GaryS

47 minutes ago, Typhoon Tip said:

Too black or white ...   Scientific wisdom says this is a much too stringent perspective.   Particularly ...the use of that word, "worthless" -

It would only be that way if the undergirding of climate system was excessively different - which it is not.   This is not Venus ... despite the entire state of the climate change zeitgeist. 

The zeitgeist is what it is, because unfortunately .. .humanity does little based upon verbal warning. They have to be struck by discomfort, failing that, fear, to engine motivation to change.  

I've often mused, 'humanity sets upon the proverbial rail tracks, and as the iron beneath their feet has begun to whir ... they don't move off the track - they argue about the style of shoes they wear to the engagement.' 

That's because it is an evolutionary trap ( perhaps, irony...) that we do not really respond to threats unless they directly appeal to the standard senses:  sight, sound, taste, touch, or smell.  If you warn someone of impending doom... they look up and try to observe its truth, utilizing these senses.  But, if they look up and see the impending intersect with the "train" as an observable destiny... they will go great strides to avoid said intersect.  

Climate change is in that folly of evolutionary space.  It doesn't have any advocates that directly expose to these standard senses - although ... indirectly? Sure, as we are seeing evidences in the system that CC's slow cook is a destructive influence now. It is thus no wonder why there are more obvious movements and legislation, in general, around the 'responsible' governments of the world. It's because even so much as an indirect observation framework ... begins to appeal to a sense of realism.   As an aside, ... human ingenuity has outpaced the biological method for downloading information about the surrounding environment.  These "senses" ?  They are nature's "USB ports"

The way to compensate for the "toad in pan of water," unwitting experiment humanity is turned up the heat on itself ( if one is less aware of that cruel experiment, this metaphor won't work...), is to use fear.   It's an unfortunate circumstance that CC has to be over-sold in order to motivate change...  An overselling that leads to people applying CC to every thunderstorm.  Including ...odd patterns of behavior that failed an analog.  Analogs failed in 1980, too.   

The dial on the Global temperature has moved between .85 and 1 deg C, in the last 100 years.  It's not an all or nothing... The cliche, 'shades of gray' is unfortunately apropos.    

 

My father-in-law who is now retired was head of the Canadian Weather Service Atlantic division and also Canada's Chief hurricane tracker and he does not believe in climate change the way it's perceived today. The climate has changed on its own for eons without the help of mankind. He believes any change in climate is natural to the planet. He believes that pollution is one thing and climate change is another so the way Tip has described it would be similar to his thoughts.

Good shot from Marblehead. That's the Barnacle restaurant and yes people are in having cocktails while these waves break over.

Still coming down in Marblehead 

Looking at 8 inches so far here in Marblehead. 

Temp still 36 but have changed back from rain to heavy sleet. 15 miles Northeast of Boston. 

36 and rain here on the coast. Started as light snow and we got a nice coat on before the switch over. 15 miles Northeast of Boston.

Trees down all over town, different parts of the town without power.

Wow! Crushed here in Marblehead. Watched my neighbor's gutter blow off his house.

30.2 andight snow in Marblehead 

Snowing here in Marblehead. Light coating.