Last week, during the polar vortex, the White House took the unusual step of releasing a highly produced scientific video called The Polar Vortex Explained in 2 Minutes, which debunks the absurd idea that cold weather disproves global warming. Via Chris Mooney, at Mother Jones: The fact is that no single weather episode can either prove or disprove global climate change, explains [White House science adviser and physicist John] Holdren. He then describes how, in fact, climate change could make extreme winter weather in the mid-latitudes more common. A growing body of evidence suggests that the kind of extreme cold being experienced by much of the United States as we speak is a pattern that we can expect to see with increasing frequency as global warming continues, Holdren asserts. Climate wonks and climate communications specialists say that the video is a nice piece of work. (So far, it has been seen by over 140,000 people, much more than other White House videos featuring Holdren.) They also note that it is rather daring in its willingness to endorse the still-contested hypothesis that Arctic warming is disrupting the jet stream and contributing to many ensuing weather extremes. It was truly breathtaking to watch Dr. Holdren embrace our Arctic linkage idea with such conviction, says climate scientist Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University, who has been the leading proponent of the theory. Watch the video here: -Erika
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 23:00:00 +0000
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