A Personal Study into Global Warming
Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
by Nancy Daniels
Voice Dynamic
No, this is not a scientific study but a study done from my memories. Memories of living in South Jersey for more than 50 years, albeit a 16-year excursion to London, Ontario and much briefer hiatuses in Washington, DC as well as New York City.
Since all the debate over global warming, I have been trying to remember the answers to a few very important questions.
2. Was it colder back in the 50's and 60's? (By the way, whatever happened to the global cooling that was headline news for several years back in the 70's?)
3. Do I not remember blizzards, squalls, and several feet of snow throughout the winter months when I walked to school?
4. Was I not sledding on a daily basis?
As much as I may not remember the exact amount of snow that we actually did receive, the one thing I do remember are snow days – days in which school was closed. The truth is, however, I remember very few of them. It seldom happened; and, when it did, we were overjoyed. Living in an area that often canceled school before those delicate ice crystals even began their journey, I am beginning to understand that snow was not that common in my neck of the woods when I was a child. Certainly it happened, but it was less likely than more.
The corridor of land lying within 60 miles of the coastline from New York City to Washington, DC, gets very little precipitation in the fall and winter months compared to the spring. Thus, without precipation, one cannot have snow no matter how cold it is. We do, however, get goodly rain in the spring; hence, those April showers do indeed bring the lovely May flowers. While we can have rain in the summer, usually it doesn't happen enough which is why my water bill is sometimes 3 times its normal rate during July and August: I have extensive gardens that need a lot of water.
The reason I am so concerned about ‘global warming' is because, for the last 2-1/2 weeks, we have yet to get above 32 degrees. And personally, I am tired of the bitter cold that has occurred since our major snow storm the week before Christmas. It has been more than 3 weeks since the heavens dropped 2 feet of snow in my yard; and, while most of it is gone, there are still a few remnants lying frozen to the ground.
Did it get this cold when I was young? Absolutely. But it wasn't the norm. In fact I don't ever remember it being this cold this early in the season. And here it is only January 12th – we've still got February and March to deal with!Is it hotter in the summer because of global warming? Absolutely not. It is (and always has been) hot in the summer months here in New Jersey. It is one of the reasons why we grow the best corn and tomatoes in the country. No other state can touch these two forms of produce and the explanation is two-fold: we have just the right kind of soil and we have hot, humid summers which both vegetables demand. In addition, neither wants an abundance of water. Now you may have the humidity and the heat, but you don't have our dirt! Even neighboring Delaware and Pennsylvania can't do with corn and tomatoes what New Jersey does.
I am tired of the debate over global warming because the records prove that for the past decade the earth has actually been getting cooler. But I don't need scientists to tell me what my 10 oak trees already knew. I predicted that it was going to be a bitterly cold winter this past fall because of the thousands of acorns that covered my yard like a blanket. [I spent weeks trying to avoid being blasted by those darned nuts when I was out on my deck. And, next spring? I will be bombarded with hundreds and hundreds of oak seedlings that the squirrels so furiously buried – in the garden, the grass, and my flower pots!]
In addition, my heating bills for the next 3 months will be further proof that people are wasting an enormous amount of time, money, and ‘energy' trying to correct a condition that is known as weather. Some years it is cooler; some years it is warmer; and, right now, it is cold. To all you who believe that mankind is directly responsible for the weather, would you kindly send a little global warming my way!
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)"I am tired of the debate over global warming because the records prove that for the past decade the earth has actually been getting cooler"They really don't though, quite the opposite - the top 10 hottest years on record (globally speaking) are, from hottest to coldest:2005, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2004, 2001, 2008 and 1997.So 8 of the last 10 years are in the top 10 hottest years on record (and that's without data for 2009 so it didn't have a chance to get into the top 10!).Ben,I am questioning your figures -- in this country, particularly where I live, those statistics do not hold true. The 30's in this country still gave us several of the hottest years. And those records haven't been broken.I appreciate your thoughts as well as the fact that Europe has just experienced one of the coldest records ever.
Interesting approach to documenting global warming. I might keep a track yearly weather patterns over the years to see if I notice any changes.Ty,I don't believe in global warming but I do know that this is one of the coldest winters from what 'mother nature' and The Farmer's Almanac is saying. They both seem to get it right more often than the weather people. Even the weather people are questioning what is going on.
Sending you a big hug for a voice of reason in this topic which has gotten way too Al Gore-ish. I appreciate your insights and, I too, am tired of this frozen cold. Some will tell you the distinction lies between climate and weather...I think you happened to hit the nail on the head with this piece. Marijo (born and raised in Minnesota so I can relate to lack of snow says in the 50s and 60s)Is it a voice of reason, or emotional sympathy? What's happening in the rest of the world? Ah ha! That's the real test of global warming.
A beautiful article as usual, but you have brought out what my old grandmother calls "knowing it in my bones"! The gnarled old folks could tell you that our weather is changing for the worse without all the gadgets and expenditure that scientists use. And this happens from the Americas to Africa to NewZealand. What is important is to determine what we can - if anything - do about it and then get on with it!Olufemi,Good points. Your grandmother was right. There is question as to our audacity to think mankind can actually change the weather.
Nancy, this is a good article and I'm in agreeement with you. I don't know where Ben is getting his figures unoless it is from Al Gore. Here is a quote from the NASA website (written in 2005 so the last several years are not included.Globally, 1998 has proven to be the warmest year on record, with 2002 and 2003 coming in second and third, respectively. "There has been a strong warming trend over the past 30 years, a trend that has been shown to be due primarily to increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," Hansen saidThat says that 1999, 2000 2001, 2004 were all cooleer than 1998, 2002 and 2003. No years have yet been as high as 1998.I enjoy all your articles.Funny you would question Ben's facts, but not Nancy's wistful longings.Gregory,My article doesn't question Ben's 'facts;' it is merely the common sense approach.Thanks always, Joel, for your supportive comments. Because I spend so much time outdoors, I can always tell how cold it is or hot it is because of the clothing I must wear (or not wear). Also, how much snow I am shoveling tells me a lot as well.
Great article. I know that weather is cyclical as past records indicate. I think fixing the economy is more important. Thanks for sharing. Linda DLinda,What a good idea! Sadly, if we put all our energy into global warming, it is going to cost us tremendously and help Al Gore financially all the more. My advice? Forget global warming; let me keep my incandescent light bulbs; and let's put the country back to work.
Don't confuse weather and climate. It is hard enough to predict the first and impossible to predict the latter. 20,000 years ago we were in an ice age. At the time of the last dinosaurs the Earth's average temp was 45 degrees C (113 F).You are right, Jack.I wish more people were able to appreciate the powerful changes our earth has gone through since its beginnings.
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