Climate change...

[fish]

Yes, It is going to get worse whether the main drive is the natural cycle or human activity

The science says that Rising CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels has affected global temperature much more than natural climate variability during the past century.

State of the Climate - 2012

[fish]

The globe probably is warming and depending on who you talk to, it spells catastrophie some time in the future.

Partly true - the worst impacts of climate change are yet to come but some impacts are being felt already, as the people affected by "superstorm" Sandy are well aware. Over and above the 110 or more deaths, [url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-08/obama-asks-for-60b-sandy-recovery-package/4416558]this article[/url] says that Sandy is on track to be the third most costly storm in US history, after Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Andrew in 1992.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress for $60.4 billion in emergency funds to repair devastation from superstorm Sandy.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie and New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the package would enable their states to "recover, repair, and rebuild better and stronger than before."

Sandy whipped up hurricane-force winds and a storm surge that killed more than 110 people in late October.

More than 305,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, along with 265,000 businesses in New York state alone.

Storms happen. Always have always will. You can't blame every storm on global warming. Some people might actually start to find it offensive that you use natural disasters to further your cause.

Cyclone season has started im the top end. If a cyclone wipes out a town, will that be global warmings fault?

The Climate Commission warns that:

Tropical cyclone wind speed is likely to increase but the number of cyclones may decrease or remain unchanged. That is, there may be fewer cyclones, but they are likely to be stronger and cause more damage. In Australia, there is still some uncertainty about regional trends in cyclone activity. However, the strength of cyclones is likely to increase and they may come further south.

[dedja]

My 2 cents worth ...

I don't doubt any of the science about global warming and associated issues/effects.

What I doubt is whether this has been caused to any great extent by human activity.

I do believe that all attempts should be made to reduce pollution in the atmosphere and to reduce human dependence on fossil fuels.

But at the end of the day, i can't see that the current attempts to try to alleviate the issues by way of greenhouse gas reductions will have any great impact on the results we are experiencing.

[Q.]

So how 'bad' do we want it to get before we do anything about it?

[dedja]

I didn't say we shouldn't do anything ... on the contrary, pollution reduction should be stepped up, but not based solely on 'carbon'.

[The Sleeping Giant]

The globe probably is warming and depending on who you talk to, it spells catastrophie some time in the future.

Partly true - the worst impacts of climate change are yet to come but some impacts are being felt already, as the people affected by "superstorm" Sandy are well aware. Over and above the 110 or more deaths, [url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-08/obama-asks-for-60b-sandy-recovery-package/4416558]this article[/url] says that Sandy is on track to be the third most costly storm in US history, after Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Andrew in 1992.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress for $60.4 billion in emergency funds to repair devastation from superstorm Sandy.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie and New York governor Andrew Cuomo said the package would enable their states to "recover, repair, and rebuild better and stronger than before."

Sandy whipped up hurricane-force winds and a storm surge that killed more than 110 people in late October.

More than 305,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, along with 265,000 businesses in New York state alone.

Storms happen. Always have always will. You can't blame every storm on global warming. Some people might actually start to find it offensive that you use natural disasters to further your cause.

Cyclone season has started im the top end. If a cyclone wipes out a town, will that be global warmings fault?

[url=http://climatecommission.gov.au/effects/grim-warning-on-extreme-weather-for-australia/]The Climate Commission[/url] warns that:

Tropical cyclone wind speed is likely to increase but the number of cyclones may decrease or remain unchanged. That is, there may be fewer cyclones, but they are likely to be stronger and cause more damage. In Australia, there is still some uncertainty about regional trends in cyclone activity. However, the strength of cyclones is likely to increase and they may come further south.

I don't see any bad news there.

[Q.]

I didn't say we shouldn't do anything ... on the contrary, pollution reduction should be stepped up, but not based solely on 'carbon'.

Okay. Agree. Add to that global deforestation, which is being totally (and conveniently) overlooked.

[fish]

Cyclone season has started im the top end. If a cyclone wipes out a town, will that be global warmings fault?

[url=http://climatecommission.gov.au/effects/grim-warning-on-extreme-weather-for-australia/]The Climate Commission[/url] warns that:

Tropical cyclone wind speed is likely to increase but the number of cyclones may decrease or remain unchanged. That is, there may be fewer cyclones, but they are likely to be stronger and cause more damage. In Australia, there is still some uncertainty about regional trends in cyclone activity. However, the strength of cyclones is likely to increase and they may come further south.

I don't see any bad news there.

I certainly see something bad when climate change exacerbates the severity of storms, as was the case with "superstorm" Sandy.

A recent report by The Climate Institute puts the annual cost of unmitigated climate change on Australia’s infrastructure at about $9 billion in 2020 rising exponentially thereafter and I see this as great cause for concern.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Climate institute. Climate Commission. Who are these people you keep linking too? Where is the evidence?

P. S. Cyclone season has been forecasted to be below average /average this year. NO ONE can predict big cyclones. Too many variables.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Doesn't look like cyclones are getting any worse to me.

http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones.cgi?region=aus&syear=1965&eyear=1985&loc=0

http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones.cgi?region=aus&syear=1986&eyear=2006&loc=0

[CENTURION]

on the other hand, we seem to be getting a lot more stormy weather down here. 39 today with flooding? more tomorrow? I can't remember thunderstorms in summer 30 years ago, it happens every 3 or 4 weeks here now. AND I LOVE IT!

[The Sleeping Giant]

on the other hand, we seem to be getting a lot more stormy weather down here. 39 today with flooding? more tomorrow? I can't remember thunderstorms in summer 30 years ago, it happens every 3 or 4 weeks here now. AND I LOVE IT!

Early summer thunderstorms are quite common in Adelaide.

[locky801]

on the other hand, we seem to be getting a lot more stormy weather down here. 39 today with flooding? more tomorrow? I can't remember thunderstorms in summer 30 years ago, it happens every 3 or 4 weeks here now. AND I LOVE IT!

Early summer thunderstorms are quite common in Adelaide.

True but not to the extent we have had them in the last month or so, thunderstorm when it's 36 you expect at least the temp to drop but it went up to close to 38, now 6.30pm and stil 37

[CENTURION]

on the other hand, we seem to be getting a lot more stormy weather down here. 39 today with flooding? more tomorrow? I can't remember thunderstorms in summer 30 years ago, it happens every 3 or 4 weeks here now. AND I LOVE IT!

Early summer thunderstorms are quite common in Adelaide.

yes they are...................NOW.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Well I remember them growing up.

[fish]

I don't doubt any of the science about global warming and associated issues/effects.

Spot on dedja!

Climate change predictions confirmed

A study published in the journal Nature today confirms that the predictions made by scientists from the International Panel on Climate Change on target. The report finds the original projections made by the UN's chief scientific body 20 years ago match the measurable changes in the world's climate.

[CENTURION]

Well I remember them growing up.

but you haven't grown up remember, I am nearly 50.

[Ian]

on the other hand, we seem to be getting a lot more stormy weather down here. 39 today with flooding? more tomorrow? I can't remember thunderstorms in summer 30 years ago, it happens every 3 or 4 weeks here now. AND I LOVE IT!

That's the only time I can recall them in SA growing up 30-45 years ago

[The Sleeping Giant]

Well I remember them growing up.

but you haven't grown up remember, I am nearly 50.

This is true

[The Sleeping Giant]

http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/storms/question646.htm

Here you go.