July 9th, 2009
El Nino evidence that global warming is real?
NOAA has just announced the presence of an El Nino phenomenon. That’s a short term alteration in usual weather patterns that includes warmer ocean surface temps along the Pacific Coast of North America.
The predictable effects of an El Nino are varied. Less upwelling along the Pacific Coast and thus less fish and hardship for many ocean birds. Fewer Atlantic hurricanes. More rain in the southwestern U.S. Worse winter storms in California. More severe storms in the southeastern U.S. but much reduced danger of forest fires in Florida.
El Nino weather patterns have also produced deadly severe storms across Latin America. This current El Nino is just revving up so it’ll be around through next winter at least.
NOAA’s official line is that an El Nino can occur every two to five years. The most recent was 2006, just three years ago.
If this El Nino performs as expected by climatologists will that lend any credence to their larger projections on global warming? After all, the El Nino call from NOAA is based on temperature measurements over time, sound familiar? I would not expect the doubters to be swayed by mere evidence.
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A newsman since 1969, Harry Fuller has worked for CBS, ABC, CNBC Europe, CNET and was founding news director at TechTV. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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