Climate tweets for 17 September 2014

Earth Surface During August 2014 Hottest Ever Recorded: robertscribbler:

http://robertscribbler.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/earth-surface-during-august-of-2014-was-hottest-ever-recorded/

[science]

New Study Links Polar Vortex to Climate Change:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/09/03/new_study_links_polar_vortex_to_climate_change.html?wpsrc=sh_all_tab_tw_top via @FutureTenseNow 

[science]

Gulf of Alaska unusually warm, weird fish showing up:

http://wapo.st/XogZim  via @ElaheIzadi @washingtonpost

[oceans, food, science, fishing]

Fixing Climate Change May Add No Costs, Report Says: @nytimes:

http://nyti.ms/1uCbidn 

[investing, divestment, Global Commission on the Economy and Climate]

RT Al Gore @algore:

Student activists give me #ClimateHope. Come learn why:

http://24hoursofreality.org

Climate change report: prevent damage by overhauling global economy: @guardian:

http://gu.com/p/4xt7v/tw  

[investing, divestment, Global Commission on the Economy and Climate]

"Polar Vortex" Excursions Linked to Global Warming:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/09/15/polar_vortex_deep_meanders_in_vortex_linked_to_global_warming.html?wpsrc=sh_all_tab_tw_top … via @BadAstronomer 

[science]

Flooding would threaten D.C. infrastructure, report says:

http://wapo.st/1uCbTff  via @washingtonpost 

[sea level]

RT Suzanne Goldenberg @suzyji:

Leonardo DiCaprio named UN Messenger of Peace for climate change:

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/leonardo-dicaprio-named-un-messenger-peace

RT Jamie Henn @Agent350:

"I will link arms with those marching for climate action. We stand with them on the right side of this key issue," @secgen Ban Ki-moon

Louisiana Gov Hedges On Climate Change as State Disappears into Sea:
http://thkpr.gs/3568216
[Bobby Jindal, denial, sea level, flooding]

MT @climatebloggers: From students to scientists, faith groups to farmers, we will march as one.
http://bit.ly/1siqyYc  
[People's Climate March]

Asian monsoon discovery suggests rains will increase under climate change: @CarbonBrief:
http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2014/09/asian-monsoon-discovery-suggests-rains-will-increase-under-climate-change/
[science, flooding, India]

Black Lung Among Coal Miners at Highest Level in 40 Years:
http://thkpr.gs/3568204  via @climateprogress
[health]

RT CitizensClimateLobby @citizensclimate:
Amazing communicator: Katharine @KHayhoe interviewed on Bill Moyers: Climate Change: Faith and Fact:
http://vimeo.com/105936193
[Katherine Hayhoe, religion, science]

RT Virally Suppressed @SuppressThis:
Watering Lawns in the Desert: What Las Vegas Can Tell Us About Climate Change (and Ourselves):
http://wp.me/p2llp1-pW 
[drought, water, Nevada]

RT Climate Reality @ClimateReality:
.@MarkRuffalo is declaring war on #DirtyEnergy. Watch him take the battle forward:
http://24hoursofreality.org  http://pic.twitter.com/T09IlAEdqp
[energy, renewable energy]

RT Mark Ruffalo @MarkRuffalo:
24 Reasons for Hope = 24 reasons why we CAN solve the climate crisis. Join @ClimateReality:
http://for24hoursofreality.org 

Climate tweets for 24 February 2014

This Week’s New Anomaly: Twistersnow; Next Week Polar Vortex Collapse, More Arctic Heat: http://robertscribbler.wordpress.com/2014/02/23/this-weeks-new-anomaly-features-twistersnow-next-week-to-see-polar-vortex-collapse-more-arctic-heat/ 

RT Clara Vondrich ‏@Clara_Vondrich: Terrific piece by @JeremyLeggett: Investors shirking coal & oil to get ahead of carbon bubble http://wp.me/pRvqL-h4K via @FortuneMagazine

Drought beginning to change how people think about growth in Sacramento region: @sacbee http://www.sacbee.com/2014/02/23/6181571/the-sacramento-region-plans-to.html 

Believe It or Not, January Was Full of Big, Warm Climate Anomalies: @AtlanticCities http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2014/02/january-was-full-big-warm-climate-anomalies/8461/ 

RT Clara Vondrich ‏@Clara_Vondrich: Now THIS is a tipping point: California’s Water Crisis Is Becoming A Beer Crisis http://thkpr.gs/1fxLibN via @climateprogress

When pundits pretend they don't understand climate change: @TIME http://ti.me/1jrfWVd  

"False Spring" events harming fruit crops, forests, butterflies: @ClimateCentral http://www.climatecentral.org/news/why-you-shouldnt-hope-for-an-early-spring-17105 

Obama to Propose Shift in Wildfire Funding, Reflecting Climate Change: @NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/us/obama-to-propose-shift-in-wildfire-funding.html?hpw&rref=us&_r=0 

RT Climate & Security ‏@CntrClimSec: Could Britain manage floods like the Dutch? http://www.trust.org/item/20140223230627-seko4/?source=shtw via @TR_Foundation

Animals suffer as drought dries up dams: @p_hannam @smh http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/animals-suffer-as-drought-dries-up-dams-20140222-338wo.html 

Climate tweets for 15 February 2014

Expect no letup in severe weather, UK forecasters warn: @guardian http://gu.com/p/3mn86/tw 

RT Jennifer Welsh ‏@MicrobeLover: This map shows how bipolar our winter has been — http://read.bi/M0udeW  (Image: NOAA) http://pic.twitter.com/Dy9dEEcINe

Courting disaster: California Farms Slow 2 Adopt Water-Saving Technology: @Newsweek http://mag.newsweek.com/2014/02/14/california-drought-water.html 

Exclusive: Drought could make Brazil lower 2014 budget surplus: @Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-brazil-economy-fiscal-idUSBREA1B1CY20140212 

Obama On California Drought: Climate Change Threatens Nation: @AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/14/obama-california-drought_n_4791906.html 

Letter: Climate change deniers lack facts: @DailyCamera http://www.dailycamera.com/letters/ci_25132739/jeffrey-bennett-climate-change-deniers-lack-facts 

Meltdown: Climate Trends Tell Different Story 4 Great Lakes' Ice: @ClimateCentral http://shar.es/QMJrH 

RT 350orBust ‏@350orbust1: Senators Plan To Stay Up All Night To Talk Climate Change.Thank you @SenWhitehouse! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/senate-climate-change_n_4784386.html 

RT CitizensClimateLobby ‏@citizensclimate: Want to build political will for climate solutions? Join the next CCL intro call. http://ow.ly/tEHgc 

Climate change policy at risk because of denial and fear, U.K. energy secretary warns: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/13/climate-change-policy-britain-at-risk-ed-davey-environment-secretary 

Climate tweets for 9 February 2014

Arctic's 'Layer Cake' Atmosphere Blamed for Rapid Warming: @LiveScience http://shar.es/QZsF3  

Bolivia floods kill 38, more heavy rains forecast: @Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/08/us-bolivia-floods-idUSBREA151LT20140208?feedType=RSS 

In shocker, coal industry report finds carbon is actually good for you: http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/02/06/coal-industry-report-social-cost-carbon-relies-climate-science-denial 

Hot Alaska, Cold Georgia: How Shifted Polar Vortex Turned Winter Upside-Down: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/02/08/3266731/hot-alaska-cold-georgia-polar-vortex/ 

As fresh storms lash coast, UK starts to count long-term cost: @guardian http://www.theguardian.com/global/2014/feb/08/storms-lash-coast-uk-long-term-costs 

Drought thinning herd of ranchers in Nevada: @ajam http://america.aljazeera.com/features/2014/2/drought-thinningtheherdofranchersinnevada0.html 

RT ClimateNexusHotNews ‏@ClimateHotNews: Want free email of all the key climate & energy news & opinion every day? Sign up for Climate Nexus Hot News here: http://bit.ly/JhmLed 

RT Suzanne Goldenberg ‏@suzyji: So much for that global warming pause. Study shows trade winds buried surface heat deep in ocean http://gu.com/p/3mt8e/tw  via @guardian

Climate Code Red: Why and how of radical emissions reductions (2): Corinne Le Quere http://www.climatecodered.org/2014/02/the-why-and-how-of-radical-emissions.html 

RT ClimateNow ‏@ClimateNow: Homes lost as fires burn across Victoria - most dangerous fire threat since Black Saturday http://bit.ly/1f6uKUi 

RT Michael E. Mann ‏@MichaelEMann: Wow. MT @LeoHickman UK Met Office's Dame Julia Slingo: Climate change 'lies behind Britain's storms' http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-02-08/scientist-climate-change-lies-behind-britains-storms/ 

RT 350orBust ‏@350orbust1: Severe floods 'threaten food security', say farmers & environmental groups: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/08/severe-floods-threaten-food-security-climate-change 

Climate tweets for 22 January 2014

RT Michael E. Mann ‏@MichaelEMann: Mann v. National Review: Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss. A quote from the court order: http://pic.twitter.com/DM4ZESMyvv

RT ClimateNexusHotNews ‏@ClimateHotNews: What's the way to go? Reducing greenhouse gas pollution is the cheapest path in a warming world - Climate Science Watch http://ow.ly/sQoJw 

California drought, polar vortex: 'New normal' by 2030?: @KPCC http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2014/01/21/35622/linking-california-s-80-degree-temps-with-the-pola/ 

At Davos, push for clean energy as climate weapon: @AP @SFGate http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/At-Davos-push-for-clean-energy-as-climate-weapon-5164824.php?cmpid=twitter 

4 Feet of Rain Floods Parts of Philippines, Displaces >260,000: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/four-feet-of-rain-floods-phili/22301674 

Editorial: Backsliding on the Climate: @NYTimes http://nyti.ms/19KxFWt 

RT Lyn Bender ‏@Lynestel: The war on science: An insider's story of the global attack on climate science http://theconversation.com/an-insiders-story-of-the-global-attack-on-climate-science-21972 … via @ConversationEDU

RT Moms Clean Air Force ‏@CleanAirMoms: Snowpocalypse or not, 2013 was one of warmest years on record via TIME's @bryanrwalsh http://ow.ly/sPYbb 

Where's the Fire? (Or, Business as Usual): Linda Buzzell http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-buzzell/climate-change_b_4627677.html 

.@NASA Finds 2013 Sustained Long-Term Climate Warming Trend: http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/january/nasa-finds-2013-sustained-long-term-climate-warming-trend/#.Ut7kGmQo73S 

Climate talks help educate, prepare for New England communities: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20140121/NEWS11/140129919 

Climate tweets for 8 January 2014

#Texas Cold in Perspective: #Climate Abyss http://blog.chron.com/climateabyss/2014/01/texas-cold-in-perspective/ … #globalwarming #polarvortex #divest

Cold, hard facts: @AtmosNews http://www2.ucar.edu/atmosnews/opinion/10886/cold-hard-facts#.UsyJcjHeRuA.wordpress … #climate #globalwarming #polarvortex #divest

The #Arctic Has Barfed: ClimateSight http://climatesight.org/2014/01/07/the-arctic-has-barfed/ … #climatedisruption #globalwarming #polarvortex #divest

New Year Brings More Extreme Weather, #Flooding 4 Storm-Weary #UK: @climateprogress http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/07/3130031/extreme-weather/ … #climate #divest

Are economics & #ethics of fossil fuel #divestment aligning? http://shar.es/9xoTl  #climate #globalwarming

RT Climate Progress ‏@climateprogress: BOMBSHELL: Observations point to 10 degrees F of warming by 2100 http://thkpr.gs/1cZRjNd 

#Republican Talks About Changing Dialogue On #Energy & #Climate: @350orbust1 http://350orbust.com/2014/01/07/changing-the-dialogue-on-energy-climate/ … #globalwarming #divest

#Australia's hottest year no freak event: humans caused it: @ConversationEDU http://theconversation.com/australias-hottest-year-was-no-freak-event-humans-caused-it-21734 … #climate #divest

RT Tom Burke ‏@tom_burke_47: #Thames barrier was closed just four times in 1980s, compared to 80 times since 2000 http://bit.ly/1ggbaYr  #London #floods #climate #risk

RT ClimateNexusHotNews ‏@ClimateHotNews: RT @ColbertReport "If there's one thing @realDonaldTrump knows, it's expensive bullshit." -- @StephenAtHome http://pic.twitter.com/Tic0zLrQuS

RT Thomas Smith ‏@DrTELS: Impressive climate indicators array in BAMS "State of the Climate in 2012" report, most without warming pause #QRA50 http://pic.twitter.com/WohCc05HN7

On the polar vortex and climate communications

Just a few quick thoughts on this from my vantage point as a retired communications specialist:

- There is no point in explaining how and why the polar vortex may be the result of global warming.  I've seen a few articles popping up along these lines lately, and my advice is, save your breath. Even though I think it's probably true (disruption of a complex system via a massive influx of heat can lead to chaotic results), few if any climate scientists are going to be willing to provide credible support.  Most of them haven't even been willing to state that extreme weather events that seem very plausibly related, such as the great U.S./Canada heat wave of spring 2012 or the terrible Russian heat wave of summer 2010, are due to human-caused climate change.  Without that credible backing, you're dead in the water.

- Trying to connect the vortex and global warming sounds deceptive on its face.  Any explanation of how and why the two might be connected is necessarily complex and subject to many unknowns.  That being the case, what the average person hears is, "Yada, yada, everything is due to global warming."  This does nothing for the credibility of science communications--instead, it just gives those in denial an easy counter.

- The polar vortex event is a one-off and should be treated as such.  This just in--as I was drafting, a tweet appeared from the estimable Heidi Cullen referring to graphics from many cities showing that extreme cold events have become more rare since 1970. That's a good way to go in handling this event (and don't say "no weather event can be used to demonstrate climate"--the time is surely coming when such events will be so extreme they can no longer be ignored).

- Better to focus on the weather extremes that have been predicted by climate science and are continuing to happen as we speak.  Within the past month:

• Australia has wrapped up its hottest year on record--not a few days or weeks, but a year, for an area as large as the U.S. (which, by the way, had its hottest year on record waay back in 2012, for those who have already forgotten).
• Torrential downpours have struck islands in the eastern Caribbean, and parts of Brazil.
• Argentina and part of Brazil have seen a record heat wave.
• December 2013 was Scotland's wettest month ever.
• California and Oregon finished their driest year ever, with rainfall amounts at a number of locations that were startlingly below previous all-time lows.

Heat waves, drought, precipitation extremes--all have been predicted and are reasonable to expect as results of a warming planet.