Feb 10
27
The loud mouthed pundits and self proclaimed experts in denying everything but their own carved in stone opinions were out in full chorus since the big snowstorms. Somehow it occurred to them that snow or cold weather in winter equals more proof that climate change is a hoax. Clever is that they proclaim a desire for some of that warming, taunting those that worry about our changing climate. It is the Olympics of opinion, gold will go to the team that can sway public opinion. Let’s all concede that opinion is indeed moving toward denial as we come down to the last laps. It is a relay race and we’re passing the baton to the next generation. We are passing the baton but I don’t see it as a race, we’ll all be part of the outcome no matter what our personal ego makes us feel is the right thing to do, or not. There is no podium and no prize for anyone in the end. There is no finish line.
It is more likely that extreme weather including relentless snowfall is an effect of climate change rather than any kind of proof that all is well with mother nature. But nobody can proclaim that huge snowfalls are caused by climate change or that it is proof otherwise. Are the deniers so ignorant to think that cold days and snowflakes will never happen again or are they simply perpetuating a myth and hoping to keep everyone else ignorant? Are there opportunists on all sides of public debate? Surely there are greedy loud mouths and false prophets anywhere there is a chance to make money with face time in the arena of media and common conciseness. It isn’t about the long term path of human progress but instead is the short term goals of our own ego. A potentially hazardous game of diversion.
The Earth and nature is the only expert, we’re only trying to unlock the formula and understand how it works. Regulating a planet’s temperature range is like a giant heat pump. Weather is there to move heat. That is what a hurricane does, what a nor’easter is there for, why the weather changes and why we look to weather forecasters for what is happening. All that change and seemingly unpredictable weather is there to keep things within a range where life can survive in all its diversity. We can only push those natural capabilities just so far before that heat pump must create ever more extreme events to maintain the natural balance. When an extreme event passes over your head you might have to batten down the hatches and pick up a shovel. Complaining won’t help. Snow happens.
Do you mind if I share this information to my students? I want them to know the importance of preserving environment. I will properly cite you.
Sure, share as you wish. I hope to see what you do with it.
This post was in the context of the massive snowstorms of that period. Besides the typically overblown media coverage it became an opportunity for the usual pundits to proclaim that climate change wasn’t real. Both extremes missed the truth, this is nature and nature isn’t happy with us.