Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Speaking of physics [Physics Today]: The Discovery of Rapid Climate Change How fast can our planet's climate change? ... [C]ommon sense held that such transformations could only creep in over tens of thousands of years.... Today, there is evidence that severe change can take less than a decade.... Can society respond and adapt that quickly? (The Bay Area's been waiting since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake for the Bay Bridge to be replaced. And we've all been watching the staggering ineptitude of federal, state AND local government response to Hurricane Katrina. ) In an area as difficult as climate science, in which all is complex and befogged, it takes a while to see what one is not prepared to look for. 10:24:26 PM    comment []  trackback []

What if... ...Hurricane Rita, the next major storm of this projected high intensity hurricane season - a Category 5, the 3rd most powerful storm on record, ever - isn't the last? What if next year is also high intensity? What if the year after that is, too? How long will take, how many big storms, to trigger serious, concerted, world-changing action on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change? (The physics, after all, is clear.) How will history, the electorate, the courts, and the marketplace deal with those who've dithered, dissembled and delayed? 10:17:14 PM    comment []  trackback []

Quote of the day 'Vision without execution is hallucination.' - Thomas Edison (Thanks, Kirsten!) 8:48:07 PM    comment []  trackback []

Blog envy I get frustrated at my uneven blogging schedule -- bursts of activity, days of silence -- and jealous of those folks that crank out postings like clockwork. OTOH, I do have a business to run -- a busy one at that -- so probably 'twill be ever thus. Jeneane says 'don't sweat it, it's perfect'. (What do you think?) 8:53:55 AM    comment []  trackback []