Seeing Irene as Harbinger of a Change in Climate

[n2doc]

By JUSTIN GILLIS
Published: August 27, 2011

The scale of Hurricane Irene, which could cause more extensive damage along the Eastern Seaboard than any storm in decades, is reviving an old question: are hurricanes getting worse because of human-induced climate change?

The short answer from scientists is that they are still trying to figure it out. But many of them do believe that hurricanes will get more intense as the planet warms, and they see large hurricanes like Irene as a harbinger.

While the number of the most intense storms has clearly been rising since the 1970s, researchers have come to differing conclusions about whether that increase can be attributed to human activities.

“On a longer time scale, I think — but not all of my colleagues agree — that the evidence for a connection between Atlantic hurricanes and global climate change is fairly compelling,” said Kerry Emanuel, an expert on the issue at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/us/28climate.html

[Skink]

1. I think we know that the Eastern seaboard is going to get something much worse soon

this is just a test. A summer Noreaster. They are making New York sound like New Orleans which the bulk of is below sea leavel.

[guardian]

2. Ohhh puleeeze

The only predictable pattern associated with hurricanes is that DOOMERs will trot out this meme after every hurricane that makes landfall. There was an orgasmic frenzy of articles about this after Katrina in 2005. Now 6 years later a mild hurricane makes an appearance the doomers take a break from their endless 9-11 conspiracy blogs to dust off the AGW-hurricane meme.

This too will fade as the same people will need to start ramping up the whole 2012 end of the world warnings to feel relevant.

[The Croquist]

4. It was a perfect analogy to AGW

Lots of hype. Lots of press. Lots of predictions. Lots of panic.

No substance.

[guardian]

5. AGW? "no substance"!!!???

I'm shocked. Discommendation for you.




:toast:

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. +1 for Trek reference.

[Name removed]

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