topic Re: Our Freak Winter Storms in Community Chat

Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:01:28 GMT

The results are out for a decade long study and conclude that air pollution from Asia directly affects the storm pattern over the Pacific Ocean. Researchers further speculate that this could be driving freak winter weather in North America.

"The Pacific storm track is a major driving force over global weather patterns," says the study's lead author Yuan Wang, a post-doctorate fellow at the NASA U.S. Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

"The modulated storm track can be linked to abnormal weather behavior in the mid-latitudes of the Northern hemisphere, including U.S. and Canada."

This is really scary because there isn't much we can do about it

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:02:29 GMT

In January, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing recorded hazardous levels of particulate matter in the Chinese capital's air, at 18 times the recommended amount by the World Health Organization. Residents were warned to stay indoors.

This isn't fog, folks:

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

esmerelda — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:04:09 GMT

I know. I gave up long ago.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

Buck-i-Nana — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:05:12 GMT

Took this pic this morning....I had such beautiful daffodils, hyacinths and grape hyacinths....

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:06:56 GMT

The effect was most pronounced during the winter.There's also a report from the BBC science section with an even worse photo:

"Researchers have found that pollutants are strengthening storms above the Pacific Ocean, which feeds into weather systems in other parts of the world.

The effect was most pronounced during the winter."

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27027876

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

Topaz Gem — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:07:11 GMT

My boss went to Beijing last year and his photos looked exactly like the one above. It's absolutely disgusting. He says the smog and soot covers the sun, making for a very eerie environment. He said it also smells so bad that people walk around with cloths over their mouths and noses.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

Buck-i-Nana — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:07:44 GMT

It's so sad, sadder still when you read articles and hear people decrying environmental regulations and defending corporations moving to China because of their lack of regulations. Pollution so bad that for days on end, the air is barely breathable. Anyone who thinks what happens in one place in the world environmentally doesn't eventually impact everyone isn't paying attention.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:08:20 GMT

Buck-i-nana,

Do you usually have snow in mid-April?

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

scotttie — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:09:01 GMT

On 4/15/2014 Buck-i-Nana said:
It's so sad, sadder still when you read articles and hear people decrying environmental regulations and defending corporations moving to China because of their lack of regulations. Pollution so bad that for days on end, the air is barely breathable. Anyone who thinks what happens in one place in the world environmentally doesn't eventually impact everyone isn't paying attention.

However, saddling our companies with unnecessary burdens and global regulations isn't fair especially when the problem is OVER THERE. We can't regulate what THEY do. Just my .02.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:09:40 GMT

On 4/15/2014 Topaz Gem said:
My boss went to Beijing last year and his photos looked exactly like the one above. It's absolutely disgusting. He says the smog and soot covers the sun, making for a very eerie environment. He said it also smells so bad that people walk around with cloths over their mouths and noses.

They are going to have to do something. People must already be suffering the effects, and the big shots causing the problem won't be able to get away from it themselves.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

scotttie — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:10:31 GMT

I'm not Buck i Nana but I live in the Midwest and snow in April is not unheard of. Not a blizzard but a dusting of snow is not really ""abnormal"" Unusual but not unheard of. I recall March 30 a few years ago we had a blizzard. This was back oh I'd say '96 or so.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

JaneMarple — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:11:24 GMT

Hi Noel, my son who lives in upstate NY is expecting snow today. Its in the 60's where I'm at but the wind is blowing at 30 miles an hour, its expected to be back in the 40's tomorrow.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:11:41 GMT

On 4/15/2014 Buck-i-Nana said:
It's so sad, sadder still when you read articles and hear people decrying environmental regulations and defending corporations moving to China because of their lack of regulations. Pollution so bad that for days on end, the air is barely breathable. Anyone who thinks what happens in one place in the world environmentally doesn't eventually impact everyone isn't paying attention.

Information in the two articles explains how their situation directly affects us.

It's a global world, like it or not.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

Topaz Gem — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:12:14 GMT

Over 35 years ago, a family member returned from a Florida vacation in early to mid April, only to have about a foot of snow the next day, LOL. The snow only lasted a day or two, but freak storms are not anything new. They happen every few years and may be more frequent due to the situation in Asia, but that is not the sole reason for them occurring.

(Edited by TG)

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:13:03 GMT

On 4/15/2014 scotttie said:
I'm not Buck i Nana but I live in the Midwest and snow in April is not unheard of. Not a blizzard but a dusting of snow is not really "abnormal" Unusual but not unheard of. I recall March 30 a few years ago we had a blizzard. This was back oh I'd say '96 or so.

Thanks, scottie! Yes, her photo shows a little more than a dusting.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

scotttie — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:14:00 GMT

On 4/15/2014 NoelSeven said:
On 4/15/2014 scotttie said:
I'm not Buck i Nana but I live in the Midwest and snow in April is not unheard of. Not a blizzard but a dusting of snow is not really "abnormal" Unusual but not unheard of. I recall March 30 a few years ago we had a blizzard. This was back oh I'd say '96 or so.

Thanks, scottie! Yes, her photo shows a little more than a dusting.

LOL! Around these parts....that's a dusting!

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

PuppyBreath — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:15:02 GMT

On 4/15/2014 Topaz Gem said:
My boss went to Beijing last year and his photos looked exactly like the one above. It's absolutely disgusting. He says the smog and soot covers the sun, making for a very eerie environment. He said it also smells so bad that people walk around with cloths over their mouths and noses.

I have noticed that whenever I see a news story from there. People wearing the dust masks. It seems to a normal part of their attire.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

NoelSeven — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:15:41 GMT

This is such important information, if this line gets taken down, please let others know.

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

scotttie — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:17:50 GMT

On 4/15/2014 NoelSeven said:
This is such important information, if this line gets taken down, please let others know.

I don't understand this Noel? What do you mean?

Re: Our Freak Winter Storms

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 20:18:07 GMT

Yup. Out in the yard mowing on Saturday, cleaning up flower beds on Sunday in tank top and shorts and then 2 inches of snow to clear off the car this morning before going to work.

That's April in Kentucky!