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| From the edge of our backyard, looking down the hill along the golf course. |
I'm not too keen on 60 degree days in December, which seems to be the norm for the second year in a row, although they do give us these pretty scenes in our backyard in the mornings. People look at me like I have two heads or something when I answer "No, it's not beginning to feel a lot like Christmas because it's too damn warm!". This is just wrong. When I was a kid, which wasn't really that long ago, it used to snow in December quite regularly. I can't even remember exactly the last time it did snow in December. Honestly, I don't even like snow all that much. The first day it's fun but after that it's just dirty, grey, and inconvenient. But we need snow, it's supposed to snow here at least occasionally. But don't worry, climate change isn't real. ;-)
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| Further around the corner, towards the tee box and green. |
I kinda have to agree with you, Julie.
ReplyDeleteIt *has* been abnormally warm. Even a recent Southerner like myself who moved down here partly for warmer weather has to admit it's strange when December temps are in the mid-70s. I moved south, but I didn't move to Phoenix or Houston or Florida!
Middle TN is supposed to be in the mid-50s this time of year for a high. But the forecast is for 60s and 70s for the next few days, before we drop down toward more seasonable weather next week.
That said, we *did* have a cold snap (highs in the 40s in November) and there's still a long way to go before spring. We could both end up longing for warm temperatures before the winter is over.
Thanks Aaron, I hope you're right.
DeleteI get the same feeling of discomfort from the abnormally warm weather. I can remember when a typical March in Chicago featured a coating of several inches of ice over most surfaces that hadn't been kept clear. Now March looks like April, if not May. I understand the natural tendency towards denial, especially when you have more urgent concerns, but I hate the cynicism of the special interests and politicians who deny the need for action while fully aware of the reality.
ReplyDeleteI agree, this country seems to be full of people who believe in things that don't exist and/or don't believe in things that do exist. In the end, pun intended, I think people are only going to take climate change seriously when it's in their financial best interest. We're just too selfish as a species.
DeleteI think if we had a 500 year accurate temperature record, instead of maybe 120, then maybe we could start making pronouncements about permanent warming. I`m not talking political controversy here, but the Vikings were living on the coast of Greenland and growing crops 1000 years ago. Try doing that now .
ReplyDeleteI agree Randy, we probably need a 20,000-30,000 year record, and we basically do have one thanks to ice core studies. When I talk about climate change, I mean simply changes in average climate, and I'm not implying any human influence. Our planet warms and cools by itself every 20-30 thousand years anyway, thanks to a tilt in the earth's axis and it's course through the solar system in relation to the sun. For example, the Sahara desert transforms from desert, to rain forest, and back to desert again every 20-30 thousand years thanks to this shift, and what is currently the continent of North America is covered by ice, then it recedes, then repeats, giving us the "ice ages".
ReplyDeleteI think humans are having some sort of influence and we are screwing things up in a short term point of view, but the earth's trajectory through space is far more influential on overall climate and ice was melting long before we started burning fossil fuels. This planet is stronger than most people realize and we're not entitled to be here, she can wipe us all out whenever she wants to. The 30,000 year existence of homo sapiens is barely a blip on the radar of this 4.5 billion year old planet. Our species is so self-centric we lack perspective.
Wow, I don't mean to sound fussy, just ranting I guess :-)
I could not have said any of that better myself. I like the long view. We will see what the short term brings, probably a surprise to all of us.I think we may have some influence, but , like you, I think our arrogance leads us to think we are real big deal in whatever processes are going on. If the earth is truly warming, then an ice age will follow rapidly on the heels of an ocean current cessation from sea ice melt. So much debate all around, who knows what awaits us? If we are having a big adverse influence, we will thin ourselves to a point of equalibrium very rapidly also. Thank you for the post and your thoughtful answer.
DeleteYou've probably discovered him already, but if not, check out James Hansen.
Deletehttp://www.ted.com/talks/james_hansen_why_i_must_speak_out_about_climate_change.html
Beautiful pictures! We have a lot of snow. My husband and kids have been javelling snow several times today.
ReplyDeleteThank you Satu! I would love to have some snow, just in time for Christmas! I bet it's beautiful there in Finland.
ReplyDeleteDespite the worry about climate and despite the oddity of high temps in December, those warm misty scenes are a gift and very calming. Very serene. Fog does wonderful things to sunlight!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie!
ReplyDeleteI just had to stop by and tell you we've got a new family member. Called Mickey! Please, visit and see him. He's awesome!