Welcome back to the TOE; been too long but a snow day, actually a second snow day, prompted a bit of how do I even get to my blog on google but I'm ready to go. Have you noticed it's been a bit chilly of late, actually, since Christmas? Thought the planet might have your attention, seems to have everyone's east of the rockies. So, what is up with the bitter cold and the monster "bombcyclone" that just rolled up the Atlantic seaboard; in a short answer, global warming.
What has a monster, hurricane-like storm in the winter got to do with global warming; same thing as the monster hurricanes this summer, warm water. The water in the tropics and off the east coast is still much warmer than it would be normally (what does that mean on Earth - nothing really) this time of year. The storm blew up with incredibly low pressure from the extra energy in the water vapor that it collected from the warmer water as the storm headed north. The bitterly cold air already in place over the land was the classic winter storm from the south that we here in Virginia know...and love!!
The wild wind whipping outside the cozy tire house is a result of the extreme pressure differences between the "bomb" low and the massive polar high off to the west; more extremes resulting from extra energy trapped by the ever increasing levels of both methane and carbon dioxide in our ever changing atmosphere.
Hang on folks, the extremes of the 21st century are just getting started!! Good thing our leaders are working on changes that will slow the dumping of greenhouse gasses...oh, yea, they aren't...I forgot, it's back to drill, frack and buy a bigger truck. So, want to check on global warming, bundle up and take a walk (like I'm about to) today on Earth. Don't be surprised that the big planet doesn't care what you think but will be happy to give you a quick reminder with that light breeze, today on Earth.
Happy 2018!!
