Sleight of Hand and Weather Amnesia in the "Climate Change" Debate

Facebook memes often trigger a research area for me. When I saw the above meme I looked up Judith Curry and ended up on her website reading some of her fascinating material. While she doesn't seem to call climate change "a hoax" exactly, she points out how complicated the issue is and how extreme events like hurricanes have little to do with human action.

Wildfires, certainly a timely topic, are affected by "climate variability" which is not the same as climate change. Obviously during a drought, fire risk is higher than during periods of heavy rainfall. Wildfires are also influenced by government policies. The current devastating fires in California have made that absolutely clear! Reducing the fire department budget to divert money to ridiculous woke policies like supporting Planned Parenthood and enabling the trans molestation of children resulted in fewer fire fighters, failure to maintain equipment, and failure to monitor fires after they're put out to make sure they don't reignite. Add to that the failure to keep reservoirs full and water in the hydrants. All these things fall at the door of government incompetence not climate change! Throw in a few arsonists and you have the perfect storm for wildfire disasters like those in Los Angeles and Lahaina.

Dr. Curry has testified before Congress a number of times. Reading her statements is a lesson in sensible scientific analysis. Here's a bit from her 2019 address to the House  Subcommittee on Environment. She talks about "weather amnesia" which is a delightful term in my opinion. It's what allows all the Chicken Little to attribute everything bad that happens weatherwise on global warming or climate change. Why do they do that? Simple answer: MONEY. Think of all the fortunes made by pushing alternative energy which have contributed their own disasters to the mix:

In the last few years, the U.S. has suffered multiple devastating weather disasters. However, the sense that extreme weather events are now more frequent or intense, and attributable to manmade global warming, is symptomatic of ‘weather amnesia.’ 

As an example of weather amnesia, consider the data for U.S. tornadoes for the last decade. From 2012 to 2018, U.S. tornadoes were well below average. The above average tornadic activity so far in 2019 appears more extreme if expectations are shaped mainly by recent history. 

As another example, the devastating impacts in 2017 from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria invoked numerous alarming statements about hurricanes and global warming. However, it was rarely mentioned that 2017 broke a drought in U.S. major hurricane landfalls since the end of 2005 - a major hurricane drought that is unprecedented in the historical record. 

Looking further back into the 20th century, the 1930’s hold records for many of the worst U.S. weather disasters: 

• strongest landfalling hurricane: Labor Day Hurricane, 1935 

• longest and most extensive droughts, especially 1934 

• largest number of severe heat waves, especially 1934. 

Owing to the large natural variability in extreme weather events, it is very difficult to discern any trends in extreme weather events that can be attributed to manmade global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Extreme Events 3 acknowledges that there is not yet evidence of changes in the global frequency or intensity of hurricanes, droughts, floods or wildfires.  [Read more from this testimony here....]

This is just one of many. A year ago Jordan Peterson interviewed Dr. Curry on his podcast titled, The Predictions are Wrong calling her one of his "climate denialists." It's a long video (90 minutes), but well worth the time if you want to see how ridiculous the apocalyptic hysteria is. 

Peterson and Curry make some important observations. For example, the climate  consensus is manufactured. When you limit the scientists allowed to have an opinion, you, of course, get consensus. Shut up the skeptical scientists who demand data and only listen to those who embrace the politically correct position. A lot of the models are wrong. They over-emphasize heating. Many scientists ignore the impact of the sun and the ocean circulation patterns. Many of the scenarios are unrealistic and depend on unlikely assumptions.

The video is fascinating and very informative. They talk about Greta around minute 54. Dr. Curry describes the "social contract" between the journalists (who "amplify the climate crisis, the climate emergency"), the policy makers, and the scientists. "This is just a hot thing....It's just big business for everyone. So there's this mutual reinforcement between the scientists, the policy makers, and the media." And, of course, there's big money to be made!

Dr. Curry says the sin that brought about the attack on her was criticizing the "Grand Pubas" of climate change. 

It's interesting to make a comparison between the attack on Dr. Curry and other "climate change deniers" with the rhetorical attack on doctors who challenged the dangerous COVID gene therapy. Ridicule and slander can be very effective tools and the unscrupulous use them extensively. And, let's face it. How many people will take the time to study the issues? Too many people are easily led by the censors who control the flow of information. Often when you do a search on anything on the web, you get nothing but headlines affirming the woke agenda. The only way to avoid it is to know where to go in the first place. Dr. Curry's web is one good place to go.

We desperately need critical thinkers! Teach your children to question, to demand the data and check it to make sure it isn't falsely manipulated. "Trust, but verify," as Ronald Reagan advised. Look at the evidence and make judgments based on valid information.

Pray for the truth tellers and may their clan be increased. Pray harder for the liars; they're teetering on the abyss! God help them if they don't repent.

Lord Jesus, Wisdom Counselor, have mercy on us.

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us!

St. Albert, Patron of Scientists, pray for us.