Source: AccuWeather.comClimate Change has become perhaps the most controversial and complicated issue facing the world today. On the one hand, warnings from the scientific community are becoming louder, as an increasing body of science points to rising dangers from the ongoing buildup of human-related greenhouse gases — produced mainly by the burning of fossil fuels and forests. On the other, the technological, economic and political issues that have to be resolved before a concerted worldwide effort to reduce emissions can begin have gotten no simpler, particularly in the face of a global economic slowdown.

To exasperate the issue, either there is too much geological information prior to man’s ascent on earth or too little data. Furthermore, the exact cause(s) of the current "heat dome” that is bringing record-breaking temperatures to scores of cities from the Plains to the Ohio Valley may not readily be understood. Nevertheless, it is hard to refute the obvious fact that in recent years the global weather patterns seem to be setting new rules and records; most of which are extreme and catastrophic to man, food supplies and the environment.

Here are a few weather related items in the News:

“The cruel result: eye-popping heat index readings measuring temperature combined with humidity. In Newton, Iowa, it was 98 degrees Wednesday with a heat index that made it feel like 115. A day earlier, Newton's heat index hit 129 degrees.” Huffington Post, Aug. 4, 2011

“Temperatures are expected to reach a blistering 109 and break the 60-year-old daily temperature record of 107. The overnight low of 86 tied an all-time record — set last week and tied again Wednesday. The last time it failed to reach triple-digit figures was July 1. And the march toward the 1980 record of 42 consecutive 100-degree days should tally 34 straight days by midafternoon.” Dallas Morning News, Aug. 4, 2011

“With precious little stir in the air, the temperature shot up to 104 degrees in Central Park at 2:10 p.m., eclipsing the record of 101 for July 22 set in 1957, and falling just 2 degrees shy of the city’s hottest day ever. It hit 108 in Newark, the hottest day on record there.” New York Times, July 22, 2011

“ENJOYING the heat wave?  The answer is probably no if you live in Abilene, Tex., where temperatures have been at or above 100 degrees for 40 days this summer. It’s been a little cooler in Savannah, Ga., where the mercury hit 90 or more for 56 days in a row. Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma are coping with their driest nine-month stretch since 1895.” New York Times, July 20, 2011

“The weather service issued a heat advisory for Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties until 10 p.m. Monday. High temperatures are expected to be 90 to 95 degrees with heat index values between 100 and 105.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 15, 2011

“About 4,000 homes in the metropolitan Phoenix area are without power — and air-conditioning — on a record-shattering day of heat in one of America's hottest cities. High temperature so far today (July 2, 2011) at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has been 117 degrees Fahrenheit, topping a 10-year-old record of 116 degrees for the date (previous record of 116F was in 2001).” Wauvti, March 7, 2011

In closing, regardless of sufficient topical data supporting or refuting man’s contribution to climate change, four things are true:

1. It’s hot as hell out there,
2. Burning of fossil fuels generates CO2 a known greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, and
3. Importing oil results in an export of U.S. dollars, which is economically not the smartest business practice for America.
4. Why play with Mother Nature and gamble on our future – a most dangerous game.

Soon climate change opponents may find it advantageous to move from the Venusian plains of Phoenix to the Vegas like weather conditions of Green Bay.

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