Tornado Activity Reaches Record Lows in 2012

Published September 4, 2012

Climate Change Weekly #60

The year 2012 is breaking all-time records for lack of tornado activity, defying extreme-weather claims by global warming alarmists.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, only 12 tornadoes touched down in the United States during July 2012, shattering the previous July record low of 42 tornadoes recorded in 1960. Because radar technology in 1960 could not detect many of the smaller tornadoes that are detectable today, scientists believe the actual number of tornadoes that occurred in July 1960 was actually about 73. Accordingly, six times more tornadoes occurred in July 1960, the previous record-low year, than occurred in July 2012.

Fewer than 300 tornadoes touched down in this year’s peak tornado season, which runs from mid-April through late-July. Approximately 850 tornadoes touch down during the peak season in an average year. Accordingly, three times more tornadoes occur during an average peak-tornado season than occurred in 2012.

This year’s record-low tornado activity contradicts prominent assertions by global warming alarmists.

After some tornadoes touched down in March of this year, Brad Johnson of the liberal activist group Center for American Progress wrote an article tying the tornadoes to global warming. “In the face of this warning, we must ask if our current path of increased pollution and decreased investment in public safety is the wisest course,” wrote Johnson.

Similarly, CNN meteorologist Alexandra Steele told viewers in April of this year that global warming was responsible for tornadoes that touched down in the Dallas area that month.

SOURCE: Forbes.com


IN THIS ISSUE

New film presents experts debunking global warming alarmism … Crockford debunks polar bear dens myth … Pielke exposes flaws in AMS position paper … EPA sends taxpayer dollars to extremist groups


NEW FILM PRESENTS EXPERTS DEBUNKING GLOBAL WARMING ALARMISM

Filmmakers Pete Garcia and Jesse Jones have released a new film showing global warming experts in their own words explaining why global warming is not a crisis. The film, “The Boy Who Cried Warming,” includes interviews with climate experts such as John Christy, Christopher Monckton, Patrick Michaels, and Jim O’Brien. The filmmakers have made this must-see documentary free to the public, though donations are well deserved and much appreciated.

SOURCE: The Boy Who Cried Warming


CROCKFORD DEBUNKS POLAR BEAR DENS MYTH

Sufficient sea ice exists for polar bears to den offshore, Canadian polar bear expert Susan Crockford reports in a new commentary. Crockford analyzes data compiled during the past decade showing the vast majority of polar bears in the Southern Beaufort Sea made their dens on sea ice and never came ashore. The findings debunk recent claims that Arctic sea ice can no longer support polar bear dens.

SOURCE: Polar Bear Science


PIELKE EXPOSES FLAWS IN AMS POSITION PAPER

Climate scientist Roger Pielke Sr. refutes a newly released American Meteorological Society (AMS) position paper on global warming by showing the National Research Council already has debunked many of the AMS claims. The new AMS paper also contradicts the opinions of its own members, with surveys showing most AMS members say global warming is not a human-caused crisis.

SOURCES: Climate Science: Roger Pielke Sr and Forbes.com


EPA SENDS TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO EXTREMIST GROUPS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is handing over $1.9 million in taxpayer dollars to environmental extremist groups working for “environmental justice.” EPA is awarding grants to 76 non-profit organizations and local governments under its environmental justice grant program.

SOURCE: Watts Up With That?