Let's put it another way. You could invest that $20k in a Putnam bond fund as I just did and get 7.5% interest until maturity. You still have your money and enough to more than pay my electric bill. Maybe a lease like Larsb has with no money up front and it cuts his total electric expense to under $60 per month would be practical. As long as there are no hidden charges 5-10 years down the road. No deals like that around here. And you cannot sell back more than you buy from our local utility. I would imagine that little perk will go bye bye soon if too many people try selling solar energy back to the companies.
As an early adopter of solar my experience in Lake Havasu back in the early 1980s was NOT Good. Panels did not last 5 years and the company lasted less than the panels. $10k down the toilet and it did not cut my utility bills enough to cover my monthly payments. When you been there done that you are more cautious than the green horn that believes 90% of the population is honest....LOL
The real payback is when the grid goes down in 2012 and you still have lights.
Last I looked, panels for my house were going to run $40,000 before any subsidies. My house is all electric and my annual power costs are $1500.
I haven't priced panels for ~5 years now, but I keep hearing that supply is low, demand is high and production is still limited. If I could run my house for a $20,000 capital cost, then the numbers start to get interesting.
I'm hoping a friend who's versed in the Smart Grid that's being buzzed aroundin Denver will visit us later this week down here in Taos at the off-grid house we're staying out. Maybe I'll learn something.
I questioned that, too. Would you say that only 10% of the people in Phoenix are dishonest, larsb? You really are a glass half full rather than half empty kind a guy, aren't you larsb?
This month's second long spell of 90-degree weather entered its seventh day Tuesday, and forecasts predicted that it will continue for at least four more days.
With the region in one of its hottest summers, the number of heat-related deaths has risen to 19, according to authorities.
The intense heat and humidity that blanketed central Kansas since late last week have killed more than 2,000 cattle and one state official called the heat-related losses the worst in his 17 years on the job.
However, conditions for the cattle improved somewhat on Tuesday as the humidity has decreased and the wind has picked up, state and feedlot sources said.
Kansas is the third largest cattle state with more than 2 million cattle in feedlots.
"It is all cattle in feedlots. It is more the humidity than the heat," Ken Powell, environmental scientist with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said of the more than 2,000 cattle deaths.
The cattle deaths have overwhelmed rendering plants and some feedlots are burying the carcasses in accordance with state regulations, said Powell.
"From the standpoint of dealing with the disposal of animals, this is the worst I have seen in the almost 17 years I've been here," he said.
The death losses helped guide Chicago cattle futures higher on Monday, but on Tuesday the futures were near unchanged as traders awaited Friday's release of a USDA cattle supply report.
While the loss of cattle is a financial hardship for producers, the slowdown in weight gains in the surviving cattle can often have a greater impact on cattle markets.
"It is more the (beef) tonnage that is taken off. They (cattle) underperform," said Don Roose, analyst at U.S. Commodities Inc.
Cattle, on average, gain about 4 lbs of beef per day under ideal conditions. But during harsh weather, such as the current heat wave, that rates of gain declines.
"It has been just grueling," Roose said of the heat. "That has been what's underpinning the cattle market."
And:
Heat wave drowning Russian swimmers
At least 71 people drowned in the span of just 24 hours in Russia yesterday as throngs of people headed for lakes and streams to beat the summer heat. Russia is experiencing its hottest summer in decades with temperatures soaring well above 35 degrees celsius. The Russian Emergency Ministry says this is a record number of drowning deaths in a single day. In 2009 2,733 Russians drowned with most most deaths resulting from swimmers who were drunk. Observers say cases of heavily drinking vodka and swimming are rampant. In one case six school children drowned because their summer camp counselors were drunk. Close to 2,500 people already have drowned this year and the death toll is expected to far exceed last year's.
If I could run my house for a $20,000 capital cost, then the numbers start to get interesting.
That is a mighty big IF.
The more people add alternatives to the existing grid the higher the utilities will make the minimum charges. Those thinking that alternatives offer any kind of free lunch are out to lunch. When my wife and I discussed going solar she was under the misconception that it would provide power during an outage. I explained to be totally independent is another sizable outlay of cash. Though I did look at a backup system at Costco that uses propane.
I almost built on a lot in Hawaii I owned that was off the power grid. That was 1989. A solar system with battery backup and a small gen set was about $5000 total. The stove and refrigerator would have to be propane and NO AC. it was a 1KWH system for lights and electronics basically. Very basic system.
Before I even had plans someone offered me 3 times what I had paid a year earlier for the lot. So it was his problem. The 1st Gulf war hit right after we closed escrow and Hawaii property went into the toilet. That was a close one. It was at the 900 foot level so no worry about GW BS.
Is that with NO money down? What happens when the company goes belly up and the system stops working? You think the bank that is on the hook for the lease will come fix your system?
It was $1000 down, but I could have gotten a Zero down plan. I just chose to cut $37 a month off the lease payment by putting $1000 down - and saving myself $5,660 in extra lease payments over the term of the lease.
Whomever takes over at that end is legally obligate to fulfill that end of the lease.
But if SolarCity goes "belly up" then my lease payments STOP.
But if SolarCity goes "belly up" then my lease payments STOP.
You really believe the bank that put up the money for the lease is going to let you off the hook if Solar City goes out of business? You got me laughing good on that one.
At the end of the lease are you given the option to purchase? And or do they come and take it off your home? I got stuck taking the solar cells off my house in Havasu after they totally fogged up cracked and quit working.
Gary says, "You really believe the bank that put up the money for the lease is going to let you off the hook if Solar City goes out of business? You got me laughing good on that one."
Gary, I've got a contract that says what "SolarCity" is required to do, just as it says I agree to pay $39 per month.
Whomever takes over that end of the contract is legally obligated to take over the required functions of "SolarCity" in their stead.
At the end, I have these options:
1. establish a new 5-year lease based the on the "current market value" of the system at that moment in time. 2. Have them remove the system at zero cost to me, or if they choose not to do that, they can transfer ownership to me at no cost.
Does your payment stay at $39. per month for the full 5 years? In case you want to sell your home, have you checked to see what the buyout cost will be?
"SolarCity makes a killing because they get your lease payments AND all the federal and state tax breaks."
That's my point. $1,000 + 60X$39 = $3,340, a tiny fraction of the true cost of the system. We pick up the rest, add it to the national debt. Instead of spending my tax money there, I'm sure there are much more efficient places, $/KW-H wise.
larsb, I am sincerely sorry that you got caught up in the housing collapse and I hope things work out for the best for you. Sounds like a pretty good deal from Solarcity and I hope it lives up to your expectations.
You could also just do the lead acid batteries like the place we're staying at currently for backup. The frig here is a Hotpoint (it's an Energy Star but not that small).
Are they off the grid with an electric Frig? Gas refrigerators are very efficient. But very expensive at least back in the late 1980s. There is something alluring to me to be completely off the teat of government controlled utilities. I have looked a several places on the Big Island with no electric. Some have phone and Cellular pretty much covers the inhabited areas. You put up a big water tank and catch the rainwater off the roof. Not a bad way to control your costs. And Lead acid batteries are the best way to go. Cheap and last much longer than the exotics.
You get me to dreaming about the simple life without the hassles. Eating mangoes, avocados and papaya. I could live mighty cheap over there. I still have an acre in Leilani estates if CA becomes much more repressive.
Sounds like you will get to a break even point in a 5-6 years based on rates in my area Maybe rates in SW are higher. My electric bill averages $100 a month for about 900 kwh a month. About 11 cents per kwh. There are about $35 a month in charges even if I used zero kwh. Your system amortized for first five years is $60 a month for 580 kwh (guaranteed). Still about 10 cents per kwh. We have relatively cheap electric power in Indiana due to availability of WV coal and flat empty land to run power trans lines. You are getting a subsidized system in a very sunny climate and will break even in 5 years when compared to my rates. 5-6 years to make back the $1000 with renewable clean energy is good. Higher rates make it back faster. It wouldn't pan out in tornado alley. Hail and 65 to 70 mph straight winds are almost a weekly event in April and May here. This year I had my car door ripped out of my hand and bent forward by a straight wind. I had to install fender washers between the door and the hinges to get it back in place. Now it opens about 6 inches wider. I have to lean way out of the car to close it if I open it to the second notch.
I saw a photovoltaic paint that is being developed for roofs. They are working out the durability issues. It would be funny if it was so expensive that they leased the paint to you. Stop making payments and they come scrape it off.
They are off the grid with an electric frig. And it's not a Sunfrost or other expensive model - just a regular HotPoint with the freezer on top. Not apartment size either; plenty big enough for two. They did add a panel so they could dump their propane frig.
They also have a front loader washer (you have to haul the clothes a few steps to the solar dryer though). Since the washer is a good sized load on the system, they tend to wash clothes during the day when the panels are "on". If you had infants and were doing three loads of wash a day, you may have to get a gas powered washing machine. :shades:
No microwave or dishwasher here though. Oh, they don't do TV either, but they do have a small lcd/video deal.
I'm running my desktop computer with three drives and two lcd monitors much of the time from 9 am to midnight, but I do have it set to go to sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity.
The water catchment system is a metal roof, gutters, some sort of initial bypass so that the first few gallons of water get diverted after rinsing off the roof, then the rest goes into two 1500 water cisterns buried in the "yard". An electric pump moves the water around. On demand tankless water heater (also propane).
The cell phone works and they also have a booster. But I mostly use Skype to call people. Since there's no trees around their area, getting line of sight to the ISP access point for wireless net connection was easy, and they have a good connection.
That's it man. Now this is in the Taos area? What is the elevation? Sounds like you are enjoying your summer. That is great....
PS Is it warmer or cooler than the norm? Looks like you are getting those wonderful NM thunderstorms. Rains for a few minutes and the sun pops back out bright and warm.
All we had when I was growing up was a good ol' solar dryer. You had to be careful running through the back yard or you would catch your neck on it !!
My dad bought a farm when I was about 4 years old. A pretty nice house and 40 acres. I think it cost about $2700. When we moved in we had no electric, no running water, an outhouse, etc. I remember my mom washing clothes in the back yard in a big black iron pot with a fire built under it. Those were the good old days and we were happy as clams !
It's around 7,000 feet. Hard winters, judging by the big piles of cordwood you see around (there's only enough wood at this place to burn for about 8 hours, mostly scrap left over from construction three years ago...).
Yeah, it's been nice summer "working" vacation trip. Went to Santa Fe yesterday for lunch, museums and hit the hot springs on the way back. Heading back home early next week.
And it's been raining off and on for 2 days, so the cistern went up 3 inches (~400 gallons). I've lost count of all the double rainbows we've seen here. Lots of "heat" lightning most nights off in the distance. Today I saw the biggest jackrabbit I've ever seen and managed to ride my bike over a 3' long garter snake that I thought was a stick.
Smart move. Why were we funding British Universities when our own are hurting for money? AGW is a dead monkey. NO MORE WASTING TAX DOLLARS ON IT. :sick:
The snow was heavy even in Northern Argentina. In Santiago Del Estero, according to media reports, some areas experienced snow for the first time in living memory. In the province of Tucuman, some town saw snow for the first time since 1921
It even snowed in the Chaco of Bolivia, one of warmest areas of South America, where the local population never saw snow before. Classes were suspended in Bolivia for three days to prevent more cold related deaths
Too cold for penguins Jun 17, 2010 2:27 PM | By Sapa
Extreme cold, wind and heavy rain has killed 600 African penguin chicks on Bird island, a reserve located in Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The 19-hectare island is administered by SA National Parks as part of the Addo Elephant National Park.
"Penguin chicks started dying on Tuesday, when extremely cold weather, coupled with strong winds and heavy rainfall hit the Eastern Cape," SANParks regional communications manager Megan Taplin told Sapa.
The number of chicks that had died had risen to 600 by Thursday morning.
We had about a week of normal 90+ degree weather and now we are back down to about 10 degrees below normal. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying near perfect 80 degree days.
All the record heat in Russia and the record cold in Africa, Australia and South America proves, is climate changes in both directions and man in his arrogance cannot do anything to change the weather. Most cannot even predict what the weather will be tomorrow consistently. How stupid to think they can tell what it will be in 100 years. We have been duped by a Crazed Sex Poodle.
Gary says, "Most cannot even predict what the weather will be tomorrow consistently."
That statement alone proves we need to spend more money on research.
The unknowns need to be known. What is causing the warming? How can the results of our emissions be changed/reduced in a way which is most helpful to stabilize the climate?
"Man in his arrogance cannot do anything to change the weather" - that's a good one Gary.
Man-made chlorines, primarily chloroflourobcarbons (CFCs), contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer and allow larger quantities of harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the earth.
And:
Acid Rain? Heard of that?
Human activities are the main cause of acid rain. Over the past few decades, humans have released so many different chemicals into the air that they have changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere. Power plants release the majority of sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce electricity. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These pollutants cause acid rain.
So in summary: to say man cannot affect the weather is a ludicrous statement.
Fill up all the landfills as soon as possible. In fact, start tearing down beach property to build more landfills !!
Or better yet, just start dumping our trash in the ocean - it's HUGE - we could NEVER do anything to damage that big ole' thang.
Everyone living it hot summers should turn their thermostat to 60 degrees, starting today.
Let your car Idle overnight - it's good for the engine !!!
Let's make more cows so we can maximize out methane production - we need more GHG !! That ozone hole is WAY too small - if it covered all of North America, we could really start culling the population with skin cancer epidemics !!!
Why spend another dollar on weather research - we can't figure out what tomorrow's temp is, why bother?? Just deal with it as it comes along. Hot, cold, who cares? People die all the time - why care when they die from weather extremes?
We have too much coastline, anyway, right? Let those oceans rise. Venice just needs to be a scuba diver's haven, anyway, right? Manhattan is too big too - who cares if it loses a little coastline to water?
Who cares if we lose a few (or a few thousand ) species? There's no GUARANTEE that we might kill the living thing which provides us a final complete cure to cancer or aids or herpes, right ??????
All facetious, of course, but the point being to magnify the stupidity of not at least TRYING to make sure we don't make the Earf a more difficult place to live because of our useless excesses.
No Cap-N-Trade. No ridiculousness. No undue regulations.
But a common sense approach to research, making sure we know what we need to do and don't need to do in regard to our affect on the environment which provides us life? Yes.YES. YES.
But a common sense approach to research, making sure we know what we need to do and don't need to do in regard to our affect on the environment which provides us life? Yes. YES. YES.
Sadly little research is done today for the betterment of man or the planet. It is all agenda based to control the populace and build empires. We live in a corrupt self serving society. And the biggest offenders reside in the Federal, State and local governments. Giving them the opportunity to do something useful by encouraging their agenda, is like having the fox watch the hen house.
Why spend another dollar on weather research - we can't figure out what tomorrow's temp is, why bother?? Just deal with it as it comes along. Hot, cold, who cares? People die all the time - why care when they die from weather extremes?
Your facetious statement makes more sense than you seem to realize. Alternatives to current energy will come as they are needed. Forcing that process will only waste money and create boondoggles, Like Corn Ethanol or Wind farms that are no longer producing energy. All conceived to screw the tax payers and make big political contributors richer.
As the coasts erode away the Hawaiian coast gets bigger from the volcanoes. Been that way forever and will not change by the hand of man. They usually screw it up more than help. Think New Orleans.
PS you really need to read "The Control of Nature" by John McPhee. Shows how foolish man really is trying to control our environment.
I guess I am not seeing any ideas to curb excess that also don't come with ridiculous rules and cap 'n trade style shenanigans.
The developed world should not commit suicide so a few profiteers and bureaucrats can gain fortune and power, and the US taxpayer should not be aiding British organizations who aim for that brave new world.
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government From wasting the labors of the people under the Pretense of taking care of them.
AND
The democracy will cease to exist When you take away from those Who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
AND FINALLY
'I believe that Banking institutions are more dangerous to Our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow Private banks to control the issue of their Currency, first by inflation, then by Deflation, the banks and corporations that will Grow up around the banks will deprive the people Of all property - until their children Wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers Conquered.'
AND THAT WAS IN 1802!!...
And now they are trying to hoodwink us with this nefarious cap and tax scam..
Someone said, "We get the government we deserve" NOBODY DESERVES WHAT WE NOW HAVE :lemon: ...Time for these liars {case in point: aptly named Rep. Weiner obviously lied into the camera on Nightline.The American government DID CONFISCATE gold. See Presidential executive order 6102} I wonder what'll happen after the mid terms. :confuse:
So then why should we, as a society, as stewards of the Planet, not consider the ramifications of our actions regarding pollution?
We should and I do. However you are mistakenly believing the Politicos have the same agenda as you and I do. They do not. It is as plain as the nose on your face. Everything they do is designed to gain power and money. You are living in the past. When Nixon could see the damage to the rivers, lakes and air he decided to form the EPA. Ever since its founding in 1970 the EPA has devolved more and more to being a behemoth agency. As the air got cleaner and the rivers less polluted the agency got bigger and became more of a waste of money than a viable entity. Now they waste $billions of dollars with little to show for it each and every year.
You know there are cars now that put out cleaner air than they take in. How clean is clean enough? Is there such a thing as diminishing returns in your view of the environment? Or are you one of the "push them back into the caves" bunch? 50% of US are supporting the other 50% due in a large part to regulations that killed many of the low level manufacturing jobs here and sent them to China and elsewhere. How did that do the environment any good? Maybe outlawing iPhones and iPods would have been a better way to stop pollution. Or cheap Chinese computers from coming into the USA.
I'm kinda glad I'm not as cynical to believe that every congressman and senator are on the power trip and are trying to control my every action and rob me of money.
Well it's amazing if it is rare to find corrupt politicians, that almost everyone in power in Bell, CA decided to rob society. If I believe larsb, this must be as rare as winning Powerball.
People who covet money are drawn to politics, like moths to a light. If you don't play the game, working for other politicians and work the corporate lobbyists, you won't have the support and $$ to win the next election.
The new standard is that all kids should live privaleged lives. this consists of: not contributing to the chores at home. Not holding a job Being entertained constantly getting a new Corolla at age 16 Ipod, then Iphone unlimited texting plan never turn off lights or put your stuff away. sneakers have to be at least $100 throw away unworn clothes to make room for new stuff laptop at 13 summer camp summer rafting trip finishing driving school before knowing how to run a clothes washing machine
These are the people who are going to appreciate me for saving energy and letting them inherit a cleaner Earth from me?
I might add not eating leftovers. My wife's niece, husband and 3 kids are living in our other home we are trying to sell. Pretty much rent free. Her husband refuses to eat leftovers from the night before. He was raised with too much is my take. I make more than enough to never eat leftovers. I eat them and enjoy the money I have saved doing it. We live in a screwed up society that preaches driving a Yugo to save the planet, then tossing an old good tube type TV for a highly polluting flat screen. I will keep and be happy with my 10 year old Sony 24 inch CRT until it croaks. Which may be long after I am gone. Our landfills are overflowing with electronics that were working, just not the latest and greatest.
the article was about how 3 months of summer away from school undoes some of the good accomplished during the entire other 9 months of the school year. Then it said rich kids had stuff to do that costs a lot but kept them learning. band camp, soccer camp... Then it said underpriveleged kids (THOSE WHO WERE DOWNTRODDEN UPON, FORGOTTEN, ABUSED BY THEIR PARENTS) did not get entertained, sent to camps and national parks and museums, and engaged with activities the whole summer. In other countries summer is much shorter for kids. What about the teachers. Do they want to work in the summer for the same pay or do they want 33% higher pay and therefore property taxes rise 10-20% for all? Isn't a long summer green? Cram the year's learning into 180 car round trips for each high school kid and their teachers? Or no, we need 40 million more moms to get SUV's and drive their kids all over for the whole summer so that they don't end up 'underpriveleged'. By me, underpriveleged means you get to go to free camp. Peyton Manning, other Colts players, Pacers players, schools, YMCA's, City pools. free shirts, basketballs, footballs, food and drinks, even laptops can be checked out of the library. The underpriveleged get fully engaged all summer. Unless they don't like sports. Since when are the library's closed in the summers?
The average monthly temperature, so far, is 65.9 degrees at San Diego's Lindbergh Field, almost five degrees below normal. This could turn out to be the coolest July since 1933. There's a patchy marine layer along the coast this morning, which will likely prevent Lindbergh from rising above 71 today. The normal high is 77.
It's been cool elsewhere, too. The high temperature in Vista Wednesday as 73, the "lowest maximum" for July 28th since a 75 reading in 2003. And Oceanside Harbor's high was 65, which was also the lowest maximum for the date. (It broke the previous record of 66, set in 2002.)
It may be a warm year in some places. Not South America, Australia, Africa, the oceans of the World and San Diego. So Washington DC can eat your heart out, I hope they roast to a golden brown. We are headed to a Global cooling period if the ocean temp readings are accurate from NASA. Just flip that hockey stick over.
Christine Dell'Amore National Geographic News Published July 26, 2010
Thanks to a combination of global warming and an ocean-warming El Niño event, 2010 is set to become one of the hottest years ever recorded, a new report says.
Land and ocean temperatures for the period of January to June were the hottest seen since record-keeping began in 1880, according to an analysis released July 15 by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The average temperature for the first half of 2010 was 57.5 degrees Fahrenheit (14.2 degrees Celsius)—about 1.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.7 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average.
Nine countries shattered heat records, including Pakistan, which on May 26 logged a mercury reading of 128.3 degrees Fahrenheit (53.5 degrees Celsius)—the highest ever seen in Asia, according to Jeff Masters, director of meteorology for the Weather Underground website.
(Related: "Global Warming 'Marches On'; Past Decade Hottest Known.")
While some regions heated up—such as Asia, Peru, and the eastern U.S.—short-term climate impacts meant other areas saw their coolest temperatures yet.
Southern China's Guizhou Province, for instance, experienced its coolest June on record, the report said.
"It's too early to extrapolate and say it's the hottest" year ever recorded—a title currently held by 2005. But 2010 "will almost certainly be at least the third or fourth warmest on record," said Derek Arndt, head of the Climate Monitoring Branch of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.
El Niño Gives Global Warming a "Nudge"
Part of the reason 2010 likely won't be the hottest year on record is due to the interaction of two powerful climate phenomena, El Niño and La Niña.
El Niño is a warming of tropical waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. During El Niño years, the warmer currents act as a "nudge" that heats the planet on top of the steady warming trend caused by human-induced greenhouse gases, according to Arndt.
But every three to seven years, El Niño alternates with La Niña, a cooling of the eastern tropical Pacific.
In late May El Niño dissipated, clearing the way for La Niña, which for the rest of 2010 could counteract the warming set in motion by El Niño, Arndt said.
It's likely, however, that El Niño will have lingering warming effects through August, noted Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the Boulder, Colorado-based National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Overall, the long-term warming trend can be compared to riding up an escalator, Arndt added, while natural variables such as El Niño and La Niña are akin to a person jumping up and down during the steady ascent.
Trenberth agreed that El Niño and La Niña represent "wiggles," and "when they're on top of a rising trend, that's when you break records."
"It's not just global warming and not just natural variability—it's a combination of both."
Sea Levels, Ice Loss Are Clear Indicators
However, Trenberth noted that loss of Arctic sea ice and sea-level rise are not as affected by the short-term impacts of El Niño and La Niña.
Since 1992 satellites have revealed that sea level has risen about 2.2 inches (5.6 centimeters)—a rate that is equivalent to a foot (0.3 meter) or more of sea-level increase a century, Trenberth said.
The new NOAA report also found that, in June 2010, Arctic sea ice covered about 4.2 million square miles (10.9 million square kilometers), which is 10.6 percent below the average ice extent for 1979 to 2000 and the lowest June ice cover since records began in 1979. So far, Arctic warming means that "2010 is running ahead of 2007, a record low for Arctic sea ice," Trenberth said. Sea-ice loss and rising seas are "overall a clear indication the planet is warming," he added.
Don' blink, the climate is changing toward cooler as we type.
The equatorial sea surface temperatures in the Pacific have continued to decline and taking the weekly value, we are in the low end moderate range now for La Nina. We entered into La Nina territory back about 6-7 weeks ago and have continued a steady decline. It is a remarkable turnaround considering region 3.4 was still in an El Nino state 3 months ago. A vendor that has daily region 3.4 number anomalies shows that we have been in the moderate range since around 7/21 and we have only strengthened since then with values around -1.25. I have attached below the SST anomalies from July 1st and then also from July 29th. The La Nina signature has gotten stronger in the equatorial Pacific. Right now we are also seeing a stronger looking –PDO signature in the north Pacific, although I am monitoring to see if that changes any in the coming weeks.
That is all gobbledy [non-permissible content removed] meaning it is going to be colder across the globe. Parts of Europe and the East coast are catching the tail end of an El Nino. The Pacific is a much bigger cooling source than the Atlantic.
Bottom line our Mexican siblings el Nino and la Nina have more to do with changing the weather than anything man does.
That is precisely my position. If it is significantly changed by human activity, radical changes in either direction are not logical. Man's pollution is on a steadily upward swing with reference to CO2. If CO2 has a big impact, as many would have US believe, the trend warmer would be on the same logarithmic scale. I think the multi level ocean temperature measurements over the last few years has taught science a lot more than they are letting on.
Comments
As an early adopter of solar my experience in Lake Havasu back in the early 1980s was NOT Good. Panels did not last 5 years and the company lasted less than the panels. $10k down the toilet and it did not cut my utility bills enough to cover my monthly payments. When you been there done that you are more cautious than the green horn that believes 90% of the population is honest....LOL
Last I looked, panels for my house were going to run $40,000 before any subsidies. My house is all electric and my annual power costs are $1500.
I haven't priced panels for ~5 years now, but I keep hearing that supply is low, demand is high and production is still limited. If I could run my house for a $20,000 capital cost, then the numbers start to get interesting.
I'm hoping a friend who's versed in the Smart Grid that's being buzzed aroundin Denver will visit us later this week down here in Taos at the off-grid house we're staying out. Maybe I'll learn something.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Hot Hot Hot
This month's second long spell of 90-degree weather entered its seventh day Tuesday, and forecasts predicted that it will continue for at least four more days.
With the region in one of its hottest summers, the number of heat-related deaths has risen to 19, according to authorities.
And:
Kansas heat wave has killed 2,000 cattle: state
Heat depriving us of steak
The intense heat and humidity that blanketed central Kansas since late last week have killed more than 2,000 cattle and one state official called the heat-related losses the worst in his 17 years on the job.
However, conditions for the cattle improved somewhat on Tuesday as the humidity has decreased and the wind has picked up, state and feedlot sources said.
Kansas is the third largest cattle state with more than 2 million cattle in feedlots.
"It is all cattle in feedlots. It is more the humidity than the heat," Ken Powell, environmental scientist with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said of the more than 2,000 cattle deaths.
The cattle deaths have overwhelmed rendering plants and some feedlots are burying the carcasses in accordance with state regulations, said Powell.
"From the standpoint of dealing with the disposal of animals, this is the worst I have seen in the almost 17 years I've been here," he said.
The death losses helped guide Chicago cattle futures higher on Monday, but on Tuesday the futures were near unchanged as traders awaited Friday's release of a USDA cattle supply report.
While the loss of cattle is a financial hardship for producers, the slowdown in weight gains in the surviving cattle can often have a greater impact on cattle markets.
"It is more the (beef) tonnage that is taken off. They (cattle) underperform," said Don Roose, analyst at U.S. Commodities Inc.
Cattle, on average, gain about 4 lbs of beef per day under ideal conditions. But during harsh weather, such as the current heat wave, that rates of gain declines.
"It has been just grueling," Roose said of the heat. "That has been what's underpinning the cattle market."
And:
Heat wave drowning Russian swimmers
At least 71 people drowned in the span of just 24 hours in Russia yesterday as throngs of people headed for lakes and streams to beat the summer heat.
Russia is experiencing its hottest summer in decades with temperatures soaring well above 35 degrees celsius.
The Russian Emergency Ministry says this is a record number of drowning deaths in a single day.
In 2009 2,733 Russians drowned with most most deaths resulting from swimmers who were drunk.
Observers say cases of heavily drinking vodka and swimming are rampant.
In one case six school children drowned because their summer camp counselors were drunk.
Close to 2,500 people already have drowned this year and the death toll is expected to far exceed last year's.
Both heat waves and cold "spells" kill.
My $39 a month lease payment generates approximately $1392 worth of electricity per year.
The lease company does ALL the maintenance, even INSURES the panels, replaces anything that goes bad on THEIR dime.
I get 15 years of guaranteed solar generation.
That is a mighty big IF.
The more people add alternatives to the existing grid the higher the utilities will make the minimum charges. Those thinking that alternatives offer any kind of free lunch are out to lunch. When my wife and I discussed going solar she was under the misconception that it would provide power during an outage. I explained to be totally independent is another sizable outlay of cash. Though I did look at a backup system at Costco that uses propane.
I almost built on a lot in Hawaii I owned that was off the power grid. That was 1989. A solar system with battery backup and a small gen set was about $5000 total. The stove and refrigerator would have to be propane and NO AC. it was a 1KWH system for lights and electronics basically. Very basic system.
Before I even had plans someone offered me 3 times what I had paid a year earlier for the lot. So it was his problem. The 1st Gulf war hit right after we closed escrow and Hawaii property went into the toilet. That was a close one. It was at the 900 foot level so no worry about GW BS.
Whomever takes over at that end is legally obligate to fulfill that end of the lease.
But if SolarCity goes "belly up" then my lease payments STOP.
You really believe the bank that put up the money for the lease is going to let you off the hook if Solar City goes out of business? You got me laughing good on that one.
At the end of the lease are you given the option to purchase? And or do they come and take it off your home? I got stuck taking the solar cells off my house in Havasu after they totally fogged up cracked and quit working.
Gary, I've got a contract that says what "SolarCity" is required to do, just as it says I agree to pay $39 per month.
Whomever takes over that end of the contract is legally obligated to take over the required functions of "SolarCity" in their stead.
At the end, I have these options:
1. establish a new 5-year lease based the on the "current market value" of the system at that moment in time.
2. Have them remove the system at zero cost to me, or if they choose not to do that, they can transfer ownership to me at no cost.
Gotta be some strings somewhere. Just fess up and tell us what they are so I don't have to look it up !!
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SolarCity has thousands of customers using this lease programs across the Southwest USA.
I referred a co-worker, and he's referring several neighbors.
SolarCity makes a killing because they get your lease payments AND all the federal and state tax breaks.
The lease-holder (me) makes a killing because I get a solar panel system for Zero ( or whatever amount ) down.
It's the win-win solar panel system. Really.
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That's my point. $1,000 + 60X$39 = $3,340, a tiny fraction of the true cost of the system. We pick up the rest, add it to the national debt. Instead of spending my tax money there, I'm sure there are much more efficient places, $/KW-H wise.
It's a 15 year lease. Not 5 years.
Payment escalates every 12 months by 3.5%.
Selling the home, the new buyer takes over the lease from that point forward.
If they don't want the lease, then I won't sell to them. It will be a condition of purchase.
I'm not likely to sell though. The real estate crash hit me hard and the house lost a ton of value, FAR below what I owe on it.
But saving at least $1200 per year on my electric bill mitigates a lot of that.
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So far, SolarCity is exceeding expectations. On pace for 8,000 kwh this first year, with only 6900 guaranteed.
You get me to dreaming about the simple life without the hassles. Eating mangoes, avocados and papaya. I could live mighty cheap over there. I still have an acre in Leilani estates if CA becomes much more repressive.
I saw a photovoltaic paint that is being developed for roofs. They are working out the durability issues. It would be funny if it was so expensive that they leased the paint to you. Stop making payments and they come scrape it off.
They also have a front loader washer (you have to haul the clothes a few steps to the solar dryer though). Since the washer is a good sized load on the system, they tend to wash clothes during the day when the panels are "on". If you had infants and were doing three loads of wash a day, you may have to get a gas powered washing machine. :shades:
No microwave or dishwasher here though. Oh, they don't do TV either, but they do have a small lcd/video deal.
I'm running my desktop computer with three drives and two lcd monitors much of the time from 9 am to midnight, but I do have it set to go to sleep after 5 minutes of inactivity.
The water catchment system is a metal roof, gutters, some sort of initial bypass so that the first few gallons of water get diverted after rinsing off the roof, then the rest goes into two 1500 water cisterns buried in the "yard". An electric pump moves the water around. On demand tankless water heater (also propane).
The cell phone works and they also have a booster. But I mostly use Skype to call people. Since there's no trees around their area, getting line of sight to the ISP access point for wireless net connection was easy, and they have a good connection.
Lights, water, internet. What else do you need?
That's it man. Now this is in the Taos area? What is the elevation? Sounds like you are enjoying your summer. That is great....
PS
Is it warmer or cooler than the norm? Looks like you are getting those wonderful NM thunderstorms. Rains for a few minutes and the sun pops back out bright and warm.
My dad bought a farm when I was about 4 years old. A pretty nice house and 40 acres. I think it cost about $2700. When we moved in we had no electric, no running water, an outhouse, etc. I remember my mom washing clothes in the back yard in a big black iron pot with a fire built under it. Those were the good old days and we were happy as clams !
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Yeah, it's been nice summer "working" vacation trip. Went to Santa Fe yesterday for lunch, museums and hit the hot springs on the way back. Heading back home early next week.
And it's been raining off and on for 2 days, so the cistern went up 3 inches (~400 gallons). I've lost count of all the double rainbows we've seen here. Lots of "heat" lightning most nights off in the distance. Today I saw the biggest jackrabbit I've ever seen and managed to ride my bike over a 3' long garter snake that I thought was a stick.
er... I think GW is making the snakes bigger.
Citing doubts raised by the leaked emails, the Dept. of Energy has suspended funding for the Univ. of East Anglia's climate research unit.
A spokesman for the D.O.E. said, "The funding was put on hold pending an inquiry into scientific misconduct by Alastair Muir Russel".
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The snow was heavy even in Northern Argentina. In Santiago Del Estero, according to media reports, some areas experienced snow for the first time in living memory. In the province of Tucuman, some town saw snow for the first time since 1921
It even snowed in the Chaco of Bolivia, one of warmest areas of South America, where the local population never saw snow before. Classes were suspended in Bolivia for three days to prevent more cold related deaths
Too cold for penguins
Jun 17, 2010 2:27 PM | By Sapa
Extreme cold, wind and heavy rain has killed 600 African penguin chicks on Bird island, a reserve located in Algoa Bay near Port Elizabeth, South Africa
The 19-hectare island is administered by SA National Parks as part of the Addo Elephant National Park.
"Penguin chicks started dying on Tuesday, when extremely cold weather, coupled with strong winds and heavy rainfall hit the Eastern Cape," SANParks regional communications manager Megan Taplin told Sapa.
The number of chicks that had died had risen to 600 by Thursday morning.
We had about a week of normal 90+ degree weather and now we are back down to about 10 degrees below normal. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying near perfect 80 degree days.
All the record heat in Russia and the record cold in Africa, Australia and South America proves, is climate changes in both directions and man in his arrogance cannot do anything to change the weather. Most cannot even predict what the weather will be tomorrow consistently. How stupid to think they can tell what it will be in 100 years. We have been duped by a Crazed Sex Poodle.
That statement alone proves we need to spend more money on research.
The unknowns need to be known.
What is causing the warming?
How can the results of our emissions be changed/reduced in a way which is most helpful to stabilize the climate?
"Man in his arrogance cannot do anything to change the weather" - that's a good one Gary.
Of course we can change the weather.
Cloud Seeding Works
And:
You've heard of the Ozone Hole, right?
Man-made chlorines, primarily chloroflourobcarbons (CFCs), contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer and allow larger quantities of harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the earth.
And:
Acid Rain? Heard of that?
Human activities are the main cause of acid rain. Over the past few decades, humans have released so many different chemicals into the air that they have changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere. Power plants release the majority of sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce electricity. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These pollutants cause acid rain.
So in summary: to say man cannot affect the weather is a ludicrous statement.
Cool cities: white roofs energy equivalent of taking 300 million cars off road, DOE study says
And the equivalent of how many years of manmade emissions will be created by the next volcanic burp?
And all drive 1972 diesel cars.
Fill up all the landfills as soon as possible. In fact, start tearing down beach property to build more landfills !!
Or better yet, just start dumping our trash in the ocean - it's HUGE - we could NEVER do anything to damage that big ole' thang.
Everyone living it hot summers should turn their thermostat to 60 degrees, starting today.
Let your car Idle overnight - it's good for the engine !!!
Let's make more cows so we can maximize out methane production - we need more GHG !! That ozone hole is WAY too small - if it covered all of North America, we could really start culling the population with skin cancer epidemics !!!
Why spend another dollar on weather research - we can't figure out what tomorrow's temp is, why bother?? Just deal with it as it comes along. Hot, cold, who cares? People die all the time - why care when they die from weather extremes?
We have too much coastline, anyway, right? Let those oceans rise. Venice just needs to be a scuba diver's haven, anyway, right? Manhattan is too big too - who cares if it loses a little coastline to water?
Who cares if we lose a few (or a few thousand ) species? There's no GUARANTEE that we might kill the living thing which provides us a final complete cure to cancer or aids or herpes, right ??????
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All facetious, of course, but the point being to magnify the stupidity of not at least TRYING to make sure we don't make the Earf a more difficult place to live because of our useless excesses.
No Cap-N-Trade.
No ridiculousness.
No undue regulations.
But a common sense approach to research, making sure we know what we need to do and don't need to do in regard to our affect on the environment which provides us life? Yes. YES. YES.
Sadly little research is done today for the betterment of man or the planet. It is all agenda based to control the populace and build empires. We live in a corrupt self serving society. And the biggest offenders reside in the Federal, State and local governments. Giving them the opportunity to do something useful by encouraging their agenda, is like having the fox watch the hen house.
Why spend another dollar on weather research - we can't figure out what tomorrow's temp is, why bother?? Just deal with it as it comes along. Hot, cold, who cares? People die all the time - why care when they die from weather extremes?
Your facetious statement makes more sense than you seem to realize. Alternatives to current energy will come as they are needed. Forcing that process will only waste money and create boondoggles, Like Corn Ethanol or Wind farms that are no longer producing energy. All conceived to screw the tax payers and make big political contributors richer.
As the coasts erode away the Hawaiian coast gets bigger from the volcanoes. Been that way forever and will not change by the hand of man. They usually screw it up more than help. Think New Orleans.
PS
you really need to read "The Control of Nature" by John McPhee. Shows how foolish man really is trying to control our environment.
The developed world should not commit suicide so a few profiteers and bureaucrats can gain fortune and power, and the US taxpayer should not be aiding British organizations who aim for that brave new world.
No one with an lick of sense "assumes" that we are in control of nature.
The problem is PATROLLING our own unnecessary pollution abuses.
It's not rocket science to look critically and NON-POLITICALLY at the results of our actions and decide if they can be changed or not.
Why be stupid about it and just pollute pollute pollute without considering the ramifications?
Do you do anything in your personal life without considering the ramifications of those actions?
I'm assuming your answer is No.
So then why should we, as a society, as stewards of the Planet, not consider the ramifications of our actions regarding pollution?
Americans if they can prevent the government
From wasting the labors of the people under the
Pretense of taking care of them.
AND
The democracy will cease to exist
When you take away from those
Who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
AND FINALLY
'I believe that
Banking institutions are more dangerous to
Our liberties than standing armies.
If the American people ever allow
Private banks to control the issue of their
Currency, first by inflation, then by
Deflation, the banks and corporations that will
Grow up around the banks will deprive the people
Of all property - until their children
Wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers
Conquered.'
AND THAT WAS IN 1802!!...
And now they are trying to hoodwink us with this nefarious cap and tax scam..
Someone said, "We get the government we deserve" NOBODY DESERVES WHAT WE NOW HAVE :lemon: ...Time for these liars {case in point: aptly named Rep. Weiner obviously lied into the camera on Nightline.The American government DID CONFISCATE gold. See Presidential executive order 6102} I wonder what'll happen after the mid terms. :confuse:
We should and I do. However you are mistakenly believing the Politicos have the same agenda as you and I do. They do not. It is as plain as the nose on your face. Everything they do is designed to gain power and money. You are living in the past. When Nixon could see the damage to the rivers, lakes and air he decided to form the EPA. Ever since its founding in 1970 the EPA has devolved more and more to being a behemoth agency. As the air got cleaner and the rivers less polluted the agency got bigger and became more of a waste of money than a viable entity. Now they waste $billions of dollars with little to show for it each and every year.
You know there are cars now that put out cleaner air than they take in. How clean is clean enough? Is there such a thing as diminishing returns in your view of the environment? Or are you one of the "push them back into the caves" bunch? 50% of US are supporting the other 50% due in a large part to regulations that killed many of the low level manufacturing jobs here and sent them to China and elsewhere. How did that do the environment any good? Maybe outlawing iPhones and iPods would have been a better way to stop pollution. Or cheap Chinese computers from coming into the USA.
Whew !!!
Well it's amazing if it is rare to find corrupt politicians, that almost everyone in power in Bell, CA decided to rob society. If I believe larsb, this must be as rare as winning Powerball.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/07/3-city-official-- resign-in-scandal-over-huge-salaries/1
People who covet money are drawn to politics, like moths to a light. If you don't play the game, working for other politicians and work the corporate lobbyists, you won't have the support and $$ to win the next election.
not contributing to the chores at home.
Not holding a job
Being entertained constantly
getting a new Corolla at age 16
Ipod, then Iphone
unlimited texting plan
never turn off lights or put your stuff away.
sneakers have to be at least $100
throw away unworn clothes to make room for new stuff
laptop at 13
summer camp
summer rafting trip
finishing driving school before knowing how to run a clothes washing machine
These are the people who are going to appreciate me for saving energy and letting them inherit a cleaner Earth from me?
I might add not eating leftovers. My wife's niece, husband and 3 kids are living in our other home we are trying to sell. Pretty much rent free. Her husband refuses to eat leftovers from the night before. He was raised with too much is my take. I make more than enough to never eat leftovers. I eat them and enjoy the money I have saved doing it. We live in a screwed up society that preaches driving a Yugo to save the planet, then tossing an old good tube type TV for a highly polluting flat screen. I will keep and be happy with my 10 year old Sony 24 inch CRT until it croaks. Which may be long after I am gone. Our landfills are overflowing with electronics that were working, just not the latest and greatest.
Then it said rich kids had stuff to do that costs a lot but kept them learning. band camp, soccer camp...
Then it said underpriveleged kids (THOSE WHO WERE DOWNTRODDEN UPON, FORGOTTEN, ABUSED BY THEIR PARENTS) did not get entertained, sent to camps and national parks and museums, and engaged with activities the whole summer.
In other countries summer is much shorter for kids.
What about the teachers. Do they want to work in the summer for the same pay or do they want 33% higher pay and therefore property taxes rise 10-20% for all?
Isn't a long summer green? Cram the year's learning into 180 car round trips for each high school kid and their teachers?
Or no, we need 40 million more moms to get SUV's and drive their kids all over for the whole summer so that they don't end up 'underpriveleged'.
By me, underpriveleged means you get to go to free camp. Peyton Manning, other Colts players, Pacers players, schools, YMCA's, City pools. free shirts, basketballs, footballs, food and drinks, even laptops can be checked out of the library. The underpriveleged get fully engaged all summer. Unless they don't like sports. Since when are the library's closed in the summers?
The average monthly temperature, so far, is 65.9 degrees at San Diego's Lindbergh Field, almost five degrees below normal. This could turn out to be the coolest July since 1933. There's a patchy marine layer along the coast this morning, which will likely prevent Lindbergh from rising above 71 today. The normal high is 77.
It's been cool elsewhere, too. The high temperature in Vista Wednesday as 73, the "lowest maximum" for July 28th since a 75 reading in 2003. And Oceanside Harbor's high was 65, which was also the lowest maximum for the date. (It broke the previous record of 66, set in 2002.)
It may be a warm year in some places. Not South America, Australia, Africa, the oceans of the World and San Diego. So Washington DC can eat your heart out, I hope they roast to a golden brown. We are headed to a Global cooling period if the ocean temp readings are accurate from NASA. Just flip that hockey stick over.
That's a good one !!! You crackmeyup Gary !!!
2010 headed for HOTTEST ON RECORD
Christine Dell'Amore
National Geographic News
Published July 26, 2010
Thanks to a combination of global warming and an ocean-warming El Niño event, 2010 is set to become one of the hottest years ever recorded, a new report says.
Land and ocean temperatures for the period of January to June were the hottest seen since record-keeping began in 1880, according to an analysis released July 15 by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The average temperature for the first half of 2010 was 57.5 degrees Fahrenheit (14.2 degrees Celsius)—about 1.2 degrees Fahrenheit (0.7 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average.
Nine countries shattered heat records, including Pakistan, which on May 26 logged a mercury reading of 128.3 degrees Fahrenheit (53.5 degrees Celsius)—the highest ever seen in Asia, according to Jeff Masters, director of meteorology for the Weather Underground website.
(Related: "Global Warming 'Marches On'; Past Decade Hottest Known.")
While some regions heated up—such as Asia, Peru, and the eastern U.S.—short-term climate impacts meant other areas saw their coolest temperatures yet.
Southern China's Guizhou Province, for instance, experienced its coolest June on record, the report said.
"It's too early to extrapolate and say it's the hottest" year ever recorded—a title currently held by 2005. But 2010 "will almost certainly be at least the third or fourth warmest on record," said Derek Arndt, head of the Climate Monitoring Branch of NOAA's National Climatic Data Center.
El Niño Gives Global Warming a "Nudge"
Part of the reason 2010 likely won't be the hottest year on record is due to the interaction of two powerful climate phenomena, El Niño and La Niña.
El Niño is a warming of tropical waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. During El Niño years, the warmer currents act as a "nudge" that heats the planet on top of the steady warming trend caused by human-induced greenhouse gases, according to Arndt.
But every three to seven years, El Niño alternates with La Niña, a cooling of the eastern tropical Pacific.
In late May El Niño dissipated, clearing the way for La Niña, which for the rest of 2010 could counteract the warming set in motion by El Niño, Arndt said.
It's likely, however, that El Niño will have lingering warming effects through August, noted Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the Boulder, Colorado-based National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Overall, the long-term warming trend can be compared to riding up an escalator, Arndt added, while natural variables such as El Niño and La Niña are akin to a person jumping up and down during the steady ascent.
Trenberth agreed that El Niño and La Niña represent "wiggles," and "when they're on top of a rising trend, that's when you break records."
"It's not just global warming and not just natural variability—it's a combination of both."
Sea Levels, Ice Loss Are Clear Indicators
However, Trenberth noted that loss of Arctic sea ice and sea-level rise are not as affected by the short-term impacts of El Niño and La Niña.
Since 1992 satellites have revealed that sea level has risen about 2.2 inches (5.6 centimeters)—a rate that is equivalent to a foot (0.3 meter) or more of sea-level increase a century, Trenberth said.
The new NOAA report also found that, in June 2010, Arctic sea ice covered about 4.2 million square miles (10.9 million square kilometers), which is 10.6 percent below the average ice extent for 1979 to 2000 and the lowest June ice cover since records began in 1979.
So far, Arctic warming means that "2010 is running ahead of 2007, a record low for Arctic sea ice," Trenberth said.
Sea-ice loss and rising seas are "overall a clear indication the planet is warming," he added.
And:
Philadelphia's July Heat Wave Of 2010 Will Be One For The Ages
And:
U.S. Wilting Under Humid Heat Wave
And:
Worldwide, the first five months of 2010 were the warmest on record. With the US now getting its share of a heat wave, how will it affect the public perception of climate change?
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See - it's UP.....
The equatorial sea surface temperatures in the Pacific have continued to decline and taking the weekly value, we are in the low end moderate range now for La Nina. We entered into La Nina territory back about 6-7 weeks ago and have continued a steady decline. It is a remarkable turnaround considering region 3.4 was still in an El Nino state 3 months ago. A vendor that has daily region 3.4 number anomalies shows that we have been in the moderate range since around 7/21 and we have only strengthened since then with values around -1.25. I have attached below the SST anomalies from July 1st and then also from July 29th. The La Nina signature has gotten stronger in the equatorial Pacific. Right now we are also seeing a stronger looking –PDO signature in the north Pacific, although I am monitoring to see if that changes any in the coming weeks.
la Nina
That is all gobbledy [non-permissible content removed] meaning it is going to be colder across the globe. Parts of Europe and the East coast are catching the tail end of an El Nino. The Pacific is a much bigger cooling source than the Atlantic.
Bottom line our Mexican siblings el Nino and la Nina have more to do with changing the weather than anything man does.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/el-nino-and-la-nina-weathers-sibling-rival- ry.html