Global Warming

->years (2003-2006 with 58.56, 51.97, 55.90 and 55.83
As global mean temperatures continue to rise movinginches through November 21, 2006) followed by
the Earth into its warmest period in 10 million years,three consecutive that had been set from 1971-1973
New York City has begun to feel an immediatewhen 56.77, 67.03, and 57.23 inches, respectively had
impact. While rising ocean levels have not inundatedfallen. Not coincidentally, with the increased
and converted the metropolis into a new Atlantis,precipitation totals, New York City is currently
precipitation levels have increased and winterexperiencing a record four consecutive years with 40
temperatures have risen, an early indicator of globalor more inches of snowfall (Winter 2002-03 through
warming.Winter 2005-06).
While heat waves and periods of unusually warmAside from increased precipitation, New York City
weather, ocean warming, arctic warming, meltinghas also experienced a dramatic decline in extreme
glaciers and shrinking ice caps, gradual rises in thecold sub-zero Fahrenheit temperatures. Since 1950,
sea-level, and even the historic hurricane season ofNew York City has seen the temperature drop below
2005 have received significant publicity,zero with a low of -2° Fahrenheit on only a
“harbingers” such as spreading disease,handful of occasions, a far cry from the early years
earlier thaws, acceleration of evolution including(1869-1949) when readings fell far deeper below zero
adaptations seen in some insect and plant species,including -15° Fahrenheit in 1934. Below is a
coral reef bleaching, along with an increase incomparative table of extreme sub-zero readings as
extreme weather have only begun receiving pressmeasured in Central Park from 1869-1949 and
coverage. Yet two symptoms of global warming1950-2006:
have quietly been present in New York City sinceNew York City Below Zero Temperature Readings
1971 and 1950.1869-1949:
Since 1971, fueled by a rising number of severe-15° Fahrenheit – February 9, 1934
downpours and heavy snowfalls, New York City has-13° Fahrenheit – December 30, 1917
undergone a shift in precipitation patterns. Since-8° Fahrenheit – February 15, 1943
official record keeping began in 1869 through 1970, a-7° Fahrenheit – December 31, 1917 and
102-year period, New York City had 12 years in whichFebruary 8, 1934
50 or more inches of precipitation had fallen. From-6° Fahrenheit – December 30, 1880,
1971 through 2006, even though the year is notJanuary 24, 1882, February 10, 1899, December 29,
finished yet, New York City has already experienced1917, February 5, 1918, and December 30, 1933
15 years with 50 inches or more of precipitation.-5° Fahrenheit – February 17, 1896 and
Accordingly if one extrapolated the 36-year periodJanuary 14, 1914
from 1971-2006 over 102 years, it would result in an1950-2006:
astonishing 42.5 years of 50 inches or more of-2° Fahrenheit – February 2, 1961,
precipitation versus the 12 year figure for the periodFebruary 8, 1963, January 17, 1977, January 21, 1985,
ending in 1970.and January 19, 1994
Not surprisingly, the period from 1971-2005 has a-1° Fahrenheit – January 9, 1968, January
mean precipitation figure that is 7.22 inches or 16.8%23, 1976, and December 25, 1980
higher than the mean precipitation figure fromSince the start of the 21st century, the mercury has
1869-1970. It is likely to rise even higher when 2006,yet to fall below zero in New York City. With the
which has already seen more than 55 inches of“Big Apple’s” growth and
precipitation through November 21st is factored in.expanding “heat-island” effect, it is
Likewise, considering the higher precipitation figurespossible that until global warming is effectively
since 1971, it is also not surprising that nine out of theaddressed, New York City may have seen its last
12 monthly precipitation records have occurredsub-zero reading for decades and even centuries to
subsequent to the transition to wetter weather ascome.
illustrated by the below table:Another sign of New York City’s warming is
New York City Monthly Precipitation Recordsthe absence of annual snowfall records since 1950
January: 10.52 Inches 1979despite the rise in precipitation. While the 1971-2005
February: 6.87 Inches 1869mean precipitation totals for November, December,
March: 10.54 Inches 1983January, and March run 30.3%, 16.7%, 24.6%, and
April: 14.01 Inches 198321.3% higher, respectively than the 1869-1970 figures
May: 10.24 Inches 1989(February is an exception in which the 1971-2005
June: 10.27 Inches 2003mean actually runs 6.8% lower than the 1869-1970
July: 11.89 Inches 1889figure), only three winters from that period rank in
August: 12.36 Inches 1990the top eleven as far as snowiest seasons go. Below
September: 16.85 Inches 1882is a table of the eleven snowiest seasons:
October: 16.73 Inches 2005Top 11 Snowiest Seasons:
November: 12.41 Inches 19721. 75.6, 1995-96
December: 9.98 Inches 19732. 63.2, 1947-48
With the elevated precipitation levels fueled by an3. 60.4, 1922-23
increase in severe downpours that often leave in4. 60.3, 1872-73
excess of 2 inches of rain and heavy snowfalls, it is5. 55.9, 1898-99
not surprising that the 59 year-old snowfall record fell6. 54.7, 1960-61
earlier this year when New York City received a7. 53.4, 1993-94
record 26.9 inches of snow from February 11-128. 53.2, 1906-07
versus the old record of 26.4 inches that had fallen9. 52.0, 1933-34
during the Blizzard of 1947 from December 26-27. In10. 51.5, 1966-67
addition, New York City has seen two 20+ inch11. 50.7, 1915-16, 1916-17, 1977-78
snowstorms in the last 11 years (20.2 inches in 1996However, despite the adversity of warmer weather
and 26.9 inches in 2006) versus the 59 years it tookand wetter winter precipitation, the 1971 transition
for the last two (21.1 inches in 1888 and 26.4 inches inhas had an impact when it comes to consecutive
1947). Furthermore three out of New Yorkwinters with 40 or more inches of snow. The old
City’s top five snowstorms since recordrecord of two consecutive winters set on four
keeping, have occurred since 1996: 26.9 inchesdifferent occasions has been broken as illustrated
(2006), 20.2 inches (1996, which also saw a recordbelow:
75.6 inches of snow for 1995-96 winter since modernConsecutive 40 or More Inch Snowfall Seasons:
record keeping, eclipsing the 63.2 1947-48 mark) and1882-83: 44.0 Inches
19.8 inches (2003) and five out of the City’s1883-84: 43.1 Inches
top ten have occurred since 1978.1895-96: 46.3 Inches
New York City’s Top 10 Snowstorms[1]1896-97: 43.6 Inches
26.9 Inches – February 11-12, 20061915-16: 50.7 Inches
26.4 Inches – December 26-27, 19471916-17: 50.7 Inches
21.0 Inches – March 12-14, 18881947-48: 63.2 Inches
20.2 Inches – January 7-8, 19961948-49: 46.6 Inches
19.8 Inches – February 16-17, 20032002-03: 49.3 Inches
18.1 Inches – March 7-8, 19412003-04: 42.6 Inches
18.0 Inches – December 26, 18722004-05: 41.0 Inches
17.7 Inches – February 5-7, 19782005-06: 40.0 Inches
17.6 Inches – February 11-12, 1983Based on New York City’s transition to a
17.5 Inches – February 4-7, 1920wetter climate starting in 1971 and to a warmer
Even more astonishing, since 2000 there have beenwinter commencing in 1950, the imprint of global
five snowstorms that have dumped at least a footwarming is already present from a microcosmic
of snow on New York City. Aside from the twometeorological standpoint. Thus global warming is not
listed in the above table, 14.0 inches fell froma theory. It is a scientifically proven fact that must
December 5-6, 2003, 13.8 inches from January 22-23,be dealt with. Until carbon-based fuels are replaced
2005, and 12.0 inches on December 30, 2000.with clean alternatives such as hydrogen or a
Consistent with New York City’s snowfallcatastrophic natural event such as a significant or
records, seven out of the top ten annual precipitationeven super volcanic eruption occurs, the latter which
records have also occurred since 1971:can be equally as devastating, the Earth’s
New York City’s Top 10 Yearly Precipitationwarming will continue threatening not only the mild
Totalsrepercussions that New York City has seen to date,
80.56 Inches – 1983but significant climactic changes that will not only
67.03 Inches – 1972adversely affect the global economy through famine,
65.11 Inches – 1989disease and increased storm-related damage to such
61.21 Inches – 1975a level that it “could devastate [it] on a scale
60.92 Inches – 1990of the two world wars and the depression of the
58.56 Inches – 20031930s,”[2] but also to accelerating mutations
58.32 Inches – 1903and the extinction of rising numbers of species that
58.00 Inches – 1913cannot adapt to the changing conditions or fall prey
57.23 Inches – 1973to other migrating species originally alien to their
57.16 Inches – 1889habitats as competition for food and other scarce
Last, prior to 1971, the record of consecutive yearsresources heightens.
for 50 or more inches of precipitation was two,_____
which occurred twice (1888 and 1889 with 53.32[1] The National Weather Service.
inches and 57.16 inches, respectively and 1902 and[2] Warming ‘may cause economic
1903 with 52.77 inches and 58.32 inches, respectively).chaos.’ 30 October 2006. 19 November 2006.
Since 1971, the record is currently four consecutive