Science and Technology News

This article is reprinted from TransWorldNews. 

Washington, DC 7/22/2009 09:12 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)

The Science and Public Policy Institute announces the publication of Climate Money, a study by Joanne Nova revealing that the federal Government has a near-monopsony on climate science funding. This distorts the science towards self-serving alarmism. Key findings: 

Ø      The  US Government has spent more than $79 billion of taxpayers’ money since 1989 on policies related to climate change, including science and technology research, administration, propaganda campaigns, foreign aid, and tax breaks. Most of this spending was unnecessary.

Ø      Despite the billions wasted, audits of the science are left to unpaid volunteers. A dedicated but largely uncoordinated grassroots movement of scientists has sprung up around the globe to test the integrity of “global warming” theory and to compete with a lavishly-funded, highly-organized climate monopsony. Major errors have been exposed again and again. 

Ø      Carbon trading worldwide reached $126 billion in 2008. Banks, which profit most, are calling for more. Experts are predicting the carbon market will reach $2 – $10 trillion in the near future. Hot air will soon be the largest single commodity traded on global exchanges.  

Ø      Meanwhile, in a distracting sideshow, Exxon-Mobil Corp is repeatedly attacked for paying just $23 million to skeptics—less than a thousandth of what the US government spends on alarmists, and less than one five-thousandth of the value of carbon trading in 2008 alone.

Ø      The large expenditure designed to prove the non-existent connection between carbon and climate has created a powerful alliance of self-serving vested interests.  

Ø      By pouring so much money into pushing a single, scientifically-baseless agenda, the Government has created not an unbiased investigation but a self-fulfilling prophecy.  

Ø      Sound science cannot easily survive the vice-like grip of politics and finance. 

Says Nova, “For the first time, the numbers from government documents have been compiled in one place. It’s time to start talking of “Monopolistic Science”. It’s time to expose the lie that those who claim “to save the planet” are the underdogs. And it’s time to get serious about auditing science, especially when it comes to pronouncements that are used to justify giant government programs and massive movements of money.” Robert Ferguson, SPPI’s president, says: “This study counts the cost of years of wasted Federal spending on the ‘global warming’ non-problem. Government bodies, big businesses and environmental NGOs have behaved like big tobacco: recruiting, controlling and rewarding their own “group-think” scientists who bend climate modeling to justify the State’s near-maniacal quest for power, control, wealth and forced population reduction. 

 “Joanne Nova, who wrote our study, speaks for thousands of scientists in questioning whether a clique of taxpayer-funded climate modelers are getting the data right, or just getting the “right” data. Are politicians paying out billions of our dollars for evidence-driven policy-making, or policy-driven evidence-making?  The truth is more crucial than ever, because American lives, property and constitutional liberties are at risk.”

Reprinted from TransWorldNews

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

With an average high temperature of 82 degrees at this time of year, Sunday’s 91 and forecasting 90s for Monday and Tuesday, we are getting a bit of an early taste of summer conditions.  About the only thing missing are dewpoints in the upper 60s and low 70s, but they too are forecast to rise as the week ensues.

We’ll expect to get into a “heat of the day” shower-thunderstorm pattern as early as Tuesday and again Wednesday. 

By Thursday a passing cold front will bring more widespread showers and storms.  Following the front, temps should cool down to something closer to normal for the weekend; mid 60s for lows and mid 80s for highs.

June 1 also marks the beginning of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico hurricane season. 

Pools are open already, so you may be tempted to find some relief this week!  Enjoy !

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

Hurricane season in our region of the world begins June 1.  A disturbance over the pennisula of Florida was hinting at an early start this year.  However the latest discussion below shows less of a chance of that system becoming the first tropical storm. 

SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
830 AM EDT TUE MAY 19 2009

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC…CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO…

1. SATELLITE IMAGES AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATE THAT THE WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED NEAR THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS IS BECOMING ABSORBED BY A LARGER NON-TROPICAL LOW CENTERED OVER FLORIDA.
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM NOW APPEARS UNLIKELY…AND THE AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT MISSION SCHEDULED FOR TODAY HAS BEEN CANCELED. IN ADDITION…LITTLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NON-TROPICAL LOW OVER FLORIDA IS EXPECTED AS IT MOVES WESTWARD INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO AT 10 MPH OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. 

 THERE IS A LOW CHANCE…LESS THAN 30 PERCENT…OF TROPICAL CYCLONE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.  THIS WILL BE THE LAST SPECIAL TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK ISSUED FOR THIS SYSTEM.

$$
FORECASTER BERG 

Atlantic Hurricane Names

The following names will be used for named storms that form in the North Atlantic in 2009. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2010. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2015 season. Names that were not used are marked in gray, and names in bold are storms currently active. This is the same list used in the 2003 season with the exception of Fred, Ida, and Joaquin, which replaced Fabian, Isabel, and Juan respectively. If there are more than 21 named storms (the 21st being Wanda) then any more tropical storm-strength systems will be named with the Greek alphabet, starting with Alpha. This has only occurred once, in 2005.

Tropical storms and hurricanes, particularly when they make landfall in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, can certainly affect the weather here in the Tennessee Valley.  Flooding rains and sometimes even tornadoes are spawned from the remnants of these powerful systems.

Storm Force 31 will be ever watchful for these possibilities!

All images from NOAA.

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

After enjoying a short (but sweet) warm-up for the end of the work week, it appears a return to more   January -like temperatures are in store for the weekend.

Rain is expected on Friday night as another cold front makes its way through our region.

 Rain should end early Saturday and winds will become blustery and northerly behind the front.  Gradual clearing and slowly falling temperatures are expected Saturday afternoon.

Sunshine should prevail on “Sun”day with temps ranging close to January normals.

Enjoy the weekend and join channel 31 at the annual boat show over the weekend at the VBC.

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

After record amounts of rainfall for the Tennessee Valley in the month of December, it appears this first full week of 2009 will follow the same soggy pattern. 

As you can see on the map above, several wet weather systems are poised just to our southwest moving generally toward our region over the next two days.  With a cold front that moved through early Monday, passing showers greeted the really early birds.  Overrunning moisture from the south is expected to bring rain and showers back over the valley as early as mid afternoon.

Then a warm front for Monday night and Tuesday will trigger heavier downpours and even a few thunderstorms during that period.  A following cold front will spark additional heavy downpours and thunderstorms for Tuesday evening and overnight into Wednesday morning.

A flood watch will be in effect for Monday night through Tuesday night with average rainfall amounts 2 to 4 inches, but some areas perhaps seeing as much as 5 inches.  Here is a look at the rainfall forecast map:

Catch the latest forecasts on channel 31 at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5, 6, and 10 p.m, or visit us at WAAYTV.com and click “weather”.

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

After enduring very cold temperatures and area snow and ice, a return to somewhat warmer conditions will be more than welcome this weekend.

However, accumulating snow was reported on Thursday night and Friday morning in northwest Alabama and southern middle Tennessee, causing some school closings and many other delays.  Then as temps continued to bottom out on Friday morning to freezing and below, many areas across north Alabama developed icing on roads, causing many traffic problems.

A high pressure system will dominate our weekend weather, and as the center of the feature moves east of north Alabama on Saturday, we expect warmer afternoon temps to ensue.

The next wet weather is expected into our region late on Monday, in the form of rain showers and thunderstorms.

Have a safe weekend!

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

After a very cold weekend, a welcome warm-up gets our work-week started.  After a high of only 40 degrees Sunday, Monday’s forecast high of low to mid 50s will be MORE than welcome!  Another change back to cold weather is expected by Wednesday, but ahead of that cold front we will experience gusty southerly winds Monday and Tuesday.  Showers and possibly thunderstorms enter the picture by Tuesday with heavy rain and an outside chance of strong/severe thunderstorms for Tuesday night as well.

Wednesday will see occasional showers as temps will be falling all day from a high of 48 degrees.  Any moisture remaining from this system on Thursday morning would be in the form of snow flurries or showers.

Today’s weather map shows the approaching complex of systems to bring us all the changes ahead.

For the latest on forecast changes, join the StormForce 31 weather team on WAAY 31, or check our webcast at WAAYTV.COM and click on the weather banner.

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

A Thursday cold front was spilling some arctic frigid air into the Tennessee Valley on Friday, setting the stage for what promises to be a very cold weekend.

A series of cold fronts will move through our area over the weekend period, reinforcing the cold air already in place.  With a very dry air mass over us, we do not expect any precipitation until at least Tuesday.  As the map shows below, a large area of high pressure will dominate our weather for the entire weekend.

The cold front shown in western Canada will make its way toward us by Tuesday to bring the likelyhood of showers and thunderstorms.  By Wednesday those showers could end up as snow flurries or showers as another blast of sub-freezing temperatures will spill in at that time.

Just bundle up and enjoy this taste of wintry temperatures!

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

Light snow greeted many across the Tennessee Valley on Monday morning.  The higher the elevation of any particular location, the more accumulation was noted.  Up to several tenths of an inch was measured in the moutaintops of Jackson and DeKalb counties in Alabama and Franklin County in Tennessee.  A light dusting was recorded at WAAY TV on Monte Sano mountain.

A winter weather advisory was issued until noon for the aforementioned counties due to icing on the higher elevation bridges and overpasses.

As you can see on the weather map below, the system responsible for the frozen mix in our area is centered over the Great Lakes.  As the low pressure area pulls to the northeast, we will see clearing on Monday night.

High pressure will settle in for Tuesday and Wednesday to offer clearer skies and a slow warm up until the next front, seen above in the Pacific northwest, comes through on Thursday to bring rain showers this in this go’round.

Friday and Saturday are looking dry but chilly.  With the WAAY 31 Huntsville Christmas parade coming up on Saturday, let us hope THIS forecast holds in place!

The parade starts at noon on Saturday the 6th of December; hope to see YOU there!

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

Some much needed rain moved through the Tennessee Valley on Monday, with clearing skies Monday night.  Morning temps were in upper 20s and low 30s as we expect dry conditions Tuesday, Wednesday and Thanksgiving Thursdsay.  Afternoon highs will start out in the low 50s with Thanksgiving warming up to the mid to upper 50s. 

The next round of rain is expected to develop late Friday into early Saturday with temps holding up to near seasonal averages.

Be sure to join us on channel 31 for the latest updates and any changes, if needed, during our Thanksgiving week.

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

A blast of cold air greeted the Tennessee Valley Monday with 33 degrees reported at 11:59 p.m. Sunday night.  By 6 a.m. temps were in the upper 20s and around 30 degrees across the area.  Another cold front was working through the valley during the day, which brought a band of cloudiness and even a few passing sprinkles.  Skies are expected to clear out Monday night making way for the next wave of colder air.  As you can see on the map below, a large area of strong high pressure will control our weather for the week ahead.  With another reinforcing cold front expected by Thursday, it will indeed be a long cold week.

…ALABAMA’S WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IS TODAY THROUGH   
WEDNESDAY…NOVEMBER 19TH…  
 
FALL IS HERE…SO WINTER CAN’T BE FAR BEHIND. THE NATIONAL WEATHER   
SERVICE AND ALABAMA’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY WOULD LIKE TO   
BRING WINTER WEATHER THREATS TO THE FOREFRONT…AND HEIGHTEN   
EVERYONE’S AWARENESS TO THESE HAZARDS.   
   
..OUTLOOK  
 
FIRST…A SHORT OUTLOOK FOR THE WINTER. THIS YEAR…ALABAMA WILL BE  
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A NEUTRAL CLIMATE PATTERN. THIS WILL RESULT   
IN AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION ESPECIALLY BY   
JANUARY…AND AT OR NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES. WITH THIS PATTERN   
TAKING SHAPE…WE AN EXPECT SOME PERIODS OF MILD   
WEATHER…INTERMINGLED WITH A FEW BRIEF TYPICAL WINTER WEATHER   
EVENTS…OR IN OTHER WORDS…A NEAR NORMAL WINTER IN ALABAMA.   
   
..WINTER TERMS  
 
WIND CHILL…WIND CHILL IS BASED ON THE RATE OF HEAT LOSS FROM   
EXPOSED SKIN CAUSED BY THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF WIND AND COLD   
TEMPERATURES. AS THE WIND INCREASES…HEAT IS CARRIED AWAY FROM THE   
BODY AT AN ACCELERATED RATE…DRIVING DOWN THE BODY TEMPERATURE.   
ANIMALS ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY WIND CHILL. INANIMATE OBJECTS SUCH AS   
PIPES AND CAR RADIATORS ARE NOT AFFECTED. WHEN THE WIND CHILL   
APPROACHES MINUS 20 DEGREES…FROSTBITE CAN OCCUR IN 15 MINUTES OR   
LESS. DUE TO THE HAZARDS OF LOW WIND CHILL VALUES…THE NATIONAL   
WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE WILL ISSUE A WIND CHILL ADVISORY WHEN   
THE WIND CHILL FACTOR IS BETWEEN 0 DEGREES AND TEN DEGREES BELOW   
ZERO. A WIND CHILL WARNING WILL BE ISSUED WHEN THE WIND CHILL VALUE   
IS BELOW TEN DEGREES BELOW ZERO.   
 
FROSTBITE…FROSTBITE IS DAMAGE TO BODY TISSUE CAUSED BY TISSUE   
BEING FROZEN. FROSTBITE CAUSES THE LOSS OF FEELING AND A WHITE OR   
PALE APPEARANCE IN EXTREMITIES…SUCH AS FINGERS…TOES…EAR LOBES   
OR THE TIP OF THE NOSE. IF SYMPTOMS ARE DETECTED…SLOWLY WARM THE   
AFFECTED AREAS AND SEEK MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY.   
 
HYPOTHERMIA…IS THE LOSS OF HEAT FROM THE BODY. WARNING SIGNS ARE   
UNCONTROLLABLE SHIVERING…MEMORY LOSS…AND DISTORTION. TREATMENT   
SHOULD BE SOUGHT IMMEDIATELY.   
 
WINTER STORM WATCH…ISSUED WHEN TWO OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW IS    
POSSIBLE IN A TWELVE HOUR TIME PERIOD OR FOUR OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW  
IS POSSIBLE IN A 24 HOUR TIME PERIOD. A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ALSO   
ISSUED WHEN AT LEAST A QUARTER OF AN INCH OR GREATER OF ICE IS ALSO   
POSSIBLE. THE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN EITHER THE ABOVE LISTED HEAVY   
SNOW OR ICE IS EXPECTED FROM 12 TO 36 HOURS IN THE FUTURE.   
 
WINTER STORM WARNING…ISSUED WHEN TWO OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW IS   
EXPECTED IN A TWELVE HOUR TIME PERIOD OR FOUR OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW   
IS POSSIBLE IN A 24 HOUR TIME PERIOD. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ALSO   
ISSUED WHEN AT LEAST A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE IS ALSO POSSIBLE   
FROM THE CURRENT TIME OUT TO AS MUCH AS 36 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE   
CURRENT TIME.    
 
OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS WE WILL COVER MORE WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS   
AND HOW TO BETTER PREPARE FOR WINTER WEATHER.

Information from NWS and NOAA

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31

The date of November 15, 1989 is etched forever in my memory. It was the day of the killer tornado that moved through south Huntsville and took twenty-two lives and injured some five hundred others.  It was a stark reminder of our “second severe weather season” in the Tennessee Valley and the south in general.

That day started out very mild and very humid.  An approaching cold front was expected to produce, at the least, very strong thunderstorms.  Here is radar from that day by early afternoon; 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.

Because the system had already produced tornado warnings in Mississippi and severe thunderstorm warnings in northwest Alabama, I decided to go ahead and begin wall to wall coverage on channel 31 at around 1 p.m.  After a number of thunderstorm warnings in the northwestern part of our viewing area, and damage reports coming in to our newsroom from that region, our news department joined me in studio to begin what I believed would be a very serious weather threat for the metro area of Morgan, Limestone, and Madison counties…the most densely populated sector of north Alabama.  Here is radar at 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.

It was 4:24 p.m. when the F-4 tornado touched down at the old airport and roared across South Memorial Parkway and right along Airport Road, then headed through Jones Valley.  Channel 31 was able to stay on the air during and after the tornado thanks to a backup generator we had purchased after the ice storm of February 1985.  Later, when I visited the disaster scene, light snow was falling behind this very powerful cold front.

While there was no local doppler radar at that time, channel 31 was able to offer a couple minutes warning after intercepting a police broadcast of a sighting from the academy located at the old airport.

Remember, November is our second severe weather season in the valley.  We will keep you on top of such potential around the clock.

Gary Dobbs, Meteorologist / StormForce 31