Anyone who spent time in Albany, NY in June or July 2009 would have thought it was Seattle, Washington, because it rained. A lot. And the rain was often accompanied by severe weather - lightning, thunder and/or high winds. (Incidentally, the weather in Seattle at that time was uncharacteristically HOT, cracking 100F or 38C several times.)
One day in June, I was going to ride home, but I bailed. Severe weather - torrential winds, and some of the scariest lightning and thunder I'd ever experienced - meant that I put the bike on the bus and got home. But in that 10 minute-trip, the weather subsided. I took the bike off the bus and rode the last two blocks home. Generally, I cut through a bank parking lot, and past the elementary school, when I came across - well the pictures you're now seeing tell the story. The red brick building is the school, the more orange building, the Pine Hills branch of the Albany Public Library.)
I called the library - the tree was on its property initially, though where it ell was all school property. But I think it was the school who had cleaned up the mess - at least on their side of the fence, by morning.
I can't help but think: the weather is SO peculiar these days. Greenland and the Maldives Are Far Apart on the Map But Connected by Rapidly Melting Glaciers and Rising Sea Levels. If you go to abcnews.com and type in Bolivia, you'll find a story about the disappearing slopes in the Andes, where glaciers are melting at such a rate they can longer be skied in Bolivia. A recent study says a two-degree temperature rise could flood wide areas of the planet.
Yet a kerfuffle over some e-mails - did these people even READ the content? - have led certain people to the irrational conclusion that there is no global warming. Meanwhile, I was hoping for substantive breakthrough, but the climate conference in Copenhagen has generated voluntary, unenforceable goals. I think I'll keep worrying.
My favorite weather site.
ROG
22 comments:
No, there are no real significant environmental problems in the world, certainly not for the United States; there's plenty of oil to be found - drill, baby, drill! - or taken from less developed nations who will thank us once we liberate them. The ice caps are not melting and the deserts are not expanding, and even if they are, it has nothing to do with industrial civilization, so we can't really do anything about it, and certainly don't want to expend the effort to re-make our economy! That might effect our profits and the luxury toys that are our birthright! The rain forests are fine, fish catches are not declining, and the planet can support 10, 12, or 15 billion people - resources for all, and a wider consumer base!
A few scientists think global warming is hooey, a few appear to have fudged their data, so the professional studies of the majority of climatologists can be discounted -- it's the damn Liberals who Hate America who are just trying to stir up trouble, as they always do.
Hey, didja see the new Xbox game and try the new microwave popcorn, and ain't it awful about Tiger Woods?!?! /(SARCASM)
And the weather hassle goes on and on! And, yes, it was very warm this summer in Seattle and last winter was the coldest and worst in 20 years. This year we're somewhere in between -- so far. I just get all p---ed off at listening to people insisting that everything climate wise is the same as always. Great post for the day, Roger!
Have a great week and may you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
Sylvia
We're having proper winter weather over in Europe right now: snow, ice, cold! Unfortunately it's not staying: today the snow was melting again...
I think we're all experiencing changing weather systems. Climates have always gone through cycles - but the cycles are getting shorter . . . is it too late?
The weather is indeed getting extreme - not that we haven't had occasional extreme conditions before, but its frequency, and the fact that it is happening globally.
It is much extreme weather here in Norway also.. Fine W:-)
Wish you a blessed Christmas!
I think everyone is taking a closer look at the weather these days. Being from UK, it's all we ever talk about anyway!
It's too bad we've reached an impasse on thinking. Talking and saying nothing but 'no' seems to have precluded a thoughtful dialog. Timely post!
I also am worried and weary.
It is a wonder people can be so wasteful and think the world is well. There have been many warnings. The wealth of the world is waning.
I feel as if there is a wholesale wrong being committed. Just talk with the wolves. Thank you for this writing...
Happy ABC Wednesday.
Sherry
Yes we are all facing some wild weather this year and especially in the past few weeks.
Have a wonderful holiday!
Some people seem to believe only what they want to believe. And in the end, unfortunately, money seems to talk the loudest. Whatever anyone believes about global warming, I don't know how anyone can think we can continue living our wasteful ways. I hope we don't wait until it's too late.
On that rather pessimistic note... wishing you a Merry Christmas, Roger!
38? that's even hotter than Singapore and we're very near the Equator line. Right now it's around 28degrees C, due to the rainy days. At least it didn't rain the whole day, just intermittent from light shower to heavy at times.
I couldn't have put it better myself.
Weather? Bah! Everyone talks about it, but no one ever does anything about it. Apart from those science guys, but who needs science? :-P
Well, the earth has always gone through climate swings, of course. We've had ice ages and hot periods - it's a fact of life. And just because man has 'civilised' a lot of the planet and made himself comfortable doesn't mean it's going to stop happening.
But yes, we are poisoning the planet and we should stop. I'm not enough of a scientist to know how much it's contributing to our current climate change, but I'm sure it is.
http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2009/01/tropical-thunder-storm.html
Poor car, I hope no one was hurt.
Once in Singapore, we had such a terrible storm that in my neighbourhood, about 30 ntrees fell.
Your photos show that we depend very much on the weather. People realize that we have to do something about the climate change all over the world. The Copenhagen top might not have reached a satisfactory deal, the general public is getting the idea that we have to take decisions ourselves and start for instance insulating our houses or install solar panels. Your post is great, Roger!
The weather is always an interesting topic particulalry when it is contrary ;-)
Lucky you were not cycling past at the time. Weather, a lot of it around at the moment.
Great post, Roger! In Alabama, it is in the 50s. Last year on Christmas Eve, a tornado. The weather.. it is indeed a'changin'.
The weather is blowing hot and cold. When it's hot it's hotter than ever so I don't wanna go out at all in the afternoons. It's only mild now because it's the rainy season.
Thanks for stopping by my Watery, Wordless Wednesday... I'm a little late!
I hope you had a wonderful holiday and look forward to a fabulous 2010.
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