The Ice Age Cometh! Forget Global Warming!

[Mikey]

Re: Solar activity to fall by 60% in 2030-40?

Prof. Zharkova's study is available here:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283862631_Heartbeat_of_the_Sun_from_Principal_Component_Analysis_and_prediction_of_solar_activity_on_a_millenium_timescale

It's a fascinating read, even if you only are able to get the gist of it. Basically, the researchers were able to mathematically extrapolate (with "high confidence") the sun's sunspot numbers into the past and future from only a short observation time of full disc magnetograms of the Sun, thanks to the choice of a particular dynamo model and applying proper mathematical tools (Principal Component Analysis).

Attached are 2 screenshots from the study PDF.

First screenshot: Top plot: Actual sunspot numbers. Bottom plot: Solar activity calculated from the mathematical model.

We're now in cycle 24. We can see that cycles 25 and 26 will be even weaker than the current one.

Second screenshot: Solar activity calculated from the mathematical model, from years 1200 to 3200. We can see that coming cycle 26 will be even weaker than the weak cycles of the "little ice age" (even though it will be shorter as it seems from the plot).

If this mathematical model is indeed accurate, we should invest in ski and ice skates! In this context, it is worth reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ice_Age

 

[Andrian]

Re: Solar activity to fall by 60% in 2030-40?

Today's news:

There will be a "mini ice age" in 2030, solar scientists have said.

We are now able to predict solar cycles with far greater accuracy than ever before thanks to a new model which shows irregularities in the sun’s 11-year heartbeat.

The model shows that solar activity will fall by 60 per cent between 2030 and 2040 causing a "mini ice age".

The conditions predicted have not been experienced since the last "mini ice age" which lasted from 1645 to 1715, called the Maunder Minimum.

The findings are being presented by Professor Valentina Zharkova at the National Astronomy Meeting in Llandudno.

In 1843 scientists first discovered that the sun's activity varies over a cycle of 10 to 12 years.

Fluctuations within that cycle have been difficult to predict, although many solar physicists new that the variations were caused by a dynamo of moving fluid deep inside the sun.

Professor Zharkova’s team of researchers has found that adding a second dynamo close to the surface of the sun, creates a far more accurate model.

The scientists found magnetic waves in two different layers of the sun’s interior which fluctuate between the northern and southern hemispheres of the sun.

“Combining both waves together and comparing to real data for the current solar cycle, we found that our predictions showed an accuracy of 97 per cent," Professor Zharkova said.

The magnetic wave patterns show that there will be fewer sunspots in the next two solar cycles. Cycle 25, which peaks in 2022 and Cycle 26, from 2030 to 2040 will both have a significant reduction in solar activity.

Edit: found on SoTT http://www.sott.net/article/298913-Scientists-say-Suns-heartbeat-will-bring-on-Ice-Age.

Very interesting study indeed, sorry i don't want to be pessimistic here but i remember reading some time ago this article on SOTT:

It took just six months for a warm and sunny Europe to be engulfed in ice, according to new research.

Previous studies have suggested the arrival of the last Ice Age nearly 13,000 years ago took about a decade - but now scientists believe the process was up to 20 times as fast.

In scenes reminiscent of the Hollywood blockbuster The day After Tomorrow, the Northern Hemisphere was frozen by a sudden slowdown of the Gulf Stream, which allowed ice to spread hundreds of miles southwards from the Arctic.

Geological sciences professor William Patterson, who led the research, said: 'It would have been very sudden for those alive at the time. It would be the equivalent of taking Britain and moving it to the Arctic over the space of a few months.'

The subsequent mini Ice Age lasted for 1,300 years and was probably caused by the sudden emptying of Lake Agassiz in Canada, which burst its banks and poured freezing freshwater into the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

That would have disrupted the Gulf Stream - the flows of which depend on variations in saline levels and temperature - and allowed the ice to take hold.

Some scientists believe that if the Greenland ice cap melts it could disrupt the world's ocean currents and have a similarly dramatic effect.

Professor Patterson's findings emerged from one of the most painstaking studies of climate changes ever attempted and reinforce the theory that the earth's climate is unstable and can switch between warm and cold incredibly quickly.

His conclusions, published in New Scientist, are based on a study of mud deposits extracted from a lake in Western Ireland, Lough Monreagh - a region he describes as having the 'best mud in the world in scientific terms'.

Professor Patterson used a precision robotic scalpel to scrape off layers of mud just 0.5mm thick. Each layer represented three months of sediment deposition, so variations between them could be used to measure changes in temperature over very short periods.

I'm not a scientist, but i would like to give my opinion here, the study carried by Zarkhova is based on the study of the sun - earth relations and all that implies, but as we already know there are factors to be considered, the twin brother of the Sun, the cometary cluster, the cometary dust which is changing each day the atmosphere and as a consequence there are following a series of earth changes, the psychopaths attracting more destruction and chaos, people acting as zombies attracting more chaos because they are under spell of the psychopaths and there is almost no one to counteract the evil frequencies emanated from the psychopaths, and so on and so on. The good news is that Not everything is black and white in the Universe, i mean the whole picture is pretty complicated, there are to many factors to be considered BUT i have true hope in our network, in the people who are dedicating their lives to spreading the truth, in ordinary folks so who knows what will happen in 15 - 20 years? :D

 

[lilies]

Just a feeling. I think gradually people will have to get used to expect and experience sudden storms with extreme weather-inversions: during summers sudden -50°C arctic storms chiming in with winds and snow, then people can watch it go away. In the winter, during and after a [lightning] storm temperatures suddenly developing above 30°C 86 °F for a while then people can watch it go away, somewhat normal winter weather being restored.

The cause, I think, will be temporary intrusions into our world of 4thD with its own seasons and wars there flowing differently. 4thD bubbles bursting quickly via violent, sudden storms with copious lightning.

The crazy weather we are seeing I think is the beginning of this "Impossibly Forceful Upside-Down Season". These mostly much stronger storms happening elsewhere, but not where you live, might be explained with the micro-bubble umbrella effect, some of us were reporting. As if the mere presence of some members of this group would be acting as mitigator for any storm violence and strength.

 

[angelburst29]

Just think if this was snow fall instead of rain?

Soon after a record-breaking heat wave, the Russian capital is soaked in an unprecedented rainfall.

Moscow Underwater After Non-Stop Downpour Breaks Records (PHOTO, VIDEO)
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160815/1044287666/russia-rain-floods.html

Moscow was deluged in an unprecedented mid-August downpour on Monday morning with the city witnessing 48 millimeters of rainfall, beating the previous record of 25.2 millimeters set almost 130 years ago, the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia reported.

The region around Moscow is also suffering from huge amounts of rainfall. According to the national meteorological service, 73 millimeters were registered in a period from Sunday evening till Monday morning, which is close to the monthly norm.

It is expected that the rain in Moscow will stop late on Monday night, the chief specialist at the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia told RIA Novosti. However, it will continue to rain throughout the week.

 

[angelburst29]

Farmers’ Almanac™ is once again proving that traditions never go out of style with the release of its 2017 anniversary edition on Monday, August 15, 2016. This expanded “throwback” edition features an eclectic mix of weather, astronomy, humor and everyday life-hacks, as well as the much-anticipated winter weather forecast.

Farmers’ Almanac Releases Special 200th Collector’s Edition And Forewarns of a Frigid Forecast
http://farmersalmanac.com/press-releases/2016/08/14/farmers-almanac-releases-special-200th-collectors-edition-forewarns-frigid-forecast/

The special collector’s edition takes a look back at 200 editions worth of clever, forward-thinking, and occasionally crazy “Almanackey” tips and advice, including Advice to Girls (1876) about playing hard to get; The Power of Sunshine (1869), which is relevant today; and How to Quiet a Fussy Child (1878) that involves molasses and feathers (really!).

“What’s really fascinating is a look into how the world has changed, yet how it’s stayed the same,” says Managing Editor Sandi Duncan, Philom., “Some of the healthy tips are eerily appropriate – from warning off tobacco habits (1834), to limiting intake of sugary, greasy foods (1873). The 2017 Farmers’ Almanac truly rewards the curious reader.”

Winter Weather Freeze

Most well-known for its long-range weather predictions, the 2017 Farmers’ Almanac also contains a frigid forecast: “Return of the Ice Cold Winter” is how the Farmers’ Almanac describes the upcoming winter.

The Almanac, which bases its long-range forecasts on an almost 200 century-old formula, forewarns of a colder-than-normal winter for two-thirds of the nation. The exceptionally cold conditions will be most prevalent over the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley, Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and New England states. The West however, seems to be spared any extreme cold this winter, with the Almanac predicting milder than normal conditions for many western states.

“February is the month to really be ready for cold conditions,” warns Editor Peter Geiger, Philom., “according to our long-range outlook, many places will see downright frigid temperatures this month, some as low as 40 degrees below zero!”

As far as snow, the Farmers’ Almanac does contain a forecast that should keep many skiers happy in the East.

The Great American Eclipse

For the first time in 26 years a Total Solar Eclipse will be visible from the United States in August 2017. This edition of the Farmers’ Almanac shares useful details about where, when and how to view this eclipse safely and memorably.

Other stories that will appeal to readers who want to get back in touch with nature include how to raise chickens, ways to tap naturally into your own fountain of youth, a search for Farmers’ Almanac Farmer of the Year, as well as Almanac staples, such as a gardening & fishing calendars, recipes (including last year’s Lemon Recipe Contest winners), life-hacks, and astronomical events that are sure to delight.

“Accurate long-range weather is what people associate with the Farmers’ Almanac, says Geiger. “Yet, from the start, it has grown into a manual of sorts that can help people live healthier lives. It has been a guide to good living no matter what is going in the outside world.

 

[Voyageur]

Farmers’ Almanac™ is once again proving that traditions never go out of style with the release of its 2017 anniversary edition on Monday, August 15, 2016. This expanded “throwback” edition features an eclectic mix of weather, astronomy, humor and everyday life-hacks, as well as the much-anticipated winter weather forecast.

Farmers’ Almanac Releases Special 200th Collector’s Edition And Forewarns of a Frigid Forecast
http://farmersalmanac.com/press-releases/2016/08/14/farmers-almanac-releases-special-200th-collectors-edition-forewarns-frigid-forecast/

[...]

Winter Weather Freeze

Most well-known for its long-range weather predictions, the 2017 Farmers’ Almanac also contains a frigid forecast: “Return of the Ice Cold Winter” is how the Farmers’ Almanac describes the upcoming winter.

The Almanac, which bases its long-range forecasts on an almost 200 century-old formula, forewarns of a colder-than-normal winter for two-thirds of the nation. The exceptionally cold conditions will be most prevalent over the Northern Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest, Ohio Valley, Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and New England states. The West however, seems to be spared any extreme cold this winter, with the Almanac predicting milder than normal conditions for many western states.

“February is the month to really be ready for cold conditions,” warns Editor Peter Geiger, Philom., “according to our long-range outlook, many places will see downright frigid temperatures this month, some as low as 40 degrees below zero!”

As far as snow, the Farmers’ Almanac does contain a forecast that should keep many skiers happy in the East.

[...]

Thanks, angelburst29, was actually thinking about these Almanac folks and what they were predicting via their models. If what they say is so, it's like the 60's cold (as it was two years ago with the Great Lakes freezing over). The following is from your link for parts Canada. And here is a photo for the U.S.



Just updating: 2017 Long Range Weather Forecast for Atlantic Canada

Annual Weather Summary: November 2016 to October 2017

Winter temperatures will be below normal, with the coldest periods in mid- and late December, mid- to late January, and mid-February. Snowfall and precipitation will be near or above normal, with the snowiest periods in mid- and late December, early to mid- and late January, and mid- and late February.

April and May will be a bit cooler than normal, with above-normal precipitation.

Summer will be warmer than normal, on average, with the hottest periods in mid-June and mid-August. Rainfall will be near or below normal, despite the threat of a tropical rainstorm in late August.

September and October will be slightly cooler than normal, with rainfall below normal north and above normal south.

For: 2017 Long Range Weather Forecast for The Prairies

Annual Weather Summary: November 2016 to October 2017

Winter will be colder than normal, with the coldest periods in early and mid-December and early and mid-January, from late January into early February, and in mid- and late February. Precipitation will be below normal in the east and above in the west, with snowfall a bit below normal in Manitoba and central Saskatchewan and above normal elsewhere. The snowiest periods will be in mid-December, early January, mid- and late February, mid- to late March, and mid-April.

April and May will be warmer and slightly drier than normal.

Summer will be rainier and slightly cooler than normal, with the hottest periods from late July into early August and in mid- to late August.

September and October will be cooler and drier than normal.

For: 2017 Long Range Weather Forecast for Southern British Columbia

Annual Weather Summary: November 2016 to October 2017

Winter will be colder than normal, with above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The coldest periods will be in early and mid- to late December and mid- to late January, with the snowiest periods in early and mid-December and mid-January.

April and May will have near-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation.

Summer will be warmer than normal, with the hottest periods in late June, late July, and early August. Rainfall will be near normal in the east and above normal in the west.

September and October will be cooler and slightly rainier than normal.

There is also the 'Winter 2016/17 Tentative weather prospects' (UK, London) http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/twoother/twocontent.aspx?type=hpnews&id=3300&title=Winter+2016/17

Summary

Early indications suggest the coming winter may be significantly different to the last one. The combination of lower solar activity, a weak La Nina and an easterly QBO phase may favour a less cyclonic pattern and perhaps increase the risk of colder outbreaks.

 

[Gary]

Just think if this was snow fall instead of rain?

Soon after a record-breaking heat wave, the Russian capital is soaked in an unprecedented rainfall.

Moscow Underwater After Non-Stop Downpour Breaks Records (PHOTO, VIDEO)
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160815/1044287666/russia-rain-floods.html

I have been thinking about this a lot recently, what with yet another 'historic' flood in Louisiana following more torrential rainfall. Together with more unusual cold weather events as described below.

This video from Adapt 2030 shows 'unfathomable' snow and wind blasting New Zealand's North Island recently.

http://<iframe width="560" height="...f8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.sott.net/article/325507-Ice-Age-cometh-Unfathomable-snow-and-wind-blasts-New-Zealands-North-Island

 

[Ca.]

I have been thinking about this a lot recently, what with yet another 'historic' flood in Louisiana following more torrential rainfall. Together with more unusual cold weather events as described below.

Climate Change – This is what it’s going to look like! A dispatch from Baton Rouge from George Lane, GSN Columnist
Thu, 2016-08-18 03:00 AM
_http://gsnmagazine.com/article/46971/climate_change_%E2%80%93_what_it%E2%80%99s_going_look_dispatch_bat

My son was evacuated Saturday night by boat in Lafayette, Louisiana. The National Weather Service (NWS) said this was a one in 500 years flood; however, there have been 8 one in 500 year floods in this year alone, including one in Louisiana in March. This is what climate change will look in Louisiana. Here is why the disastrous flooding occurred;

1.) "Inland Tropical Depression": Flooding in Louisiana was fueled by a system somewhat similar to an inland tropical depression. Parts of Louisiana saw more rain than some U.S. cities have seen in the last few years combined. Deep, tropical moisture in combination with low pressure near the earth's surface and aloft were the main ingredients that fueled the serious flooding in Louisiana. Simultaneously the Jet stream dipped into North Louisiana, providing a blocking force that kept the tropical storm over South Louisiana.

On Friday morning, NOAA's Weather Prediction Center said:

"The best description of this system is that of an inland sheared tropical depression."

The rainfall it produced was very similar to what one would expect from a slow-moving tropical depression or storm since rainfall potential is related to the forward speed of those types of systems. A weather forecast discussion from the National Weather Service in New Orleans Friday morning said that the moisture content in the atmosphere was higher than what has been observed there during some tropical cyclones. It was an all-time record for the area.

When that much moisture is available in the atmosphere, thunderstorms can produce excessive rainfall of several inches in a single hour, leading to astronomical totals over time. While no one likely forecast 24+ inches of rain in southeast Louisiana, this is the type of thing that can happen on a very localized scale in situations like this one.

2.) River Records Shattered by 4 to 6+ Feet: At least 8 river gauges have set new record highs in southeast Louisiana, exceeding the previous record by several feet in some cases. The most extreme of those was in Magnolia, Louisiana, where the Amite River crested at 58.56 feet. This topped the old record at that location by more than six feet set on April 23, 1977. The Amite River in Denham Springs hit 4.7 feet above its previous record set in 1983 on Sunday morning. Records there date back to at least 1921, making this an impressive feat. These areas were already saturated with rain, and could not absorb water, allowing water to accumulate.

3.) More Rain Fell Than Los Angeles Has Seen in More Than 3 Years:

Since the start of 2012, Los Angeles has seen a total of 29.18 inches of rain. In just a few days, Watson, Louisiana, picked up two inches more than that amount with 31.39 inches of rain during the event.

4.) Second 24+ Inch Rain Event in Louisiana This Year:

This is the second time in a matter of months that Louisiana has seen more than 24 inches of rain from a single event. Almost 27 inches of rain fell south-southeast of Monroe, Louisiana, on March 8-11, 2016. The official airport reporting station in Monroe picked up 20.66 inches of rain. Record flooding was observed on five river gauges in parts of the state, also topping the previous records by several feet.

The potential for heavy rain and flooding will continue the next few days as the tropical moisture expands northward from the Gulf Coast and interacts with a stalled frontal boundary. Additional locally heavy rain will impact parts of the Gulf Coast, including southeast Texas and Louisiana, though amounts will not be nearly as heavy as seen the last few days. FYI.

George Lane, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has 25 years of experience in the development of chemical security systems, conducting research as a NASA Fellow at the Stennis Space Center and as a NASA Fellow. Lane was air quality SME for the University of California at Berkeley Center for Catastrophe Risk Management during the BP Oil Spill. He is currently Chemical Security SME for the Naval Post Graduate School Maritime Interdiction in the Center for Network Innovation and Experimentation.

It's a monster weather system stretching more than 1,000 miles.
_http://weather.buffalonews.com/2016/03/10/direct-tap-into-gulf-moisture-means-warm-wet-thursday/

As realized By DCM in 2011

Dot Connector Magazine – #13
http://www.redpillpress.com/shop/dot-connector-magazine-13/
SCIENCE
Jet Stream: Is an Ice Age Imminent? – by Pierre Lescaudron.

 

[Al Today]

This Global Warming has cracked me up for some time now. I remember back in the 1970's scientists were talking about an ice age coming.
For grins and giggles, g00gle this term: "1974 ice age".

edit: after reading deeper into the link I provided, I thought to remove the reference.
A lesson learned here... READ THE WHOLE THING FIRST.

But this I like:
_http://www.climatedepot.com/2009/10/06/dont-miss-it-climate-depots-factsheet-on-1970s-coming-ice-age-claims-2/

Despite many claims to the contrary, the 1970’s global cooling fears were widespread among many scientists and in the media. Despite the fact that there was no UN IPCC organization created to promote global cooling in the 1970s and despite the fact that there was nowhere near the tens of billions of dollars in funding spent today to promote man-made global warming, fears of a coming ice age, showed up in peer-reviewed literature, at scientific conferences, voiced by prominent scientists and throughout the media.

 

[angelburst29]

Farmers’ Almanac™ is once again proving that traditions never go out of style with the release of its 2017 anniversary edition on Monday, August 15, 2016. This expanded “throwback” edition features an eclectic mix of weather, astronomy, humor and everyday life-hacks, as well as the much-anticipated winter weather forecast.

Farmers’ Almanac Releases Special 200th Collector’s Edition And Forewarns of a Frigid Forecast
http://farmersalmanac.com/press-releases/2016/08/14/farmers-almanac-releases-special-200th-collectors

Thanks, angelburst29, was actually thinking about these Almanac folks and what they were predicting via their models. If what they say is so, it's like the 60's cold (as it was two years ago with the Great Lakes freezing over). The following is from your link for parts Canada. And here is a photo for the U.S.

Just updating: 2017 Long Range Weather Forecast for Atlantic Canada

Annual Weather Summary: November 2016 to October 2017

Winter temperatures will be below normal, with the coldest periods in mid- and late December, mid- to late January, and mid-February. Snowfall and precipitation will be near or above normal, with the snowiest periods in mid- and late December, early to mid- and late January, and mid- and late February.

April and May will be a bit cooler than normal, with above-normal precipitation.

Summer will be warmer than normal, on average, with the hottest periods in mid-June and mid-August. Rainfall will be near or below normal, despite the threat of a tropical rainstorm in late August.

September and October will be slightly cooler than normal, with rainfall below normal north and above normal south.

In the last 7-8 weeks here, in Northeastern Pennsylvania, local weather reports keep repeating "we are in a Heat Dome" with unusual high humidity and temps during the day in the 88- 94 F. Nights have stayed in the lower 70's. Normally, in mid to late August, we may get a week and a half of this kind of humidity but not weeks upon weeks without a break. In between, it has rained - just about everyday, adding to the moisture. I wonder, if this Heat Dome and slow moving air mass is due to lower Solar activity? What happens if this Heat Dome reverses into a "Cold Dome" in the Winter? Sub-zero temps and non - stop snowing for weeks on end? We did get a slight break from the humidity, yesterday and today, it's back up again.

I may be mistaken but I think Canada has colder and snowier Winters than the U.S.? When local reports stress, "We're going to get an air mass from Canada" - we get a deep freeze with minus temps and everything freezes like a rock .... for days!

In the past, on and off, I had noticed "2-3 days before a Full Moon" if we were experiencing a heat wave, that weather conditions would get worse leading up to the full moon and last 2-3 days after it peaked. Last Fall and into the Winter, I decided to chart the weather conditions and temp's just before and after a full moon. It was more out of curiosity than any kind of experiment. (Amazing the things you can dream up when you have a little free time on your hands? I don't have a TV to amuse me.)

Sure enough, if the weather forecast called for "a cold snap" or heavy snow fall, conditions were worse a day or two before the moon was fully crested and lasted for another day or two afterwards. It was like a 5 day window. Last March was interesting. The forecasts called for sleet and rain, mixed in with periods of snow. During the night, temps went into the single digits. It was a day before full moon. It started out as rain mixed with sleet, then changed over to snow. Next morning, it started to sleet again. Interstates were closed - due to the number of accidents and stranded passengers. Secondary roads were closed (not plowed) Bus routes were shut down, schools and University's - closed including some of the stores in the Mall's. It took three days to plow a middle path on the roads leading in and out of Cities like Scranton, Wilkes Barre and East Stroudsburg. It wasn't the snow but the thick icy accumulation and single digit (F) temps that caused all the problems. When the temps began to recovered and reach 32F, the ice falling off tree branches - snapped power lines and whole communities were without electricity.

Here's the dates - if you want to try your own experiment? I have one of those calendars that you can write brief notes on. 7 AM every morning, I would log the temp and at night, make a note if it snowed, etc. and the reported inches and expected night time temp. I would circle the day of the full moon and compare notes. It was an interesting project. Think I'll do it again this Winter.

Full Moon Dates and Times
http://farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-dates-and-times/

Full Moon Calendar 2016

January 23rd Full Wolf Moon 8:46 pm
February 22nd Full Snow Moon 1:20 pm
March 23rd Full Worm Moon 8:01 am
April 22nd Full Pink Moon 1:24 am
May 21st Full Flower Moon 5:14 pm
June 20th Full Strawberry Moon 7:02 am
July 19th Full Buck Moon 6:57 pm
August 18th Full Sturgeon Moon 5:27 am
September 16th Full Harvest Moon 3:05 pm
October 16th Full Hunter's Moon 12:23 am
November 14th Full Beaver Moon 8:52 am
December 13th Full Cold Moon 7:06 pm

Full Moon Calendar 2017

January 12th Full Wolf Moon 6:34 am
February 10th Full Snow Moon 7:33 pm
March 12th Full Worm Moon 10:54 am
April 11th Full Pink Moon 2:08 am
May 10th Full Flower Moon 5:42 pm
June 9th Full Strawberry Moon 9:10 am
July 9th Full Buck Moon 12:07 am
August 7th Full Sturgeon Moon 2:11 pm
September 6th Full Corn Moon 3:03 am
October 5th Full Harvest Moon 2:40 pm
November 4th Full Beaver Moon 1:23 am
December 3rd Full Cold Moon 10:47 am

 

[Voyageur]

I may be mistaken but I think Canada has colder and snowier Winters than the U.S.? When local reports stress, "We're going to get an air mass from Canada" - we get a deep freeze with minus temps and everything freezes like a rock .... for days!

One thing about Canada that peeps might forget is that much of the population base is aligned along the 49- 51st latitude and there is a lot of unreported on weather to the North for a thousand odd miles or more - sometimes even up in the Arctic it is balmy, relatively speaking, to say New England or the Dakotas. Last winter for instance (in the West), while the U.S. was being inundated by these Arctic mass air flows, it kind of went up and over us and it was not so intense as the dominant Westerly flows came underneath the Arctic air. The East can be a little more variable, and even when it was cold and blustery there, in some case it was much worse in the South. Of course the opposite can be true. When I look around at the glaciations nearby hanging on the rocks at elevation, and despite conventional climate and geological speak, it reminds me of just how fast things can change.

 

[angelburst29]

I may be mistaken but I think Canada has colder and snowier Winters than the U.S.? When local reports stress, "We're going to get an air mass from Canada" - we get a deep freeze with minus temps and everything freezes like a rock .... for days!

One thing about Canada that peeps might forget is that much of the population base is aligned along the 49- 51st latitude and there is a lot of unreported on weather to the North for a thousand odd miles or more - sometimes even up in the Arctic it is balmy, relatively speaking, to say New England or the Dakotas.
Last winter for instance (in the West), while the U.S. was being inundated by these Arctic mass air flows, it kind of went up and over us and it was not so intense as the dominant Westerly flows came underneath the Arctic air. The East can be a little more variable, and even when it was cold and blustery there, in some case it was much worse in the South. Of course the opposite can be true. When I look around at the glaciations nearby hanging on the rocks at elevation, and despite conventional climate and geological speak, it reminds me of just how fast things can change.

That's a very interesting quote, Voyageur ... about the 49-51st latitude, something that I never made note of, when researching various subjects on Canada. Brings into clearer perspective, the consequences of the devastation from the massive fire - Canada experienced a few months ago.

Last Winter, when much of New England was experiencing an Arctic cold snap, the higher elevations and mountainous regions of the Pocono's, extending into the New York and New Jersey borders - experienced harsh weather. The Ski Resorts were thrilled with the snow pack but ran into problems with icy slopes due to the sub-zero temps. Roads were mainly - a thick layer of ice. Road crews spreading salt had little effect.
Some Ski lodges resorted to hauling in truck loads of sand - to be spread along walk ways, parking areas and entrances, due to liability issues.

We might be dealing with "a Heat Dome" now, but it might be wise to plan for an equally abnormal Winter Arctic blast and purchase some sand bags, along with the Rock Salt. A few extra sturdy snow shovels, wouldn't hurt, either?

 

[Voyageur]

We might be dealing with "a Heat Dome" now, but it might be wise to plan for an equally abnormal Winter Arctic blast and purchase some sand bags, along with the Rock Salt. A few extra sturdy snow shovels, wouldn't hurt, either?

The signs seem to be pointing at this, so perhaps those and more things should be stocked; food being a big one.

 

[angelburst29]

Scientists have discovered that thousands of blue lakes of melt water have formed on the surface of Antarctica's glaciers over the past decade, an unprecedented event which threatens the stability of the largest ice mass on Earth.

Out of Nowhere: 8,000 Blue Lakes Appear in Antarctica, Get Scientists Worried
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160822/1044511338/antarctica-global-warming.html

Researchers from the Durham University in the UK analyzed hundreds of satellite images and meteorological observations of Langhovde Glacier, on the coast of East Antarctica's Dronning Maud Land. The study revealed that between 2000 and 2013, about 8,000 new blue lakes have appeared in Antarctica.

The scientists suspect that the water of some lakes could seep under the glacier's surface, potentially weakening it and making it more likely to fracture and break apart.

Previously it was thought that East Antarctica's ice hadn't been affected by global warming; therefore, more attention has been paid to the changes taking place in the Antarctic Peninsula. It is known that the occurrence of such lakes has led to melting of glaciers in Greenland, where 1 trillion metric tons of ice have melted between 2011 and 2014.

In the summer, as air temperatures warm, lakes form on top of the ice sheet and on some glaciers that extend outwards into deep ocean fjords. These lakes can then suddenly disappear all at once, or flow into rivers that drain into the ice below, lubricating the ice and helping increase the rate at which glaciers lurch forward. Sometimes, researchers have even been able to document fresh water flowing outward directly into the sea from the base of a glacier. That injection of cold fresh water into salty water can then create tornado-like underwater flow patterns at the submerged glacier front that cause further ice loss.

"It's not hitting the glacier really hard at the moment, this process, but of course, as things warm up, we'd expect it to start doing more damage, like we see in Greenland," said Stewart Jamieson, a glaciologist at Durham University and one of the study's authors.

The results of the new study were published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Over 5,000 glaciers in the northern regions of Pakistan are rapidly vanishing off the face of the earth because of rising temperatures. A severe impact is expected, climate change ministry official says.

Hell or High Water: 5,000 Melting Glaciers Pose Threat to Pakistan
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160615/1041385998/pakistan-ice-global-warming.html

Back dated 15.06.2016 - Glaciers in Pakistan constitute the biggest mass and collection of ice found anywhere in the whole world outside the North and South Polar regions. Pakistan is home to around 5218 glaciers with a total area of 15,040 km2, and this enormous amount of ice is melting at a much faster rate due to an increase of average temperatures in the mountainous valleys.

"Presently, glacial melting is a major global warming-induced risk Pakistan is grappling with. Other risks include sea-level rise, floods, higher than average temperatures, a higher frequency of droughts and expanding desertification," Pakistan's Deputy Director and a spokesman at the Ministry of Climate Change Mohammad Saleem Shaikh told APP news agency.

Flows of glacial streams that feed the 3,500 kilometers-long Indus River increased to above normal and high levels during summer months and it clearly indicates that the country's glaciers are melting rapidly. Moreover, the mountain streams now flow even in winter, never observed until a couple of years ago, the ministry spokesman said.

Temperatures in most of the mountainous valleys never used to go beyond 30 degrees Celsius during the summer time but now it surpasses 40 degrees Celsius at times," he added. The temperature rise has been a cause of the rainy season's expansion and reduction of the snowfall period, what makes it difficult to form glacier ice.

Melting glaciated ice and intense rainfalls trigger flash floods, which results in large-scale damages in the lowland areas. Along with high river flows and landslides, there is another ironic threat caused by glaciers' shrinking — severe water scarcity. According to experts, the country will most likely confront an acute water shortage, because there will no longer be any water reserves in the form of glaciers.

Fading glaciers pose severe risks not only to lives of the people and infrastructure in the areas, but also to the sustainability of the agriculture sector, which is a mainstay of the Pakistani economy, Mohammad Saleem said. The negative impacts can be lessened by adaptation measures, such as water conservation in domestic and industrial spheres, especially in agriculture, which consumes nearly 96% of total water available in any form. The spokesman also noted that nation-wide public awareness for wise use of the water resources is needed. Wastage of the natural resource should be made a punishable crime.

 

[Laura]

I'd say the melting going on at arctic and antarctic locations may be a sign of reaching the tipping point.

Aerial photo at this link:

http://gizmodo.com/beautiful-blue-lakes-are-invading-east-antarctica-and-t-1785448250

Something strange is happening to one of the coldest places on Earth. Dazzling blue lakes are blooming like summer wildflowers atop the East Antarctic ice sheet’s Langhovde Glacier. And that’s got scientists worried—because they’ve seen these lakes before.

“Supraglacial lakes”—meltwater ponds that form as warm summer air heats the surface of an ice sheet—have been spreading across Greenland for years. They’re both a sign of global warming and a cause of ice sheet collapse: as meltwater from the lakes drains into the underlying ice, it can lubricate the ice sheet’s foundation, causing it to weaken. This feedback is thought to be one of the reasons Greenland is now melting at an accelerating rate. (Earth’s northernmost ice sheet shed roughly a trillion tons between 2011 and 2014.)

Now, the lakes have jumped to the other end of the world, peppering an ice sheet that’s enjoyed relative stability compared with its overheated neighbor to the north. A new study in Geophysical Research Letters drew on satellite and meteorological data to construct the first long-term record of meltwater ponds along the coast of East Antarctica. According to the authors’ analysis, nearly 8,000 dazzling blue lakes appeared on the Langhovde Glacier in the summertime between 2000 and 2013.

As in Greenland, many of these ephemeral lakes appear to be draining their contents into the underlying ice. It’s the first time this behavior has been observed in East Antarctica, a place that study co-author Stewart Jamieson, describes as “the part of the continent where people have for quite a long time assumed that it’s relatively stable, there’s not a huge amount of change, it’s very, very cold.”

The presence of the lakes is, unsurprisingly, tied directly to temperature, with the greatest number of lakes forming in the unusually warm summer of 2012-2013.

It’s a bit early to say whether East Antarctica’s fresh summer look is going to mean trouble in the long-term. “We do not think that the lakes on Langhovde Glacier are at present affecting the glacier, but it will be important to monitor these in the future to see how they evolve with surface air temperature changes,” lead study author Emily Langley told Gizmodo in an email.

Indeed, the prospect of more lakes and larger lakes is worrisome, because Antarctica contains much more ice than Greenland, enough to raise global sea levels hundreds of feet if it all decided to melt. Recent studies suggest that parts of this icy fortress—particularly the West Antarctic ice sheet—could be far more sensitive to a few degrees of warming than we had hoped.

On a brighter note, maybe that absurd Antarctic hotel will soon become a lakefront getaway. Imagine: for a mere $72,000, you’ll be able to hang out with emperor penguins and watch the world end in real time. How fun!