Planet Earth, A severe weather epidemic?

[WeatherKeeper]

I believe it is interesting what is going on with the world’s weather. A record setting amount of tornado's occurred for Feb. in the southern states. Many parts of the country are still on track for setting new records as being the warmest winter ever on record (Average). The Arctic’s are melting and the worlds over all pattern has begun to change. It seems as though an extreme weather epidemic has overcome our hometown, our states, our countries and our world. What are we in store for this summer? Are we in store for record setting temperatures? Should we expect extremely powerful storms and an extraordinary hurricane season? Some scientific studies say yes according to experts.

Have the changes in weather affected any of you? Will our snow climbing adventures becoming to an end on Mount Washington because of the continuous decline in snowfall? What are everyone else’s thoughts on this?

[Brad]

And a report out yesterday said Mars is experiencing the same thing. The polar caps there are melting. The assumed cause is increased solar radiation - not a human cause.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...s-warming.html

[WeatherKeeper]

Interesting article, thank you for sharing that! It’s funny; there are a select few of us that are fascinated by the weather. We want to know everything about it and are constantly interested in it and what is causing it. Then there is everyone else who want to know what the weather is going to be like but really do not pay to much attention as to why the weather is going to be the way it is. I wonder if this will start to change as more extreme events begin to happen. I believe people will start to have a newfound interest in the causes of weather events.

[Bill O]

All the while...Mount Washington recorded one of the coldest February's on record, top 6 coldest month since the 1930's. Ironically, this leads to low snow totals. At least for the month of February.

Most scientists who are familiar with statistics will agree that tornado data is worthless at best. We will continue to see an increase in the number of tornadoes every year. Not because there are more tornadoes, but because more people are spotting them. Its a population bias.

[WeatherKeeper]

That is an interesting theory/observation. Have there really been more tornados in the past few years? Or are more people out looking for them, in other words, are there more storm chasers? I have not read this theory anywhere yet, but it would make sense that more people are out looking for tornados than ever before. I am planning a “storm chasing” trip for next May in Tornado Ally; perhaps more and more people are wanting to do this and thus producing an increased amount of tornado spottings? Regardless, I believe that our change in global climate has something to do with the increase in severe weather and overall change in our regional climates.

[Bill O]

That is an interesting theory/observation. Have there really been more tornados in the past few years? Or are more people out looking for them, in other words, are there more storm chasers? I have not read this theory anywhere yet, but it would make sense that more people are out looking for tornados than ever before. I am planning a “storm chasing” trip for next May in Tornado Ally; perhaps more and more people are wanting to do this and thus producing an increased amount of tornado spottings? Regardless, I believe that our change in global climate has something to do with the increase in severe weather and overall change in our regional climates.

Its not a theory. Its taught in meteorology classes all the time. Some people on The Weather Channel seem to understand this bias, but most of the media is oblivious.

Where do you think the most hail prone place is in the country? For some reason it happens to be right where the new Denver Airport was built. What an amazing coincidence. Or was it? DIA wasn't accidentally built in the most hail prone spot in the United States, there just happens to be weather observers there 24/7 observing hail.

Math and statisitics are the weak point of most of the population.

[WeatherKeeper]

My apologies, “Theory” was not the correct word to use, “fact” would have been more appropriate wording on my part. Funny you mention “The Weather Channel” as it was their report on this subject that motivated me to start this thread!

[Bill O]

Just trying to give a different side of the story that is rarely reported.

But if I had a dollar for every time a reported said, "What is up with this wild weather?" I'd be doing quite well.

[parnelli]

Just trying to give a different side of the story that is rarely reported.

But if I had a dollar for every time a reported said, "What is up with this wild weather?" I'd be doing quite well.

If it will hold off a bit maybe I will get to see the show after work as I sip a beer http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html

[SunMessenger]

Just trying to give a different side of the story that is rarely reported.

But if I had a dollar for every time a reported said, "What is up with this wild weather?" I'd be doing quite well.

Hi I agree with this comment and wanted to confirm something. Quite often our local stations indicate that Weather records have only been kept for about one hundred years. Is that correct ? In terms of planetary evolution that seems a very small amount of data to extrapolate from. What do you think ? I do not mean to suggest that we should not take care of our planet and I am in firm agreement that we should. Many other issues involved as well such as over population etc. etc... If there is actual scientific evidence of more solar radiation does anyone dare predict the result ? Thanks