Iceberg, with Mount Dundas in the background, Qaasuitsup, west Greenland, Denmark.
Dominoes fall: Vanishing Arctic ice shifts jet stream, which melts Greenland glaciers
Investigating the factors affecting ice melt in Greenland — one of the most rapidly changing places on Earth — is a major priority for climate scientists. And new research is revealing that there are a more complex set of variables affecting the ice sheet than experts had imagined. A recent set of scientific papers have proposed a critical connection between sharp declines in Arctic sea ice and changes in the atmosphere, which they say are not only affecting ice melt in Greenland, but also weather patterns all over the North Atlantic.
The new studies center on an atmospheric phenomenon known as “blocking” — this is when high pressure systems remain stationary in one place for long periods of time (days or even weeks), causing weather conditions to stay relatively stable for as long as the block remains in place. They can occur when there’s a change or disturbance in the jet stream, causing the flow of air in the atmosphere to form a kind of eddy, said Jennifer Francis, a research professor and climate expert at Rutgers University.
Blocking events over Greenland are particularly interesting to climate scientists because of their potential to drive temperatures up and increase melting on the ice sheet.
"By attempting the first solar flight around the world, pushing back the boundaries of the possible, going into the unknown, and taking on a project deemed impossible by industry experts, Bertrand Piccard and [alternating pilot] André Borschberg want to support concrete actions for sustainability and show that the world can be run on clean technologies."
Rooftop solar on every Australian household “no issue at all” for grid
Australia could install solar PV on every residential rooftop in the country without causing any problems for the running of the national grid. Australia should introduce legislation like that recently adopted by San Francisco, where all new-build houses are now required to have a PV system installed.
China debt levels reach record high
More than 15% of total commercial lending in China was “potentially at risk,” meaning that banks faced a loss of 4.9 trillion renminbi, an amount equivalent to 7%t of GDP. Others estimate that the stock of non-performing loans may be even higher.
When the Truth is Found to be Lies, Confidence in Currency Dies
WHAT LIES? Really? There have been so many. Here are a few examples specific to the United States (the lies in other countries are probably similar):
Lyndon Johnson: In 1965, after decades of excessive government expenditures which caused rising consumer price inflation and rising gold and silver prices, Johnson removed silver from U.S. coins. He stated,
“If anybody has any idea of hoarding our silver coins, let me say this. Treasury has a lot of silver on hand, and it can be, and it will be used to keep the price of silver in line with its value in our present silver coin. There will be no profit in holding them out of circulation for the value of their silver content.”
He lied. One hundred dollars purchased 77 ounces of silver in 1965. A decade later $100 purchased 24 ounces of silver. Four decades later $100 purchased 13 ounces of silver. In 2025 $100 will probably purchase less than one ounce of silver.
Richard Nixon, the gold window, and Watergate: In 1971 President Nixon“temporarily” rescinded the agreement to convert US dollars submitted by foreign governments for gold. He stated,
