Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup | Watts Up With That?

Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project

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Quote of the Week: ?It is in the admission of ignorance and the admission of uncertainty that there is a hope for the continuous motion of human beings in some direction that doesn?t get confined, permanently blocked, as it has so many times before in various periods in the history of man.? Richard Feynman [H/t Roger Cohen]

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Number of the Week: 70%

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THIS WEEK:

By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)

APS: In 2007 the American Physical Society (APS) issued an absolutist statement on Climate Change that greatly disturbed a number of its senior fellows. In 2009, about 300 physicists petitioned the APS petitioned to modify the statement. The statement was not modified, but augmented with a lengthy addition. The turmoil continues. Roger Cohen, a Fellow of the Society has posted on the web site of Anthony Watts his expression of dissatisfaction with the APS. This has led to an exchange with Warren S. Warren. The exchange is an excellent read on what is wrong when a few in a science society take an absolutist position concerning a subject that requires open investigation and debate. Please see links under APS Frontline.

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PBS Frontline: The Public Broadcasting System aired a special on its ?Frontline? series titled ?Climate of Doubt.? The first part consisted of interviews and clips of those who express skepticism to the view that human emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), especially carbon dioxide (CO2), are causing unprecedented and dangerous global warming. This was followed by interviews with alarmists who were presented as the mainstream scientists. Certainly the alarmists are mainstream in that they are the ones who receive extensive government support. Later, in private comments, Fred Singer thought his interview was well presented, especially when compared with presentations in the past. The views of others varied. Roy Spencer was disturbed because part of his head and comments were used in the trailer, but he was not interviewed for the program.

Perhaps more revealing of the entire episode was a Live Chat on Thursday afternoon with those who organized the program. They were the film?s producer, Catherine Upin, the correspondent, John Hockenberry, and the ?resident expert?, Elizabeth Kolbert, of the New Yorker. Prior to the chat, SEPP submitted three questions on topics covered. One was the frequently cited 97 to 98% percent of climate scientists ?consensus? claims, which are based on extensively manipulated of opinion polls, making the results trivial. The second was on the recent statement from HadCRU that there has been no appreciable increase in temperatures for 16 years, a period in which the models project an increase of about 0.3 deg C (over 0.5 deg F). What would it take for journalists to realize there are major problems with the climate models and the 90 to 99% certainty is based on opinion not rigorous science? The third question focused on the constant, largely unsubstantiated claims that oil companies are funding skeptics and the failure of journalists to report the extent of government funding of the alarmists.

During the Live Chat, SEPP submitted four comments. One on the burden of proof ? climate alarmists have not performed adequate testing of a hypothesis on CO2 caused global warming. A second challenging a statement that the poll appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science was peer reviewed, but it is trivial nonetheless. The third comment challenged the ?resident expert? Elizabeth Kolbert who stated: ?A very interesting look at the connections between the tobacco industry and the climate ?skeptic? industry can be found in the book Merchants of Doubt.? The response challenged Ms. Kolbert to read and comment on Fred Singer?s rebuttal to this book?s ad hominem attacks.

But most revealing was a comment by correspondent John Hockenberry:

?The saddest thing about this story is that we heard mostly absolute certainty and dismissive confidence among our skeptic friends while it was our scientist friends were quick to say that doubt is how science is conducted, people questioning each other?s work all the time. The doubt of the scientists was always real but was always about how much we know about the planet and need to know not about the trend of global warming.

Their search for truth and quest to challenge each other?s findings was exploited as ?debate? and ?uncertainty? by people in the political world. In some ways the scientists didn?t have a chance in this battle? but that is my personal opinion and some of our scientists would not have agreed with me.?

To which SEPP inquired: did you ever ask the climate establishment scientists why the IPCC declared a 90 to 99% certainty in the models and their findings? The 90 to 99% certainty was in the EPA endangerment finding and was accepted by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Given the slow pace, and the long pauses in the program, it was obvious tough questions of these global warming / climate change expert journalists would not be aired. Also, it was apparent the opinion polls weigh heavily on these expert journalists.

The saddest thing about this story is the blatant irresponsibility of PBS to understand the story. Please see links under PBS Frontline.

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ADDENDUM: Months ago Patrick Michaels announced he and a few collogues are preparing a point by point rebuttal to the report by the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP): Global Climate Change Impacts in the US (2009). Along with the 2007 report be the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and a report by National Research Council, the USGCRP report provide the foundation for the EPA questionable finding that GHG, particularly CO2, emissions endanger human life and welfare. Now alarmists are outraged that the advance copies of the new report, ADDENDUM: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States looks like the previous report. The CATO imprint on the back cover is apparently overlooked by the alarmists. Please see link under Challenging the Orthodoxy.

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US Overtaking Saudi Arabia in Oil? Some analysts are projecting that the US will overtake Saudi Arabia in oil production in the near future ? around 2020. Others object to these statements stating they are based on statistical sleights of hand. Whether or not the US (or North America) overtakes Saudi Arabia is not that important. What is important is that thanks to modern hydraulic fracturing of dense shale and offshore drilling (whenever permitted), oil production in the US is expanding greatly. Since production costs in the US remain high, there is doubt if the era of ?cheap oil? will return in the near future. Oil is traded on the global market, and US production influences that market but does not determine it. The lower cost producers that have significant capability of expanding are more influential determinants, such as Saudi Arabia.

Some economists are questioning the belief that affordable energy is vital for economic growth. Certainly, affordable energy is not a sufficient condition for economic growth. That is, other conditions, or components, are needed. For example, oil is heavily subsidized in Egypt and Iran, but they are not experiencing significant growth. But under proper conditions, affordable energy can promote growth. For example, affordable energy is vital to modern agriculture. Modern fertilizers need oil or natural gas feedstock. Areas of the US where natural gas is low cost and appears to be affordable for a long term are experiencing significant growth, which the country as a whole is not.

External costs are other complications added by economists to the issue. Sometimes these are real, such as in cities in the US in the 20s. But, economic growth allowed the country to devote significant resources to clean up these external costs. Now, in the US external costs are largely exaggerated, such as by the EPA. Please see links Energy Issues ? US and Articles # 2 and # 3.

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EPA on the Verge: A number of commentators, including Fred Singer, are expressing concern about the plans of EPA immediately after the election on November 6. It is clear that EPA has held back proposed regulations that are highly controversial. Please see Article #1, #3 and #5, and links under EPA and other Regulators on the March

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Oh? Mann: Michael Mann has sued the National Review Online and the Competitive Enterprise Institute for defamation and ?intentional infliction of emotional distress.? (from the Washington Post.). The complaint states that: ?? Mr. Man and his colleagues were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.? and ?? personal defamation of a Nobel prize recipient.?

The award was given to the IPCC, not personally to Mr. Mann, who was a participant in the IPCC. Some may consider the distinction to be just a technicality, just as some consider the body of research on climate history that was buried Mr. Mann?s hockey-stick as just a technicality. Mr. Mann may find that he will face questions that are a bit more strident than asked by the Penn State officials who he claims exonerated his research. Please see links under Oh Mann!

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Storm?s A?coming: According to forecasts, the Mid-Atlantic States are about to be hit by a large storm with low category 1 hurricane winds. (Category 1 wind speed 75?95 mph (65?82 kts, 33?42 m/s), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffir%E2%80%93Simpson_Hurricane_Scale). The moon is almost full, so tidal areas may experience a strong storm surge on top of spring (flood) tides which could result in significant coastal erosion and flooding. Already some alarmists are associating the storm with global warming / climate change. Please see links under Changing Weather and Below the Bottoms Line.

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Amplifications and Corrections: Tom Sheahen correctly stated that the conversion for PgC/yr to Billions of tonnes of CO2 per year is by multiplying by 3.67. TWTW left out the Billions.

Clyde Spencer correctly suggested that TWTW should not use the term ocean acidity unless the pH is actually below 7. This will be followed to the extent possible.

Norman Kalmanovitch pointed out that the period of no warming in the HadCRU data, as stated in the article by David Rose, started in the year the Kyoto Protocol became effective, 1997. The goal of the Protocol was to stop global warming and it did! If one jumps to causal relationships, one could state the Kyoto Protocol was the most effective international agreement ever.

TWTW incorrectly quoted Angeline Purdy of the Department of Justice as stating: ?The models have been validated.? The quote came from imperfect personal notes. A subsequent check of the transcript (which is not available on the web) failed to reveal such a direct statement. Ms. Purdy argued that the models have been validated, at length, but did not make such as simple statement. TWTW will endeavor not to make such a mistake in the future.

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Number of the Week: 70%. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, in the US the cost of natural gas is about 70% of the cost of manufacturing nitrogen fertilizer. As the cost of this component comes down, its percentage share will come down as well.

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ARTICLES:

For the numbered articles below please see this week?s TWTW at: www.sepp.org. The articles are at the end of the pdf.

1. Obama?s EPA Plans for 2013

By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/10/obamas_epa_plans_for_2013.html

2. Cheap Natural Gas Gives New Hope to the Rust Belt

By Ben Casselman and Russell Gold, WSJ, Oct 24, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444549204578020602281237088.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0

3. The Real Stimulus: Low-Cost Natural Gas

The impact of the U.S. energy revolution is only beginning. It is already providing a foundation for a domestic renaissance in manufacturing.

By Daniel Yergin, WSJ, Oct 22, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444734804578062331199029850.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion

4. The Obama Storm Tax

The EPA turns its unsubtle charms on cities. Get ready to pay.

Editorial, WSJ, Oct 22, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444799904578052673425236066.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop

5.EPA, Water and Value for Tax Money

By Grant Weaver, Letter, WSJ, Oct 24, 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204425904578074911131525782.html?mod=ITP_opinion_1

[SEPP Comment: All too often, in its edicts, EPA has no concept of cost.]

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

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Science: Is the Sun Rising?

NASA Study Using Cluster Reveals New Insights Into Solar Wind

By Karen C. Fox for Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 25, 2012

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Study_Using_Cluster_Reveals_New_Insights_Into_Solar_Wind_999.html

Climategate Continued

Hiding the Decline

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Oct 26, 2012]

http://www.bishop-hill.net/hiding-the-decline/

[SEPP Comment: Announcing Montford?s new book on the Climategate affair.]

Challenging the Orthodoxy

Review of Cato?s ADDENDUM: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 26, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/26/review-of-catos-addendum-global-climate-change-impacts-in-the-united-states/

No Underlying Global Warming in Recent Years

By David Whitehouse, GWPF, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.thegwpf.org/no-underlying-global-warming-in-recent-years/

Defending the Orthodoxy

EU on track for Kyoto and 2020 emissions targets

By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Oct 24, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/EU_on_track_for_Kyoto_and_2020_emissions_targets_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Longer recessions result in fewer emissions.]

From Discovery, To Solution, To Evolution: Observing Earth?s Ozone Layer

By Laura Betz for Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt MD (SPX), Oct 26, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/From_Discovery_To_Solution_To_Evolution_Observing_Earths_Ozone_Layer_999.html

Questioning the Orthodoxy

Polar Bear Propaganda in Context: A Useful Tool for the Promotion of Environmental Hysteria and Politicized Science

By Tim Ball, A Different Perspective, Oct 26, 2012

http://drtimball.com/2012/it-occurred-to-me-global-warming-is-another-undelivered-government-promise-polar-bear-propaganda-in-context-a-useful-tool-for-the-promotion-of-environmental-hysteria-and-politicized-science/

?It occurred to me ?.. ? Global warming is another undelivered government promise.

[SEPP Comment: Exposing some of the fears instilled by the global warming alarmists.]

A scientist?s open mind snaps shut

By Tony Thomas, Quadrant, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2012/10/a-scientist-s-open-mind-snaps-shut

Climate and State High Temperature Records?Where?s the Beef?

By Steve Goreham, Weissman Report, Oct 24, 2012

http://weissmanreport.com/2011-08-04-18-06-26/item/2321-climate-and-state-high-temperature-records%E2%80%94where%E2%80%99s-the-beef?

IPCC Author Becomes Green Party Apparatchik

A lead author of the IPCC?s ?hard science? section is a Green Party candidate and deputy leader.

By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Oct 26, 2012

http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2012/10/26/ipcc-author-becomes-green-party-apparatchik/

Overrated: Nicholas Stern

By Myron Ebell, Standpoint, Nov 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://standpointmag.co.uk/overrated-november-12-nicholas-stern-myron-ebell-stern-review-climate-change

[SEPP Comment: A poor economic analysis continues to distort the current economic picture ? a classic example of what is wrong with the logical fallacy of the appeal to authority.]

Questioning European Green

Lies, Damn Lies And Green Statistics

By Daniel Wetzel, Die Welt, Oct 25, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.thegwpf.org/lies-damn-lies-and-green-statistics/

Almost all predictions about the expansion and cost of German wind turbines and solar panels have turned out to be wrong ? at least by a factor of two, sometimes by a factor of five.

What Germany can learn from the Nordic Energiewende

By Paul Hockenos, European Energy Review, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagina.php?email=ken@haapala.com&id_mailing=320&toegang=320722549d1751cf3f247855f937b982&id=3910

[SEPP Comment: The integration of the electricity production and transmission is not easy and requires flexibility.]

Another cost of shale gas denial

By Nick Grealy, No Hot Air, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.nohotair.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2667:the-other-cost-of-shale-gas-denial&catid=172&Itemid=170

Cost of CO2 rules risk more UK energy price hikes

UK carbon costs could top 2 bln pounds in 2013

* Environmental costs to make up bigger portion of bills

By Susanna Twidale, Reuters, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/britian-power-carbon-idUSL5E8LQANM20121026

Questioning Green Elsewhere

Time to embrace climate heresy?

By Des Moore, Quadrant, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2012/10/time-to-embrace-climate-heresy

?Sustainability?: Politics Above Both Science and Economics

By Marita Noon, Energy Tribune, Oct 26, 2012

http://www.energytribune.com/64049/sustainability-politics-above-both-science-and-economics

Expanding the Orthodoxy

Climate change threatens marine environment in the Baltic Sea

By Staff Writers, Gothenburg, Sweden (SPX), Oct 23, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_change_threatens_marine_environment_in_the_Baltic_Sea_999.html

[SEPP Comment: More research needed.]

Helping North America?s marine protected areas adapt to a changing climate

By Staff Writers, Tampa FL (SPX), Oct 26, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Helping_North_Americas_marine_protected_areas_adapt_to_a_changing_climate_999.html

[SEPP Comment: They have been adapting to changing climate for millions of years.]

Problems in the Orthodoxy

EU fails to agree Kyoto negotiating position

By Dave Keating, European Voice, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2012/october/eu-fails-to-agree-kyoto-negotiating-position/75527.aspx

Seeking a Common Ground

What is Wrong with Embellishing Science?

By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Oct 26, 2012

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-is-wrong-with-embellishing-science.html

[SEPP Comment: It is becoming more obvious that constant exaggeration is not working.]

Italian seismologists: guilty(?)

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc, Oct 23, 2012

http://judithcurry.com/2012/10/23/italian-seismologists-guilty/#more-10268

Italian scientists sentenced to jail in quake trial

By Staff Writers, L?Aquila, Italy (AFP), Oct 22, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Italy_scientists_sentenced_to_jail_in_quake_trial_999.html

APS Frontline

More turmoil at the American Physical Society over their statement on the global warming issues

By Roger Cohen, posted by Anthony Watts, Oct 22, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/22/more-turmoil-at-the-american-physical-society-over-global-warming-issue/

The APS Topical Group on the Physics of Climate: reply to Roger Cohen

By Warren S. Warren, WUWT, Oct 24, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/24/the-aps-topical-group-on-the-physics-of-climate-reply-to-roger-cohen/

Reply to Warren Warren

By Roger Cohen, WUWT, Oct 25, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/25/reply-to-warren-warren/

PBS Frontline

Climate of Doubt about PBS?s Objectivity

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2012/10/climate-of-doubt-about-pbss-objectivity/

Heartland comments on FRONTLINE ?Climate of Doubt?

By Joe Bast, WUWT, Oct 24, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/24/heartland-comments-on-frontline-climate-of-doubt/

The ?Media Academic Complex? on display at PBS tonight

By Christopher Horner, WUWT, Oct 23, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/23/the-media-academic-complex-on-display-at-pbs-tonight/

PBS Frontline: Climate of Doubt

By Lubos Motl, Reference Frame, Oct 25, 2012

http://motls.blogspot.com/2012/10/pbs-frontline-climate-of-doubt.html#more

Climate of Doubt

Live Chat, Oct 25, 2012,

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/environment/climate-of-doubt/live-chat-2-p-m-et-thursday-inside-the-climate-wars/

Why did PBS FRONTLINE electronically alter the signature of one of the world?s most distinguished Physicists in their report ?Climate of Doubt??

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 25, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/25/why-did-pbs-frontline-electronically-alter-the-signature-of-one-of-the-worlds-most-distinguished-physicists-in-their-report-climate-of-doubt/

Communicating Better to the Public ? Exaggerate, or be Vague?

Scientists Denounce Dubious Climate Study by Insurer

By Axel Bojanowski, Spiegel, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t ICECAP]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/scientists-denounce-dubious-climate-study-by-insurer-munich-re-a-862857.html

Americans use more efficient and renewable energy technologies

Anne M Stark for LLNL News, Livermore CA (SPX), Oct 26, 2012

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Americans_use_more_efficient_and_renewable_energy_technologies_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Higher gasoline prices and the prolonged recession also contribute to less energy use. Compared to that, the increase in renewable use is almost insignificant.]

Communicating Better to the Public ? Make things up.

Oysters? future imperiled as oceans turn more acidic

?Going to be winners and losers ? We?ll have to adapt what we?re eating?

By Katharine Gammon, MSNBC, Oct 11, 2012 [H/t Gordon Fulks]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49378149/ns/us_news-environment/t/oysters-future-imperiled-oceans-turn-more-acidic/#.UIm3YcU1_cg

[SEPP Comment: The upwelling mentioned in the article is a natural process. The oceans are not turning acidic.]

Climate linked to conflict in East Africa, study finds

By Jon Bardin, LA Times, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-linked-to-conflict-in-east-africa-20121022,0,1078149.story?track=rss

Contrary To What You Hear, Global Warming Has Been Good To Africa

By James Taylor, Forbes, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2012/10/25/contrary-to-what-you-hear-global-warming-has-been-good-to-africa/

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above. It was during a period of cooling that the Sahara began expanding about 8000 to 5000 years ago.]

Changing Weather

Frankenstorm Sandy Approaches

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Oct 26, 2012

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2012/10/frankenstorm-sandy-approaches/

Hurricane Sandy (Atlantic Ocean)

NASA Sees Hurricane Sandy as the ?Bride of Frankenstorm? Approaching U.S. East Coast

By Rob Gutro, Hal Pierce, & Marshall Shepherd, Press Release, NASA, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t WUWT]

http://www1.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2012/h2012_Sandy.html

Monster Halloween Storm in the cards ? second year in a row

By Joseph D?Aleo, ICECAP, Oct 25, 2012

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/monster_halloween_storm_in_the_cards_second_year_in_a_row1/

Where did that El Nino go? Wiped out by unprecedented cool shift?

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Oct 25, 2012

http://joannenova.com.au/2012/10/where-did-that-el-nino-go-wiped-out-by-unprecedented-cool-shift/#more-24435

UK experiences ?weirdest? weather

By Roger Harrabin, BBC, Oct 18, 2012 [H/t Rob Sheldon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19995084

[SEPP Comment: Could it be that new schemes for flood defenses generate more demands for these defenses?]

Heatwave kills thousands of birds ? this was climate change in 1932

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Oct 23, 2012

http://joannenova.com.au/2012/10/heatwave-kills-thousands-of-birds-this-was-climate-change-in-1932/#more-24413

Changing Sea Ice

Opposite Behaviors? Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks, Antarctic Grows

By Staff Writers, Science Daily, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t Anne Debeil]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121023172212.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_environment+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+?+Top+Environment%29

[SEPP Comment: Lack of uniformity is not a sufficient reason to dismiss global warming. But the lack of uniformity was one reason the IPCC dismissed the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age.]

Antarctic weight loss seems to be in the eye of the beholder

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 22, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/22/antarctica-weight-loss-program-seems-to-be-slowing/

New understanding of Antarctic?s weight-loss

By Staff Writers, Newcastle UK (SPX), Oct 23, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/New_understanding_of_Antarctics_weight_loss_999.html

Changing Earth

2012 Antarctic Ozone Hole Second Smallest in 20 Years

By Staff Writers, Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 25, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/2012_Antarctic_Ozone_Hole_Second_Smallest_in_20_Years_999.html

Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine

Rice agriculture accelerates global warming

By Staff Writers, Davis CA (SPX), Oct 25, 2012

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Rice_agriculture_accelerates_global_warming_999.html

Overall, the rice paddy experiments revealed that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere boosted rice yields by 24.5 percent and methane emissions by 42.2 percent, increasing the amount of methane emitted per kilo of rice.

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org

How Earth?s Coral Reefs Respond to Atmospheric CO2 Enrichment

Reference: Hughes, T.P., Baird, A.H., Dinsdale, E.A., Moltschaniwskyj, N.A., Pratchett, M.S., Tanner, J.E. and Willis, B.L. 2012. Assembly rules of reef corals are flexible along a steep climatic gradient. Current Biology 22: 736-741.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/23oct2012a2.html

[SEPP Comment: Life is flexible, not fixed.]

2000 Years of Extra-Tropical Northern Hemispheric Temperatures

Reference: Christiansen, B. and Ljungqvist, F.C. 2012. The extra-tropical Northern Hemisphere temperature in the last two millennia: reconstructions of low-frequency variability. Climate of the Past 8: 765-786.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/23oct2012a3.html

Environmental Change and Potential Trophic Mismatches

Reference: Appelhans, Y.S., Thomsen, J., Pansch, C., Melzner, F. and Wahl, M. 2012. Sour times: seawater acidification effects on growth, feeding behavior and acid-base status of Asterias rubens and Carcinus maenas. Marine Ecology Progress Series 459: 85-97.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/24oct2012a1.html

The Impact of Atmospheric Aerosols on North Atlantic Climate

Reference: Booth, B.B.B., Dunstone, N.J., Halloran, P.R., Andrews, T. and Bellouin, N. 2012. Aerosols implicated as a prime driver of twentieth-century North Atlantic climate variability. Nature 484: 228-232.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/oct/24oct2012a2.html

[SEPP Comment: Questioning the certainty of IPPC?s 90 to 99 % certainty.]

The Political Games Continue

US presidential debates? great unmentionable: climate change

No mention of global warming for the first time since Congress was briefed on the threat in 1988

By Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian, UK, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/23/us-president-debates-climate-change

Presidential candidates right to ignore climate change

By Tom Harris, Canada Free Press, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/50497

Obama energy team circulates memo to greens on climate

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Oct 23, 2012

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/263339-memo-to-activists-were-talking-about-climate-

Will The Election Continue To Give Our Fossil Energy Industries A Big Bird?

By Larry Bell, Forbes, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/10/23/will-the-election-continue-to-give-our-fossil-energy-industries-a-big-bird/

Litigation Issues

Legal Liability for Bad Scientific Forecasts in the United States

By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Oct 24, 2012

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/10/legal-liability-for-bad-scientific.html

Mischaracterizations of the L?Aquila Lawsuit Verdict

By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Oct 22, 2012

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2012/10/mischaracterizations-of-laquila-lawsuit.html

Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes

Pollution tax stokes Australian inflation

By Staff Writers, Sydney (AFP), Oct 24, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Pollution_tax_stokes_Australian_inflation_999.html

Carbon Tax: Will Tweedle Dum Snatch Defeat From the Jaws of Victory?

By Marlo Lewis, Forbes, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/10/25/carbon-tax-will-tweedle-dum-snatch-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory/

EPA and other Regulators on the March

The EPA Is Moving The Goalposts, Even After The Game Has Started

By Merrill Matthews, Forbes, Oct 18, 2012

http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2012/10/18/the-epa-is-moving-the-goalposts-even-after-the-game-has-started/

Political, legal problems for next president piling up at the EPA

By Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner, Oct 25, 2012, [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/political-legal-problems-for-next-president-piling-up-at-the-epa/article/2511714?utm_source=Washington%20Examiner:%20Opinion%20Digest%20-%2010/26/2012&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Washington%20Examiner:%20Opinion%20Digest#.UI

Levin Legal Group Sues EPA For Records Of Controversial Regs Delayed Until After Election

By David James, CNS News, Oct 23, 2012 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://cnsnews.com/blog/david-james/levin-legal-group-sues-epa-records-controversial-regs-delayed-until-after-election

?

The EPA?s Planned Destruction of the U.S. Economy

By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Oct 23, 2012

http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-epas-planned-destruction-of-us.html

EPA grapples with climate effects of palm oil in fuel

By Ben Geman, The Hill, Oct 24, 2012

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/263867-epa-grapples-with-climate-effects-of-palm-oil

[SEPP Comment: To meet US greenhouse standards, EPA will determine permitted palm oil standards!]

EPA anti-energy regulations killing jobs

Bogus green schemes harm Americans

By Paul Driessen, Washington Times, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/23/epa-anti-energy-regulations-killing-jobs/

Energy Issues ? Non-US

Alberta to monitor oil sands

By Staff Writers, Edmonton, Alberta, (UPI) Oct 19, 2012

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Alberta_to_monitor_oil_sands_999.html

The Green Pipeline: U.S. donors pump hundreds of millions into Canadian groups opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline

By Brian Seasholes, Capital Research, Oct, 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.capitalresearch.org/2012/09/the-green-pipeline-u-s-donors-pump-hundreds-of-millions-into-canadian-groups-opposed-to-the-keystone-xl-pipeline/

Perverse environmentalist oil sands ethics

By Paul Driessen, Canada Free Press, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/50548

China rare earths giant halts output for a month

By Staff Writers, Shanghai (AFP), Oct 24, 2012

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/China_rare_earths_giant_halts_output_for_a_month_999.html

Energy Is Everywhere

By Kenneth P. Green, The American, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.american.com/archive/2012/october/energy-is-everywhere

Energy Issues ? US

US may soon become world?s top oil producer

By Jonathan Fahey, AP, Oct 23, 2012

http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-10-23-US%20Oil%20Boom/id-15afe4569b714cb680b0f3fe2be4fbeb

US to Overtake Saudi Arabia? Skewing the Oil Stats

By Jen Alic, Oil Pirce, Oct 25, 2012

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/US-to-Overtake-Saudi-Arabia-Skewing-the-Oil-Stats.html

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]

America at Energy Crossroads, Part 2

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Oct 26, 2012

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/america-at-energy-crossroads-part-2/

IHS report: Unconventional oil & gas to be economic driver

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Fuel Fix, Oct 23, 2012

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/10/23/ihs-report-unconventional-oil-gas-to-be-economic-driver/

[SEPP Comment: IHS is a global consulting firm.]

The Myth of Affordable Energy ? Interview with Ed Dolan

By James Stafford, Oil Price, Oct 16, 2012

http://oilprice.com/Interviews/The-Myth-of-Affordable-Energy-Interview-with-Ed-Dolan.html

Return of King Coal?

Powering Buildings ? A Tale of Two Paradigms

By Mark Mills, Energy Facts Weekly, Oct 22, 2012

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=29bc7d5d85828d574f86c157a&id=254db64c81&e=

[SEPP Comment: Trying to save energy consumption in a data center is vastly different than trying to save energy in a commercial office building.]

Oil Spills, Gas Leaks & Consequences

Microbes and Nature

American Academy of Microbiology, 2011 [H/t Dennis Ambler]

FAQ: Microbes and Oil Spills, 2011

[SEPP Comment: Is it not time to develop this natural resource to be available for any future oil spills?]

Nuclear Energy and Fears

Radiation and risk

By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Oct 26, 2012

http://www.scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/radiation-and-risk

[SEPP Comment: To many, the actual deaths from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami are insignificant compared with the suggested deaths from radiation from the nuclear power plants.]

China to resume nuclear power construction

By Staff Writers, Beijing (UPI), Oct 25, 2012

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/China_to_resume_nuclear_power_construction_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Construction of plants, already started, never stopped. Now new construction will begin.]

Fuel loading at Ningde 1

The first core of nuclear fuel is being loaded at China?s newest power reactor, Ningde 1 in Fujian province. Construction on the unit began less than four years ago.

By Staff Writers, WNN, Oct 19, 2012

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Fuel_loading_at_Ningde_1_1910121.html

[SEPP Comment: From start of construction to operation in less that four years is quite an achievement.]

Queensland lifts uranium mining ban

Uranium mining will be allowed in the Australian state of Queensland after the state government overturned 23 years of prohibition. The state has not produced uranium since 1982.

By Staff Writers, WNN, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Queensland_lifts_uranium_mining_ban-2210127.html

Virginia can mine uranium safely, responsibly

By Jack Spencer and Katie Tubb, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Oct 15, 2012 [H/t Randy Randol]

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/oped/2012/oct/15/tdopin02-spencer-and-tubb-virginia-can-mine-uraniu-ar-2282660/

Alternative, Green (?Clean?) Solar and Wind

After Federal Jolt, Clean Energy Seeks New Spark

By John Border, NYT, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/business/energy-environment/future-of-american-aid-to-clean-energy.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[SEPP Comment: $90 Billion over 3 years is not enough?]

U.S. Wind Industry Continues to Expand

By Staff, Department of Energy, Oct 23, 2012

http://energy.gov/articles/us-wind-industry-continues-expand

[SEPP Comment: A government agency shamelessly promoting an industry using information from the industry?s lobbying group.]

Study: Wind Generates Electricity When We Need It Least

By Jack Thorlin, Institute for Energy Research, Oct 24, 2012 [H/t Randy Randol]

http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2012/10/24/study-wind-subsidies-disproportionately-produce-electricity-when-we-need-it-least/

[SEPP Comment: The weaknesses of wind power uncovered in Europe and elsewhere applies to the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley as well.]

NRG Gets DOI Lease for Wind Farm Offshore Delaware Coast

By Sonal Patel, Power News, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/5080.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2548950&hq_l=5&hq_v=5e660500d0

[SEPP Comment: Would they deliver the goods in the current forecast of a Frankenstorm?]

Layoffs, failures test Colorado?s ?new energy economy?

By Steve Raabe, Denver Post, Oct 22, 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21825181/layoffs-failures-test-colorados-new-energy-economy

Twenty Bad Things About Wind Energy, and Three Reasons Why

By John Droz, Jr, Master Resource, Oct 24, 2012

http://www.masterresource.org/2012/10/20-bad-things-wind-3-reasons-why/

[SEPP Comment: An update on the slogans used to sell wind power. Some of the language is imaginative if not accurate, such as ?component liberation? as a term for a blade flying off.]

?

Solar Industry Meltdown ? Intersolar China 2012 Tradeshow CANCELLED Due To ?Difficult Market Conditions?!

By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Oct 24, 2012

http://notrickszone.com/2012/10/24/solar-industry-meltdown-intersolar-china-2012-tradeshow-cancelled-due-to-difficult-market-conditions/

[SEPP Comment: Oops!]

Solar power said viable in snowy regions

By Staff Writers, Houghton, Mich, (UPI) Oct 25, 2012

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Solar_power_said_viable_in_snowy_regions_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Technically viable is significantly different than economically viable.]

Alternative, Green (?Clean?) Energy ? Other

Biodiesel back from the dead as EU drops ILUC factors

By Sonja van Renssen, European Energy Review, Oct 18, 2012 [H/t Anne Debeil]

http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagina.php?email=lars.myren@skynet.be&id_mailing=320&toegang=320722549d1751cf3f247855f937b982&id=3908

Commissioners Hedegaard and Oettinger admitted the proposals were ?not perfect? but emphasised the 5% cap on food-based biofuels that did make it into the final proposal. This is supposed to cap conventional biofuel production at current levels. The problem is that this cap is not really a cap, at least not on the production of these biofuels. It is a reporting cap under the EU?s renewable energy directive: member states will only be able to use (and subsidise) food-based biofuels to meet half of a 10% target for renewable energy in transport by 2020.

[SEPP Comment: The clarity of bureaucracy.]

Large-scale production of biofuels made from algae poses sustainability concerns

By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX), Oct 25, 2012

http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Large_scale_production_of_biofuels_made_from_algae_poses_sustainability_concerns_999.html

Health and Science

Bad ?science? from Harvard

By Staff Writer, ACSH, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.acsh.org/bad-science-from-harvard/

[SEPP Comment: Admirable courage to pull back the study immediately before the press conference.]

Replication, Replication, Replication

By Staff Writers, ACSH, Oct 25, 2012

http://www.acsh.org/replication-replication-replication/

Malaria study challenges warmer world predictions

By Shaoni Bhattacharya, New Scientist, Oct 24, 2012 [H/t Climate Change Weekly]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22419-malaria-study-challenges-warmer-world-predictions.html

Oh Mann!

Penn State climate professor sues think tank, National Review

By Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/penn-state-climate-professor-sues-think-tank-national-review/2012/10/23/27b92a86-1d4f-11e2-9cd5-b55c38388962_story.html

Professor Mann claims to win Nobel Prize; Nobel Committee says he has not

By Thomas Richard, Washington Examiner, Oct 26, 2012 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.examiner.com/article/professor-mann-claims-to-win-nobel-prize-nobel-committee-says-he-has-not

Breaking: Mann has filed suit against NRO (now the laughing begins)

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Oct 23, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/23/breaking-mann-has-filed-suit-against-nro/

Michael Mann ? never fully investigated, thus never exonerated

By Christopher Horner, WUWT, Oct 23, 2012

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/23/michael-mann-never-fully-investigated-thus-never-exonerated/

Environmental Industry

Ocean-fertilization project off Canada sparks furore

Bid to boost salmon stocks relied on hotly debated science and dubious carbon credits.

By Jeff Tollefson, Nature, Oct 23, 2012

http://www.nature.com/news/ocean-fertilization-project-off-canada-sparks-furore-1.11631

A Rogue Climate Experiment Outrages Scientists

By Henry Fountain, NYT, Oct 18, 2012 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/science/earth/iron-dumping-experiment-in-pacific-alarms-marine-experts.html?ref=science&_r=0

Other News that May Be of Interest

Water extraction helped trigger deadly quake in Spain: scientists

By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), Oct 21, 2012

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Water_extraction_helped_trigger_deadly_quake_in_Spain_scientists_999.html

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Media bozos buy ?cancer bra? hype

By Staff Writers, ACSH, Oct 22, 2012

http://www.acsh.org/media-bozos-buy-cancer-bra-hype/

Speed limits on cargo ships could reduce their pollutants by more than half

By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX) Oct 26, 2012

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Speed_limits_on_cargo_ships_could_reduce_their_pollutants_by_more_than_half_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Sailing ships could pollute less.]

Frankenstorm: God?s Latest Warning?

By Ted Glick, Grist, Oct 26, 2012

http://grist.org/article/frankenstorm-gods-latest-warning/

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Source: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/29/weekly-climate-and-energy-news-roundup-68/

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