[QUOTE=LaurV;414589]We are not believing, endorsing, or promoting in any way the "global warming" propaganda, but we have to mention a fact, the Oct 2015 [U]was[/U] the hottest October in the last 15 years since we are in Thailand and leaving in the same place. We can prove it with personal records. OTOH, this means nothing, two and three years ago we had the "coldest November" in 15 years (+9°C, in the morning, other years were usually 12, seldom 11). And this year's April was one of the colder (but not the coldest) in 15 years, with no day over 45°C (other years we have seen 48 in the shadow, during midday April - the hottest month of the year). Of course, the "colder" thingies never got mentioned in the press.[/QUOTE]Did you notice any differences in snake activities during either temperature extreme?

[QUOTE=only_human;414590]Did you notice any differences in snake activities during either temperature extreme?[/QUOTE]
No, but they go out when the rains start, as the water fills their holes, I assume.
See that I "capitally" edited that post already, with more details, didn't see your crossposting.
Told you never quote me in the first 20 minutes after the post :razz:, sometime I edit and completely change the meaning, because the initial English doesn't get out as I would like it to, from my fingers.

[QUOTE=LaurV;414597]No, but they go out when the rains start, as the water fills their holes, I assume.
See that I "capitally" edited that post already, with more details, didn't see your crossposting.
Told you never quote me in the first 20 minutes after the post :razz:, sometime I edit and completely change the meaning, because the initial English doesn't get out as I would like it to, from my fingers.[/QUOTE]
I have always liked your posts in any form and wish I had a decent reason for my many post-post decisions and revisions before the taking of a toast and tea.

[URL="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jun/09/scientists-alarm-snakes"]Snakes declining at alarming rate, say scientists[/URL]
[QUOTE]Scientists in five countries across three continents report they found "alarming" declines in snake numbers after monitoring 17 populations in a variety of habitats – something they believe could be part of a global phenomenon.

The paper reports 11 of the population groups "declined sharply", while five remained stable, and one showed a very weak sign of increase. Many of the researchers in the UK, France, Italy, Nigeria and Australia also found evidence of "population crashes" – a sudden decline followed by no sign of recovery – a trend which would make the survivors more vulnerable to being wiped out by further pressures.

"All the declines occurred during the same relatively short period of time and over a wide geographical area that included temperate, Mediterranean and tropical climates," write the authors. "We suggest that, for these reasons alone, there is likely to be a common cause at the root of the declines and that this indicates a more widespread phenomenon."

Although the paper stresses there is no proof of the cause of the losses, the researchers say they "suspect" loss or deterioration of habitats and declining prey are among the main problems faced by snake populations. They believe that all the immediate threats have climate change as a common cause.

"The main importance of these findings is that snakes are top predator within the habitats they are found in and as such play a potentially important role in the functioning of many ecosystems," said Chris Reading of the UK's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, who led the research. "For example they play an important role in pest control – small rodents [like] rats and mice - in areas such as paddies and sugar cane plantations."[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]The authors note that six of the eight species showing which "crashed" had small home ranges, sedentary habits and relied on ambushing prey rather than actively seeking it out. "These patterns fit the prediction that 'sit-and-wait foragers may be vulnerable because they rely on sites with specific types of ground cover, and anthropogenic activities disrupt these habitat features, and ambush foraging is associated with a suite of life-history traits that involve low rates of feeding, growth and reproduction'," they add.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=only_human;414598][URL="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jun/09/scientists-alarm-snakes"]Snakes declining at alarming rate, say scientists[/URL][/QUOTE]
Ha! Snakes are very well adapted predators, and very stubborn. Paraphrasing a known scientist, when he was asked about the future of the cockroach, in a documentary which was showing how a fragile creature the cockroach is (an it is, for example it didn't evolve at all in 400 millions of years, or whatever, and only a small change in temperature or even a smaller change in soil pH, could wipe out whole populations), he replied something like "I would not bet against a creature which saw the dinosaurs coming and going".

[QUOTE=LaurV;414608]Ha! Snakes are very well adapted predators, and very stubborn.[/QUOTE]Anecdotally, [URL="http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/people/2015/11/01/alice-cooper-paid-for-snakes-travel-first-class/74937962/"]Alice Cooper paid for his snakes to travel in first class.[/URL]
[QUOTE]The 67-year-old star, who is known for draping his pet snake around his neck when he performs on stage, takes his little slithery companion with him everywhere but has admitted he once lost a former snake down the toilet.

He explained: ''I did lose a former snake, Yvonne, a 12ft-long boa, in a hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee.

''I put her in a bath tub overnight as she loved to swim but in the morning she had gone down the toilet.''

But, despite being thrown into panic when he realized she was missing, Alice was reunited with Yvonne a few weeks later when she slithered up the piping in another room.

He added to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: ''She eventually emerged two weeks later in a different bathroom, having survived off sewer rats in the plumbing.''[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=only_human;414550][URL="http://mynewsla.com/weather/2015/11/01/hottest-socal-october-ever-by-4-degrees/"]Hottest SoCal October ever, by 4 degrees[/URL][/QUOTE]

[URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/34694767"]Hottest November day: In pictures[/URL]Not quite up there in the same league as SoCal but 22.4C (72.3F) is unheard of in these parts for November. It would be quite respectable for a day in July or August.

[QUOTE=LaurV;414589]OTOH, that means nothing, two and three years ago we had the "coldest November" in 15 years (+9°C, in the morning, other years were usually 12, seldom 11). And this year's April was one of the colder (but not the coldest) in 15 years, with no day over 45°C (other years we have seen 48 in the shadow, during midday April - the hottest month of the year). Of course, the "colder" thingies never got mentioned in the press.[/QUOTE]

When are you going to stop prattling and learn some math? The sarcasm in your last sentence is totally misplaced.

While the full solution of the Navier-Stokes equation remains a millennium problem, some aspects of it
(and climate models in general) are well known. In particular it is known that an increase in MEAN
temperatures is also accompanied by an increase in VARIANCE. So we get [b]both[/b] an increase in
average temperatures AND an increase in the size of the tails.

[QUOTE=R.D. Silverman;414662]While the full solution of the Navier-Stokes equation remains a millennium problem, some aspects of it (and climate models in general) are well known.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but would perfect prediction not also require perfect initial inputs to the model(s)? Which, almost by definition, are not possible.

[QUOTE=R.D. Silverman;414662]In particular it is known that an increase in MEAN temperatures is also accompanied by an increase in VARIANCE. So we get [b]both[/b] an increase in average temperatures AND an increase in the size of the tails.[/QUOTE]

Yes. This is why it is now generally referred to as "Climate Change" rather than "Global Warming".

The question which seem to be most outstanding in this current debate (in the scientific community, the business community, and the politicians) is is this human caused, or a regular cycle over which we have no control?

I personally don't know. But my gut tells me that introducing more energy into a system (by, for example, capturing more solar energy by releasing C0[SUB]2[/SUB]) is much easier (and possibly folly) than moving heat out of controlled environments (which also takes energy) in order to keep humans alive.

[QUOTE=R.D. Silverman;414662]When are you going to stop prattling and learn some math? The sarcasm in your last sentence is totally misplaced.

While the full solution of the Navier-Stokes equation remains a millennium problem, some aspects of it
(and climate models in general) are well known. In particular it is known that an increase in MEAN
temperatures is also accompanied by an increase in VARIANCE. So we get [B]both[/B] an increase in
average temperatures AND an increase in the size of the tails.[/QUOTE]

The term "Global Warming" has become something of a liability because of widespread lack-of-understanding/deliberate-distortion. Some have suggested, and I have adopted "Climate Disruption" or "Climate Chaos" as being less susceptible to confusion or contortion.

[URL="http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/climate-change-could-have-a-significant-impact-on-our-economy/"][B]Climate change could have a significant impact on our economy[/B][/URL]

[QUOTE]Climate change may have many economic impacts, including loss of crops, changes in water supply, increased incidence of natural disaster, and spikes in health care costs related to infectious diseases and temperature-related illnesses. However, hard evidence about the effects of climate change on economic activity has been inconsistent.


A new paper published in [I]Nature[/I] takes on the ambitious task of connecting micro- and macro-level estimates of climate costs. The study finds that climate change can be expected to reshape the global economy by reducing average global incomes roughly 23 percent by the year 2100. This study is important because it solves a problem that has existed in prior models of climate change effects on economics: discrepancies between macro- and micro-level observations. This study presents the first evidence that economic activity in all regions is coupled in some way to global climate. The study also sets up a new empirical paradigm for modeling economic loss in response to climate change.
[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=chalsall;414666] is this human caused, or a regular cycle over which we have no control?[/QUOTE]
Who cares? :razz: You all underestimate the life, and the nature in general, which has a huge capacity to survive, to adapt, to regenerate. See Chernobyl, where all "scientists" not longer than 30 years ago were predicting that nothing will grow there anymore, for ages. Sparrows are making nests in the reactor's lid...

More carbon dioxide? Let it come. The green algae and plankton is just waiting to thrive. Few square kilometers of that consumes daily what humans produce yearly. Species disappearing? Who cares? Thousands of species disappear daily with or without humans.

You guys put too much importance and power on humans. Maybe it is a way to feel important and powerful, but worst you can do is just like a fart in a swimming pool... :razz:

With or without you, the life goes on...

[QUOTE=LaurV;414672]With or without you, the life goes on...[/QUOTE]

I actually resonate with that strongly. Life will survive, no matter what we stupid humans do.

But... I value humans for their unique intelligence (and their opposing thumb, and their use of electricity)...

Two points:

First, I don't think it is fair that the underprivileged are disadvantaged by the wealthy. We live in air-conditioned homes and offices, eat food shipped half way around the world for our enjoyment, buy and use products manufactured by those who make 1 / 10th to 1 / 100th of us per day. We don't seem to give a crap about what it takes to work in very unforgiving situations.

Second, shortly the AI's will take over. Water cooling anyone?

(Just to be clear, this post is meant to be funny, and serious, at the same time.)