Letter: There is scientific consensus global warming has occurred and human activity is a factor


Jon Hutchinson, reporting on hot times at Tuzigoot June 3, 4, and 5, informs us "the National Weather Service does not get into the global warming debate."

I salute them.

Toiling over mountains of data and a diversity of computer simulations, NWS meteorologists seek to divine the progress of a capricious atmosphere. Their profession relies on knowledge, skill, and perseverance, not on a penchant for persuasion. It is not their job to paint a gloomy portrait of a dystopian future.

But, as Jon suggests, the numbers are suggestive.

The high of 105 degrees on June 2 broke the 1956 record of 103 for the day -- making a rare four consecutive days of broken records. And from February 28 into March there were five consecutive days of record temperatures -- an event that has occurred only twice before in Cottonwood/Tuzigoot weather history: during April of 1989 and February of 1963, when February's record high of 87 degrees was set.

Cottonwood/Tuzigoot record highs for 124 days of the year have been set this century, record lows for only 43. But the record hottest summer (average 101.9 degrees) was in 1994, when the all-time record high of 118 degrees was set. Since then, average summertime high temperature has trended downward.

Local weather aside, there is a scientific consensus global warming has occurred and human activity is a factor. Whether that justifies enriching corporate cronies with tax dollars and empowering a global bureaucracy with authority to micromanage energy production is another question.

David Perrell



