Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Field Notes from a Catastrophe book review

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 12:43 PM GMT on July 14, 2006

Elizabeth Kolbert is a writer for the New Yorker magazine. A three-part series she wrote for the magazine in 2005 has been converted into a short, well-researched, and very readable book on climate change called, "Field Notes from a Catastrophe" ($15 from amazon.com). The science presented is excellent, and I couldn't find any errors. Kolbert visits leading climate change scientists in the field, spending time in the Arctic, Greenland, Dr. James Hansen's laboratory, and in United Nations climate change meetings. We get to see the science the way these scientists see it, which is a very powerful way to emphasize the major climate changes that are already underway on our planet.

Kolbert delivers a memorable description of a visit to Alaska, where record temperatures have begun melting permafrost that formed at the beginning of the last ice age, 120,000 years ago. She visits the remote island of Sarichef, five miles off the coast of the Seward Peninsula. A subsistence hunting village has existed there for centuries. However, the entire population of 591 must be relocated to the mainland because the island is eroding away. The problem? Lack of the customary sea ice in the fall has allowed storm surges from the powerful storms that hit during that season to push far inland. Kolbert talks to an Inuit hunter named John Keogak, who lives in Canada's Northwest Territories, 500 miles north of the Arctic circle. He and his fellow hunters started seeing robins for the first time a few years ago. The Inuits have no word for the bird in their language. Kolbert travels to "drunken forests" where the trees lean at crazy angles due to the collapse of the permafrost beneath. In one of many of the odd and amusing observations the book is sprinkled with, she writes:

A few blocks beyond the drunken forest, we came to a house where the front yard showed clear signs of ice wedge melt-off. The owner, trying to make the best of things, had turned the yard into a miniature golf course.

As the title implies, this is not a cheerful book, and Kolbert paints a gloomy picture of the how climate change is affecting the planet. I highly recommend the book for those interested in reading about climate change. Three and a half stars.

Jeff Masters

Permafrost Collapse (akalaska)

Climate change is causing rapid coastal erosion in the Arctic. As the permafrost melts, the land falls into the ocean. (Elson Lagoon, Barrow, Alaska)

Coastal Erosion (akalaska)

A scientist is taking high-precision GPS measurements of coastal erosion in the Arctic, due to melting permafrost. The coast is eroding at the rate of 3-12 feet per year.

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351. txweather 9:21 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Just for record Arlene-first mention 30hrs before TD, said slow developemnt until saying TD developing 6hrs before Bret-First mention 30hrs before, no development predicted until 18hrs before when they said winds could become more favorable, but land interaction should hinder development.6hrs before they said depression was forming Cindy - 78hrs, 66hrs ahead said had potential said TD could forms 24hrs ahead of formation Dennis 36hrs, said was well organized and developemnt would be slow, said depression could develope 6hrs ahead of formation Emily -36hrs, said slow development possible, said could be depression 12hrs before formation. Ok I need to go, but this gives soem info. Basically they mentioned all thses at least 30hrs before development, but clearly did forecast TD developemnt(they just nowcast it) Tx

352. hurricanealley 9:21 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
hello Member Since: March 26, 2006 Posts: 8 Comments: 971

353. quakeman55 9:24 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
At least Cyclonebuster can talk about things other than tunnels, so he can actually converse with people. StormTop, however, can only talk about how right he thinks he is and how wrong everyone else is and that his forecasts are written in stone...he cannot have normal conversation. Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

354. quakeman55 9:25 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
That's why I can't wait for a storm to form this month, so I can rub it in his face and make him disappear for a while... Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

355. chefjeff 9:27 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Outrocket, they wont answer you any more than they do me. 'cause you hurt their EGO.

356. melwerle 9:28 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Ooooo...StormTop is CERTAINLY full of himself today...WRITTEN IN STONE...wooo hooooo. He is the weatherGOD...maybe we should all genuflect to StormTop... Member Since: June 28, 2006 Posts: 12 Comments: 1837

358. Alec 9:28 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Hey quakeman, I feel like some people come here SOLEY to compete and boost their egoes....Gets really annoying. That is why me and others dont post here that much.

359. melwerle 9:29 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
All HAIL TO STORMTOP... Member Since: June 28, 2006 Posts: 12 Comments: 1837

360. quakeman55 9:31 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
When is StormTop NOT full of himself? Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

361. quakeman55 9:31 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Yeah Alec, and ST is one of those people. Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

362. quakeman55 9:35 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Nice looking flareup north of Panama there. But I'm sure just like all the other blobs that's only temporary. Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

363. StormJunkie 9:41 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Posted By: cyclonebuster at 8:31 PM GMT on July 14, 2006. I was at the Cutler ridge power plant when Andrew hit. Trust me it took ten years to upgade it to a cat.5. I knew that the night it hit. It was much worse than they even report it to be now!! Very true cyclone. My father was acity admin in the Charleston area for much of his life. After going through Hugo in '89 he went down after Andrew to assist local officials there since he had just dealt with much of the stuff they were going to have to deal with. The pictures and stories that he brought back were unreal. The tent cities were crazy. The neighborhoods of foundations only, as some one already stated, and again the stories of what he saw were truly amazing. I was around 17 when Hugo came through and I thought it could not get too much worse. After Andrew, my thoughts on this changed greatly. SJ Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15218

365. Alec 9:47 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
So you cant blame me after all flood!LOL Hope you weren't blogging with lightning(unless you have wireless)....

366. funhouse23 9:48 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Hi all just logged on today notice most of the dust is gone.

369. Alec 9:52 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Got heavy rain today here in Tallahassee for like 15 minutes this morning. No lightning. It doesn't even feel like the rainy season since we've been dry for most of the summer...

370. StormJunkie 9:53 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Come on all that was a good one by GS. Can't we all just get along and learn about the WX :) SJ Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15218

371. StormJunkie 9:56 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
So Alec, what do you think this heat wave will do to the Gulf and Gulf Stream waters as well as the E coast? I think that slight cooling that we saw helped, but I think we are about to start heading back up. SJ Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15218

373. Alec 9:58 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Hey SJ, I think the Gulf and East Coast waters are going to get warmer as a result of all the hot weather(and more to come this weekend). With waves and disturbances riding over water, the water will mix and therefore, the heat content will be building...

374. STORMTOP 9:59 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
no gulfscotsman it makes me 3 things.......... 1 WISER 2MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE 3MORE ACCURATE SO GET OVER IT MAN IM RIGHT THERE WILL NOT BE A STORM IN JULY AND THAT MY FRIEND IS WRITTEN IN STONE..YOU CAN CALL ME COCKY OR ANYTHING YOU WANT I HAVE BEEN ON THE BALL SINCE JUNE 1 AND I HAVE THE TROPICS THIS YEAR IN MY HANDS..I TOLD YOU GUYS I WILL TELL YOU WHEN TO WORRY AND THAT WILL BE IN AUGUST WHEN WE FINALLY GET OUR FIRST HURRICANE OF THE SEASON...CAPICHE!!!!!!!!!!StormTop

375. Alec 10:01 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Oh dont rub it in Stormtop......I know A LOT of forecasters that have predicted this early in the season will be slower than last yr.....By the way, a slow start is quite normal too....

376. quakeman55 10:03 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
I HAVE BEEN ON THE BALL SINCE JUNE 1 AND I HAVE THE TROPICS THIS YEAR IN MY HANDS (ahem) Are you forgetting about Alberto? Right guys?? Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

377. quakeman55 10:04 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Shall we go dig out his ludicrous "Alberto will turn NW towards Texas there is no way it will go over Florida" predictions? Maybe that'll scare him off again...seemed to last time we did it. Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

378. StormJunkie 10:04 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Posted By: floodzonenc at 9:58 PM GMT on July 14, 2006. LOL at GS and SJ! What did I say that was funny? GS needs the credit for that one. Attacked himself as well as others, conceded a point, and put me ROTFLMAO. Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15218

379. StormJunkie 10:09 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
For those who may not already know this, let me clue you in to ST, and why to just let him be. He always throws out "written in stone" forecasts, at least this year he is not trying to impersonate the NHC as of yet. His forecasts may be true sometimes. He WILL hang himself soon enough, so don't don't worry too much about trying to proove him wrong. He sucks at forecasting track, with the exception of Katrina. My opinion. His approach is just plain laughable, so while you are waiting for him to hang himself just bust his chops on his technique. Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15218

381. STORMTOP 10:10 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
alberto should of never been named by the NHC...they named it on the kind of katrina and they did not want to catch people off guard like they did with katrina..alberto barely had 35 mph winds lol what a shoo shoo...reminds me of some of you guys in here with every blob you see you think its going to the east coast as a major hurricane...the one that mentioned the dust was gone a couple of posts back you better learn hot to read a w/v imagery satellite pic the dust is scattered all over out in the atlantic and the water teps have not reached 80 degrees in most spots thats why the waves are coming off the coast near 8 degrees and falling apart when they climb in latitude...just a lesson fotr you beginners in here...alec i hope you heard this also ...StormTop

383. Alec 10:13 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
LOL flood........I always seemed to be the one behind my generation(technologically speaking)....having a wireless laptop is the first step in the right direction! But glad these blogs dont take an hour to load with this new page layout...

384. StormJunkie 10:13 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
learn hot to read a w/v imagery satellite pic the dust is scattered all over out in the atlantic and the water teps have not reached 80 degrees in most spots thats why the waves are coming off the coast near 8 degrees and falling apart when they climb in latitude Wow substanence from ST. I am actually impressed, a little. Though the approach still sucks. Member Since: August 17, 2005 Posts: 26 Comments: 15218

386. quakeman55 10:15 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Posted By: STORMTOP at 4:30 PM EDT on May 23, 2006. no question about it .the depression will form sometime friday or saturday..you guys will start changing your tunes by friday... That's funny...I must have missed that depression, even though I've kept up with the tropics every single day since May. Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

389. Alec 10:18 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
I sure did listen ST!LOL It is no surprise that water over near Africa is cool(so early into the season).............It takes time for the sun's radiation to warm those waters. As the warm water on the surface mix with relatively cooler water from below, it takes until Aug/Sept for maximum heating....

390. STORMTOP 10:23 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
MICHAEL STL I WILL SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME FOR YOUR BENEFIT...THE REASON WHY THE WAVES ARE COMING OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA AT LOWER LATITUDES THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE OF THE WARN SST.. WHERE THEY USUALLY COME OUT AT 12 DEGREES THE WATER TEMPS ARE THE COOLEST...CAPICHE HAS IT SUNK IN YET DO YOU KNOW HOW TO READ MAPS..MAYBE YOU NEED A LESSON FROM ALECS COMPUTER MODELS LOL....I WILL SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME MY FRIENDS AND IT IS WRITTEN IN STONE...THEIR WILL BE NO STORMS IN JULY AND THE FIRST HURRICANE WILL BE IN AUGUST.....NOW CHOW IM GOING TO EAT AT EMERALDS ON ST CHARLES IF YOU ALL WANT TO MEET ME THERE..MAYBE I CAN TEACH YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THE TROPICS ....StormTop

392. quakeman55 10:24 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
And maybe we can teach you how to shut up... Member Since: March 31, 2002 Posts: 1 Comments: 1276

393. chefjeff 10:28 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
alec, be careful, that statement is to realistic.

394. Cavin Rawlins 10:29 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Today�s Question: Do you feel that the 2005 Hurricane Season has to some degree ruined peoples perception of tropical activity? Quote by Jphurricane: �Last year everything that was spotted developed within a day. I can remember many a year before last year where the NHC would have paid attention to alot more than they are this year.� you can leave your comments at my blog about the question. Member Since: July 24, 2005 Posts: 407 Comments: 19076

395. Alec 10:29 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Too realistic?LOL

396. WSI 10:33 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
GulfScotsman, Dr. M said not to post images greater than 200k in his blog. Else they would be marked as spam and removed. Remember, not everyone has broadband.

397. chefjeff 10:33 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Yeah ! It's the truth. No real storms until mid August-Mid September.

398. Alec 10:36 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Rmember, there is a "preview" button so you can see what your post will look like before it gets posted on the blog..

399. Alec 10:38 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
Remember*.....what a slap in the face!...LOL Just contradicted my last post...LOL

400. chefjeff 10:39 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
then remember how to spell remember

401. seflagamma 10:40 PM GMT on July 14, 2006
This is something else to read! ROFL!!! Easy does it guys....let's not take ourselves too seriously and respect everyone's different personalities and learn from all! Gams Member Since: August 29, 2005 Posts: 286 Comments: 40483

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