You can not have it both ways

Thread View: ny.general

2 messages

[T] Back to Threads [V] Tree View [G] Group Articles

2 total messages Started by Fabrikant Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:12

#495

Author: Fabrikant
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:12

24 lines
2698 bytes

I have heard on TV recently two explanations. One, why do we have
stronger downpours due to global warming. Explanation: because warmer
air can hold more water in it. Two, why do we have stronger droughts
due to global warming. Explanation: because snow in the mountains melts
earlier due to global warming, so no water is left. This reminds me of
one anecdote about a person, who asked his neighbour to return a pot,
which he borrowed before. Neighbour's response was that he never
borrowed the pot and in addition, he returned it last month.

The situation with downpours and droughts is more complicated than
that. Most of the rain comes in the fall, when it is relatively cold.
The most arid places on the planet are usually not that far way from
the ocean - huge reservoir of water, a lot of evaporation, and no rain.
On the other hand, strong downpours do not need much snow in nearby
mountains; they do not really need mountains at all. When relatively
warm air meets with much colder air, you have a downpour. What counts
is the difference of temperatures, not their absolute value.

It is a shame, how the so-called scientists play on our fears to grab
some money. If you are old enough to remember 30 years ago, the scare
of the day was global freezing.

Fabrikant

Re: You can not have it both ways

#496

Author: Nexus7
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:04

13 lines
2071 bytes

Fabrikant wrote:
> I have heard on TV recently two explanations. One, why do we have
> stronger downpours due to global warming. Explanation: because warmer
> air can hold more water in it. Two, why do we have stronger droughts
> due to global warming. Explanation: because snow in the mountains melts
> earlier due to global warming, so no water is left.
> ...

The dichotomy suggested by the title is not in evidence in the posting.
The posting lacks coherence, conflates unrelated things in a simplistic
manner, and therefore belongs on American TV, which appears to be the
source for it anyway.

Thread Navigation

This is a paginated view of messages in the thread with full content displayed inline.

Messages are displayed in chronological order, with the original post highlighted in green.

Use pagination controls to navigate through all messages in large threads.

Back to All Threads