NO SNOW!!

Amongst a variety of factors, the presently low snowpack this year may likely be attributable (in part) to the current "El Nino" event.  El Nino years are historically notorious for bringing warmer than normal temperatures to the west coast of the U.S. (such as the "bad snow" year in 1976-'77, etc.).  NOAA monitors this fairly closely, and has developed generalized forecast models for it:<br><br> www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictio...color/churchill.html

The positive flip side (for skiing at least), is that the year following an El Nino event typically brings well above normal snowfall to the mountains here ("La Nina"; eg. the record snowfall year at Baker in 1998-'99).

--Chris

This conversation always amuses me every time I hear it. People, global warming is a fact, we humans are causing it. Is it causing our current poor snow year? That is far less certain. Chris wisely points out this can be more directly linked to El Nino; El Nino may have a tenuous link to global warming, that remains to be seen.<br><br>The atmosphere/ocean have natural variability. Every day is not the same as the last. There are seasonal variations (winter/summer), interannual variations (El Nino/La Nina), decadal variations and longer time variations still. Each one is a function of all the rest. If we do something like dump a bunch of greenhouse gases into the air, we well affect the longer time variations (decadal and beyond, aka climate). But the year to year stuff (El Nino) and seasonal stuff is dependent on this background. If we change the climate we change El Nino, and El Nino pushes our freezing levels up. How does climate affect El Nino? That's a hard question we don't have a good answer for yet. Is there a direct link between global warming and the tiny base at Alpental right now via El Nino or some other process? That's a very hard question to answer too.<br><br>Now I must return to my gargantuan pile of work. Good day.<br>

   

<br>Ah but I did do something about it, I voted for Kerry. I'd more than welcome aggressive legislation requiring auto makers to produce more fuel efficient SUVs. <br> <br>I sure hope so <br><br>Actually I thought just placing the "Kerry/Edwards" sticker on my SUV instantly made it more environmentally friendly. <br><br>

<br>I'll admit, Kerry got my vote.  <br>Donnelly, aka: matrixski, skier66, VpowerMaxski, ???ski and Ratboy. <br><br>

<br>Donnelly, formally known as matrixski, skier66, VpowerMaxski, and ???.

<br><br>So, um, is there a reason you keep switching identities?<br><br>Ever considered using your real name?<br><br>I'll admit it--pseudonyms are my pet peeve on line. Has been for ages...

Perhaps we're old farts in that respect, Lowell. Relics of the TV generation.<br><br>If folks are worried about global warming, please beware of online postings that generate more heat than light.<br> <br>Sorry...

Well if it be I'll just use my regular name.  I'll be retiring the use of these other names, especially Ratboy.