WMO: 2008 the coolest so far in 5 years….
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080820/twl-environment-climate-2008-dc-1202b49.html
LONDON (Reuters) – The first half of 2008 was the coolest for at least five years, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Wednesday.
The whole year will almost certainly be cooler than recent years, although temperatures remain above the historical average.
Global temperatures vary annually according to natural cycles. For example, they are driven by shifting ocean currents, and dips do not undermine the case that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are causing long-term global warming, climate scientists say.
Chillier weather this year is partly because of a global weather pattern called La Nina that follows a periodic warming effect called El Nino.
“We can expect with high probability this year will be cooler than the previous five years,” said Omar Baddour, responsible for climate data and monitoring at the WMO.
“Definitely the La Nina should have had an effect, how much we cannot say.”
“Up to July 2008, this year has been cooler than the previous five years at least. It still looks like it’s warmer than average,” added Baddour.
The global mean temperature to end-July was 0.28 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average, the UK-based MetOffice Hadley Centre for climate change research said on Wednesday. That would make the first half of 2008 the coolest since 2000.
“Of course at the beginning of the year there was La Nina, and that would have had the effect of suppressing temperatures somewhat as well,” Met Office meteorologist John Hammond said.
“But actually La Nina is showing signs of moving towards a more neutral state.”
The weakening of the La Nina effect over the last few months could see the global mean temperature creep up again in the latter part of the year, he added.
The past decade ending in 2007 was the hottest since reliable records began around 1850, according to the WMO. World temperatures are about 0.74 Celsius (1.2 F) higher than a century ago.
The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of hundreds of scientists, last year said global warming was “unequivocal” and that manmade greenhouse gas emissions were very likely part of the problem.
The WMO releases its final figures for global temperature and ranking for 2008 in December.
Hey Janice,
Thanks for sharing this cheerful news, especially after my natural gas bill went up, as well as my electric, cable, etc. I don’t know how low or fixed income people will afford to heat their houses this winter with the ridiculous rise in natural gas prices, as well as electric costs. I think I’ll be keeping my house a little cooler than normal this winter. Maybe they’ll be wrong and it won’t be so bad. We can always hope! We’ve had so many nighttime temperatures in the 50’s this month that it doesn’t bode well for the winter. It does, however, make for some nice sleeping weather! I shouldn’t complain because at least I’m not dealing with floods like they’re seeing in Florida. I should count my blessings!
Have a great afternoon!
Margie
So much for the hypocrite Al Gore brainwashing all of us about this global warming garbage. I wonder what his thoughts about this are now?
I can bet you one thing, he will probably taking his private jets, along with all those other liberals, to the convention next week.
Suspect holds authorities at bay in Md. motel
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080821/ap_on_re_us/motel_standoff;_ylt=AtjWNpL4Ww4CK5ptqQG_UNGs0NUE
Floridians were warned to beware of alligators in their flooded streets as Tropical Storm Fay poured more rain on the Sunshine State’s central Atlantic coast, pushing creatures of all kinds from their homes.
Hundreds of houses have been inundated in the torrential rains, trapping residents and leaving much of Florida a soggy mess.
Hey Janice,
Not sure if you will even see this entry but I couldn’t let a climate change topic go with out a little input.
You know my feelings on the subject; climate change is different than the politicized global warming. And with the information age dying polar bears are just a click away. This article was front page on the Alaska Daily News,
http://www.adn.com/polarbears/story/501852.html.
Here in AK climate change is real. Things are changing. Even if people do not agree with how or why, the fact is, things are changing. Or at least the Native Alaskans along the northern coast thinks so. They see it every year. Also the military knows it too. There is a lot of interest in an open Northwest Passage. Here is another site for you to follow the melting of the ice,
http://www.natice.noaa.gov/ims/index.htm.
No matter how you look at it, it’s a big deal. America just has to be ready.