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Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

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21–30 of 152 posts

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#21
post #4

Using events like this to illustrate that global warming is happening is about as scientifically significant as when Trump used the recent US cold snap to imply that global warming isn't happening. I'm not saying climate change doesn't exist--it certainly does--but outlying events like this aren't by themselves particularly unusual. "Normal", after all, is at the top of a bell curve, and deviations from normal should…

When Trump uses the expected weather for the time of year to illustrate nothing is happening it is not exceptional so does not prove a thing. But if something exceptional happens it is a data point in a data set indicating there is a change.

Hot weather in July in the Northern hemisphere is not unusual and does not require explanation or study. Snow in July would be unusual and would require explanation and study.

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#22
post #18
post #9

Note that this is in Celsius - for us Americans, this is 45 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

25°c is 77°f, not 45.

That's not how converting relative Celsius to Fahrenheit works. If I say "it's 10 degrees Celsius colder today than yesterday", that's the same as saying "it's 18 degress Fahrenheit today".

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#24
post #18
post #9

Note that this is in Celsius - for us Americans, this is 45 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

25°c is 77°f, not 45.

Oops oops yes, mea culpa. Note to self: avoid (posting to) HN after a few drinks. Thanks to all those who corrected me.

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#25
post #4

Using events like this to illustrate that global warming is happening is about as scientifically significant as when Trump used the recent US cold snap to imply that global warming isn't happening. I'm not saying climate change doesn't exist--it certainly does--but outlying events like this aren't by themselves particularly unusual. "Normal", after all, is at the top of a bell curve, and deviations from normal should…

I don't know global warming is happening because of this news article. This news article worries me because I know global warming is happening.

How does the 'I know' bit advance the discussion?

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#26
post #11
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isolated abnormal events aren't significant to illustrate global warming is happening, but an increasing frequency of abnormal events is.

Granted, but I can just picture the people posting this to Facebook citing it as definitive proof that the world is melting.

If your standard is worrying about what people will post on FB then paralysis is your only option.

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#27
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know global warming is happening because of this news article. This news article worries me because I know global warming is happening.

How does the 'I know' bit advance the discussion?

The discussion isn't about whether we know it's happening or not. We should stop letting deniers move the goal posts.

The discussion is we know this is happening, what do we do to stop it?

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#28
post #2

Anecdotal: Here in Toronto, it's been 16˚C this past week. In February. We've had about 2 or 3 real snowfalls that stuck around for a few days before melting. As somebody who loves ice skating outside, it's really frustrating. And I love the snow. Every year it seems like the winter gets a little milder...

Anecdotal: its unusually cold in Seattle this winter. So goes both ways.

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#29
post #24
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

25°c is 77°f, not 45.

Oops oops yes, mea culpa. Note to self: avoid (posting to) HN after a few drinks. Thanks to all those who corrected me.

REDACTED: No.. not oops. He's wrong, you're right.

Ah why did you reply to your own comment instead of pressing edit. I thought you were the grandparent poster replying to the correction. God damnit.

Re: Arctic temperatures soar 25 degrees above normal in the dead of winter

#30
Warmer temperatures will mean we may need to change where we farm our food and move some cities but it's much better than things getting colder. It may even be better than the current climate, given it may actually increase the amount of land where food is arable.
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