Bomb Cyclone
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Depending on where you get your weather news, you might be convinced the recent “bomb cyclone” that brought severe winds to Washington state was caused by climate change.
But if you ask University of Washington Atmospheric Sciences professor Cliff Mass he believes that is accurate, you’re likely to hear a different take …
MASS … “You know, we’ve done a formal study of this whole issue and there’s no suggestion, none, that global warming, or climate change, or whatever you want to call it, will increase the frequency or severity of these intense cyclones in our area. So yeah, there’s nothing to support that at this point.”
So, these extreme weather events are just going to occur from time to time?
MASS … “Right, there is no evidence of increasing frequency or rate so it’s just not there.”
Is there any way to say for sure what the Earth’s gradual rise in temp is going to mean weather-wise?
MASS … “Well, when you say weather-wise, it depends on the weather we’re talking about. In the case of these cyclones, the answer is no. More heat waves? Yes. More cold waves? No. So, it really depends on the weather phenomenon that you’re considering.”
And when the media beats something like this to death, is that something you’ve noticed as well? …
MASS … “That’s right. There’s a real tendency to blame almost every extreme event on climate change. And that’s problematic. You’ve really got to be careful about that.”
Mass says some of the more irresponsible outlets stated that this event was the result of climate change, but the truth is far more complex and nuanced.
