NOAA- State of the Climate

[Koolblue13]

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/2012/6

Climate Highlights — Year-to-Date (January-June)
The January-June period was the warmest first half of any year on record for the contiguous United States. The national temperature of 52.9°F was 4.5°F above average. Most of the contiguous U.S. was record and near-record warm for the six-month period, except the Pacific Northwest. Twenty-eight states east of the Rockies were record warm and an additional 15 states were top ten warm.

The first six months of 2012 were also drier than average for much of the contiguous U.S., with a nationally-averaged precipitation total 1.62 inches below average. Drier-than-average conditions stretched from the West, through the Central Plains, into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Fourteen states in total had precipitation totals for the six-month period among their ten driest.

Wetter-than-average conditions were present for the Northwest and Upper Midwest, where Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington had six-month precipitation totals among their ten wettest.
The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI), an index that tracks the highest and lowest 10 percent of extremes in temperature, precipitation, drought and tropical cyclones across the contiguous U.S., was a record-large 44 percent during the January-June period, over twice the average value. Extremes in warm daytime temperatures (83 percent) and warm nighttime temperatures (70 percent) covered large areas of the nation, contributing to the record high value.

Climate Highlights — 12-month period (July 2011-June 2012)
The July 2011-June 2012 period was the warmest 12-month period of any 12-months on record for the contiguous U.S., narrowly surpassing the record broken last month for the June 2011-May 2012 period by 0.05°F. The nationally-averaged temperature of 56.0°F was 3.2°F above the long term average. Every state across the contiguous U.S. had warmer than average temperatures for the period, except Washington, which was near normal.

I'd say that the climate is changing pretty drastically.

[AsburySkinsFan]

It's Obama's fault.

[Kosher Ham]

I could put a joke here but I shouldn't.

I don't know that this is so different than any other time in history before we started making records about it.

With all of the things going on in the world, this one is on the fourth burner for me.

[AsburySkinsFan]

With all of the things going on in the world, this one is on the fourth burner for me.

Not having to be concerned with global climate change is a first world luxury.

[PeterMP]

I had a feeling this was going to come up and that I would have to say something.

While it isn't clear to me that these aren't a result of the long term consequences of global warming (as I've shown here before, we've continually had above average year in after above average year in terms of temps and certainly in the last 1,000 years or so that is abonormal), it is hard to argue that what we are seeing in the US currently is the result of global warming this YEAR because this year globally isn't really that warm.

Certainly, not warmer than 2010 and maybe not warmer than last year (it is close). Maybe what we are seeing locally is the compounding result of years of being "warm", but it isn't because this particular year is particularly warm globally as compared to other recent (really the last 20 years or so now) years (so far).

[Larry]

Figured that would be your position.

IMO, observations over a six month period, in just one country, don't really say much about the global climate.

Glad to see that somebody who actually knows something about the subject agrees with my gut.

[Kosher Ham]

Not having to be concerned with global climate change is a first world luxury.

Interesting edit...but sure. It is.

I suppose I have that luxury , but not saying that I don't care about the world and it's human inhabitants, just not about a 4.5 degree temp difference when there are starving people all over the world and other countries have no food. Not that those other countries take priority over this one either.

[Koolblue13]

With all of the things going on in the world, this one is on the fourth burner for me.

It's pretty high for me. Probably right behind our wars. Although, I think fixing the way we treat the planet and the air around it is something War would fall under.

---------- Post added July-10th-2012 at 11:58 AM ----------

Interesting edit...but sure. It is.

I suppose I have that luxury , but not saying that I don't care about the world and it's human inhabitants, just not about a 4.5 degree temp difference when there are starving people all over the world and other countries have no food. Not that those other countries take priority over this one either.

Global grain production is being reduced quickly, because of the temps. This directly effects everybody, including the poorest and hungriest primarily.

[twa]

we need to burn more coal to block the solar radiation

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...-together.html

[Ellis]

I am posting something a middle-of-the-road Republican friend from Colorado posted on facebook and would like to hear some opinions on it...

"I'm not convinced that we're experiencing global warming b/c technically we haven't finished thawing out from the last ice age."

I can honestly say iI've never heard this... is this the latest rhetoric making it's way through the politically slanted corners of the internet?

[Koolblue13]

I am posting something a middle-of-the-road Republican friend from Colorado posted on facebook and would like to hear some opinions on it...

"I'm not convinced that we're experiencing global warming b/c technically we haven't finished thawing out from the last ice age."

I can honestly say iI've never heard this... is this the latest rhetoric making it's way through the politically slanted corners of the internet?

He's right. We will continue to warm, right up until the very second the next ice age begins.

[FanboyOf91]

I am posting something a middle-of-the-road Republican friend from Colorado posted on facebook and would like to hear some opinions on it...

"I'm not convinced that we're experiencing global warming b/c technically we haven't finished thawing out from the last ice age."

I can honestly say iI've never heard this... is this the latest rhetoric making it's way through the politically slanted corners of the internet?

"We haven't finished warming up from the last ice age".

How is that supposed to be comforting?

[grhqofb5]

It's pretty high for me. Probably right behind our wars. Although, I think fixing the way we treat the planet and the air around it is something War would fall under.

---------- Post added July-10th-2012 at 11:58 AM ----------



Global grain production is being reduced quickly, because of the temps. This directly effects everybody, including the poorest and hungriest primarily.

Doesn't warmer weather mean longer growing seasons for farmers?

[PeterMP]

Doesn't warmer weather mean longer growing seasons for farmers?

Even plants have limits in terms of their ability to grow in heat.

[FanboyOf91]

Doesn't warmer weather mean longer growing seasons for farmers?

Pests from warmer climates expand their territory.