Too Hot For Hookers?

In the debate over global warming, we hear all sorts of scenarios foretelling of coming floods, a new dust bowl, wildfires, higher sea levels, more mosquitos, less wine, acid oceans and a shortage of Bulgarian hookers. Yet those of us who live in the more frigid areas of the country still ask, "If there's global warming—how come our winters keep getting longer and colder?" Well, because there are two sides to the argument. While one side says, "Humans are creating far too much gas and immediate action must be taken, lest we all die." The other side responds with, "You're crazy, global warming is a myth. Pass those beans." 

So, how do you know who to believe in the climate change debate? Well, let's look at the data and where it comes from. Those who passionately believe that things are most definitely heating up love to quote numbers supplied by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Now, keep in mind that NOAA is a government agency, and without faulting any individual who works there, keep in mind that the government has a really bad record when it comes to running anything. It is also subject to the whims of the current administration as the head of NOAA is a Presidential appointee.

So do you get the picture? NOAA is all about politics, and politics is becoming more and more about global warming. But here's where it gets even more interesting. 

Enter Anthony Watts, a 25-year broadcast meteorologist and currently chief meteorologist for KPAY-AM radio in Northern California. In 1987, Watts founded ItWorks, which supplies broadcasters with all sorts of cool gear to aid in the forecasting and presentation of the weather. In 2007, he founded SurfaceStations.org, a Web site devoted to photographing and documenting the quality of weather stations across the U.S. His personal blog site is Watts Up With That?

The purpose of the SurfaceStations project is to evaluate the accuracy of NOAA's 1221 climate stations placed throughout the US. Thus far, as of 1/25/09, the project's findings show that 89 percent of the stations fail to meet the National Weather Service’s own performance criteria. In other words, almost 9 out of every 10 stations are likely reporting higher or rising temperatures because they are badly sited.

According to Watt's report, "We found stations located next to the exhaust fans of air conditioning units, surrounded by asphalt parking lots and roads, on blistering-hot rooftops, and near sidewalks and buildings that absorb and radiate heat. We found 68 stations located at wastewater treatment plants, where the process of waste digestion causes temperatures to be higher than in surrounding areas. We observed that changes in the technology of temperature stations over time also has caused them to report a false warming trend. We found major gaps in the data record that were filled in with data from nearby sites, a practice that propagates and compounds errors. We found that adjustments to the data by both NOAA and another government agency, NASA, cause recent temperatures to look even higher.

His conclusion: US Temperature data is unreliable. So the next time someone starts mouthing off about global warming, simply ask, "Have you read the Watts report that shows thatthe  government's climate data is based on data and poorly sited equipment? And are you aware that the current head of NOAA is a like minded liberal appointed by President Obama?" Aren't you glad you stopped by? - ral.