One dead, one missing in Indiana flooding (video) - The problem with 'risk taking behavior' through floods is the flooding has existed for days.

Know when it is too late and too dangerous !!!

When in doubt, LEAVE !

There is every indication that rivers are continuing to receive rain at phenomenal rates. The West Fork River in Iowa received 3.67 inches in the last 24 hours and is continuing to rise. The 'high intensity' of the water accumulation puts 'stress' on the infrastructure with unpredictable results (Rivergages.com - Click here - if clicking on 'Data Mining' - it lists rivers by name on a 'drop down screen, under "Choose A Station").

A majority of rivers across the spectrum are swollen if not already flooded. Dangerous. It would be better if folks got used to the 'idea' of "The Creek is Rising" rather than "My basement is flooded" to faciliate the decision to activate the "Volunteer Emergency Response" and EVACUATE rather than 'sand-bagging' or otherwise. Sandbagging needs to be left to The National Guard and people simply need to activate their local emergency measures and evacuate. Coping is NOT the answer when infrastructure is tenuous. It simply is TOO LATE when Emergency Routes such as major Interstate Highways are flooded and there is no egress left. Early decision making to evacuate is the only measure to insure safety. No heroics allowed. None !


June 8, 2008
West Fork Des Moines River at Humboldt, IA (click here)
(Central Time Zone)


June 7, 2008
Princess Lake Dam Breached (click here for video)
Very strong, rushing waters. These are small towns with emergency volunteers manning their services. They need state and federal resources. The States need to send in their National Guard Units because people aren't making good management decisions with prolonged flooding.


June 6, 2008
Phillip, South Dakota
Photographer states :: These are photo's taken at the back of my property of the creek (Bad River) Flooding began June 5th with 1st photo loaded taken at 4:45pm. These photo's began at 8:15am June 6. and track the waters rise. Up a little ways from where water was running across the road, this portion of the Road is completely flooded. Time is apx. 10:10am


June 7, 2008
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Photographer states :: Flooding on Oklahoma (Street)


June 6, 2008
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Storms swamp Midwest (click here)
By: Reuters
Sun Jun 8, 2008 7:41 AM EDT (Pic)-A motorist continues through a flooded street in Waukesha, Wisconsin June 7, 2008. Flash flooding is occurring in Southeast Wisconsin with forecasts of 6-10 inches of rain...


June 7, 2008
Hutsonville, Illinois

Flooding shuts down Columbus (Video) - Columbus Hospital Flooded
Updated:
June 7, 2008 10:43 PM EDT
An ambulance drives through floodwaters near Columbus Regional Hospital.
Workers move patients and equipment out of the hospital.
Columbus - Police are asking that people to not come to Columbus until the flooding subsides.
Water rushed into Columbus Regional Hospital Saturday, forcing the evacuation of nearly 100 patients. Helicopters, ambulances and school buses were called to the hospital around 6:30 pm to help with the evacuation. The patients are being transported to hospitals in Madison and Seymour. The basement of the hospital flooded in 45 minutes, with waters quickly reaching the first floor of the building....


June 7. 2008
Hutsonville, Illinois
Photographer states :: flooded areas after severe storm

Tornado closes Interstate 57

06/07/2008, 10:35 pm

22 year old Jake Murdie took this photograph of a tornado as it approached his pick up truck as he drove to his home in Symerton from his job in Peotone. Murdie said he had never seen a tornado before, ''It went right over my truck and took out a pole barn on Old Chicago Road.


Tornado touches down south of Chicago; heavy rains deluge Indiana; Wisconsin twister (click here)
Associated Press - June 7, 2008 9:43 PM ET
CHICAGO (AP) - The National Weather Service says a large tornado has touched down in Chicago's southern suburbs.
The twister damaged homes, toppled power lines and overturned semitrailers.
State police say one person was injured on Interstate 57. A swath of the major highway is closed as authorities clear overturned trucks.
A tornado warning has also been issued for Chicago's northern suburbs.
Tornadoes earlier in Wisconsin injured at least five people.
And in Indiana, dams are near collapse and the Coast Guard has been moving people out of threatened homes after 10 inches of rain fell today.
One state official says 90% of Paragon, southwest of Indianapolis, is underwater.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has declared an emergency in 10 counties.
Copyright 2008
The Associated Press.
All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

There is a low pressure system that extends from the border of Guatemala on the Yucatan to about 60 longitude & latitude (12 hr loop click here)

The center/eye is north of the Bahamas.

June 8, 2008
1230z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite

S. 309: Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act - To amend the Clean Air Act...

This bill only recently left Committee in 2007 (click here) and is a success story to the leadership of Senator Barbara Boxer, the Committee Chairwoman.

As an amendment to "The Clean Air Act" this would place Carbon Dioxide among the status of all the other polluting agents that have successfully been addressed for decades now. It would permanently place the 'status' of Carbon Dixoide in the accesses of The New Source Review (NSR) (click here).

The NSR is proven to be a valuable and publically accessible tool to monitor pollutants and to stop their emissions. It is well established USA infrastructure begun in the 1970s when even Republicans had a conscience regarding the moral issues of Environmental Stewardship !


Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) talks with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in her Capitol Hill office about Climate Change on April 22, 2008.

The bill currently has 19 co-sponsors. None from Alaska !

S.309 Title: (click here)
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] (introduced 1/16/2007)
Cosponsors (19) Latest Major Action: 1/16/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] - 5/8/2007
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 1/16/2007
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 5/8/2007
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 7/19/2007
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 5/3/2007
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 1/30/2007
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 5/9/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. [HI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 1/16/2007
Sen Klobuchar, Amy [MN] - 7/12/2007
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 1/16/2007
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 1/16/2007
Sen Menendez, Robert [NJ] - 1/16/2007
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] - 5/7/2007
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 5/3/2007
Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 1/16/2007
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 1/16/2007

Alaska needs to rid themselves of the Old Republican Dead Wood that have no vision for the future of Alaska, but, only "Sell Out" signs on their office doors to Corporate Big Oil. Get RID of the Republicans in Alaska !

MURKOWSKI NOTES ENVIRONMENTAL PETITIONS SEEKING SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION (click here)

Pledges to Continue to Work to Improve Boxer-Lieberman-Warner Bill to Meet Alaskan Concerns with Measure
Tuesday, June 3, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Anchorage office staff today received petitions from a group of Alaskans urging her to vote for the Boxer substitute of a global climate change bill that is currently being debated on the Senate floor.

Murkowski’s staff accepted the petitions and said the Senator will continue her efforts to fully understand how the complex bill will affect Alaskans. Senator Murkowski said she has yet to decide how she will vote on the measure, but said she still has considerable concerns about the costs of this legislation on average Alaskans.

“I’m reviewing the bill, but I have concerns about it as it’s currently written. In particular, I’m concerned that the strict restrictions on energy will lead to large increases in the cost of energy, which will inevitably be passed on to the consumer. I believe we have to strike the right balance between environmental regulations and the effects on the economy. Until the impact of the bill on Alaskans can be fully understood, I’m not comfortable supporting a measure that could have such a profound impact on Alaskans,” said Murkowski, who said she looks forward to the amendment process....

The bill was modified from the annals of what was once a Republican moderate and Democratic moderate, whom are now Republican Extremists on every issue presented to them.

The debate occurring today revolves around how to best address the issue of GLOBAL Climate Change and not IF it needs to be addressed.

The problem in passage of any Climate Change legislation is that, as with Hillary Clinton, the OLD stalwarts of both the Democratic and Republican Parties are scarred with 'a history' that can be termed "Survival of the Fittest" of the Bush Neocon Years. The people with 'Political Capital' have survived the Unethical, Illegal and highly Immoral Bush/Cheney years with such favorites as Tom DeLay and Abramoff leading the CORRUPT PATH of the current Executive Branch.

As a result, there is a lot of 'corruption' still left in the seats of the Senate and House, viewed as political change when in fact it is political corruption, that need to be replaced. The 2006 elections were a good start to reversing not only the trend in Carbon Dioxide, but, the trend in corruption.

Barak Obama will prove to be a pivotal figure and as President Elect will begin the much needed return to 'decency in government' and the eviction of the type of leadership that sought to undermine the best interests of the American people with this recent attempt to Secure the Nation from the atrocities of Global Climate Change.

The Senators that sought to undermine the bill and its abilities to move the American economy (Much of the lethargy regarding this issue revolves around 'Consumerism.') from one based in oil to one based in Solar and Wind are simply prolonging the arrival of the future and CAUSING damage to lives and property that can only be stemmed with reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. All these issues, including the survival of Alaska's Polar Bear in its natural habitat, return to the fact that the USA was warned nearly 5 decades ago to enact legislation that is currently STILL under attack because of STRICT CONSTRUCTIONISTS that see no change in the future, but, only more of the same old dialogue that interprets into LACK OF WILL to enact change that stewards environmental responsibility.

Earth has a 'Geophysical status.' It doesn't change. It doesn't adapt and when asked to respond to the demands of humans responds with deadly force! Everyone needs to 'get over the fact' people and their consumerism are the issue and will continue to be the issue and the physics of Earth are finite with specific outcomes to any stresses placed on it. Earth has its limits, humans need to live with those limits. End of discussion.

Summary of The Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act (click here)
Summary of The Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship Act(As debated in the U.S. Senate on October 30, 2003)
On October 30, 2003, Senators Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT) and John McCain (R-AZ) brought a revised version of their Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 (S.139) to a vote in the United States Senate. While the measured failed by a vote of 43 to 55, the vote demonstrated growing bipartisan support for a genuine climate change policy....

Neither Alaskan Senators were present during Climate Change Bill. No surprise here. Better it be removed from debate and them REPLACED !

I suppose if Senators ignore their responsibilities and don't vote, issues do become a 'cliche.' Alaska needs to start electing Democrats to their State and Federal seats. The "Oil Economy" continually touted as Alaska's Right is becoming an icon of failure and a vehicle to the Climate Crisis as noted in the lower 48 states. Alaska needs new leadership to take it into the future. Oil is a dead economy and on its way to becoming laughable.


Senators Ted Stevens, left, and Lisa Murkowski, both of Alaska, George Allen of Virginia and Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, all Republicans, discussed the Arctic drilling measure Wednesday at a news conference (old picture - Allen no longer anywhere to be found !).


Environmental bill dies in Senate, Alaska delegation skips vote (click here)
by Maria DowneyFriday, June 6, 2008
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A Democratic bill dealing with climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gases was defeated, following a week of partisan bickering.
The Democratic bill would cap carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and factories while cutting greenhouse gases by 71 percent. Opponents say that translates to a huge tax increase and would lead to even higher energy prices.
Democratic leaders fell 12 votes short of getting the 60 votes needed to end a Republican filibuster.
Neither Sen. Ted Stevens nor Sen. Lisa Murkowski was present for Friday's vote. Both offices say the senators were flying back to Alaska for earlier commitments and they say it was widely known the measure would not pass.
Contact Maria Downey at mdowney@ktuu.com

The Continent is cold, making lots of sea ice, but, little glacier survival due to heat transfer from the Equator (click for "Slate" article)

Surface Heat and Water Vapour Budgets over Antarctica (click here). These are important studies because they give a 'history' of better to optimal conditions for the ice continent, but, they are not current and it is known that the increase in Greenhouse Gases has occurred from 1991.

Carbon dioxide at record high, stoking warming: WMO (click here)
...The WMO (World Meteorological Organization) said levels rose 0.53 percent from 2005 to 381.2 parts per million of the atmosphere, 36 percent above levels before the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century.
Levels of nitrous oxide, the number three greenhouse gas produced by burning fuels and by industrial processes, also rose to a record with a 0.25 percent gain in 2006. Levels are 320 parts per billion, 19 percent above pre-industrial times....


Albedo - the reflective ability of 'snow/ice/glacier' to reflect solar radiation back to space.

The angles of cliffs of snow and ice do several things. They reflect light back to space to assist in the cooling of Earth, but, they also protect the glaciers and their underlying ice.

When wind and weather wear away the sharp angles or 'faces' of the glaciers that allows sunlight to disaffect the formation of snow/ice 'recharge.'

In this picture there is a lot of light. But, there is also a great deal of shadow. The shadowed areas are a far greater surface than the lighted surface. The reason is that the shadowed surfaces survive at the cost of the surfaces facing the sun. When that ratio changes the 'melt' becomes greater.

Glacier 'recharge' is a year long process. With temperatures high during the Southern Hemisphere Summer and heat transfers visiting now in the winter there is no 'residual' frigid air that provides ice and snow. Rain is not recharge, it is too warm to be recharge. When rain is delivered to the ice continent it causes melting. Same is true with drizzle and fog and other percipitation that is not a result of freezing temperatures. As a matter of fact, rain will smooth out edges and cause more exposure to the sun when the sun returns to the ice continent.

In other words, Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean have a 'heat balance' that equates to a year long concentration of frigid temperatures. When those temperatures, including the arrival of heat transfers from the Equator, swing the 'heat balance' above zero there is melting. The 'heat balance' of Antarctica is severely above zero regardless of its' current temperatures. Cumulatively, there is not enough 'frigid' temperatures to sustain the prolonged existance of the ice.


June 6, 2008
1200 PM
Antartica Wind Surface Satellite

The surface winds have increased considerably, with a surprising increase over the 3 mile high ice where the air is moving 'off shore.' The increased movement at the 3 mile altitude is due to the transfer of heat and the change in air mass with that heat. The arrival of that heat mass is noted in the vortex/jet stream below. The dissipation of the heat is increasing air movement.

The exception is over WAIS, where air is falling off the 'top ice' to the lower latitudes. Why is the continent dominated by 'on shore' air movement, because the velocity of the air movement coming on shore is greater than that moving 'off shore.' Therefore, the arriving air mass delivering heat to the continent is greater than the air movement of 'cooled' air into the East Wind Drift.

It is always better if the air movement of Antarctica is 'off shore' which would insure no arriving heat, but, only transfer of 'frigid air' to the East Wind Drift, which then radiates it to the West Wind Drift and the Circumpolar Ocean.

What is occurring now, is the arrival of heat 'on shore' in the southeast Antarctica shoreline to be cooled as it migrates across the continent, changing in density and mass. It then changes velocity and at a far slower rate than it arrived, exits the ice continent into the East Wind Drift creating sea ice rather than glacier recharge. The air is moving too fast to form 'recharge' and it is not cool enough.


December 10, 2007
1920 GMT
Antarctica

The frigid air mass of Antarctica was completely removed by a heat transfer event that was dissipated over the Antarctica ice and removed the frigid air from the continent. That threw the 'heat budget' of Antarctica into the positive side of melting. Will it recover? It is recovering, but, as long as the heat transfers continue and the snow and ice continue to be sublimed, the recovery will not occur to the extent it is needed to RETURN the continent back to its 'balance.' The continued degradation of the ice as exhibited by the recent disintegration of the Wilkins Ice Sheet (click here) clearing indicates the 'above zero' heat budget of Antarctica.


June 4, 2008
0721 gmt
Antarctica

The frigid air mass is reestablishing itself now that Winter is near in Antarctica. But, clearly the air mass over the top ice is diminished in mass from just 2 days of heat transfers from the Equator. The frigid mass is being displaced to the periphery where an accumulation of sea ice results. This clearly illustrates the observations in the "Slate" article.

June 6, 2008
1323 gmt
Antarctica




June 5, 2009
0600 gmt
Antarctica Jet Stream (click for animation)
Noted in the previous week, from May 30 through June 5, 2008 the regular and voluminous arrival of heat transfers over the top ice.


June 6, 2008
0600
Antartica (24 hour loop noted, missing 12 A, 3P and 6P)


The Warmest Reporting Stations
May 29, 2008

Base Esperanza, Antarctica

Local Time: 3:04 PM GMT

Lat/Lon: 63.4° S 57.0° W

Elevation :: 43 ft / 13 m

Temperature :: 38 °F / 3 °C

Conditions :: Scattered Clouds

Humidity :: 49%

Dew Point :: 26 °F / -4 °C

Wind :: 46 mph / 74 km/h from the West

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: 29.08 in / 985 hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 9.0 miles / 15.0 kilometers

Clouds:
Few 886 ft / 270 m
(Above Ground Level)



June 6, 2008

Base Esperanza, Antarctica

Elevation :: 43 ft / 13 m

Temperature :: 0 °F / -18 °C

Clouds :: Scattered Clouds

Humidity :: 77%

Dew Point :: -4 °F / -20 °C

Wind :: 12 mph / 18 km/h from the SW

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: 29.89 in / 1012 hPa (Steady)

Visibility :: 6.0 miles / 10.0 kilometers

Clouds:
Few 4724 ft / 1440 m
(Above Ground Level)

The Coldest Reporting Stations

May 29, 2008

Amundsen-Scott, Antarctica

Local Time: 2:11 AM NZST on May 29, 2008

Lat/Lon: 90.0° S 0.0° E

Temperature :: -77 °F / -60 °C

Conditions :: Blowing Snow

Wind :: 10 mph / 17 km/h from the NE

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in / hPa (Rising)

Visibility :: 1.0 miles / 1.6 kilometers

Clouds :: Few 1969 ft / 600 m
(Above Ground Level)

Elevation :: 9285 ft / 2830 m


June 6, 2008

Amundsen-Scott, Antarctica

Local Time: 11:18 PM NZST

Lat/Lon: 90.0° S 0.0 E

Temperature :: -86 °F / -65 °C

Conditions :: Clear

Wind :: 12 mph / 18 km/h from the East

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in / hPa (Rising)

Visibility :: 7.0 miles / 11.0 kilometers

Clouds:
Few 5906 ft / 1800 m
(Above Ground Level)

Elevation :: 9285 ft / 2830 m


May 29, 2008

Vostok, Antarctica

Local Time: 8:08 PM VOST

Lat/Lon: 78.4° S 106.9° E

Temperature :: -84 °F / -64 °C

Conditions :: Heavy Blowing Snow

Humidity :: 43%

Dew Point :: -90 °F / -68 °C

Wind :: 18 mph / 30 km/h from the SW

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in / hPa (Falling)

Visibility :: 0.0 miles / 0.5 kilometers

Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m


June 6, 2009

Vostok, Antarctica

Local Time: 5:12 PM VOST

Lat/Lon: 78.4° S 106.9° E

Temperature :: -93 °F / -70 °C

Conditions :: Clear

Humidity :: 27%

Dew Point: :: -101 °F / -74 °C

Wind :: 14 mph / 22 km/h from the SSW

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in / hPa (Rising)

Visibility :: 12.0 miles / 20.0 kilometers

Elevation :: 11220 ft / 3420 m

The weather in Antarctica (Crystal Ice Chime) is cold, but, not cold enough to maintain glacial recharge.

June 6, 2008
10:20 PM
Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica

Fire destroys shed at US base in Antarctica (click title to entry)
...The fire broke out just hours after staff at the U.S. base had met to review fire safety, New Zealand's Christchurch Press newspaper reported Thursday. McMurdo Station staff declined to comment on the incident. The continent currently is cloaked in 24-hour winter darkness. Temperatures at the bases were down to minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 27 degrees Celsius) by mid-afternoon Thursday.

Tropical storms kill at least 9 in Central America

By William Ysaguirre, Associated Press Writer
BELIZE CITY — Flash flooding carried away houses and ripped a child from his father's grasp in Belize, while falling trees killed two people in Honduras, raising the death toll from Central America's twin tropical storms this week to at least nine.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow declared a disaster area Tuesday in southern Belize's Stann Creek Valley, and the government rushed food, water and clothing to more than 13,000 people affected by the floods.
Over the weekend, Pacific Tropical Storm Alma swept over Belize hours before Tropical Storm Arthur roared in from the Caribbean at the Mexico-Belize border.
Witnesses said a couple and their 14-year-old daughter died when a flash flood swept away a house in Stann Creek Valley early Monday. The couple's 12-year-old son is missing.
"The water just come right up and picked up their house and took it down there and mashed it up," Bedford Ritchie told Channel 7....

Flooding in Belize: Situation Report #3 (click here)

Belize districts affected by floods declared disaster areas
The Event:
Tropical Storm Arthur, formed on Saturday afternoon May 31, 2008 and immediately made landfall in northern Belize on the Yucatan Peninsula. Before becoming the first storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season Tropical Storm Arthur was Tropical Storm Alma which developed in the Eastern Pacific on May 27. TS Alma and Arthur dumped approximately 15 inches of rain across Belize causing flooding in low lying areas and severely affecting the northern and southern districts.
Initial damage assessment reports have indicated a number of houses destroyed, damaged or submerged and approximately 1000 persons affected. Five deaths have been confirmed and two persons are reportedly still missing.
The Prime Minister of Belize has declared as Disaster Areas the Stann Creek District and Gales Point, Manatee Village and Sittee River Village of the Belize District .
Prognosis:
Flood waters have begun to recede, but some areas are still under water....

World Environment Day and The California Drought (Click here to "KICK" the CO2 habit.)

Droughts are a natural disaster. The most profound aspect to the California drought, besides the lack of rainfall that is sometimes blamed on El Nino and the like, is the Human Induced Global Warming Reality of DISAPPEARING SNOWPACK. It will be a struggle to keep the reservoirs full.


...Drought is a gradual phenomenon (click here for link). Although droughts are sometimes characterized as emergencies, they differ from typical emergency events. Most natural disasters, such as floods or forest fires, occur relatively rapidly and afford little time for preparing for disaster response. Droughts occur slowly, over a multiyear period. There is no universal definition of when a drought begins or ends. Impacts of drought are typically felt first by those most reliant on annual rainfall -- ranchers engaged in dryland grazing, rural residents relying on wells in low-yield rock formations, or small water systems lacking a reliable source. Criteria used to identify statewide drought conditions do not address these localized impacts. Drought impacts increase with the length of a drought, as carry-over supplies in reservoirs are depleted and water levels in groundwater basins decline....

(California) Governor's Proclamations Related to Water Shortages (click here)

Schwarzenegger proclaims that California is in a drought (click here)
SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought Wednesday, warning that California's water supply is falling dangerously low because of below-average rainfall and court-ordered water restrictions aimed at protecting fish.
"We must recognize the severity of this crisis we face," Schwarzenegger said at a Capitol news conference. He said this spring has been the driest on record in Northern California, which supplies most of the water to the state....

Australia's Drought is in Epic Proportions. There is little change in sight for reversing Human Induced Global Warming without a profound change in direction from the USA. There just isn't. The USA is responsible for the majority of CO2 emitted on Earth and that is a very sad scenario for the 'so called' wealthiest nation and the last 'so called' Superpower.

Australia's epic drought: The situation is grim (click here)
By Kathy Marks in Sydney
Friday, 20 April 2007
Australia has warned that it will have to switch off the water supply to the continent's food bowl unless heavy rains break an epic drought - heralding what could be the first climate change-driven disaster to strike a developed nation.
The Murray-Darling basin in south-eastern Australia yields 40 per cent of the country's agricultural produce. But the two rivers that feed the region are so pitifully low that there will soon be only enough water for drinking supplies. Australia is in the grip of its worst drought on record, the victim of changing weather patterns attributed to global warming and a government that is only just starting to wake up to the severity of the position....

PM sets out vision for car industry (click here)
June 5, 2008 - 4:29PM
Fuel efficient and hybrid cars will be the centrepiece of a new plan for the Australian car industry, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says.
The industry is already under review, with an inquiry headed by former Victorian premier Steve Bracks.
Mr Rudd said it was time to confront the challenges of climate change and soaring oil prices, and the need to reduce fuel consumption.
The industry had reinvented itself before and it needed to do so again, he said.
"Two decades ago, the industry needed a plan to consolidate, increase its efficiency and lift its international competitiveness," Mr Rudd told Parliament in a ministerial statement marking World Environment Day....

Storms hit south-central Indiana, injuring 1

June 3, 2008
Decatur, Illinois
Photographer states :: This is the view from my front porch down Greenswitch Road.


June 4, 2008
0330z (June 3, 2008 at 10:30 PM or 2230EST)
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite (12 hour loop here)



There is significant water vapor in the troposphere, but, little reaches the ground. When it does it floods in torrential down pours. There isn't anything 'normal' about that climate.


June 3, 2008
Kinmundy, Illinois
Photographer states :: A tornado-warned storm rolled through the Kinmundy, IL area destroying a machine shed, damaging a house, flipping a trailer, and downing trees. Photo by Steen Munter, WJBD.



June 3, 2008 10:47 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Thunderstorms cut through south-central Indiana Tuesday night, spawning at least two tornadoes.
Radar showed two tornadoes on the ground south of Indianapolis about 9:30 p.m., National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Tucek said. One was near Princes Lakes, north of Columbus, while the other was sighted near St. Paul on the Rush-Decatur county line. Widespread damage was reported, and more than 4,000 people were without electricity due to the storms. Duke Energy reported most of the outages were in Shelby County just southeast of Indianapolis and Wayne County in eastern Indiana.
Earlier in the day, the weather service said a small tornado touched down near Waverly, where television reports showed several trees down and buildings damaged.

Canada and Russia lead the way to responsible Arctic Ocean Stewardship

May 30, 2008 04:30 AM
Re:UN to play mediator in Arctic
disputes
May 29
The future of the Arctic Ocean is an issue of significant international importance. Ideally decisions of such magnitude are made in open, consultative forums involving all stakeholders.
Foreign ministers and senior officials from Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the U.S. attended the closed, invitation-only Arctic Ocean Conference in IIulissat, Greenland this week. The conference was called to discuss ways in which the nations bordering the Arctic can better co-ordinate efforts to manage the Arctic Ocean.
The retreat of sea ice caused by climate change opens new opportunities for the expansion of economic activity, such as commercial fishing, shipping, and oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the Arctic Ocean. While potentially bringing short-term benefits to the economies of Arctic coastal states, the expansion of economic activity can also trigger overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, pollution from ships and offshore extraction of oil and gas, oil spills, invasion of alien species carried by ships' ballast water and other extremely harmful effects.
In future, WWF urges the conference participants to discuss the urgent need for a new and stronger system for governance protecting the Arctic from climate change and other potential threats to its vulnerable marine environment.
We also call for the Arctic coastal states to engage in open and constructive dialogue about the future of the Arctic Ocean.
Neil Hamilton, Director, World Wildlife Fund International Arctic Program, Oslo, Norway

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is:


Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m

Local Time: 2:16 AM AKDT

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Temperature :: 46 °F / 8 °C

Conditions :: Overcast

Windchill :: 46 °F / 8 °C

Humidity :: 93%

Dew Point :: 45 °F / 7 °C

Wind :: Calm

Pressure :: 29.83 in / 1010 hPa (Steady)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds:
Few 1100 ft / 335 m
Scattered Clouds 2800 ft / 853 m
Overcast 3600 ft / 1097 m
(Above Ground Level)

Impeach the Miserable Old Man and Get It Over With ! Bush is killing people and lovin' it !

Get rid of the old infrastruture. Just that simple. You want jobs? Then allow the progression of the needed changes in the country proceed.

Bush and the OLD OIL GUARD need to be put out of business !

If any Senator or House member votes adversely to the needed Climate Change legislation, VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE. We need leaders that can save lives, return the economy and stop the 'exploitation' of the American people. Does it make sense to allow a government to continue to ignore their responsibility in Climate Change? No, it doesn't. There is no justifiable argument to support legislators that on the CHANGE we need in the USA . None !

Fine particle pollution from U.S. power plants cuts short the lives of over 30,000 people each year. (click here)

Washington, 17 Oct (IPS/Danielle Knight) - Pollution from electric power plants in the United States shortens the lives of more than 30,000 people every year, according to a new report released here by environmental and health researchers. The study concludes that soot, or fine particle air pollution, from the nation’s ageing coal-fired power plants is causing tens of thousands of asthma attacks, cardiac problems and upper and lower respiratory problems each year....

In this July 10, 2007 file photos, the coal-fired Plant Schereris in operation at Juliette, Ga. Plant Scherer has for several years been the nation's single largest source of carbon dioxide, which most scientists believe contributes to global warming. The economic cost of confronting global warming - from higher electricity bills to more expensive gasoline - is driving the debate as climate change takes center stage in Congress. The Senate begins considering legislation Monday that for the first time would mandate a reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from power plants, refineries, factories and transportation, in hopes of cutting heat-trapping pollution by two-thirds by mid-century. (AP Photo/Gene Blythe, File)

U.S. map shows per capita carbon dioxide emissions by metropolitan statistical area in 2005; 2c x 4 3/4 inches; 96.3 mm x 120.7 mm

...and now that "Arthur" is dissipating what is occurring over North America?

Weather cancels first day of McGuire show (click here)
By TODD MCHALE
Burlington County Times
MCGUIRE AFB — Severe weather in the area forced the cancellation of the U.S. Air Force 2008 Air Expo and Open house at McGuire Air Force Base yesterday.
McGuire spokeswoman Angel Lopez said Col. Balan Ayyar, commander of the 305 Air Mobility Wing, decided it would be best to cancel the show yesterday due to the severe weather.
“Our first priority is to the safety of our guests, so with this severe weather we didn't want anyone out on the flight line,” Lopez said.
During the short time the show was in progress, two members of Fastrax, the 40-member Army Airborne parachute team, were were injured as they landed in the drop zone, according to a posting yesterday on the Air Force Web site. The soldiers were conscious following the incident and wee transferred by ambulance to a Trenton hospital.
The two unidentified soldiers were taken to Helene Fuld Medical Cener with minor injuries, according to a story on the Star-Ledger Web site.
Organizers first suspended the show yesterday about 11 a.m. with the hope of opening the base and resuming the air show later....


June 1, 2008
0730z
UNISYS Infrared GOES East Satellite

These two images are ten hours apart. In the image below the center of the tropical storm is weakened and dissipating with lots of increased turbulence over the Central Plains of the USA under a thick blanket of carbon dioxide. The image above shows a far stronger 'central eye' to the tropical storm with far, far less turbulence over the Central Plains of the USA. NORMALLY, where there would be ample amounts of water vapor, the tropical storm would build and move into the Gulf of Mexico with 'velocity' from the storm, however, in this case that did not happen. What occurred instead was a dissipating of the tropical storm, while the troposphere 'shifted' its 'heat transfer' to higher levels of turbulence over North American.


June 1, 2008
1730z
UNISYS Infrared Goes East Satellite (click for 12 hour loop - thank you). What is completely obvious in this loop is that while Tropical Storm Arthur was dissipating, the accumulation of turbulence over Oklahoma and Arkansas manifested. What will occur with "Arthur" is that the 'heat transfer' will continue closer to the Equator and in the Pacific, 'near shore' resulting in a Pacific tropical storm supported by Equatorial Water Vapor. The 'limit' to the water vapor above 18.4 N latitude WON'T ALLOW the movement of the Tropical Storm into the Gulf of Mexico to become an Atlantic storm/hurricane.


June 1, 2008
1830z
UNISYS Infrared USA Satellite


June 1, 2008
1825s
UNISYS Infrared Central Plains Satellite

Several areas of the nation will be facing strong to severe storms today from the Southeast to the High Plains. Meanwhile, today marks the first official day of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and the tropics have already been activated with the first tropical storm over the Gulf of Honduras. (click title to entry - thank you)


It is called 'oscillation.' Oscillation in 'Climate Systems' occur as the 'accumulated' heat waxes and wanes with STORMS such as Tropical Storms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes when they manifest and dissipate. So, while Earth 'takes a break' from tornadoes today, it has maifested severe tropical storms at the same time, etc., etc., etc.

Where have all the tornadoes gone? Not that far away actually, but, were 'relieved' by Tropical Storm "Arthur"

And at WHAT Longitude and Latitude is this Tropical Storm occurring and remaining?

Latitude: 18 to 20 degrees North (Not far from 15 N) - 18.3 North to be exact and 'retreated' to 17.4 North when it dissipated. ? It lowered in latitude before dissipating ? Oh? It didn't build and make 'land fall.' I see !

Longitude: 85 to 87 West (90.7 West moving to 94.7 West. Hm. Toward the Pacific and NOT the Atlantic. Odd.)

What did I say about 'available' water vapor? Near shore and at latitudes near the Equator. Well, I find this interesting, huh?


The first Tropical Storm of 2005, "The Katrina Season" (When water vapor in the lower troposphere was plentiful.) started at Latitude 17.3 N, but, within days was at Latitude 43.40N (click here). That is not happening with Arthur, it 'built' and 'dissipated' all at the same latitude where it could be supported with water vapor. This storm 'began' nearly

Tropical Storm Arthur weakens to depression (click here)
Posted on Sun, Jun. 01, 2008
The Associated Press
MIAMI -- Tropical Storm Arthur has weakened to a tropical depression after soaking the Yucatan Peninsula.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami reports that the governments of Belize and Mexico have discontinued all warnings related to the storm.
At just before 11 a.m. EST, the center of the storm is located inland about 125 miles south of Campeche, Mexico. It is moving west-southwest at about 8 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 miles per hour.


The first tropical depression/storm/depression is expected to drop over a foot; YES that was 12 inches, 30.48 centimeters, one third of a yard; of RAIN over the Yucatan Peninsula and related weather areas.
Tropical Storm Arthur allowed the troposphere 'heat relief' because we all know what these storms do. They transfer heat from the troposphere into the oceans and across the land through the mechanisms of wind and rain.
We all know what kind of tragedy 12 inches of rain causes as well; landslides, flooding and injuries and deaths to people impoverished and unable to rescue themselves from such events.


First Atlantic Tropical Storm of 2008 Forms (click here)


June 1, 2008
1730z
UNISYS Infrared GOES East Satellite (click here, water vapor satellite at title to entry)



(Click for larger image.)
It is politically dangerous for Republicans to 'talk about' the results of Human Induced Global Warming in the way it manifests into weather and tragedy.

They separate the issues of Climate, Climate Change and Weather.

It was very common for the Bush/Cheney Executive Branch to address Climate Tragedy such as Katrina as an 'isolated' event, while 'milking' it for a show of compassion in providing relief and community response, no different than when Laura Bush recently paid a visit for a commencement address to a high school where eight students were killed by tornadoes last year (click here).


But, you will never hear a statement from Bush or any Republican Governor (Most of the Midwest are Red States.) that this was another tragic event caused by Human Induced Global Warming. So, as a result the press doesn't make that delineation either and will use excuses that there is no 'official' evidence to that effect. Well, hell, Bush stated "There is no such thing as Global Warming and Carbon Dioxide could never be a toxic gas." The 'critical thinking' skills of the press seems to stop at the Washington Press room these days.


It is completely obvious the USA has created its own climate crisis shrouded in a thick and lingering blanket of carbon dioxide EVIDENCED BY increasing tropospheric 'destabilization' resulting in record setting 'weather related' tragedy including the 2008 'string' of 'tornado outbreaks.' It is a "Climate Crisis" FIRST !


Ames Hit By Flooding; ISU and Athletics Facilities Threatened


May 31, 2008
Ames, Iowa
Photographer states :: Here's a view from Ames Iowa - following on the heels of the F5 Parkersburg tornado, the Ames flood didn't get much press. (It gets attention here. Click)

Bush and Cheney need to be Impeached. They are more incompetent today as they leave office do to their own desperations.

"...it was something we never wanted people to look at...caveats were dropped over time...contradictory intelligence was talked about...the American people didn't have that forthright view...the intelligence was portrayed and packaged to be more grave that it was..."

"...the press becomes complicant enablers..."

The extension being bandied about regarding the USA Occupation in Iraq is a threat to USA national security. Any 'permanent' commitment by the Bush/Cheney Executive Branch will allow a globally imposed Iraq Occupation to 'contain' the USA in its expansion into other sovereign countries. The USA needs to return to policies of National Security and not one of aggression and occupation. That change in policy is necessary to return the USA to its place as a partner in peace rather than a despot for oil reserves.

...Senate intelligence committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) yesterday said Hayden's assessment, in an interview this week with The Washington Post, was inconsistent with recent intelligence reports to Capitol Hill. In a letter to Hayden, Rockefeller said that he was "surprised and troubled by your comments" and asked for "a full explanation of both the rationale for, and the substance of" the interview (click here)....

Hayden has never been qualified for his current position and needs to be removed from his authority.

If the Democrats were not in the majority of both houses at this point in USA history, the McClellan book would have been swept out of the view of the American people just as every other 'Truth Teller' book about the Bush White House since that of Paul O'Neill's (click here), "The Price of Loyalty."

Democrats may seek McClellan's testimony over Plame leak (click here)

By KEN HERMAN

Cox News Service

Published on: 05/30/08
WASHINGTON — Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, branded a "miserable creature" by ex-Sen. Bob Dole, could be headed for a congressional hearing examining his new book's account of Bush administration involvement in the disclosure of a CIA operative's identity.
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said Friday he will talk to McClellan about the book's account of the possible White House cover-up of top aides' involvement in the leak of Valerie Plame's name.
Conyers said McClellan's revelations about the episode are "extremely troubling."...

The USA - Iraq Pact is an act of desperation the global community does not approve of.

...The United Nations mandate that allows foreign forces to occupy Iraq will not be renewed at the end of the year, so any future U.S. military involvement in the war-torn nation can continue only with such an agreement. (click title to entry)...

Any further occupation of Iraq will be viewed as an act of aggression within the Middle East and will provide a 'staging ground' for more war, instability and aggression at the hand of future USA presidents. The Iraq occupation has to end allowing Iraq to recover as a country, providing the people there with the opportunity to rebuild and take on an economic identity to pilgramage now denied to many Muslims in the face of chronic and provoked internal conflict.

The continued occupation in Iraq by both the British and Americans is about oil, not any form of National Security UNLESS one defines national security as a 'ready glut of Persian oil.' In revealing controversy recently in Russia, it was noted the CEO, Robert Dudly of TNK-BP is being asked to resign for his 'conflict of interest' in managing priorities in oil access and disaffecting Russian interests in countries like Iraq.

...Russian shareholders in TNK-BP want to expand into Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Venezuela, where TNK-BP has a competitive advantage. BP has resisted the idea, as well as plans to take part in high-risk projects in countries including Iraq, Uganda, Syria and Libya (click here)....

Allowing the USA and British occupation of Iraq would continue to insure no other country could provide stability to the country in cooperation with oil trade from the region. If the occupation ended, it would force MULTI-NATIONAL support to Iraq's military in order to provide the oil export business to thrive. Removing the USA-British occupation would 'demand' the return of Multi-National interests to Iraq forcing the global community to take an active role in securing the nation of Iraq. The ONLY reason the British and Americans are in Iraq is for the oil and HENCE the recent atrocities in Basra, the oil port city of Iraq.

Currently, the Iraqi government is forced to deal with companies and services allowed to them by Western interests. When that is the case there can be no negotiations with other countries such as Russia to bolster Iraq's military or police. Literally, the Iraq War is to secure America's strangle hold on Iraqi oil.

BP, Exxon submit Iraq deal plans (click here)

By Hassan Hafidh
Last update: 6:16 a.m. EDT May 27, 2008

AMMAN (MarketWatch) -- After several months of negotiations and pressure from the Iraqi government, BP PLC (BP: BP p.l.c.XOM 88.76, -0.59, -0.7%) have finally submitted proposals to the Iraqi oil ministry on technical services contracts to boost production at Iraq's prized oil fields, sources close to the Iraqi ministry said Tuesday.
Other oil majors, which have been negotiating similar deals with Baghdad, haven't yet submitted their plans, but they would follow suit, according to these sources.
Iraq's Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has threatened to cancel these technical services contracts, or TSC, if they are not signed in June. The TSCs are designed to boost Iraq's crude oil production in producing oil fields....
BP and Exxon Mobil's proposals include suggestions on how Iraq would pay them back for their services and the costs of equipment. The Iraqi oil ministry needs to approve these proposals before signing the contracts. Iraqi oil officials have said that each TSC would cost around $500 million....

The contracts were a little slow in coming because the 'terms' weren't attractive enough. Would the 'terms' have been more 'user friendly' for Iraq if there was Multi-National bidding for them? Of course they would be. The American occupation eliminates 'competition' in the market place for any of Iraq's needs. The continued and sustained occupation of Iraq is disaffecting not only the Iraqi people in continued conflict, but, also in defining their economic growth and opportunity. Literally, the Bush Era No Bid Contracts have caused a great deal of hardship to the Iraqi people, their ability to compete for better services and support and has caused massive impoverishment of the people while limiting its government's choices in alternatives to the Western influence.

We don't belong in Iraq.

We never did.

They're back !

Update: Storms spawn tornadoes, some flooding (click here)
White, Benton counties under flash flood warning
May 30, 2008
Carroll County has opened a severe storm shelter at the emergency management agency office in the basement of the courthouse.
The office, however, has some water in it due to the extreme rains associated with the storms, said EMA director Dave McDowell.
"Two small tornadoes were spotted by trained spotters at County Road 400 S and County Road 500 W moving due east," said McDowell. "But no damage has been reported yet."
McDowell said the tornadoes were in a rural area with no buildings. Flooding is more of a problem in the county, he said.
"We have water over a number of roads," he said. "My EMA office has water in it. We've had pretty extensive lightning in the Oakdale Dam area, so I don't doubt there are trees down."
Stormspotters have been activated and firefighters and deputies are helping monitor the storms, he said....

May 31, 2008
0330z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite North and West Hemisphere


May 31, 2008
0330z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click on title to entry for 12 hour loop)

The hurricane over the Yucatan is taking shape.


May 31, 2008
0330z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite USA

Tornado sirens halt lawmakers in Springfield (click here)

Posted by Ray Long at 6:22 p.m.; updated at 7:35 p.m.
Update: The House went back into session at 7:13 p.m. before adjourning about 20 minutes later.
SPRINGFIELD---A tornado warning interrupted debate in the Illinois House Friday night, sending lawmakers scurrying to the safe havens in the Capitol.
As rolling thunder roared through Springfield, Rep. Art Turner (D-Chicago) halted debate when warning sirens broke out in the Capitol. He told lawmakers to take cover in the basements and pedestrian tunnels in the Capitol complex.
"That is a tornado warning that is being expressed at this point," Turner said.
An official warned over loudspeakers: "Do not exit the building as this tornado is in Springfield."
Winds are shaking the trees outside the Capitol and light hail has begun to bounce off the building.
The local weathercaster told viewers a tornado has been spotted in Springfield.
Twenty-five minutes after the House debate stopped, an official on a loudspeaker instructed all legislators and statewide officials to go to the tunnels until there is an "all clear" because a second storm also may be in the area.
The interruption came as the General Assembly is seeking to pass a budget before its midnight Saturday deadline and get out of town during an election year.

Record setting pace for tornadoes this year (click here)
May 30, 2008 07:00 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Central Indiana is under the threat of severe storms this evening.
On Thursday, the same storm system exploded across the plains states.
Tornadoes ripped through parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. In all, the National Weather Service received 57 reports of tornadoes. The actual number of twisters is still being investigated.
The damage to homes and businesses is massive, but fortunately, no one was killed and no serious injuries. But, that hasn't been the case so far this year. A year that is on a record setting pace.
"Nearly 1200 reports of tornadoes, some of those are duplicates, so I'd estimate that we're somewhere between 900 and 980 actual tornadoes for the year," said Dan McCarthy of the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.
"What's really notable is the number of fatalities we've had this year, we're already over 100 fatalities which is double the national average," said McCarthy.
McCarthy, who worked at the storm prediction center in Norman, Oklahoma before coming to Indianapolis, says the record numbers of tornadoes back in February are to blame for the high death toll.
"Many of your fatalities are heightened in February and November when people in the general public don't expect it," said McCarthy.
Report by Steve Bray, WISH. Edited by Hyacinth Williams.