Wednesday, September 24, 2008

October Usually Driest Month...

As we near October and the sun angle gets lower in the sky, our daily PM T-Storms go away as the surface heating becomes less intense. Our rain chances then come from cold fronts, but usually moisture is limited as each front brings cooler & drier air. Once into November & December, the deeper cold air is often over-ridden by moist air from the Gulf producing widespread "rain events" so our only "dry" month is October. Since it appears the rest of this month will be dry, we'll end up with the 6th wettest (11.17") September since records began at New Orleans International back in 1946. The wettest? Not too long ago, 1998 when 18.98" soaked us.

With Lake Pontchartrain's waters now in the middle 70s and the coastal waters barely above 80, the chances for a tropical system grow slimmer by the day for Louisiana & Mississippi. That's the good news. The bad news is Gustav & Ike dealt another damaging blow to our wetlands/marsh. Unless we (federal/state) start rebuilding our coasts over the winter & spring months, another hurricane next summer will bring even higher water than Gustav & Ike. Don't just grumble...write your elected officials and demand action.

Finally, more global warming news...Sep 20, 2008Lehman Brothers Close Ties to Gore, Hansen and Carbon Trading
Al Gore’s carbon trading business GIM was banked with Lehman Bros. It will be interesting to see how this will play in the future but I suspect that this increases the risk of participating in Carbon Trading. Merrill Lynch was also deeply involved in this business.
Last year Lehman Brothers released a long and highly publicized report about climate change in which they preached about decarbonization, trying to make their investors in an attempt to insure high profitability from the Kyoto carbon trade scheme and the support of huge public subventions. All that, of course, with the applause of the usual choir of politicians, the entire media and the Greens.
At the time the report was released, Lehman’s bankruptcy was approximately one year into the future. Of course they didn’t predict it. So, imagine the folly of trying to forecast the weather one hundred years into the future and shifts in societal trends. Thousands of green militants have been using the Lehman report as a proof of global warming and impending chaos. Lehman Bros said it! Sacred words! Its scientific advisor is James Hansen! The report is the basis for policies on climate change in Spain, Argentina and several other countries playing the progress game; it is used by economy professors playing the climatologists; by newspapers editorials, and even by a State Secretary: Lehman Bros, said it!
Lehman Brothers spoke in his report about the climate in 2100 and its economic and financial projections, about climate change costs several decades away. They dared to recommend their investors what they considered a central value of the carbon ton in 50 years from now. Their sources and support references were taken from the IPCC AR4, AR3, and so on. Really impressive.
But even with their high ability to peek into the future, they couldn’t predict their demise one year ahead though there were many people that had been warning about the current fiasco on Wall Street for years. But Lehman Bros were recommending investments 30, 50, 100 years ahead. Some days, reality imitates fiction. Who was Lehman Bros’ ‘scientific’ adviser on climate? You guessed it, James Hansen, the same guy that wants to drive the world to bankruptcy as he did with Lehman’s Bros. These words came from icecap.US.

5 comments:

Bugs E said...

Hi Bob,

looks like the East Coast is getting hit and I heard mention of the Fujiwhara effect. What is it?

Thanks!

Bourbon St. Blues said...

Bob I wanted to ask when was the last day we saw a 90 degree temperature. I can't remember a September ever being this mild and relatively cool, not to mention the humidity hasn't been bad in between fronts.

It seems ever since the two storms, temperatures have been milder than normal.

My wife was saying that she thought the summer was a milder summer than we usually have and wonder if the daily temperature log supports that.

Its feeling nice outside even with the temps about in the mid 80's. Geez, I just cannot open the window just yet.

Also, it always seems like if we see snow, its usually in December...(its just sad with the gaps between snow falls... 1988 and 2004)You would think January or early February, when we can get some cold artic air.

Unknown said...

Bob,

I have read a few of your posts and you seem to be in favor of coastal restoration. How in favor are you? Are you willing to change your weather map? I fly over Southeast La. all the time. I have fished the Chandeleur island chain all my life. IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE YOUR MAP. If you really want change why don't you help get the message out to the general public by showing a true map? The average person on the sofa sees a great looking coastline. Please consider changing your map and educate people everyday in your broadcast what it really looks like out there and the severity of the problem. E mail me and I will personally fly you out in a seaplane to take a look.

Billy Good

Bob Breck said...

Billy...you are correct...the maps are outdated. However, I don't control the map makers. The vendors usually update the geographic features every 5 years or so. I shall pass your request on to those folks who make the maps. Up to date maps may help, but what we really need is lots of money to do lots of dredging right now BEFORE the next hurricane season.

Unknown said...

I don't want to sound disrespectful but that is one lame excuse. You are going to tell us as the chief meteorologist you don't make the decisions on what maps you use for your broadcast? Your maps are older than 5 years. Curlew island which was 9 miles long disappered after Georges(1998). It is still depicted on your weather map.

I just think when the average person looks at the maps you show everyday everything looks fine. Have you driven over the bridge at Empire latley? The back Hurricane levee is the beach. You have a tool to educate the average person what our loss looks like everynight. Why don't you overlay your weather on a map like this http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/upload/landloss11X17.pdf
and remind everyone everynight that what you see in red is not there.

I agree dredging is the only way. Diversions will take centuries.