Is the Earth’s Cycling On Its safety Thermostat?

[Unimatic1140]

While I think weather extremes are fasinating to experience first hand and love it, it’s painfully hot, so OK I officially give, and you can turn off the heat now.

All that nasty heat and humidity that plagued California last week has now moved over us and is heading towards the east tomorrow. We lost power twice yesterday (how am I supposed to do wash without any electricity? – hands on hips) and worse all the deaths that the heat this summer has caused to the south, we desperately need some cooling relief. Minneapolis is supposed to hit 100 degrees today, the first time it’s done that in 11 years, ouch. I can only imagine what’s happening to our south. I also heard that once again Europe is also having a terrible time with the heat this year.

Some people actually like it when its this hot, but I’m a winter person so what do I do when the weather gets this nasty, I look at nice cool winter pictures. To help everyone stay cool, here are some pictures I took four or five years ago during autumn and winter in Minneapolis, my favorite time of the year: Click Here for Some Cooling Relief

The picture below is from the local news in January, ahh that feels better already...

and Yes that is Fahrenheit, for you foreigners here it is converted to Celsius:

Thr: -20/-26
Fri: -18/-27
Sat: -8/-20
Sun: -13/-18
Mon: -12/-18
Tue: -9/-16
Wed: -7/-19

 

[tolivac]

Californias heat wave has now come my way in Eastern NC-Its now HOT and HUMID here-the place where I work is on LOAD MANAGEMENT for the whole week.Means we have to run our transmitters and other loads on the Cat generator.For air conditioners-esp household units-most are sized to give an indoor temp of 20 degrees below what is outside-During the extreme heat--simply set your unit's thermostat to be no more than 20 degrees below what the high temp outside is going to be-will be easier on your unit and your electric bill!I don't like very cold winters-the reason I like living out here in the Southeast.Hate snow.However it means I have to put up with possible Hurricanes-I remember Floyd!!At one of our transmitter stations--the staff was trapped there for a week due to flooded streets going to the place-they couldn't leave and no one could come in to releive them.We don't have any water problems here at this time.Don't water my yard-it doesn't need it.Don't mow it either when it is real hot-best to leave it-not going to grow anyway-the grass is going to conserve energy like anything or anyone else out there.

 

[hreodbeorht]

Here's how hot it got here in CA last week

Fortunately no power failures!

 

[dalangdon]

The weekend before this last one I was in Portland, where it hit 106, and it *never* gets that hot there, or in Seattle. Some places inland might, but never along the coast.

On the train coming back to Seattle, the air gave out for a while, and it was really miserable. I don't know what the crew did to fix it, but I am sure thankful they were able to cobble something together. That equipment was never designed for that kind of weather.

 

[kevinpreston8]

Southern CA weather fun

Talk about extremes.

The Saturday before last we broke a record for my city, 115 degrees. The old record was 113 back in the 1940s. We rarely break heat records (so much for Global Warming, seems the hottest it was out here was in the 30s/40s!).

It was so hot here that the air ran all day and night. We had a $1000 electric bill.

In contrast, this past weekend was overcast. Never got about 85. It was gorgeous, we were outside all day. Think about it, that is 30 degrees difference in a week. Now we are back to normal summertime weather. It will creep back into the 90s this week. As I write this, it is 10:00am and only 72!

Our winter here was equally wierd. Instead of some rains (heavy at times for Calif) in typically wet February, we had a dry February and a ton of rain in March and April. It was also really chilly in March. I remember Robert was talking about some mild weather in Minn, I believe in March, he got up to 56 degrees. On that same day we did not exceed 54. So for at least a day, we were colder in winter than Minn! I thought that was wierd.

Instead of normal "June Gloom" which is overcast mornings in the 70s and sunny afternoons in the 80s (my favorite time of year) we started right off with heat and sunshine and ended the month in the low 100s.

It is not Palm Springs here, but sometimes it feels like it!

 

[westytoploader]

It's been in the high-90's here in Bellville, after reading the above I feel pretty fortunate, but with the humidity due to recent rain it feels unbearable. That, and the fact that I'm hot-natured to begin with...if I stay outside for 5 minutes I'm drenched! Because of the rising cooling costs down here, we've been leaving the AC on at 78 during the day, and 73 at night.

I read on the news last week about the deaths out in California due to the heat; I agree with Robert in that something definitely needs to be done. I also remember reading a lot of heat-related deaths from Hurricane Katrina last year.

Does anyone else believe that this horrible heat wave is a product of global warming? Why is it that 13 years ago when I was about 5, I never remember it being this hot??!??!?!??!

--Austin

 

[frigilux]

Robert-- I am SO with you about these high temps/humidity. It's like living in New Orleans. Today it's supposed to feel like 115 degrees with the humidity factored in. YIKES! And it was freaking MISERABLE in the Cities this past weekend. But we saw some fun films to pass the time. Getting into my black car was NO fun, though, let me tell you. Could have slow-cooked a roast in there.

Austin-- We get pretty hot here during July/August, but where we Minnesotans are noticing global warming is during our winters. We had rain in February this past year. That's absolutely unheard of. Had very little snow cover until the very end of winter. It would snow, then melt right away. Again, very unusual for MN.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Hot. Hot. Hot!!!

The UK has had the hottest July since records began, London reached 36d last week.....AND ....all this without Air Con..

London & Birmingham lost power for many hours over the last week due to increased demand and de-regulated (French owned) -power companies not having spare capacity.

Global Warming...I think so

Give me snow any day!!!

 

[rickr]

I believe in global warming. I know that the winters here in northern Indiana are not as cold, or as long as they used to be. I used to be able to ice skate on the ponds around the city for about two months in the 1960's. I still ice skate, but can usually only go for a few weeks in the year now. The last two years the ice has not frozen thick enough to skate outdoors at all. Have had to skate at indoor rinks for the last two winters here.

Have also noticed that I can get a sunburn now. Never had a sunburn in my life! I am part Canadian Indian, so am dark anyway. Not fair skinned, thats for sure, and have always spent lots of time outside. Have lived in the same city all my life. The rays of the sun are much more intense than they used to be. One would have to be in complete denial not to notice the dramatic changes to our climate.

 

[rickr]

I believe in global warming. I know that the winters here in northern Indiana are not as cold, or as long as they used to be. I used to be able to ice skate on the ponds around the city for about two months in the 1960's. I still ice skate, but can usually only go for a few weeks in the year now. The last two years the ice has not frozen thick enough to skate outdoors at all. Have had to skate at indoor rinks for the last two winters here.

Have also noticed that I can get a sunburn now. Never had a sunburn in my life! I am part Canadian Indian, so am dark anyway. Not fair skinned, thats for sure, and have always spent lots of time outside. Have lived in the same city all my life. The rays of the sun are much more intense than they used to be. One would have to be in complete denial not to notice the dramatic changes to our climate.

 

[zipdang]

In Portland we had several days of 100+ temperatures, peaking at 108F (recorded in Hillsboro, a west side suburb). My house is at about 700 ft elevation, so it's usually a few degrees cooler up here than down in the city, but when it's still over 100 that's not saying much. Fortunately I have central a/c, otherwise I think my dog and cat would've spontaneously combusted.

Robert, those are some beautiful photos of Minneapolis. One of my best friends is from there, and I've always enjoyed going back to visit. Portland and Minneapolis are quite similar in many respects, and I've always thought Minneapolis would be a nice place to live.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Mike that picture is just beautiful! Where was it taken?

David I always heard Portland is great and it is somewhat similar as well, I've never been but I do plan on visiting visiting Portland sometime.

 

[foraloysius]

It's almost like a global heatwave. And although the temperatures here were in the lower 90's it was quite higher (and longer) than we are used to. Most people don't have airconditioners here and we never really needed them because we have a mild climate.

No airconditioners and fans anymore in the stores. "Come back in October". Fortunately temperatures have dropped significantly so I don't have to depend on my anemic single hose portable airconditioner anymore.

 

[brisnat81]

We've been puzzled

As to how a heatwave can cause so many deaths, dont people understand to keep drinking fluids and get out of the sun? If we have a week of 105-110 we might experience maybe 10 deaths nationally. Up until 5 years ago, My family did summer without airconditioning either.

In Australia, with the exception of Tasmania, the whole continent swelters through 95 - 110 degree temps from November through February each year. The part of the continent I'm in, usually experiences 85-95% humidity at the same time.

If anything in recent times the temps are lower here, when I was pre teens every day for 3 months would break 105, however now and average day is between 100 - 105.

So it's not as hot here, but we just have no rainfall anymore, its just ignited the debate about recycling sewerage, and it would appear that Australians cant recognize, that unless we explore alternate sources soon, we'll have no potable water left.

 

[jaxsunst]

I guess I should apologize. My Brother in law moved from Memphis area to Minneapolis about two weeks ago. I guess he brought "ya'll" some heat.

 

[foraloysius]

He must have made an awful detour to bring the heat to Europe as well.

 

[neptunebob]

It's 94 here and incredibly humid. We don't even want to cook because the air conditioner is having a hard time keeping up. Will be so hot all week, and also so BRIGHT!, which, I imagine, is hard on the people with Aspergers (correct me if I am wrong about that). I believe there is global warming, but we can't see "An Inconvenient Truth" around here. My family thinks it's because Rick Santorum doesn't want Pittsburghers to see it.

 

[toggleswitch]

we'll have no potable water left.

DESALINATION OF SEA WATER VIA DISTILLING.

There will always be water to drink. We just have to learn to pay (plenty) for it.

Gray-water to gardens and car washing I say!
Also, why not use washing machine rinse-water to water the garden/lawn? The use of softeners in the rinses can easily be elimated with satisfactory results. (Use less deteregent!)

 

[dalangdon]

speaking of grey water....

Boeing has started using grey water for a variety of purposes at their manufacturing facilities, and has found it to be very sensible for them

I tried to find the rah rah press release from the county and Boeing talking about their grey water program, but I was unsuccessful.

 

[brisnat81]

At the moment, we can use water outside the house in buckets, but no hoses.

From November there will be a total ban on using water outside the home.

It is now legal in my state to have an above ground grey water system installed, and all runoff from Bathroom (not Toilet) and laundry can be directly drained onto the lawn. There are incentives to retrofit this to existing houses. In Brisbane you can now get a 4000L rainwater tank installed for about $400, with the government picking up the rest of the tab.

There is a desalination plant comming online in my state by mid next year, however due to the energy required, and being totally reliant on coal and gas for power in Australia, desalination causes other problems for the environment. They are also starting to build a state wide 2000km pipeline, to bring water from the far north where it is plentiful into the South east corner where 90% of the population in my state is.

I dont have an issue with recycled sewerage. The water will be pumped back into the dams and then distributed. People dont seem to realise the amount of animal waste that ends up in Rivers and Dams prior to it being treated is about the same as recycling human effluent.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Garden Pics

Hi Robert

The pic is my front garden, Chester has a lot of the Black & White houses...we get a lot of Japanese tourists walking down wanting pics etc...

Keep Kool, Mike

 

[mayfan69]

Thank god for Air Con...

Well...all i can say is thank god for air con...as Nathan said, we swelter here in Qld from November to January and considering the days have been a lovely 25 degrees celcious and this is still Winter for us here!...then i can see its going to be another long hot summer!

Leon

 

[toggleswitch]

Mike: I beleive we generally call Black & Whites *Tudor-style* homes here.

Nathan: Just to remind everyone on th esite that Novemeber is summer for you, winter for many of us.

How's this for economy of water?
Santa Catalina island (California) uses salt-water to flush its toilets!

 

[gizmo]

it's currently 3.9 degrees here. (whatever that is in oldfangled?? maybe 40?) Certainly COLD.
I went to yoga practise at the local hall - wooden floors, tiny gas heater - our 1 hour yoga class was about 55 minutes warmup exercises, 5 minutes real yoga! It's COLD. send some warms here please!

Chris.

 

[frigilux]

Thank you baby Jesus! The heat has broken and it's a comfy 75-degrees in SW Minnesota today. It's also raining. A lot. We need it. Weather Channel sez we could have up to 6 inches by tomorrow morning. I can hear my lawn sucking it up. Hopefully it hasn't gone completely dormant and I'll have a nice green lawn for the duration.

 

[Unimatic1140]

YAY, Eugene I'm with you. The temperature has dropped 22 degress and its cloudy, its so nice not to see that blazing sun for one day!!

Gosh Chris that sounds just wonderful, please send some of that cool weather our way and we will send you our heatwave if you want it.

 

[sudsmaster]

The heat in the East Bay was really oppressive for the past two weeks. Thankfully now it's returned to our normal pattern of cool nights and warm days.

Normally during a heat wave I'm able to cool the house down overnight, and shutter it during the day to keep the cool air in and the hot air out. But mid-way through this latest heat wave, that technique stopped working so well, and some nights it got up to 85 inside before I could open the windows at night and cool it down. It was really miserable, and difficult to get much done.

No A/C in my home, usually never need it. But after this I might go out and get one of those portable roll-around units - not a window unit - for the couple of weeks a year when it might be needed.

Re: why people die in heatwaves. I think most of the deaths are of the elderly, who are in poor health already, or not able to take the proper measures (plenty of fluids, light clothing, etc), and so they succomb. Additionally, failure of A/C systems, or power outtages, took their tool. Finally, many people don't think they live in an arid hot climate here, so they are not used to taking precautions. The buildings may not be constructed to deflect or shed heat efficiently, as well.

 

[rinso]

It has finally cooled off a bit (high 90's) here is Boise after a month of temperatures in the 100's. Although not every day was a record-breaker, the heat was unhistorically consistent and steady, not even cooling off at nights. Snowfall in the winter has diminished over the last 20 years, to the point that it really doesn't snow here anymore. Could global warming be what's happening? I am not qualified to postulate, but I sure think something is awry everywhere.

I do think appliance makers will get better at designing and building energy efficient machines without any compromises in performance. It's a good start, but more needs to be done in the automotive and clean power generation areas.

 

[Cybrvanr]

maybe it's just tilted just a little too much!

Check out this article! It's unusually cold in South Africa! The reason why we have seasons is because the earth is tilted on it's axis, so maybe the tilted just a little deeper here recently than it used to be. I wonder why no scientists have thought about this theory when they start blowing smoke about "global warming"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060802/ap_on_re_af/south_africa_cold_snap

 

[neptunebob]

Still hot here, it's up to 96, very hot for our area. Since we have a lot of seniors there are "cooling centers" set up in senior citizen centers and YMCAs. Don't expect any relief until the weekend. Rich, those wheel about air conditioners are a rip off, they suck air from inside the house to cool the condenser and then shoot it outside. Some have two tubes and might work better, but they are even more expensive. Best bet might be to just buy a window air conditioner, if they haven't been bought up already. They should cost much less than the "portables". The "Slim Jim" units are more permanent and do work well, but they are very $$$$$. If you really have to get out of the heat go to a theatre and see "Who Killed The Electric Car" again.

P.S. You could see "The Lake House" too, but I just can't understand those women's movies.