Cliff Mass, the well-known professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington and prominent weather and climate analyst, is “adamant that many politicians, activists and scientists are exaggerating the effects of climate change to fit an agenda.” Mass wrote in a recent blog post,
“The media has noted many times that the U.S. in 2011 experienced a record 14 billion-dollar weather disasters–and many of the articles imply or suggest a connection with human-forced global warming…
“But what is so disturbing about all this is that there is very little evidence that these claims are true…. that the extreme events of late are the result of greenhouse gas increases caused by humans…
“It is somewhat embarrassing for me to admit this, but part of the problem is that a small minority of my colleagues–people who should know better– are feeding the extreme-weather/climate hype in the mistaken belief that by doing so they can encourage people to do the right thing–lessen their carbon footprint.”
According to Mass, the latest example of climate change exaggeration is the Washington State’s current “alleged drought.” Crosscut reports,
“The $1.2 billion crop loss that the Washington Department of Agriculture is predicting this year? A crock that the media should research and expose. Predictions by the state Public Lands Commissioner and National Interagency Fire Center that current conditions could create a terrible year for wildfires? Overblown. Governor Jay Inslee’s dire pronouncements regarding a statewide drought emergency? Just part of a history of exaggeration on environmental issues…
“‘Not long ago, politicians were saying snowpack would completely disappear,’ Mass explained via phone. ‘That didn’t turn out to be much of a trend. There was a whole business of exaggerating the disappearing snowpack trend, linking that with global warming. Then there was the coastal ocean acidification issue… The current governor has draped himself in all that stuff.’
“‘There’s a political agenda with all this stuff,’ he added. ‘I don’t have to tell you what it is. You know what it is. Now it’s drought time again.’”
Mass dismisses Washington State’s alleged drought by pointing to normal precipitation levels statewide. Crosscut,
“‘For me, for most people, the word ‘drought’ means a lack of precipitation,’ Mass says. ‘So precipitation is normal, but you’re calling it a drought? Because it’s water instead of snow?’
“What about the fact that roughly 75 percent of Washington is experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, as classified by the National Drought Monitor? Mass calls that organization ‘completely subjective’ in how it determines those conditions.
“Reservoir levels are alright, the Columbia River is flowing fine and soil moisture is currently near normal, Mass argues. Sure, snowpack is low. But he doesn’t think this will be a problem for farmers, saying the ‘water situation in Yakima is going to prove far better than people are worried about.’”
Oh, the heresy! Burn him at the stake!
That Cliff Mass blog post is 3 years old.
The blog post by Cliff Mass regarding the drought that isn’t a drought in Washington is from May 20, 2015.
The blog post which the first paragraph called “recent” was actually from 22 April 2012 — more than three years old. The later post cited is from Crosscut, and consists of Mass quibbling with the author over the exact scientific meaning of the word “drought.”
The Crosscut post contains a graph, showing the snowpack in the Cascades at the lowest level ever recorded — below the level during the 2005 drought. The post also notes how Yakima valley’s farmers depend upon melted snow from the Cascades to irrigate their crops. If they run out of water this year, I’d like to see Cliff Mass and the anonymous authors of this blog go to Yakima, and lecture the farmers there not to use the word “drought” to describe why their crops are withering in the sun.
Back in ur wood chip lined cage Hamster Brain. What a liberal No-Mind u are. Is it even possible for u to have an actual thought? Are you on the Shift minimum wage payroll to give us our daily laugh? Unbelievable!
This is just another in a lengthening and tedious line of ad hominum attacks, in which you don’t even pretend to address the substance of the comment to which you “reply”.
Your persistence in typing your irrelevant, un-imaginative and off-topic non-contributions to the dialogs here indicates your belief such activity represents a good use of your time. The sad thing is, that belief might be entirely correct.
How can you be so uneducated Hamster Brain? We keep throwing more taxpayer money @ the system your party has controlled yet you prove every day what a liberal fruitcake you are with all this copy & paste knowlage you have. You really are a sorry excuse for a hamster but a hamster you will always be.
Thank you for validating my description of your activities here.
Are you living in 2018?
Speaks volumes of the length liberals will go to on the subject of global warming….. I mean climate change……..
In reference to climate issues. I recommend reading “State of Fear” by Michael Crichton. The story is fiction, but the statistics are facts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Fear
Maybe with higher taxes and bridge tolls we can finally get some decently controlled weather!
-snark-