The Heatwave Of May 15, 1944
via The Deplorable Climate Science Blog
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On this date in 1944, almost half of the US was over 90 degrees, and Saluda, South Carolina was 103 degrees.
May 15 temperatures at Saluda have declined sharply since the peak in the 1940’s.
If we had a hot day like that now on May 15, climate experts would state 99% certainty that it was due to man-made CO2.
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May 15, 2017 at 03:26AM
Terrifying 20-meter ‘Rogue Waves’ Real, say Scientists
via Current News – Principia Scientific International
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Until around half a century ago, this scepticism chimed with the scientific evidence. According to scientists’ best understanding of how waves are generated, a 30m wave might be expected once every 30,000 years. Rogue waves could safely be classified alongside mermaids and sea monsters. However, we now know that they are no maritime myths.
Click title above to read the full article
via Current News – Principia Scientific International http://ift.tt/1kjWLPW
May 15, 2017 at 03:24AM
Diesel vehicles produce 50 percent more nitrogen oxide than originally thought
via Watts Up With That?
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From the “settled science” department of the UNIVERSITY OF YORK and possibly inspired by Volkswagen…
The research, led by the International Council on Clean Transportation and Environmental Health Analytics, LLC., in collaboration with scientists at the University of York’s Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI); University of Colorado; and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, examined 11 major vehicle markets representing more than 80% of new diesel vehicle sales in 2015.’
Of these markets, they found vehicles emitted 13.2 million tons of nitrogen oxide under real-world driving conditions, which is 4.6 million tons more than the 8.6 million tons expected from vehicles’ performance under official laboratory tests.
Chris Malley, from the SEI, University of York, said: “This study shows that excess diesel nitrogen oxide emissions effect crop yields and a variety of human health issues. We estimate that implementing Next Generation standards could reduce crop production loss by 1-2% for Chinese wheat, Chinese maize, and Brazilian soy, and result in an additional four million tonnes of crop production globally.”
Nitrogen oxide is a key contributor to outdoor air pollution. Long-term exposure to these pollutants is linked to a range of adverse health outcomes, including disability and reduced life expectancy due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.
Josh Miller, researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), said: “Heavy-duty vehicles, such as commercial trucks and buses, were by far the largest contributor worldwide, accounting for 76% of the total excess gas emissions.
“Five of the 11 markets that we looked at, Brazil, China, the EU, India, and the US, produced 90% of that.
“For light-duty vehicles, such as passenger cars, trucks, and vans, the European Union produced nearly 70% of the excess diesel nitrogen oxide emissions.”
The study estimates that excess diesel vehicle NOx emissions in 2015 were also linked to approximately 38,000 premature deaths worldwide – mostly in the European Union, China, and India.
Susan Anenberg, co-Founder of Environmental Health Analytics, LLC, said: “The consequences of excess diesel NOx emissions for public health are striking. In Europe, the ozone mortality burden each year would be 10% lower if diesel vehicle nitrogen oxide emissions were in line with certification limits.”
At a global level, the study estimates that the impact of all real-world diesel nitrogen oxide emissions will grow to 183,600 early deaths in 2040, unless something is done to reduce it. In some countries, implementing the most stringent standards – already in place elsewhere – could substantially improve the situation, according to the researchers.
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The study was funded by the Hewlett Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, European Climate Foundation, Energy Foundation China, and the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied System Team.
via Watts Up With That? http://ift.tt/1Viafi3
May 15, 2017 at 03:22AM
Energy Price Cap Could Mean 5,000 – 10,000 Job Losses – Deutsche Bank
via The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF)
http://www.thegwpf.com
The squeeze on margins could also potentially push Innogy, which owns Npower, to exit the UK retail market altogether, the bank said.
May has pledged to cap standard variable tariffs if the Conservative Party wins the election on June 8 due to a doubling of energy bills in Britain over the past decade.
The British market is dominated by six big providers – Centrica, SSE, Scottish Power, Innogy-owned Npower, E.ON and EDF Energy – which account for about 85 percent of the retail electricity market.
The industry has argued that a price cap would wipe out competition and damage investment.
Deutsche Bank analysts expect April 2018 to be the likely start date for the price cap and expect all of six companies to experience a squeeze of around 2 percent on UK retail margins.
The cap could cut Centrica and SSE’s EBIT (core) margins for their retail divisions to 3 percent from 5 percent.
“This is a squeeze in earnings for the big six combined of about 600 million pounds per annum, with Centrica being hit by about 200 million pounds/pa and SSE by about 100 million pounds,” they said in a research note.
Big cost cuts will be needed to limit the impact on earnings, the bank said. For example, Centrica might need to cut an additional 200-400 million pounds a year off its 1.6 billion pounds per year energy supply operating costs.
The price cap could also prompt customers to switch energy suppliers, accelerating customer losses and resulting in job losses for the retail industry of 5,000-10,000, the bank added.
The cap could also force Innogy to sell off its UK retail customers, close its business down altogether or merge with another player to bring down costs.
“We believe a price cap might prompt a UK retail exit for Innogy while E.ON may struggle to secure any value from its business,” Deutsche Bank said.
via The Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF) http://www.thegwpf.com
May 15, 2017 at 03:21AM
Iowa Climate Science Education 