Did You Hear About the Super 2012 Summer Arctic Cyclone? According to a new study, it was unprecedented in occurring so intensely for a summer storm, reports Michael Lemonick at Climate Central. Formed in August off Alaska, it move into and disintegrated in the Arctic Ocean, but not before breaking up ice that likely helped create a record ice melt, argue the authors.
Satellite image of the August 5 Arctic cyclone. Credit: NASA
Drill the Arctic? Not With Our Financing! Says German bank WestLB, report Kiley Kroh and Michael Cronathan at Climate Progress. Insurance companies and the U.S. Govt Accounting Office have asserted that current technology makes Arctic drilling very risky, and Shell's experience has borne that out in 2012: delays, complications, safety failures, and now, a grounded rig. Way to go, Brownie - er, Shell!
*****What Does Clean Energy Mean for Alaska? For that or any of the other states, you can click on the map here!
2012 Extremes: As U.S. Dried, Britain Got Wet -- dangerously so, reports Damian Carrington at the UK Guardian. You heard plenty about the 2012 U.S. drought, which still continues, but Britain endured a record early drought THEN record deluges that soaked the ground, then flooded over it, nationwide. Let's see, droughts, floods... hmmm, do they get locusts in Britain?
Community Public Safety Announcement: Speaking of cyclones, I experienced one of life's cyclones yesterday, as a highway driver sideswiped our Honda CRV and sent us on the ride of a lifetime: the car spun, flipped, then skidded upside down, sparks flying, for 300 feet - one second you're conversing amiably, the next you're INSIDE a video game. We walked away absolutely unscathed from our beloved but totalled car. Seat belts and airbags really ARE important!
Our beloved, but totalled Honda CRV
Australia Is On Fire Again, as bushfires rage in most states, reports Mark Schliebs and Nick Leys at the Australian. Inland Australia was expecting weeklong temperatures above 104 Fahrenheit, and South Australia lodged a record 118 Fahrenheit, leading to 20 people hospitalized with heat strokes. No wonder the nation is keen on curbing carbon emissions. They LIVE global warming there - talk about real-life "video games"...
Credit: Forecast the Facts
☼☼☼☼☼ Want to know more about your state, and going solar in it? Check it out here!
Expect a Little More Support for U.S. Wind and Solar Power in 2013 in Congress, reports Maria Gallucci at InsideClimate News. Yeah, but after everything that went on with the weather in 2012, will it be enough? Keep emailing your Congresspeople, folks, and tell them your 2014 vote hinges on how much they plan to promote clean renewable energy...
Every day is Earth Day, folks, as I was reminded by these clarkias I photographed recently. Making the U.S. a global clean energy leader will ensure a heck of a lot more jobs, and a clean, safe future. If you'd like to join the increasing numbers of people who want to TELL Congress that they will vote for clean energy candidates you can do so here. It's our way of letting Congress know there's a strong clean energy voting bloc out there. For more detailed summaries of the above and other climate change items, audio podcasts and texts are freely available.
