National Forest released its final decision regarding the Village at Wolf Creek Access Project. This decision allows the exchange of 205 acres of prime Rio Grande National Forest, including some 1500 feet of highway frontage, for 177 acres of difficult-to-develop and landlocked property owned by the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture. Talk about a smooth poker play.