Our atmosphere is quickly losing heat

Weekly Weather Almanac

According to James Taylor of Forbes Magazine in a recent July 27, 2011, article:

New NASA data has "blown a gaping hole" in the claims of global warming alarmists, especially those charts of Al Gore.

NASA satellite research from the years 2000 through 2011 showed that the Earth's atmosphere has allowed "far more heat to be released into space" than alarmist's computer models had earlier predicted would be the case.

The science journal Remote Sensing, in a study conducted by Dr. Roy Spencer of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, has indicated that there will be "far less global warming in the coming decades than the United Nations computer models have predicted."

This study supports prior research that suggested that "increases in atmosphere carbon dioxide actually trap far less heat than the alarmists have claimed since the early 1980s."

NASA's Terra Satellite found that "the atmosphere begins shedding heat into space long before United Nations and private computer models have predicted."

There is "a huge discrepancy" between NASA's data and various computer models as to just how much heat is released over the oceans, which cover 70 percent of the planet.

The new NASA Terra Satellite data is consistent with long-term NOAA studies that have indicated that atmospheric humidity and cirrus clouds formations "are not increasing to the extent that the alarmist's computers have predicted."

In short, the central premise of the man-made global warming theory is that carbon dioxide emissions should be directly or indirectly trapping an ever increasing amount of heat in the Earth's atmosphere. This heat is prevented for the most part from being able to escape up into space. At least, that's what the global warmist alarmists say.

Real-world day-to-day measurements by satellite, however, show that "far more heat than expected" is indeed escaping the greenhouse. The windows are 'wide open,' especially over the oceans, which also act as 'chimneys' for pollution and hot air.

I should likewise mention that temperatures in the south-central Pacific Ocean waters have generally been cooler than normal for the last several years. It appears that another cool, wet 'La Nina' will be strengthening in the next several months. Another in a series of colder and snowier than normal winter seasons could grip much of the Northern Hemisphere this upcoming winter of 2011-12. Stay tuned.

NORTH IDAHO WEATHER REVIEW AND LONG-RANGE OUTLOOKS

On Saturday, Sept. 24, we observed our 22nd 'Sholeh Day' of the season and the ninth day this September with afternoon highs of 90 degrees or above. Needless to say, it was a great summer overall, warm and dry, nearly perfect for outdoor activities.

But, it was good to see some much-needed rains earlier this week. The .34 inches of precipitation on Tuesday was the most moisture at my station on Player Drive in more than 2 1/2 months, since .63 inches fell on July 13.

Following three or four beautiful late September and early October days with afternoon highs approaching 80 degrees by Sept. 30, there should be three or four wet days between Oct. 2-5 with occasional showers and much cooler temperatures in the lower 60s.

Our total September precipitation of .65 inches was .83 inches below the monthly normal of 1.48 inches. Last September, in 2010, we gauged .90 inches in town.

Temperatures during September once again averaged well above normal. This month's warmest reading was 94 degrees on the 12th. The coolest morning was Sept. 29 with 36 degrees.

Looking farther down the meteorological roadway, I see a pattern of 'sun and showers' during much of October. Frosts and freezes will be likely locally by the 'full moon' cycle of Oct. 12-19, close to the average occurrence of such chilly days.

Longer-term, if the reborn 'La Nina' cooler than normal sea-surface temperature event in the waters of the south-central Pacific Ocean does indeed gain strength in the next few months as expected, we could see as much as 80 to 100 inches of snow in the Coeur d'Alene area this fast-approaching winter of 2011-12.

But, if we also see increased sunspot activity this winter, our total snowfall would probably dip to around 65 to 70 inches, fairly close to the seasonal normal of 69.8 inches and far less than last winter's nearly double normal total of 121 inches.

Next week, on Oct. 10, Randy Mann will tell us about the strengthening 'La Nina.' He'll have a sea-surface chart, plus details on the latest sunspot activity.

Cliff Harris is a climatologist who writes a weekly column for The Press. His opinions are his own. Email sfharris@roadrunner.com