Our weather

The recent spate of harsh weather across the U.S. and the world is an obvious lead-in to assume that this is yet another aspect of 'global warming'. However, that link is not that simplistic and should be examined very carefully.

The term Global Warming is used so often to explain what is happening but it is not accurate and therefore leads to further skepticism about the situation. We must try to be very precise in our terminology so that we can focus our attention on the real matter - our global problem - instead of dealing with semantics.

For this discussion, we will refer to 'Global Climate Disruption' instead.

A valid issue raised by climatologists and other weather experts is that we are looking at the season-to-season, and year-to-year differences. In other words, we are being too short sighted to see the actual affects of any changes to our atmosphere. Since the experts have some differences of opinions, no wonder we have to scratch our heads about this very technical problem.

There is more to this different perception than just scope. An interesting study Lay Perspectives on Global Climate Change, by Willett Kempton, with the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, Princeton University, highlights how the public and the scientists differ in their views.

But for right now, let's set aside our emotions, recognize our need to be aware and try to act in a responsible and effective manner.

There seems to be a very clear relationship in the increased use of fossil fuels and hydrocarbons in our atmosphere with mankind's increase of their use. The growth of earth's population and the industrialization of our life styles has been charted with an eery correlation to the disruption in our climate. If you want to get into the science of this problem, and delve deeper into what this issue is about, check out http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/index.html

We can see the results of a tornado ripping apart a town and leaving over a hundred people dead and homes and livelihoods destroyed. We can see the anguish on the faces of the survivors. Our society does support these people and tries to alleviate their loss. But the season for tornadoes is slipping into the season of hurricanes. And floods continue to cover much of our midland. The tools of damage may differ but the damage still continues.

We must be clear. Something is going on that is not in the best interests of the inhabitants of Planet Earth. That problem is related with how said inhabitants treat the earth. We need to be more responsible NOW! This is not a problem that we can correct in a 60 minutes time slot.

The solution? Get informed. Find out what YOU can do. Do it!

Conversations are welcomed. More to come.