Oroville Emergency Spillway: Does this Look Like Bedrock to You?

via Roy Spencer, PhD.http://ift.tt/1o1jAbd

I’ve had a little criticism here and on Facebook that I’m not a geologist, so I shouldn’t be second-guessing the Oroville Dam engineers. They called for evacuations last evening out of an abundance of caution. That the emergency spillway is no doubt built on bedrock, and so it is safe.

Well, if it was only out of an abundance of caution that evacuations were ordered, why did emergency officials claim that there might be only one hour until the concrete weir topping the emergency spillway would fail? Hmmm?

And take a look at one of the ravines that eroded from only a little over 24 hours of flow over the emergency spillway

One of two major eroded areas just below the emergency spillway of Oroville Dam (Feb. 13, 2017). The little yellow spots are people.

Does that erosion feature look like it’s cutting into bedrock? Even though the spillway is supposed to handle 250-350,000 CFS, it was only ~10,000 CFS total flow across the 1,700 ft. long weir that caused this.

The latest press conference held shortly after noon today was rather abruptly terminated; are officials avoiding hard questions?

I honestly don’t know what’s going on, but if I lived in the flood plain (and now one of the near-200,000 people evacuated), I’d be wanting some more definitive information.

via Roy Spencer, PhD. http://ift.tt/1o1jAbd

February 13, 2017 at 07:46AM

NOAA Is Hiring Outside Experts To Review ‘Pause-Busting’ Global Warming Study

via Climate Change Dispatchhttp://climatechangedispatch.com

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is bringing in outside experts to review a 2015 study accused of being rushed by scientists who wanted to influence U.S. and international policymakers. “In the interest of maintaining the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and scientific integrity, we are in the process of engaging independent outside parties […]

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February 13, 2017 at 05:59AM

Auto CEOs Say Obama-Era Fuel Efficiency Mandates Will Cost 1 Million Jobs

via Climate Change Dispatchhttp://climatechangedispatch.com

Nearly 20 the largest U.S. auto-companies want President Donald Trump to ax a series of fuel efficiency mandates passed by the Obama administration. Chief executives at General Motors, Ford Motor, Fiat, along with the top North American executives at Toyota Motor, Volkswagen, Honda Motor, Hyundai, Nissan, and others believe former President Barack Obama’s fuel efficiency […]

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February 13, 2017 at 05:59AM

Quotes of the Week: Met Office vs NOAA

via Watts Up With That?http://ift.tt/1Viafi3

The Battle For Truth And Credibility Over Global Warming Pause A story in the Sunday Times confirms that the UK Met Office does not accept Karl et al.’s denial of the global warming hiatus and acknowledges that, ‘the slowdown hasn’t gone away.’ Writing in this week’s New Scientist, Michael Mann claimed that the pause is […]

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February 13, 2017 at 05:30AM