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Last updated on July 2nd, 2017 at 01:28 pm
January 4, 2007. Prediction:
This year is set to be the hottest on record worldwide due to global warming and the El Nino weather phenomenon, Britain’s Meteorological Office says.
It says the combination of factors will likely push average temperatures this year above the record set in 1998.
January 2, 2008. Outcome:
2007 was one of the 10 warmest years ever, based on global recorded temperatures, according to the Met Office, the U.K. weather forecaster.
Last year “was certainly a top-10 year,” Barry Gromett, a Met Office spokesman, said today by telephone. “It was maybe the seventh-warmest year” based on preliminary figures, since estimates began around 1850, Gromett said.
(Via papertiger)
UPDATE. Jeff Jacoby:
The stark headline appeared just over a year ago. “2007 to be ‘warmest on record,’ “ BBC News reported on Jan. 4, 2007. Citing experts in the British government’s Meteorological Office, the story announced that “the world is likely to experience the warmest year on record in 2007,” surpassing the all-time high reached in 1998.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the planetary hot flash: Much of the planet grew bitterly cold …
Just a few to think about
2007 – 10.48C
1995 – 10.52
1990 – 10.63
1959 – 10.48
1949 – 10.62
1921 – 10.47
1834 – 10.47
1733 – 10.47http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/hadleycentre/CR_data/Daily/HadCET_act.txt
Runaway global warming my ass!
I predict 2008 will be the warmest year since 2007.
I predict that the Earth will (continue to) spin out of control through the void in 2008.
I predict it will get both hotter and colder in 2008. (Reverse order in Oz).
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2008 01 06 at 12:58 PM • permalink
We had a record high temperature here on Friday, right in the midst of a nasty windstorm. Today, we are back to freezing temperatures.
I figure Al Gore farted in our general direction.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 01 06 at 01:26 PM • permalink
So? How was the Met’s hurricane predicting service this year? (And last.) Was it “hardly happen”, er, sorry, “‘ardly ‘appen” or “we’re all going to snuff it”?
Posted by andycanuck on 2008 01 06 at 01:42 PM • permalink
I’m willing to bet the UK Met’s figures come from the dwindling number of unreliable ground-based weather stations. global temperature figures based on satellite data show that 2007 was no warmer than 2006, or 2005 , etc etc. In fact the global temperature has not risen since 1997 and 1997’s figures have now been corrected showing that several years in the 1930’s were hotter. And before the usual suspects start bleating the usual mantras – check the REMSS data for yourself.
Posted by Fragglerocker on 2008 01 06 at 02:34 PM • permalink
For the sake of the family’s finances I hope they’ve been banned from the racetrack.
Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2008 01 06 at 04:30 PM • permalink
YES! It’s the Storm of the Century! I know this is so because the local TV stations are giving us team coverage of the train of storms roaring down out of the Gulf of Alaska (something, by the bye, that we are lucky to have happen, since that is usually the only rain we manage to get in this semi-desert).
And (gasp!) we are having landslides–which have never before happened in California! It’s just like the fires! Those glowball worming fires evilly (is that a word?) burned off the vegetation, and now the hillsides nothing to hold the soil. It’s a conspiracy, I tells ya.
P.S. JeffS, you cracked me up! Thanks for the laugh of the day.
You know, I just wonder what all of these climate scientists are going to do some day when people get the idea that climate change is another term for ‘The weather. That’s right, the same crap the rest of humanity has had to put up with ever since we upgraded from the tree to the cave’.
I mean, what other industries will they move into? Anyone have any creative ideas?
Posted by Stuart Lord on 2008 01 06 at 06:57 PM • permalink
#11, Come on Dave, don’t be so simple.
He will brag about how he wrestled global warming to the ground and saved all humanity, before breakfast, in his pyjamas.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2008 01 06 at 07:10 PM • permalink
“I mean, what other industries will they move into? Anyone have any creative ideas?”
[Overheard at some not-too-distant point in the future] “I know that whole eco-thing didn’t work out but I hear there’s this cool thing called Marxism and Socialism. With that we can make the world a perfect place and everyone will live as one. It will be like a utopia. Let’s get started.”Everything old is new again. Eventually.
Um…er… it was the Storm of the Century, wasn’t it? I mean, I saw it on the news.
I don’t know if it was, Rebecca, given that western Washington and Oregon were hammered MUCH harder last December. I won’t say about California this go around, although I hear it was nastier. saltydog (whom, I am pleased to say, is much amused by my comments) is a better judge of that.
But I came through just fine, thank you! My biggest problem was being without a broadband connection for a day. I am FAR better off than those folks whose houses and cars were in a head butting contest with trees……and lost.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 01 06 at 07:24 PM • permalink
The question can be answered, T_R_JS, by watching the news and closely observing the apparel of the reporters. Were they wearing Arctic explorer-type clothes? Were they bundled up in a manner that would have taken helpers to get all the cold weather gear on? If not, then it wasn’t the Storm of the Century. (Oh, and were largish pieces of trees and building flying by them as they broadcast? That’s another indicator.)
Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2008 01 06 at 07:46 PM • permalink
- I heard on channel seven news the other night that 2007 was NSW’s hottest year on record. This was, of course, eagerly repeated on the ABC’s 7pm news. Now you just know that something dodgy is afoot! How on earth do they justify this pronouncement? On what basis do they arrive at their conclusions?
As one who absolutely hates the heat, I was of the opinion that 2007 was decidedly on the cool side!
- I still think the whole problem is the sun.
Stop the sun shining so much and we will see a big difference.Posted by stackja1945 on 2008 01 06 at 08:51 PM • permalink
Yes Brian I’m not sure how they’ve worked that out either. Individual months during the year in NSW didn’t seem to be setting any records unless it was just mild all year round so that higher winter temperatures offset mild summers. What is mostly of interest though is that records they refer to only go back to 1910. Less than 100 years. So getting records isn’t exactly hard. Puts into perspective the 6th warmest etc.
I would like to but the credit for all of my climate change kung fu belongs to Sensei Lubos Motl.
You should check his list of other newservices which predicted record breaking heat for 2007.
I would list them here, but then my fingers would get tired. Just click the link.Posted by papertiger on 2008 01 06 at 09:49 PM • permalink
The question can be answered, T_R_JS, by watching the news and closely observing the apparel of the reporters.
Heh! That would work, Jorge, if I bothered watching those boobtube dweebs. We’d best ask Rebecca or salty for their observations.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 01 06 at 10:00 PM • permalink
What you have to understand is that we born-and-bred Californians are total wussies when it comes to weather. Most are wrapped shivering in multiple layers of blankets while we hunt frantically for the instructions on how to light the heater’s pilot light without blowing ourselves to kingdom come. A few hardier souls have ventured out, only to find themselves staring upward in horrified fascination at the water falling inexplicably from the sky. I mean, usually we have to drain this stuff from every lake, river, and aquifer for a thousand miles around and here it is, raining down from heaven. And we didn’t even have to import a virgin to sacrifice.
This reminds me of the predicted wicked ‘06 and ‘07 hurricane seasons. These meteorological forecasters are perfect contra indicators. The next step is to ask them which sports teams and stocks they like and then bet everything against them.
Posted by Tommy Shanks on 2008 01 06 at 11:20 PM • permalink
Scenario 1
Skeptic Skeeter asks Gullible Goreophile (real estate salesman and believer in AGW):
What is your explanation for the fact that real estate values are rising in areas that will shortly be submerged under sea water?
Gullible:
People live for today. They are not concerned for the future.Skeptic:
Do you believe that the properties you are selling will soon be submerged?
Gullible:
Not sure, but that’s why I’ve chosen to live on high ground.Skeptic:
Do you think that less climate scare-mongering would help you with your sales in the canal estates?
Gullible:
Probably, but anything that reduces CO2 must be good for the environment.Scenario 2
Gullible house guest realises that host Skeptic does not believe in AGW.Gullible H G:
How can you not believe in AGW? Have you seen Gore’s movie?
Skeptic:
Yes, but his claims have been widely rebutted. Have you seen UK Channel 4’s
The Great Global Warming Swindle?
Gullible:
No.
Skeptic:
I have a copy on disc and can show it to you now.
Gullible:
I don’t want to watch it. I’m happy with my beliefs.
Recently retired hight court judge Ian Callinan on
why the public should pay for the taking of private property in the name of environmentalism
- #39 Pickles: Wish there were more like Ian Callinan expressing those views.
Gold Coast City Council pays $zero to the owners of private land that it acquires in the name of environmentalism.
I have recently pulled the plug on an application to reconfigure my small rural lot so that I could gift a house block to each of our two kids.
Unfortunately for us, our land has a small stream flowing across one corner of it. Council policy is to grab at least 60 metres back from the high bank of any mapped stream — with no compensation to the land owner. A Council bureaucrat admitted to me that there is no by-law that supports this theft of private property and she admitted that I would probably win if I took them to court.
During the three-year application process, the approval conditions imposed by GCCC inflated to the point where we ran out of money and the project had to be abandoned with a $200k loss to us.
If we had gone ahead, in addition to the $400K+ cash outflows required from us, we would have lost the equity in the 26% of our acreage (including the stream) that we had to give to Council.
- I don’t want to watch it. I’m happy with my beliefs.
The variation I’ve experienced is:
“But I’m not ready to argue about it.”
“Okay, when?”
“Look, just forget about it.”
It seems once you’ve allowed yourself to be cosseted in Al’s warm embrace, there is no longer any obligation to stay awake for the “Any questions?” bit.
#15 last time I checked racism was a hatred of a person of a different race with intent or desire to cause harm. Seems a long way from not wanting people to kill whales. I dont understand why people cant see at least see things from another persons perspective. They want to kill them for research whale meat for their people I want them to swim free to be enjoyed by all people from all countries. Hrmmmmm which one of those sounds racist….
I say, before you criticise someone you should walk a mile in their shoes, because then when you criticise them you will be a mile away and you will have their shoes (I dont know who said this originally but I think it is a motto we can all live by)
And we didn’t even have to import a virgin to sacrifice.
What, all those starlets, and not a virgin amongst them? Gore preserve us!
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2008 01 07 at 02:51 AM • permalink
OT – Someone call the Waaaaaaaambulance. Extra box of tissues STAT. Injured party believed to be Indian cricket team.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2008 01 07 at 03:12 AM • permalink
last time I checked racism was a hatred of a person of a different race with intent or desire to cause harm
Sorry. Can’t let it slide. Racism is the attribution of characteristics to a person solely on the basis of his or her race. So Germans are said to be efficient and ruthless, Chinese are inscrutable and devious, negros are lazy and given to violence, the Irish are feckless drunkards, the Japanese are cruel but elegant, Australian aboriginals live in harmony with the land, are deeply spiritual, have a learning style best suited to group discussions occurring while seated on the ground under some shady tree and don’t like to use computers.
See?
Those are racist generalisations. They can be negative or positive. For example, the one about the Irish is a compliment.
I would argue that the definition of racism started (quite correctly) as the application of behaviour that disadvantages a person based upon negative racist generalisations. Unfortunately it has been broadened by the thought police to include any criticism made by a RWDB of any person or group.
People who identify as ATSI and work for Centrelink can study full time and be paid and have their fees paid, I think it’s a scholarship of some kind, and I know of two people, and not through my work, who have got this scholarship. They work at their job outside university semesters.
I cannot find a link, I am sure it’s an internal Centrelink thing.
2007 was one of the 10 warmest years ever the coldest year of the century!
#49 actually Janice I just looked it up and although you are partially right I am also partially right as the word racism actually has 4 differnt meanings now according to the oxford dictionary.
And I think that this actually confirms #52 the general meaning of the word is broadening as we become more PC.
The other meanings talk about a race being inferior or superior. Just so you know
Here is that Met Office press release from 4 January 2007. Quote:
There is a 60% probability that 2007 will be as warm or warmer than the current warmest year
Those weather guys, sometimes they say there’s a chance of rain, and then it doesn’t rain! I don’t know why we waste our tax money on those idiots.
Posted by Jefferson Skates on 2008 01 07 at 06:38 AM • permalink
#39- I agree with Fatty up to the point where the cost of acquisition should be borne by others, but I’d go further and make the cost apply to those who give a shit- I’ve said for years to any busybody dickhead who snorks on about how such and such a property should be acquired/restored etc for its heritage/enviromental/whatever fucking reason appeal- if you think it’s so worthy, buy it yourself and you can do whatever the fuck you want with it. I don’t go along with funds extorted from unwilling contributors being pissed up a rope on such discretionary expenditure.
But then again, I wouldn’t be taking a lot of aesthetic advice from the Tubbster either- did you ever clock hus chambers? It made a Footscray ferrocement frontyard look like the height of the Bauhaus movement.
they morph to mean so many different things
Which leads to confusion and the possibility that anyone can say anything they like (for instance, warming = cooling) and they can’t be pinned down, held to account, required to be specific. They can just blather on with pejoratives of one sort or another, mean whatever it is they want to mean at this moment but claim tomorrow to have meant something else entirely and build a career on bullshit. We have become effete, soft, maudlin – anything but serious and rigorous.
I work with someone who emails like this:
I have contacted Prof X, and have requested that he confirm this ASAP to yourself directly.
I have told her that it’s you, or me, or I or him or her. But she ignores me. I received the sentence in a long email CCd to me explaining that she wasn’t the Prof’s assistant anymore as teaching had ceased. I replied:
Thanks Miss
He tends to ignore emails from myself. I thought that he might take notice of emails from yourself. But I suppose that now the marks are finalised himself won’t be bothered?Funnily enough I didn’t get a reply.
#60- I was listening to the anarchy show on local leftist loon radio ZZZ today, and I’d say the English teacher of the microphone moonpie was clearly an academic anarchist- the mispronunciations and malapropes were hilarious, funnier than any of the supposed comedy broadcast on radio during drive times.
A highlight was an item on a Hong Kong national srtike during the ‘20s which featured workers millie tars- I had to think for a bit as to why anarcho-syndicalist Chows would be running around Kowloon with some sort of bizzare tarbaby fashioned on a role that wouldn’t be performed by Julie Andrews for another forty-odd years, then I realise the idiot was talking about militias– obviously just got her PhD in language deconstruction (and burial in landfill).
- #72
Habib, have you heard the poor girl from the Police Media Liaison who can’t string four words together without an ummm?
It’s so grating.
Someone should play the tape to her so she can hear how awful she sounds.I can’t think of any at the moment, but some of the pronunciations are hilarious on television, and, like you, I wonder “what did s/he just say?”. Sometimes it takes a while to figure it out.
Who the bloody hell uses an Oxford Dictionary???
Macquarie is the only one worth referencing.
Pogria, what about the funcken-wagnells?
Posted by surfmaster on 2008 01 07 at 07:57 AM • permalink
Funny, anyone I was reading at the time was *expecting* the El Nino from late 2006 to become a La Nina during 2007, as well as a possible PDO regime shift. Did the Met think the El Nino would last all year?
Posted by Nova Scotia Mike on 2008 01 07 at 08:14 AM • permalink
Who the bloody hell uses an Oxford Dictionary???
Macquarie is the only one worth referencing.
I’ll plead guilty to using still the 1982 Oxford Concise Dictionary. It’s my own little refusal to accept that the most beautiful of languages is being now being reconditioned by the spellchecker on Microsoft Word and by SMS abbreviations (and if you want a demonstration of how freaking scary that is for the future of the language, try working in an office with anyone born post-1986).
And while I’m talking, what in fuck’s name is it with people pronouncing “eccentric” as “essentric”. Every time I hear it I have this urge to have an English teacher somewhere put to death.
Harumph!!!
Posted by Renegade Lawyer on 2008 01 07 at 08:56 AM • permalink
- Posted by andycanuck on 2008 01 07 at 12:20 PM • permalink
I love the Macquarie. It’s our very own. Absolutely agree with the “most beautiful” language. As for the extras, ie abbreviations etc, it just adds to whole melting pot of words. The Macquarie is also almost encyclopaedic in it’s information, especially on historical figures.
As for “essentric”, that became popular pronunciation after the pommy Nanny stated “that is not asseptable”. eeeuuuwww
If my son ever pronounced it like that, I’d smack him in the head.
As for Websters, I will NEVER give up my ‘ou’, my ‘ue’, my ‘me’ or swap z for s even if we do become the 51st State.
I know you’re watching Grimmy 😉
Jan 2007- Hillary’s election to the US presidency is guaranteed.
Jan 2008- Hillary is “certainly a top-10” candidate, maybe even as high as seventh place.