Hackers may have exposed a concerted effort by the world's leading climate scientists to coverup and delete climate data.
Skeptics of manmade climate change may very well have found their Holy Grail. A hacker apparently broke into the computer systems of the UK’s Hadley Climate Research Unit and made off with over 1,000 emails and dozens of files. The contents of the archive, if proven to be authentic, would expose nothing less than a conspiracy amongst some of the world’s leading climate scientists.
As told on the Climate Change Examiner, the emails detail discussions taking place that include the modification of climate data, preventing access to data by those who disagree, deleting data that does not fit the global warming theory and so much more. This would be nothing less than one of the biggest scandals to have EVER occurred in science.
Britain’s Climate Research Unit, University of East Anglia, suffered a data breach in recent days when a hacker apparently broke into their system and made away with thousands of emails and documents. The stolen data was then posted to a Russian server and has quickly made the rounds among climate skeptics. The documents within the archive, if proven to be authentic, would at best be embarrassing for many prominent climate researchers and at worst, damning.
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The contents of the archive contain documents and email correspondence from a veritable who’s who in climate science. Among those included in the emails are Phil Jones, Keith Briffa, his assistant, Michael Mann of the University of Virginia, Malcolm Hughes at the University of Arizona, Kevin Trenberth at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, James Hansen of NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies and others.
The emails contain an array of discussions including what appear to be concerted efforts to withhold data. Just as troubling is conversations that allude to potentially manipulating climate data to “hide the decline” of temperatures seen in the last decade.
In a recent survey by the American Meteorlogical Society, 50% of TV weathercasters disagree that man is responsible for global warming.
The American Meteorological Society released the results of a survey of TV meteorologists gauging their opinions on climate change. With a full 50% of respondents disagreeing that man is responsible for global warming, the survey indicates continuing cracking in the ‘consensus’ of the manmade climate change theory.
The survey results, published in the October 2009 issue of “Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society” (BAMS), show that a significant portion of meteorologists continue to doubt that man is the driving force of climate change. When asked about the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) statement that “Most of the warming since 1950 is very likely human-induced,” a full 50% either disagree or strongly disagree. 25% were neutral and a mere 24% said they agreed or strongly agreed.
Similarly, meteorologists doubt the very global climate models on which the anthropogenic global warming theory is based. These models have been shown to be incapable of predicting historical climate changes and their predictions continue to fall outside of scientific norms. Reflecting this, 52% of the meteorologists disagreed with that statement that “Global climate models are reliable in their projections for a warming of the planet.” A mere 19% said they agreed with the statement.
Respondents also showed an apparent distrust of many current sources of climate related information. The weathercasters said they wanted “to have access to “independent,” “unbiased,” and “reputable” sources of data and information that present “both sides” of the issue.”
Faced with the reality that many nations are unwilling to commit to an agreement, world leaders said yesterday that a global climate change treaty will not become reality next month. Heads of state, assembled in Singapore for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), said the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen, Denmark will instead be used to further the discussion about global warming.
Two years of labor going into the COP 15 conference will be for naught and at best could yield a political agreement but not a legally binding treaty. A large gap between developing nations and richer countries continues to prevent an agreement.
Developing nations including India, Brazil and China have insisted on billions of dollars in international aid and said that any goals should be just that and not requirements. Nations like the United States however have been reluctant to agree to any deal that did not require all nations to legally comply with emissions restrictions.
November 15 to November 21 - This week in Denver weather history
Any week in Denver weather history is filled with numerous notable weather events and this week is no different. We have everything from major snowstorms to damaging winds and much more. However, one item is particularly notable and historic. It was on the 20th of November in 1871 that the first, official weather observation took place in Denver. Henry Fenton, Observer Sergeant of the United States Army Signal Service, made the report at 5:43 am. The office was located on the 2nd floor of a building at the corner of Larimer and G Streets, now 16th Street. Scroll down to see what the report said.
From the National Weather Service:
From the 12th to the 15th:
In 1909…light snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in downtown Denver over the 4 days. This was the first measurable snowfall of the season. Northeast winds were sustained to 15 mph on the 12th.
From the 14th to the 15th:
In 1917…overnight rainfall was 0.03 inch. This was the only measurable precipitation of the month…making it the 5th driest November on record.
In 1985…3 to 6 inches of snow fell across metro Denver. Snowfall totaled 3.8 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to only 13 mph.
In 2005…a winter storm that brought heavy snow to the mountains also spread heavy snow into the foothills to the west of Denver. Snowfall totals included: 14 inches at aspen springs…13 inches near Pinecliffe…and 12 inches near Nederland. Interstate 70 along with U.S. Highway 40 had to be closed near Idaho Springs due to snow…poor visibility in blowing snow…numerous accidents…and an increased avalanche danger. High winds were recorded in the foothills on the 14th. Winds gusted to 89 mph at Georgetown and to 91 mph on Sugarloaf Mountain west of Boulder. Strong microburst winds associated with a dissipating rain shower gusted to 61 mph at Denver International Airport on the 14th.
From the 14th to the 18th:
In 1964…the first measurable snowfall of the season totaled 6.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 32 mph on the 14th. Most of the snow…4.2 inches…fell on the 14th. This was the only measurable snow of the month.
On the 15th:
In 1902…4.0 inches of snow fell over downtown Denver. This was the only measurable snow of the month. Northeast winds were sustained to 18 mph with gusts to 20 mph.
In 1906…strong winds howled and roared across Boulder… Causing several thousand dollars in damage. The strong winds caused one fatality and minor injuries to others. West winds were sustained to 46 mph in downtown Denver where the strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 74 degrees.
In 1944…the low temperature dipped to 32 degrees. This is the latest date of the first freeze in Denver.
In 1949…a trace of rain fell. Another trace of rain on the 11th was the only precipitation of the month…making the month one of the driest Novembers on record and the least snowiest with no snow. This was the first November since 1882 without snow.
In 1960…strong winds caused 2 thousand dollars damage to a new school building in Boulder where wind gusts were estimated to 70 mph. Wind gusts to 40 mph were recorded in downtown Denver. Damage occurred to utility lines…signs… And trees. Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton Airport.
In 1986…strong Chinook winds howled over the Front Range foothills. The highest wind gust…81 mph…was recorded at Table Mesa in Boulder. West winds gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1987…the first measurable snow of the season was also a major snowstorm. The snow combined with strong winds to close I-70 east of Denver and I-25 to Colorado Springs. Snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 9 inches across metro Denver with 10 to 20 inches in the foothills. At Stapleton International Airport…6.1 inches of snow fell and north winds gusted to 47 mph reducing the visibility to as low as 1/8 mile in heavy snow. Strong north winds at 20 to 30 mph with frequent gusts to 40 mph and temperatures hovering around 30 degrees plunged wind chill temperatures to 5 below zero.
In 1988…the season’s first snow storm hit metro Denver. The storm dumped 2 to 5 inches of snow…which caused numerous traffic snarls and accidents. North wind gusts to 43 mph caused some blowing snow. Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches at Stapleton International Airport. This was the latest first snow of the season. No traces of snow had occurred earlier in the season.
A live view of ThorntonWeather.com's east facing webcam.
With snow having been falling in the mountains west of Denver much of the day and it now arriving in the metro area, all eyes are focused on two storm systems set to impact Colorado in a span of 48 hours. The storms have the makings to be a major winter weather event.
The first system is starting to affect the Denver area late this afternoon. Temperatures have begun to drop and most of the precipitation that is falling is coming down as snow. This will continue this evening through about midnight with the snow possibly becoming heavy at times as snow bands move through. Overnight there will be a lingering slight chance for continued snow but for the most part the period will be a lull between storms. Between 1 and 4 inches can be expected in the metro area before dawn tomorrow.
The second and more potent system arrives tomorrow and that has caused a Winter Storm Watch to be issued that is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. The watch area stretches from south of Pueblo, through the Denver area and to the Wyoming border.
Denver broke the record high minimum temperature for the date yesterday.
The Mile High City has enjoyed some great weather this past week and one weather record has officially been set. Just before midnight last night, the temperature at Denver International Airport dropped to 45 degrees. This sets a new record high minimum for November 12th, breaking the old record of 44 degrees set in 1894. Thornton however wasn’t near as warm as we had a low temperature of 40.5 degrees.
The warm weather pattern though is set for a big change this weekend as you can see in our forecast. Two systems will begin to impact the area, the second of which arrives Saturday afternoon and could bring a good deal of snow to the area. Get the details on the Winter Storm Watch here.
It is important to remember though that the National Weather Service moved Denver’s official measurements to DIA 14 years ago from the former Stapleton site. This has caused a major change in Denver’s climate and weather records. Data shows that DIA runs hotter on the highs, colder on the colds and records less moisture than what stations closer to Denver do. This has resulted in Denver’s historical climate records being skewed.
Some say Denver’s climate records have forever been altered due to the station move and as such any weather record should have an asterisk attached to it. For more on the controversy, be sure to read our Examiner.com investigative series:
Examiner.com Investigates Do Denver weather and climate records have an asterisk attached?
Denver now as an official weather monitoring station closer to downtown but some say this doesn't solve the problem of the city's climate records being altered. (Examiner.com)
It only took 14 years but Denver finally has an official monitoring station near downtown again. The new station amongst the greens of City Park Golf Course finally gives residents of Denver a place to see what the weather is doing closer to home.
With the opening of Denver International Airport in 1995, the National Weather Service moved its station to the new airport. That distance of 12 miles from the old Stapleton facility to DIA confounded citizens, television meteorologists and weather enthusiasts as they all noted that no one lives out at the airport and the conditions reported there do not reflect what is happening closer to town.
Recognizing the problem, a public-private partnership came together to do what they could to rectify the problem. The City and County of Denver, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the National Weather Service and NOAA, 7News Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson and Colorado State Climatologist Nolan Doesken identified a site for the new station.
Eclar Fence and Mercury Electric donated the infrastructure for the new site. Weather equipment manufacturer Vaisala donated the weather monitoring hardware and services, estimated at up to $60,000.
You can view the data from the new station right here on ThorntonWeather.com. Visit our ‘Station Historical Data’ page and select ‘Denver (City Park)’ from the dropdown box.
Certainly there is little doubt the new station will provide area residents the ability to view conditions closer to where they actually live. The new station will not however address the very real problem of Denver’s climate records having been altered since the move to DIA. The National Weather Service has said the official records for Denver will still come out of DIA and as such many believe those records come with an asterisk.
The new movie "2012" depicts natural disasters on a global scale. In the scene depicted above, the USS John F Kennedy is carried on a tsumani and about to crush the White House. (Columbia Pictures)
Natural disasters have long been a staple of the big screen and a new movie set to hit theatres this week takes the genre to a new height. “2012” by director Roland Emmerich depicts cataclysmic disasters on a global scale brought about on December 21, 2012 – the mythical end of the Mayan calendar.
Disaster movies have shown tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis but rarely has a film been made that included every type of disaster imaginable. “2012” brings all disasters together with scenes of California falling off into the ocean, fireballs raining from the sky, the Sistine Chapel collapsing on devout worshipers and even the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy being dumped ashore on top of the White House by a giant wave.
An all-star cast featuring John Cusack, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Amanda Peet depict man’s struggle to survive the incredible calamity. As one of the movie’s fictional characters says, “Our mission is to ensure the continuity of our species.”
November 8 to November 14 - This week in Denver weather history
Wind is always a factor on the plains and the fall usually brings a great deal of it, especially in November. Our look back at this week in Denver weather history shows that event and snow are quite common this time of year.
From the National Weather Service:
From the 7th to the 8th:
In 1969…wind gusts to 48 mph in downtown Boulder caused minor damage.
On the 8th:
In 1896…southwest Chinook winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 46 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 53 degrees.
In 1977 near-blizzard conditions in blowing snow caused the closure of I-70 to the west of Denver in clear creek canyon and east of Denver to Limon. Northeast wind gusts to 46 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport where snowfall totaled only 1.1 inches.
In 1984…a rare November thunderstorm produced west winds gusting to 31 mph…but only 0.04 inch of rain at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1996…high winds gusting from 80 to 100 mph were recorded at Wondervu in the foothills southwest of Boulder. West northwest winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2006…the temperature in Denver climbed to a high of 80 degrees. This was the first time the temperature had ever exceeded the 70’s in November since records began in 1872. This new all-time record maximum temperature for the month of November was also a new daily record and the highest temperature ever recorded so late in the season.
Former vice president Al Gore famously used an image of Hurricane Katrina to illustrate his argument that natural disasters will increase in intensity and frequency. Empirical data howeverhas shown that is not the case. (An Inconvenient Truth)
Manmade climate change is said to present humankind with some of its greatest challenges in the planet’s history, not the least of which is an alarming increase in frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Massive flooding, super-powered hurricanes, endless tornado seasons and more have all been said to be the direst of consequences of global warming.
In his movie “An Inconvenient Truth”, Al Gore famously proclaimed that, “Temperature changes are taking place all over the world and that is causing stronger storms.” Standing with Hurricane Katrina as a backdrop, the former vice president issued a cautionary tale of disaster in the making, all due to our irresponsible handling of the atmosphere. As recently as February Mr. Gore was giving a presentation showing flooding, drought and wildfires saying, “This is creating weather-related disasters that are completely unprecedented.”
But what if you predicted global natural disaster catastrophes and they didn’t happen? Does that invalidate your entire message? This is the conundrum faced by climate change alarmists as many of their predictions begin to fall flat.
Complete details and excerpts from some of the emails can be found on the Climate Change Examiner.
