Two new studies have uncovered the first links between man-made global warming and an increase in humidity throughout all levels of Earth’s atmosphere.
One study, published in today’s edition of the journal Nature, found that the overall increase in worldwide surface humidity from 1973 to 1999 was 2.2%, which is due “primarily to human-caused global warming,” according to study co-author Nathan Gillett of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom.
The burning of fossil fuels ”” oil, coal, natural gas ”” is considered the chief way humans contribute to climate change because it releases heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Along with the added heat stress on people from the increased humidity, Gillett says the additional moisture in the atmosphere could lead to heavier rains and more volatile tropical storms. “If the humidity is increasing, then hurricane intensity will increase, too,” he says.
Scientists had observed significant increases in humidity at the Earth’s surface over the past few decades, but it had been unclear whether these changes were from a natural or human influence on climate.
A study published last month ”” which looked at the amount of water vapor in the full depth of the atmosphere over the oceans ”” was the first one to determine that human-induced warming is having a significant effect on the atmosphere’s total moisture content.
Spent most of my first 40 years in L.A., and I can tell you it went from bone dry to having frequent bouts of humid heat. Also cockroaches and other stuff became more prevalent with more humid conditions.
Lots of growth in SoCal meant lots more water lines running all over, more sprinklers for more lawns, etc. Many housing tracts were created on what once were dry areas, bringing moisture where it had not been.
What ever happened to global warming causing the deserts to expand? So now we’re going to get more deserts AND more humidity? Oh, well, I’m sure their computer model is 100% correct . . .
More humidity means less wrinkles!
DarkHelmet,
scientific research i have read and listened to do indeed indicate that desertification is happening, mostly in the third world where it can tolerate it the least. i am sure you can find some really good data on the National Geographic website. Discovery Channel might also be a really good resource….
Well, if one was to ask me, I take it all with a very large grain of salt. LOL
In order to believe ALL his stuff, one would have to also believe that our ALL-KNOWING GOD, messed up, and for some reason didn’t see his creation as being so vulnerable to the acts of other parts of his creation, poor fellow.
Of course we are to be good stewards of the world he created for us. Of course, if we are all GODS, (as in N. Michigan), then of course we could do his job even better.
I do not believe God will allow us to distroy all his works, and if he does (goodness there’s that masculine word again) then that’s also part of his plan.
If we are truly Christian, we will also behave thusly. We won’t waste energy, we will not pollute, we will worship him, and quit predicting the END OF THE WORLD. We seldom hear that from the pulpit, and folks who preach it, are scorned.
Your tell me any difference between the Global Warming gospel, and the left behind folks. Except one appeals to the “inerrant bible”, and the other comes from the secular media and elite.
Sorry,
Gloria
Gosh People,
I don’t understand any of this Anglican Anxiety (AA).
Here in sunny Peoria the humidity is nil. The air temp is a refreshing and bracing 47F. The high today got all the way up to 57F. The grass has stopped growing, so I don’t have to mow it again. Central Illinois has harvested an historic and century record corn crop. The local economy booms. Gasoline averages $2.56 per gallon.
Forgotonia thrives. Please don’t tell anyone!
Hey Grannie, since we perhaps have some T19 readers who don’t frequent Stand Firm too often, perhaps I’d better give some context for your comment [i]Of course, if we are all GODS, (as in N. Michigan), then of course we could do his job even better. [/i]
Lest anyone think Grannie is spouting some crazy nonsense, go check out Stand Firm: http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/6799/
Thanks Elf-girl. I meant to put the link there, but forgot..
Ahhh, when one arrives at my age, the computer gets a bit clogged with bits, and bots, and one’s fingers sometimes fly to fast for a brain with a full disc, and not so much memory…
Gloria
#7 Elf-girl, for your own sake I sincerely hope you’re not setting a precedent that might have you explaining all the crazy nonsense we post here…
At any rate, here in the Las Vegas Valley — a 20-mile square surrounded by mountains — we have around six dozen golf courses, each of which uses about a million gallons of water a day. The humidity in the Valley usually runs 15-25%; out in the real desert surrounding us, it’s usually between 5 and 20%. So yeah, OK, some stuff we do can effect the humidity in some places.
Any word on how much of that humidity increase, by the way, is due to the specific warming of the frigid air masses over Siberia and northern Canada? These are the areas most effected by all this ostensible warming, and they’re some of the driest air masses on the globe.
So, is that better than having 3/4 of the North American continent covered with glacial ice, as it was, oh about 5 to 10,000 years ago? Seems to me that Global Warming made it possible for this continent to be inhabited.
Magnolia, I’m sure deserts are expanding in some places. They’re probably contracting in others. The climate does change on a macro level and a micro level. This is obvious, since the spot where I live was covered under a mile of ice only a few thousand years ago. Thank God for climate change!
There’s little question that the global average temperature has warmed slightly in the recent era, which means that the average humidity level should also have risen. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. Whether this has anything to do with human activities is an open question. Whether it is on the whole bad or good is a very wide open question. I tend to think it is on balance good to have a warmer climate. Whether humans can do anything to reverse the warming trend is pretty obvious: no. Even if Kyoto were fully implemented, which it won’t be, the net effect would be rounding error.
Grannie,
If God allows us to cause the earth to be largely uninhabitable it will not be because he messed up, but because we messed up. I do believe that is possible.
hi darkhelmet,
i thought the majority of scientists in the world concluded that the warming trend is due to mankind’s activities. i will have to go back and read very carefully and decipher how this all is occurring naturally vice the tons of crap we have been spewing into the air and streams for decades. i doubt if polar bears would agree that a warm earth is a good thing but hey, they’ll be gone soon…
do you live in texas? if not, come on down-we are still in the blazing 90’s with plenty humidity. got bugs the size of a human head-you’ll love it!
gloria, will you explain who you think the ‘elite’ are, and who in the media you think are conspiring against us good plain folks?
i think He gives us freedom of choice-take care of the home He has created for us or ravage it for our own selfish greed. which one do you think we have chosen as a people?
i have no descendents to worry about reaping what i have sown, and i will be able to meet my Maker and say that i tried to respect and preserve His creation.
magnolia
Darkhelmet, I just reread my post to you and realized that it sounded pretty snippy. I ask your pardon for that. I am the first to admit that I am an extremist when it comes to the environment and I make no apologies for it. I must realize that this is one argument that will never be won; usually people have their own minds made up about it already. I will focus in the future on just thanking the elves for posting such articles.
magnolia
Calling for conservation based on stewardship = good
Calling for imposed conservation based on the faulty politics of Gorbal Warming = not good.
Too bad the Mastadons and Mammoths didn’t have a vote in curbing human carbon emissions before they went extinct due to climate change. Oh, wait, there weren’t any, or at least not enough to be noticed.
hit submit instead of preview.
Global climate change has been around for as long as the earth has been in orbit around the sun. We cannot change it. But we can adapt to the changes and try to make the best of it, AND help our fellow humans around the globe when climate change adversely affects their environment.
That’s where we need to spend our time and energy. Not arguing over mythical ‘carbon footprints’ and how much the gov’t should tax SUV owners (IMO — Not at all!).
Wow. I really didn’t expect such a cavalier aditude here about Global warming. We are doing a wretched job of taking care of our planet and need to do more to both curb what we have done as humans as well as take care of others. I thought that this blog was more than just a rubber stamp on GOP politics. Guess I was wrong.
Peré Phil,
Human Caused Global Warming is an unproven, highly contested THEORY. Currently, many, many highly respected scientists from many different disciplines from climatology to fossil experts to physicists to oceanographers are calling into question the data used to prove ‘human cause’ and are instead putting forth the theory that climate change is a repeating natural cycle.
However, for some reason, the pro-anthropogenic side doesn’t want you to hear the opposing point of view, so they shut down any public debate on the matter.
Don’t forget the last ice age (the so-called ‘mini-ice age’) only ended about 150 years ago.
NOW, that does not mean that those who disagree with antho GW are also against conservation and clean environment, renewable energy, proper agricultural techniques, etc. We just don’t want to do them at the point of a ‘gun’ because of faulty science.
I’d much rather go at it from the point of view of Chrisitan Stewardship of the earth as God commanded in Genesis “take care of the Garden” and as Jesus admonished when re-iterating the command to love our neighbor as ourselves. How can we love our neighbor when we do nothing the make sure they have clean air and water?
Library Jim,
Sorry. The science is against you on this one. There aren’t “many, many” scientists out there doubting this. Some do, but the facts are piling up against them.
In this country we have more often than not heard the other side. We’re the only country that repeatedly has stories that this is bogus.
You argue that you don’t want people making Christian choices based on a “gun” through legislation (and so called faulty science). I assume then you also feel the same on other moral issues: abortion, the death penalty, homosexual marriage and others. Many, many scientists can prove both sides of these issues too.
Global warming trends are fact, and ignoring them corporately or ondividually is a sin in my estimation. Then again, if this were a GOP cause, I imagine it would be worth fighting for.