Russ Steele
I was watching Channel 13 weather last night and the weatherman said that the emerging west coast weather pattern was more like November, rather than October. This morning an interesting graphic showed up in my e-mail box. Every month in 2011 so far has been colder than 2010.
H/T to Real Science for this graphic.
Here is larger view of climate change.
As you can see the longer term trend is cooler, and could be bring us an early winter.
The Next Grand Minimum 
Russ, there’s warming in the pipeline…
Greg, there’s also cooling in the pipeline… and for the time being it appears the cooling is dominant. Time will tell when that will reverse.
Good luck trying to “stop” climate change.
Climate change isn’t good or bad, it’s inevitable!
Bob, when pulled, your leg comes right off…
Russ, your opinion please, and perhaps you might develop some questions similar to these to share with your readers:
1) Is there an “optimum” global temperature and, if you believe the answer is yes:
a) Would you hazard a guess as to what that temperature is?
b) What facts do you use to support your position?
2) Based on the current temperature of the Earth, today (i.e. this year or this decade, currently in a general sense), do you think that:
a) the biosphere would do better if it were to warm somewhat?
b) the biosphere would do worse if it were to warm somewhat?
c) the biosphere would do better if it were to cool somewhat?
d) the biosphere would do worse if it were to cool somewhat?
and repeat those same four questions but instead of “the biosphere”, insert “human civilization”.
3) Are humans exerting a measurable influence on weather, temperature or climate on a global/lasting scale and, if so:
a) Is it due primarily or significantly to their output of greenhouse gasses?
b) is it due primarily or significantly to their land use changes?
c) Is it due primarily or significantly to their output of aerosols?
d) Is it due primarily or significantly to other factors I haven’t mentioned and, if so, what?
And, finally:
4) Is it possible for any organism, animal or plant, to exist without exerting some influence on it’s environment?
I think Q4 is especially key and something your typical climate alarmist completely overlooks.
Bob in answer to your questions:
1) There is no “optimum” temperature for the planet. There are perhaps regional optimums for those living in the region now. There are regions on earth that are too hot and dry now for human habitation, and areas that too cold. One regions positive change, may be another regions negative change if temperature were on a global scale.
2) It is really a regional issue for both cases biosphere or human civilization, some would improve, some would be damaged.
3) Yes human exert measurable influence on a regional scale. Agriculture in the Central Valley of CA for example is warmer due to irrigation and farming, when measured against Sierra temperatures I have serious doubts on a regional scale due the size of the ocean and it’s huge influence, but if I had to choose it would be land use.
4) I think that every animal, including humans, expert some influence on the environment when they defecate. The key word in “some,” how much is still an open question. Plants, because they consume carbon dioxide and emit oxygen and then methane when they rot. Plants have the greatest influence.
We have no control over the sun, oceans, clouds and wind patterns, which control our weather and eventual our climate. We live on a planet in a universe in which chaos dominates. Crap happens and we humans have no control over the the out come. We would all be better off if everyone recognized these facts and prepared for the inevitable. In the current case the sun is going to go quiet for a while, like it has in the past. This appears to be recognizable cycle. It has happened in the past, and look like it will again in the future. We humans have no control over this cycle.