I didn’t know where to put this. But since I value your opinion & knowledge on climate issues I want to ask your opinion on something.
First the back-story:
A few months back I got into it with a few of the warmists on Rabbit Run.
I was postulating a hypothesis I have about the contribution melting glaciers and permafrost have on the CO2 increases in the recent past. Well I guess you can how well that went over on Eli’s blog. I was repeatedly told that 90% of the increases in CO2 since the 1900s were directly attributable to man. This was due to the 13C/12C isotopic ratio, how fossil fuel produced CO2 has a lower 13C/12C balance, and how it has been demonstrated that the ratio has been dropping in the atmosphere since the early 20th century. Violla! It’s man’s fault.
The revelation:
Well, never allowing my self to be out “knowledged” by people I started researching the isotopic ratios of CO2 and found some interesting data.
1. The drop in 13C/12C ratio started about 1850 (end of LIA).
2. Glaciers & permafrost extent would naturally retreat some as a product of recovery from the LIA.
3. The CO2 locked up in those sources has a very similar 13C/12C ratio as fossil fuel derived CO2 (as well as being depleted in 14C just like fossil fuel CO2)
4. There is an estimated 950Gt of carbon stored in the permafrost of Siberia & Alaska alone, as well as a few million km2 in Tibet. (as opposed to the 7Gt of carbon released by burning fossil fuels).
5. Some studies claim (David M. Lawrence/Andrew G. Slater 2005 GRL V32 L24401) up to ~3 million square km of permafrost (out of ~13) or approx 25% of the permafrost extent at the start of the 20th century has already melted.
My hypothesis now is:
The shrinking permafrost extent & glacial retreat that started during the natural recovery from the LIA contributes greatly to the rising CO2 content AND declining 13C/12C ratios observed in the atmosphere. This natural contribution is comparable if not greater than anthropogenic sources.
My Questions for you:
On the surface does this sound reasonable to you?
If so, would you help me collect data on the glacial retreat and shrinking extent (or growing “active layer” depth) of permafrost?
I think if we can gather enough evidence, we can dispel the “Human Fingerprint” widely reported by sites like Real Climate & SKS.
BTW if we can gather sufficient data, I think I would try to convince Willis Eschenbach to investigate.
You can reach me at xxxxx (at) xxxx(dot) com if you would like to discuss.
Thanks
Robb
========================
Thanks Robb. I already have your addy from your posting on this blog, so, I xxx your addy out. I’ll be in touch.
I haven’t heard from Robb for some time. But, he’s a sharp guy, I just haven’t had time to run down all of the stuff. I think you’re right, but the idea still remains prevalent and like the hockey stick, it has several incarnations.
James.
I think many of your Articles are spot on. I would request you contact Anthony @ WUWT to help out over there and get more exposure for your own great blog-site.
Ted.
Call for guest authors – I’m stepping away from WUWT for awhile
by Anthony Watts
Now that BEST has given themselves enough rope with their PR shenanigans, I have a new paper to finish. I also have papers to review. One of the upsides/downsides of publishing is that you get asked to review papers that have been submitted. On the upside I appreciate the opportunity, on the downside I’ve got […]
I found this and it is in your neck of the woods. http://news.yahoo.com/teen-tweeter-wont-apologize-kan-governor-230737888.html
this part got to me:
The Shawnee Mission East senior was taking part in a Youth in Government program last week in Topeka, Kan., when she sent out a tweet from the back of a crowd of students listening to Brownback’s greeting. From her cellphone, she thumbed: “Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot.”
She actually made no such comment and said she was “just joking with friends.” But Brownback’s office, which monitors social media for postings containing the governor’s name, saw Sullivan’s post and contacted the Youth in Government program.
This is an 18 year old that was taking part in a political group.
People are supporting her right to lie.
Her mother is supporting her right to lie.
What she is displaying is not a sign of maturity but a symptom of a degrading society.
Browse through the comments at the end of the article.
I happen to agree with the governor that the state should not be funding the “Arts”, and never should have. But is a separate issue completely.
I just found this and you have no place to comment.
The local NWS has issued a forecast for tomorrow and Sunday calling for a “Chance of Sprinkles”
I am expecting a “Hazardous weather statement” any time now! They will probably attempt to give regional warning as the “Sprinkles” pass through the region so the residents can track the progress of the “Sprinkles”. 😉
You have to look today as this link is to their current forecast, which changes by the hour: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Thorn+Hill&state=TN&site=MRX&lat=36.3572&lon=-83.4186
I now have a hazardous weather outlook:
Hazardous Weather Outlook
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: A slight chance of sprinkles before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
“VERY COLD AIR WILL BUILD INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS BEHIND AN
ALBERTA CLIPPER LATE IN THE DAY SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.
ARCTIC AIR WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW ACROSS THE REGION MONDAY AND
MONDAY NIGHT AS YET ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM DROPS SOUTH OUT OF
CANADA. IN THIS TYPE OF PATTERN HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWFALL IS
POSSIBLE AS STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LIFT MOISTURE OVER THE TERRAIN
ON THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU…SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND THE MOUNTAINS
ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA BORDER. DRIER AIR MAY BUILD INTO THE
REGION AS EARLY AS TUESDAY BRINGING AN END TO THE OROGRAPHIC SNOW.”
You need a spot for NOAA Humor, such as this:
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA…EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.
Read carefully: http://news.yahoo.com/judge-black-church-rightful-owner-kkk-store-174103559.html
Hint:
Ownership of the building was transferred in 1997 to the Rev. David Kennedy and his church, New Beginnings, by a Klansman fighting with others inside the hate group, according to court records. That man, according to Kennedy, was feuding with store proprietor John Howard over a woman and “developed a spiritual relationship” with Kennedy’s church, the judge wrote.
But a clause in the deed entitles Howard, formerly KKK grand dragon for the Carolinas, to operate his business in the building until he dies.
Hopefully this will gain more acceptance than past attempts. “We also know that adding CO2 in a sense is feeding the calcifying organisms (like it feeds life above the water too). Co2 dissolves as bicarbonate, which marine uses to make skeletons and shells from. So yes, a lower pH dissolves shells, but the extra CO2 increases shell formation.” <———————- Lat's been telling us that for a few years now.
LOL….well yeah
They have to physically lower their pH in order to make calcium soluble. Then jiggle the pH back up to form it. That’s fighting against the bicarbonate buffering. The closer the pH is to the solubility of calcium, the easier it is. Just lowering the pH from 8 to 7, increases the solubility of calcium by a factor of 100. Which all of these organisms have to do internally, which means they are not effected by external pH obviously…..
….which also means it would be impossible to put them in a bag and ship them all over the world
Right, its similar to the same silly argument about CO2. Yes, in theory, atmospheric CO2 could significantly impact our temps…… but, our atmosphere would have to be so saturated with CO2, that it is silly to think in these terms.
James
I think it is time for you to do a monthly open forum where people can speak anything rather than just putting it anywhere which may make any newcomers to your site put off because of irrelevant comments to the post. Anyway just an idea.
No, you won’t find a bio here. We don’t stand on credentials. We stand on the facts. Nearly all data, calculations, and statements are easily referenced. If someone disagrees with the assertions, they’re more than welcome to challenge them.
The “credibility” isn’t in the credentials we hold, but in the scrutiny of the information we provide.
Thought you would appreciate this…
The open air plays of the ancient Greeks may offer us a valuable insight into the Mediterranean climate of the time, reports new research in Weather. Using historical observations from artwork and plays, scientists identified ‘halcyon days’, of theatre friendly weather in mid-winter. “We explored the weather conditions which enabled the Athenians of the classical era to watch theatre performances in open theatres during the midwinter weather conditions,” said Christina Chronopoulou, from the National and Kapodestrian University of Athens. “We aimed to do so by gathering and interpreting information from the classical plays of Greek drama from 5th and 4th centuries B.C.” Ancient Athenians would enjoy the open theatre of Dionysus in the southern foothills of the Acropolis and when possible they would have watched drama in the middle of winter between 15 January and 15 February. From Second World War bombing raids, to medieval Arabic writings historians and climatologists continue to turn to surprising sources to help piece together the climate of our ancestors. In this case the team turned to the writings of 43 plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes and several were found to contain references about the weather. Greece enjoys long, hot, dry summers, yet in contrast the rare theatre friendly ‘halcyon days’ of clear, sunny weather during winter appeared to be especially noteworthy. “The comedies of Aristophanes, often invoke the presence of the halcyon days,” concluded said Dr. Chronopoulou. “Combining the fact that dramatic contests were held in mid-winter without any indication of postponement, and references from the dramas about the clear weather and mild winters, we can assume that those particular days of almost every January were summery in the fifth and maybe in the fourth centuries BC.”
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Wiley. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
1.Christina Chronopoulou, A. Mavrakis. Ancient Greek drama as an eyewitness of a specific meteorological phenomenon: indication of stability of the Halcyon days. Weather, 2014; 69 (3): 66 DOI: 10.1002/wea.2164
This year:
Average hi of 56 F and lows averaged 45 F in Athens for January,average hi of 57 F and lows of 45 F in Febuary.
Doesn’t look like things have warmed up much.
Whatever happened to that durned hockey stick?!
Here’s a tip. Someone needs to shine a light on these federal mobsters and link them to their “boss”.
The “shakedown” model that Obama’s henchmen in the federal agencies are using to harass innocent citizens/businesses is obscene. This is no different than the U.S.S.R. and China, where you pay bribes to the state to do business. When was the last time they turned the henchmen lose on a liberal? Someone really needs to keep track of these cases. Where the hell are the Republicans to shine a light on this crap?
In January, Rancho Feeding Corp. started recalling nearly 9 million pounds of bad meat. Federal officials tell CNN that inspectors believe the Petaluma, California, slaughterhouse was buying cancerous cows and processing them when government inspectors weren’t looking.
But Niman said he only used the plant to slaughter his own BN Ranch cattle, not old, cancerous dairy cows. In fact, he said, either he or his employees were with the cattle during inspections and slaughters, so there’s no way his cattle and the cancerous cows could have been mixed up.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture disagreed, saying it couldn’t guarantee that Niman’s beef wasn’t swapped with or contaminated by the cancerous meat.
Niman calls the USDA’s logic “preposterous,” arguing that the difference between his cattle and the cows Rancho was buying is obvious — “the difference between a motorcycle and an automobile.”
Mr. Gates was asked to leave the room and sat in the hallway while his lawyer conferred with the feds. The lawyer emerged to relate what the FERC enforcement team had proposed: “Kevin’s a businessman, isn’t he? He knows that it’s cheaper to settle than it is to fight this investigation.” Right then, Mr. Gates says, “I realized that we had a big problem on our hands. This was unlike anything we’d ever seen before at a regulatory agency.”
The Gates brothers fired the white-shoe practice and brought on Bill McSwain of Drinker Biddle, a Philadelphia-area lawyer who “didn’t interface much with FERC. He also used to be a Marine sniper, so he had a different approach to the world.” Mr. McSwain introduced himself to FERC by calling their conduct contrary to “established law, as well as common sense,” and that was one of his subtler letters.
…
“Shooting random people for following the law,” says Rich Gates, “that sets the markets and the world back.”
suyts space 
James,
I didn’t know where to put this. But since I value your opinion & knowledge on climate issues I want to ask your opinion on something.
First the back-story:
A few months back I got into it with a few of the warmists on Rabbit Run.
I was postulating a hypothesis I have about the contribution melting glaciers and permafrost have on the CO2 increases in the recent past. Well I guess you can how well that went over on Eli’s blog. I was repeatedly told that 90% of the increases in CO2 since the 1900s were directly attributable to man. This was due to the 13C/12C isotopic ratio, how fossil fuel produced CO2 has a lower 13C/12C balance, and how it has been demonstrated that the ratio has been dropping in the atmosphere since the early 20th century. Violla! It’s man’s fault.
The revelation:
Well, never allowing my self to be out “knowledged” by people I started researching the isotopic ratios of CO2 and found some interesting data.
1. The drop in 13C/12C ratio started about 1850 (end of LIA).
2. Glaciers & permafrost extent would naturally retreat some as a product of recovery from the LIA.
3. The CO2 locked up in those sources has a very similar 13C/12C ratio as fossil fuel derived CO2 (as well as being depleted in 14C just like fossil fuel CO2)
4. There is an estimated 950Gt of carbon stored in the permafrost of Siberia & Alaska alone, as well as a few million km2 in Tibet. (as opposed to the 7Gt of carbon released by burning fossil fuels).
5. Some studies claim (David M. Lawrence/Andrew G. Slater 2005 GRL V32 L24401) up to ~3 million square km of permafrost (out of ~13) or approx 25% of the permafrost extent at the start of the 20th century has already melted.
My hypothesis now is:
The shrinking permafrost extent & glacial retreat that started during the natural recovery from the LIA contributes greatly to the rising CO2 content AND declining 13C/12C ratios observed in the atmosphere. This natural contribution is comparable if not greater than anthropogenic sources.
My Questions for you:
On the surface does this sound reasonable to you?
If so, would you help me collect data on the glacial retreat and shrinking extent (or growing “active layer” depth) of permafrost?
I think if we can gather enough evidence, we can dispel the “Human Fingerprint” widely reported by sites like Real Climate & SKS.
BTW if we can gather sufficient data, I think I would try to convince Willis Eschenbach to investigate.
You can reach me at xxxxx (at) xxxx(dot) com if you would like to discuss.
Thanks
Robb
========================
Thanks Robb. I already have your addy from your posting on this blog, so, I xxx your addy out. I’ll be in touch.
James
K
Robb:
there is no human fingerprint to discredit. That opinion was blown apart years ago.
I haven’t heard from Robb for some time. But, he’s a sharp guy, I just haven’t had time to run down all of the stuff. I think you’re right, but the idea still remains prevalent and like the hockey stick, it has several incarnations.
James.
I think many of your Articles are spot on. I would request you contact Anthony @ WUWT to help out over there and get more exposure for your own great blog-site.
Ted.
Call for guest authors – I’m stepping away from WUWT for awhile
by Anthony Watts
Now that BEST has given themselves enough rope with their PR shenanigans, I have a new paper to finish. I also have papers to review. One of the upsides/downsides of publishing is that you get asked to review papers that have been submitted. On the upside I appreciate the opportunity, on the downside I’ve got […]
Ted, thanks. I really appreciate the compliment. I’ll probably submit some articles in the near future for WUWT.
????? 😉
I found this and it is in your neck of the woods.
http://news.yahoo.com/teen-tweeter-wont-apologize-kan-governor-230737888.html
this part got to me:
The Shawnee Mission East senior was taking part in a Youth in Government program last week in Topeka, Kan., when she sent out a tweet from the back of a crowd of students listening to Brownback’s greeting. From her cellphone, she thumbed: “Just made mean comments at gov. brownback and told him he sucked, in person (hash)heblowsalot.”
She actually made no such comment and said she was “just joking with friends.” But Brownback’s office, which monitors social media for postings containing the governor’s name, saw Sullivan’s post and contacted the Youth in Government program.
This is an 18 year old that was taking part in a political group.
People are supporting her right to lie.
Her mother is supporting her right to lie.
What she is displaying is not a sign of maturity but a symptom of a degrading society.
Browse through the comments at the end of the article.
I happen to agree with the governor that the state should not be funding the “Arts”, and never should have. But is a separate issue completely.
Interesting…… I’ll put that on my list of things to do.
I found this at American thinker and just had to share.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2037106/Prince-Charles-plans-1000-eco-houses-Galapagos-Islands.html
Typical environmentalist!
I am learning more about the news at this other site than what the AP / Yahoo news provides.
For your Occupy information:
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/11/richmond_va_city_government_retaliates_against_tea_party_for_pointing_out_double_standard.html
I pop by the American Thinker from time to time….. its a good site to visit!
Check your hotmail account. I sent a link to photos of the property at snaphish.
I think!!!!!!
kk
I just found this and you have no place to comment.
The local NWS has issued a forecast for tomorrow and Sunday calling for a “Chance of Sprinkles”
I am expecting a “Hazardous weather statement” any time now! They will probably attempt to give regional warning as the “Sprinkles” pass through the region so the residents can track the progress of the “Sprinkles”. 😉
You have to look today as this link is to their current forecast, which changes by the hour:
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Thorn+Hill&state=TN&site=MRX&lat=36.3572&lon=-83.4186
lol, sprinkles? Aren’t those things we put on top of the icing on our cupcakes?
I now have a hazardous weather outlook:
Hazardous Weather Outlook
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Southwest wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: A slight chance of sprinkles before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
“VERY COLD AIR WILL BUILD INTO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS BEHIND AN
ALBERTA CLIPPER LATE IN THE DAY SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.
ARCTIC AIR WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW ACROSS THE REGION MONDAY AND
MONDAY NIGHT AS YET ANOTHER UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM DROPS SOUTH OUT OF
CANADA. IN THIS TYPE OF PATTERN HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWFALL IS
POSSIBLE AS STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS LIFT MOISTURE OVER THE TERRAIN
ON THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU…SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND THE MOUNTAINS
ALONG THE NORTH CAROLINA BORDER. DRIER AIR MAY BUILD INTO THE
REGION AS EARLY AS TUESDAY BRINGING AN END TO THE OROGRAPHIC SNOW.”
Copied from NOAA NWS
A Gift for all!
Verrrry Interesting!
Reading the thread now……
You need a spot for NOAA Humor, such as this:
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH
CAROLINA…EAST TENNESSEE AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.
.DAY ONE…TODAY AND TONIGHT…
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY…
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…
ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS WILL BE APPRECIATED TODAY.
On the front page I saw this:
Hazardous Weather Outlook
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. South wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Mike
Sounds a bit chilly to me if it is fareinheit or hot if it is celcius but still don’t see what the hazard is.
Kelly:
It is Fahrenheit and chilly..
To me the claim of “Hazardous Weather” is the Joke!
That and asking for “Snowfall Reports” with clear skies.
Read carefully:
http://news.yahoo.com/judge-black-church-rightful-owner-kkk-store-174103559.html
Hint:
Ownership of the building was transferred in 1997 to the Rev. David Kennedy and his church, New Beginnings, by a Klansman fighting with others inside the hate group, according to court records. That man, according to Kennedy, was feuding with store proprietor John Howard over a woman and “developed a spiritual relationship” with Kennedy’s church, the judge wrote.
But a clause in the deed entitles Howard, formerly KKK grand dragon for the Carolinas, to operate his business in the building until he dies.
lol, yeh, I saw that. Funny and ironic.
I found this interesting e-mail at Bishop Hill:
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2012/1/4/a-letter-from-the-future.html
This changes the “Acid Oceans” game:
http://joannenova.com.au/2012/01/scripps-blockbuster-ocean-acidification-happens-all-the-time-naturally/#more-19763
Better yet it totally destroys the well mixed fantasy.
Mike, it’s even funnier than that…..
No one could keep a reef aquarium in the house, where it’s common for CO2 levels to be over 1000 ppm.
Hopefully this will gain more acceptance than past attempts.
“We also know that adding CO2 in a sense is feeding the calcifying organisms (like it feeds life above the water too). Co2 dissolves as bicarbonate, which marine uses to make skeletons and shells from. So yes, a lower pH dissolves shells, but the extra CO2 increases shell formation.” <———————- Lat's been telling us that for a few years now.
LOL….well yeah
They have to physically lower their pH in order to make calcium soluble. Then jiggle the pH back up to form it. That’s fighting against the bicarbonate buffering. The closer the pH is to the solubility of calcium, the easier it is. Just lowering the pH from 8 to 7, increases the solubility of calcium by a factor of 100. Which all of these organisms have to do internally, which means they are not effected by external pH obviously…..
….which also means it would be impossible to put them in a bag and ship them all over the world
oh, in case that’s not clear
Lowering the pH from 8 to 7 increases the solubility of calcium by a factor of 100……
That would only make calcium skeletons dissolve if the oceans ran out of calcium. As long as it’s saturated, it won’t dissolve anything.
They do this in the lab, where they inject CO2 until the pool of buffers/calcium is depleted…
….you can’t do this in real life
Right, its similar to the same silly argument about CO2. Yes, in theory, atmospheric CO2 could significantly impact our temps…… but, our atmosphere would have to be so saturated with CO2, that it is silly to think in these terms.
James
I think it is time for you to do a monthly open forum where people can speak anything rather than just putting it anywhere which may make any newcomers to your site put off because of irrelevant comments to the post. Anyway just an idea.
I was just thinking of the very same thing……
So just do it then
Open Forum for January
A place where you can make any comment not related to any of my posts.
Hmm, refresh the home page. 🙂
Check your spam folder on hot mail.
I sent you three mails.
how do i contact you directly? i can’t find an Email address. E
Check your email.
Very scary:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/12/kill-or-be-killed-automakers-can-be-forced-to-use-deadly-refrigerant/
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/2495/ny_democrat_pleads_with_republican_not_to_share_document_proposing_confiscation_of_guns
Someone just posted this at Steven’s site.
Bill Nye and his Bow Tie.
http://motls.blogspot.ca/2013/01/cnn-marc-morano-on-extreme-weather.html
I just saw sonofsoylentgreen.wordpress.com is no longer available.
Check it out, I wonder what that was about now???????
I ran into that as well. I think they designated him a porno site. Hopefully he’ll get that worked out.
Well it’s kinda late now for them to do that now isn’t it, or was it he touched a wrong nerve with someone and now they are pulling this bullshit!
He prolly hurt some lunatic’s feelings or something and they’re throwing a fit. I’m not real sure what happened.
Prolly McKibbels, he was on a run with him lately! 😆
LOL, that might be it! I’ll have to pick up on his suicide watch if he doesn’t get back up soon!!!
😆
I can’t find any bio on the author of the suyts articles. Where can I find it so I can establish his credibility when I share his (or her) articles?
Michael, thanks, and welcome.
No, you won’t find a bio here. We don’t stand on credentials. We stand on the facts. Nearly all data, calculations, and statements are easily referenced. If someone disagrees with the assertions, they’re more than welcome to challenge them.
The “credibility” isn’t in the credentials we hold, but in the scrutiny of the information we provide.
Thought you would appreciate this…
The open air plays of the ancient Greeks may offer us a valuable insight into the Mediterranean climate of the time, reports new research in Weather. Using historical observations from artwork and plays, scientists identified ‘halcyon days’, of theatre friendly weather in mid-winter. “We explored the weather conditions which enabled the Athenians of the classical era to watch theatre performances in open theatres during the midwinter weather conditions,” said Christina Chronopoulou, from the National and Kapodestrian University of Athens. “We aimed to do so by gathering and interpreting information from the classical plays of Greek drama from 5th and 4th centuries B.C.” Ancient Athenians would enjoy the open theatre of Dionysus in the southern foothills of the Acropolis and when possible they would have watched drama in the middle of winter between 15 January and 15 February. From Second World War bombing raids, to medieval Arabic writings historians and climatologists continue to turn to surprising sources to help piece together the climate of our ancestors. In this case the team turned to the writings of 43 plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes and several were found to contain references about the weather. Greece enjoys long, hot, dry summers, yet in contrast the rare theatre friendly ‘halcyon days’ of clear, sunny weather during winter appeared to be especially noteworthy. “The comedies of Aristophanes, often invoke the presence of the halcyon days,” concluded said Dr. Chronopoulou. “Combining the fact that dramatic contests were held in mid-winter without any indication of postponement, and references from the dramas about the clear weather and mild winters, we can assume that those particular days of almost every January were summery in the fifth and maybe in the fourth centuries BC.”
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Wiley. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
1.Christina Chronopoulou, A. Mavrakis. Ancient Greek drama as an eyewitness of a specific meteorological phenomenon: indication of stability of the Halcyon days. Weather, 2014; 69 (3): 66 DOI: 10.1002/wea.2164
This year:
Average hi of 56 F and lows averaged 45 F in Athens for January,average hi of 57 F and lows of 45 F in Febuary.
Doesn’t look like things have warmed up much.
Whatever happened to that durned hockey stick?!
Hmm, didn’t see a link to your tips/notes page…maybe I’m the one going blind now.
Thought you’d enjoy this:
http://allenbwest.com/2014/04/top-10-reasons-vote-democrat-2014%E2%80%A8%E2%80%A8/
-Scott
Here’s a tip. Someone needs to shine a light on these federal mobsters and link them to their “boss”.
The “shakedown” model that Obama’s henchmen in the federal agencies are using to harass innocent citizens/businesses is obscene. This is no different than the U.S.S.R. and China, where you pay bribes to the state to do business. When was the last time they turned the henchmen lose on a liberal? Someone really needs to keep track of these cases. Where the hell are the Republicans to shine a light on this crap?
In January, Rancho Feeding Corp. started recalling nearly 9 million pounds of bad meat. Federal officials tell CNN that inspectors believe the Petaluma, California, slaughterhouse was buying cancerous cows and processing them when government inspectors weren’t looking.
But Niman said he only used the plant to slaughter his own BN Ranch cattle, not old, cancerous dairy cows. In fact, he said, either he or his employees were with the cattle during inspections and slaughters, so there’s no way his cattle and the cancerous cows could have been mixed up.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture disagreed, saying it couldn’t guarantee that Niman’s beef wasn’t swapped with or contaminated by the cancerous meat.
Niman calls the USDA’s logic “preposterous,” arguing that the difference between his cattle and the cows Rancho was buying is obvious — “the difference between a motorcycle and an automobile.”
Another example today –
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304178104579533693554509288
Mr. Gates was asked to leave the room and sat in the hallway while his lawyer conferred with the feds. The lawyer emerged to relate what the FERC enforcement team had proposed: “Kevin’s a businessman, isn’t he? He knows that it’s cheaper to settle than it is to fight this investigation.” Right then, Mr. Gates says, “I realized that we had a big problem on our hands. This was unlike anything we’d ever seen before at a regulatory agency.”
The Gates brothers fired the white-shoe practice and brought on Bill McSwain of Drinker Biddle, a Philadelphia-area lawyer who “didn’t interface much with FERC. He also used to be a Marine sniper, so he had a different approach to the world.” Mr. McSwain introduced himself to FERC by calling their conduct contrary to “established law, as well as common sense,” and that was one of his subtler letters.
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“Shooting random people for following the law,” says Rich Gates, “that sets the markets and the world back.”
James, I’ve sent you an email. Reply via email when you can, please.