2008 May Be the Coldest Year of the 21st Century. Are You Making the Most Out Of It This Year?

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2008 May Be the Coldest Year of the 21st Century. Are You Making the Most Out Of It This Year?

by SAM Posted August 22, 2008 19:01:02

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It appears that 2008 to be the coolest globally this century. Data from the UK Met Office shows that temperatures in the first half of the year have been more than 0.1 Celsius cooler than any year since 2000. The principal reason is La Nina, part of the natural cycle that also includes El Nino, which cools the globe.La Nina cools waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, but its effects are felt around the globe. It is one of a number of natural climatic cycles that can re-inforce or counteract the warming trend stemming from increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Temperature will reduce globally by a big grade throughout the end of this year.

Even so, 2008 is set to be about the 10th warmest year since 1850, and Met Office scientists say temperatures will rise again as La Nina conditions ease. Are you making the most out of it?

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		Yes. I will buy extra warm clothing in wholesale and enjoy global cooling.
		No. I can't wait for this year to be over.
		Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
		I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.

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MT Chris August 27, 2008 18:09:51

Answered: I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.
Well, I can't be 100% sure, but wouldn't be unlikely.

To comment on all the predictable and inevitable anti-global warming science posts below, I just hope that we can avert nuclear war or other apocalytic activity at least long enough to allow the test of time to validate science indicating the impacts of manmade greenhouse gases on the earth's climate system. Since the scientists are never to be trusted by the American public, I take comfort in the test of time.
conservativerepublicanbeeyach August 26, 2008 21:12:01

Answered: I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.
If obama's elected, that is. But seriously, I LOVE cold weather, I love snow, and ice ,and sleet , and I would love nothing more than to be trapped in my house for days with nothing to do but put a roast in the oven and read a good book under warm covers!!
+1 raves
shadi August 26, 2008 18:32:47

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
I haven't really felt the effects of the cold, but I love cold weather though. This summer has been way too hot!
MsRedWolfe August 25, 2008 19:04:55

Answered: Yes. I will buy extra warm clothing in wholesale and enjoy global cooling.
But my tomato plants hate it.
Joe August 25, 2008 12:52:43

Answered: I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.
They can't predict the future of Wisconsin weather more than 3 days, and they're usually wrong. Somehow I don't think they've got this one right either.
conserv... to Joe August 26, 2008 21:16:24

Kansas is the same way! In fact "they" always say:Don't like the weather in Kansas, wait a few minutes. I wish I were in Wisconsin, at least you get more snow.
MT Chris to Joe August 27, 2008 18:18:14

First, I disagree on your analysis of predictability, which is approximately 10 days by most reasonable measures of forecast skill, but climate prediction, both short term and long term depend on different techniques than weather prediction. It isn't as hopeless as you seem to think. For example, for short term climate prediction, we can look at patterns in the ocean (La Nina cited in the poll, for example) to get an idea how the patterns will play out over the next year and actually get a pretty good approximate sense of how the year will play out on earth. Long-term climate prediction that warns of the dangers of burning fossil fuels depends on the physics of radiation interactions on earth and are largely based on energy budgets. We use these same tools to understand many things we take for granted in our daily technology use and to understand other planetary atmospheres. For example, we know our earth doesn't freeze over thanks to naturally occurring greenhouse gases. We know adding more greenhouse gases warms the earth. But the science is much more advanced than these simple examples. The consensus view of the current physical understanding is that, considering all likely feedbacks, the additional greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere by mankind leads to a net warming. We've done a good job of reconstructing the climate over the last 150 years using the same techniques.
A MAN'S POINT OF VIEW August 24, 2008 05:10:33 (edited)

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
I haven't noticed it being cooler, but I have noticed our rainy season has extended from spring into the summer, with the exception of July. July was a very dry month here in the deep south. The earth has a considerable amount of pollution which has contributed to the changes in our weather, but the earth was made to 'clean itself', it takes time for that to happen though. If man continues to pollute it at the rate it's going, then we're going to reap the consequences of it. One being bad weather.
Spider20 August 24, 2008 04:38:20

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
I think my area's seen more rian than the last few summers........
marmar154 August 24, 2008 00:25:24

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
i stay warm!!!
NICKI70 August 23, 2008 23:22:05

Answered: Yes. I will buy extra warm clothing in wholesale and enjoy global cooling.
Here in PA we have had a cooler summer
+1 raves
ThatGuyFromTheMovie August 23, 2008 17:41:39 (edited)

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
what global warming lol that be kool if it was colder we can make fun of al gore
KornyKittie August 23, 2008 15:21:23

Answered: I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.
I'm sure there will be colder :)
salcabrera17 August 23, 2008 14:27:08

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
well i live in texas and it sucks it's hot
Musiclvr11 August 23, 2008 13:36:15

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
I'm not stocking up quite yet.
+1 raves
Greatbear100~support our vets August 23, 2008 09:40:24

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
L live in New England and have had to run air conditioning most of the summer and before and my electric bills show it. National Grid, with it record high profits, just got permission to raise it's rates, so if the winter is cold gas bills will be much higher than last year when many people had trouble paying them. I am a 100% service connected disabled veteran and can tell you by looking at my heating bills from one year to the next they just get higher for the same house so it must be getting colder since I do nothing different. I know a large part of the problem is the greed of the utility companies who are always looking for increases but usage also seems to be going up if you compare that portion of your bill. I think the government has to step in and provide help with making homes energy efficient for the middle class--ie grants for insulatuion etc., and heating grants. It is a shame for Obama to pride himself on a Global Poverty Bill while ignoreing the problems at home--the poor and homeless, and the middle class struggleing to stay above water in this country should come before sending billions every year over seas.
+1 raves
Carlos August 23, 2008 06:05:21

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
And yet AlGore complains about global warming? it's the "coldest"!
conserv... to Carlos August 26, 2008 21:18:36

Yeah, he also complains about how horrible we all are for driving our cars to work and then hops in his jet.
dmarkowitz August 23, 2008 04:42:29

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
Well, this summer hasn't been quite as bad as others in the past few years, but overall, I haven't noticed that much difference. Heh, .1 deg. C isn't that much of a change...
+1 raves
..... August 23, 2008 03:10:21

Answered: I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.
moderated...
Wackiekat August 23, 2008 02:41:06

Answered: Yes. I will buy extra warm clothing in wholesale and enjoy global cooling.
It is out of my control...I WILL LEAVE IT ALL UP TO GOD AND JUST KEEP WARM OR COOL THE BEST I can. no sense complaining about it..so just deal and be happy!!
+1 raves
LttleMonster August 22, 2008 23:04:57

Answered: I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.
just wish it would stay fall weather here year round..i dont like hot or cold..im screwed
+1 raves
Roberto-Pro-America-Anti Obama August 22, 2008 22:45:28

Answered: I am pretty sure we'll have colder years throughout the 21st century.
Global warming is a farce.
+1 raves
Art August 22, 2008 22:30:23

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
It didn't seem cold to me...same as most other years...by the way...I thought Al Gore said we are all going to drown?
+1 raves
Dave Sa... to Art August 22, 2008 22:44:07

We had two snow days in April here in the normally rainy Willamette Valley in Oregon. Lately, the snow has ended in February, if we got snow at all that year.
+1 raves
Art to Dave Sa... August 22, 2008 22:48:29

OK so can we safely say Al Gore is more full of stuffing than a Christmas goose?
+1 raves
Dave Sawyer ♥ Child of God ♥ August 22, 2008 22:18:22 (edited)

Answered: No. I can't wait for this year to be over.
And Gore, don't you hate it when you go to show off your new invention and it won't work?
+1 raves
Brenda August 22, 2008 21:47:30

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
I live in the SW and and haven't noticed it yet
+1 raves
~Lace~ August 22, 2008 21:27:00

Answered: Coldest year? I haven't noticed it yet.
I live in the Midwest (Kansas) and I'm pretty sure we won't notice. Our weather pattern isn't like everyone else. We've gotten snow in spring and 90 degree weather in the winter. Maybe Kansas is really where global warming is going to start, it's just being sneaky and wants you to believe it's somewhere else! GRRR.
+1 raves
Grace W. Bush August 22, 2008 19:09:25

Answered: No. I can't wait for this year to be over.
I miss 105 hot days