-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
We have previously discussed, here, the data from NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies showing that 2010 as the warmest climate year on record. We now have confirmation from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to NOAA scientists, 2010 tied 2005 as the warmest year of the global surface temperature record, with record keeping beginning in 1880.
Also, Global Historical Climatology Network states that 2010 was the wettest year on record, in terms of global average precipitation.
The map below shows the change on a statewide basis:
The polar bear population is showing the effects of loss of habitat, i.e. sea ice. The southern Beaufort Sea area contains one of the most extensively studied polar bear populations on the planet. The survival rate of cubs has dropped and males are experiencing lower body weight. Data from this population helped lead the the U.S. declaring the polar bear a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The western Hudson Bay population has dropped from 1200 in 1987 to 950 individuals in 2004.
Of the 19 subpopulations of polar bears:
- 8 are declining
- 3 are stable
- 1 is increasing
- 7 have insufficient data
H/T: NOAA, Polar Bears International, IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group.
This is Gavin Schmidt’s own blog posting on the affair, posted today.
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2011/01/getting-things-right/
Sorry, “gross example” above should read “gross exaggeration”.
Yes, the science rapid responders have caught this one. Usually they’re having to debunk some denialist nonsense but here they caught some half-baked report that purported to present scientific findings that amount to a gross example of current trends:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/19/false-climate-change-study
Gavin Schmidt, a NASA climatologist and climate modeler also known for the climate blog RealClimate, was quoted as saying: “: “2.4C by 2020 (which is 1.4C in the next 10 years – something like six to seven times the projected rate of warming) has no basis in fact.”
Schmidt’s (excellent) blog: http://realclimate.org/
It is run entirely by climate scientists.
Bdaman,
Thank you for more evidence that the system works – you just strengthened the case for the scientific consensus! 😉
Thanks, I think I’ll take a more serious look into a sleep study. And speaking of studies.
A study warning that the planet would warm by 2.4C by 2020, creating deadly consequences for the global food supply, is being debunked as false and impossible.
The study came from a little-known, non-profit group based in Argentina, called the Universal Ecological Fund. An embargoed copy of the study appeared on Eurekalert!, a news service operated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that’s followed by many journalists.
The study was picked up by a number of international news organizations Tuesday. But it appears the study’s claims were erroneous.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110119/climate-change-study-110119/
My roommate just had a sleep test a couple of days ago and now has an appointment for calibration. I was able to do both in the same night (after 2 hours they woke me up and put a mask on me for the rest of the night).
Slarti,
Ahhhh. I did not know there was a calibration. When my mother got hers, there was no talk of calibration. Only a needs assessment and a fitting for the head gear.
Slarti,
lol … that would keep him from nodding off
Blouise,
I’ve been unemployed (I’m trying to start a mathematical modeling consulting business) and without health insurance for the last year, so I’m not getting checkups or C-PAP maintenance/supplies paid for (initially the machine was rented, but I own it now (paid for by my insurance when I still had it). I’m tempted to turn Bdaman’s tactics against him – stalk him around the blog and spam any thread he posts on with articles about sleep apnea… 😉
Bdaman,
What they are determining is what the appropriate settings are – I assume my machine is still performing to spec and that the settings I need haven’t changed because I’m still getting a good night’s sleep when I use it. Just because the concept is simple doesn’t mean the implementation is simple enough for an untrained person to do it. Over-the-counter isn’t always a good idea (e.g. anti-biotics).
Bda,
My friends’ machines are provided by a company that also provides oxygen machines and nebulizers. Their hospitalization pays the monthly “rental” fee. The company maintains the machines (I think it’s once every 3 months) and they see their doctors for certification once a year.
I’m sure Slarti could tell you more
you need a sleep test to calibrate the machine.
OK so I assume they calibrate the force of air that the machine pumps. How many times have you checked to see if it is the same as your original prescription and is there a time frame in which the manufacturer suggest checking the calibration.
Buddha said,
“Although I agree [C-PAPs] should be available without prescription.”
I don’t think this is currently feasible – as I pointed out to Bdaman, you need a sleep test to calibrate the machine.
Bdaman,
It is necessary to get a sleep test to get a C-PAP – they need to have you all wired up while sleeping (a couple dozen wires glued to your head and sensors on your limbs) in order to calibrate the C-PAP. I resisted the advice of several friends (and my ex-wife) for years before I finally got a sleep test – if you’re not going to do it for yourself, I would suggest doing it for your wife (my snoring was a contributory cause of my divorce).
Sincerely,
Kevin
p.s. A good friend’s father died of sleep apnea at age 50 – this is deadly serious.
Bdaman,
In re C-PAP machine.
It’s worth the hoops.
Although I agree they should be available without prescription.
Your the second person to tell me that. I know I need one but can’t justify jumping through the hoops to get one, ie sleep clinic. I should be able to get one without a prescription.
I’ve been snoring loud since age twelve. A friend of mine who was said to be my equal said he could not believe the difference that it made in his life. There are some other alternatives that are just hitting the market now so will see. First it was get the surgery which I don’t do surgery, then the C-PAP which has held it’s own for a long time now.
Bda,
I second Slarti suggestion. I have two good friends who got a sleep-test and then a C-PAP … it changed their lives!
As to the spare tire … South Beach Diet?
Though honestly … a good night’s sleep over a protracted time may change your metabolism …
Bdaman,
You mention snoring – I have sleep apnea, too (mild sleep apnea is 10-20 breathing stoppages per hour, moderate is 20-30, severe is over 30 and I’m in the neighborhood of 100). Look into getting a sleep test – you probably need a C-PAP (a machine which blows air into your mouth and nose to prevent the muscles in your throat from collapsing to block your airway). I got one a couple of years ago and it changed my life – I now know what getting a good night’s sleep feels like…
Bdaman,
I just wanted to point out that one of your favorite memes (fewer surface temperature readings in cold locations create a bias) got completely debunked (a link to recent scientific paper that examined the issue and found no bias) upthread. I’m sure that you will give up that argument which has now been shown to be false. And I would remind you that polling does not effect the science of climate change any more than in does the science of evolution.
p.s. I think that Bill O’Reilly is 100% correct when it comes to climate change… we need to clean up pollution regardless of whether or not anthropomorphic climate change is an issue for the good of everyone – where have I heard that before? (He made a comment to this effect on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ last fall)
Blouise it was the best, with the exception that based on my snoring habits I required a separate room at the Marriat from the rest of the family. I had stayed up late with the hopes my wife may come to visit me after putting the kids to bed. However that didn’t happen. Breakfast was good but I’m afraid that this could be the reason why she didn’t. My belly is starting to look like I may have had one too many 🙂
Thanks Raff but in re to
You can choose to keep your head in the sand and deny what is going on all around you,
I had a hard enough time trying to dig my ass out of the snow.:)