Drought, Blistering Temperatures and Raging Fires: Are We Screwed? 5 Facts You Should Know

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/environment/drought-blistering-temperatures-and-raging-fires-are-we-screwed-5-facts-you-should-know



***SNIP

1. This is a record year for heat. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) reported that, "June temperatures contributed to a record-warm first half of the year and the warmest 12-month period the nation has experienced since recordkeeping began in 1895." As a heatwave scorched the country in June, thousands of temperature records were broken in various places. The NCDC said highs of 113 degrees in South Carolina and 112 degrees in Georgia are under review for all-time state temperature records.

***SNIP

2. Over half the country is in drought. It's not just severe, it's expansive, and it's being called the worst drought in 50 years . The government's Drought Monitor map on July 24 had over 53 percent of the country experiencing moderate or worse drought and 38 percent in severe or worse drought.


***SNIP

3. It's a disaster. The drought has hit Plains states and the Midwest particularly hard, affecting a large number of the country's farmers. The USDA has declared 1,369 counties in 31 states as disaster areas. Of those, 1,234 were the result of drought.

***SNIP

4. Greenland has experienced unprecedented melting. You may not be planning on vacationing in Greenland anytime soon -- but what happens in the icy country has world-wide implications. NASA reported, "On average in the summer, about half of the surface of Greenland's ice sheet naturally melts. At high elevations, most of that melt water quickly refreezes in place. Near the coast, some of the melt water is retained by the ice sheet and the rest is lost to the ocean. But this year the extent of ice melting at or near the surface jumped dramatically."

[Junkdrawer]

1. Multiple feedbacks being hit simultaneously....

Exponentials feeding exponentials. I think that even climate scientists are stunned.

[Berlum]

2. "Pish posh. Nothing to this." - Rush Payola Limbaugh (R)

"My 1% Republican Payola-Masters have demanded that I broadcast the USUAL LIES to all you pathetic RepubliProles out there in Fox TV and Radioland. So listen up, you Dopey Dipshits: Global climate change is not real. It's a liberal conspiracy (snark).


"The 1% Lord-and-Master Corporate ExecuWankers hereby command you to ignore your own lying eyes, to listen obediently to me and the other paid Republican Propaganda Stooges, and then to go forth and continue CONSUMING like a herd of deranged pigs."

- Rush Payola Limbaugh (R)

[Ezlivin]

3. Republicans want to switch to Celsius for lower temperatures

The heat wave would vanish once people heard it was "only" 40°C

If it gets really hot, they propose moving to the Kelvin scale.

[Berlum]

4. RepubliThink (R)

[raouldukelives]

5. And were still playing games.

I can only imagine what the contribution the Olympics are making to this problem. As are all sporting events. I'm all for games. I think they are fun. But not at the expense of the happiness of tomorrows animals & people.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Mother Nature is an Uncompromising, Eco-Terrorist Purist

She has given us a list of demands “This much CO2 and No More! This many Humans and No More!” And the filthy b***h didn’t even give us any reasonable numbers. Here’s what she said: “The only numbers I'll give you is body counts.”

Now, we have told her the political realities of the Senate. We told her that China is turning a deaf ear. Hell, we even tried to appeal to her ego by Green Washing everything in sight. But all she says is “You know the Laws of Thermodynamics, obey the Law or else.” Then we told her that we USED to be a nation of laws, but now we’re a nation of Billionaire rule and Billionaires could give a shit about Her laws. Her response was to lay waste to our breadbasket.

If we don’t stop her, I swear she’s getting ready to flood our coasts. It’s time we lock her up in isolation until she learns how to compromise in the face of our overwhelming power.

[Berlum]

7. Going be over 100 again today in Kansas farm country

The forecast for the coming week in Wichita:

Mon: Hi: 105 Lo: 78 Partly cloudy and very hot.

Tue: Hi: 102 Lo: 78 Partly cloudy and very hot.

Wed: Hi: 101 Lo: 75 Partly cloudy and very hot.

Thu: Hi: 103 Lo: 75 Partly cloudy and very hot.

Fri: Hi: 102 Lo: 75 Partly cloudy and very hot.

Sat: Hi: 105 Lo: 72 Mostly sunny and very hot.

[adigal]

8. I feel for all the animals and dogs tied outside

The people, not so much. Deniers add to this problem, help make it worse. It makes me a little crazy.

[Berlum]

9. The people have my respect

the latest stats show that 70% of the American public has rejected the Republican-corporate lies on climate change, and accepted reality.

Those who have opened their eyes and, shucked off the poisonous Republican propaganda,
merit respect.