Thursday, October 25, 2007

Fires caused by global warming?

Most of you know that I am quite the skeptic when it comes to global warming. A lot of the noise coming from the people who insist that there'll be dire consequences caused by global warming if nothing is done now to stop it, comes from people who don't really know much about the science behind climate change.

Harry Reid, the Senate Majority leader, is one such person. He told reporters, "One reason why we have the fires in California is global warming," emphasizing the need to pass the Democrats' comprehensive energy package. What a shameless way to politicize an already difficult situation faced by folks in southern California because of the fires! If ever there is such ignorance displayed by a politician, here is one.

Forest fires in California is not uncommon. It is a yearly occurrence much like the flu is. This time, the Santa Ana winds, which whip dry air from the desert plateau westwards and downwards into southern California, heating up as they descend, blew at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. This is nature at its most ferocious. Put fire into the mix, and we get a lethal combination.

The fires are caused by global warming? Don't make me laugh. Senator Reid, realized his idiotic comment and backed away from it when pressed further by reporters.

6 comments:

  1. Global warming is not caused by fire. The senator should have read more on those facts before making a statement on it.

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  2. Fire could have been caused by lightning or intentionally set by arsonists. The strong winds only made it worse. Definitely not caused by global warming!

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  3. Snowswallow, I think you meant, global warming did not cause the fire. :-) Thanks for dropping by.

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  4. By arsonists.
    http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/25/fire.arson/index.html

    I didn't really follow the news - which area of California was that? Is it me or is it that every other 5 years there's a huge fire some where around that region?

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  5. Actually there are fires every day, esp in the summer. But at this time of the year, in southern California where the current fires are, the fires are made worse by strong Santa Ana winds. Arson is likely because San Diego country is further south than the LA area, yet the fires in both areas are both horrific.

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