Aug 26, 2017 03:20 AM
How did Hurricane Harvey get so strong?
https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/25/16207...water-gulf
Hurricane Harvey Strengthens, Threatens U.S. with Most Powerful Storm in 12 Years
https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...-12-years/
EXCERPT: Hurricane Harvey intensified early on Friday into potentially the biggest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in more than a decade, as authorities warned locals to shelter from what could be life-threatening winds and floods. Harvey is set to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday on the central Texas coast where Corpus Christi and Houston are home to some of the biggest U.S. refineries. Oil and gas operations have already been affected and gasoline prices have spiked.
“Now is the time to urgently hide from the wind. Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury, loss of life, or immense human suffering,” the National Weather Service said. Harvey grew into a category 2 storm with winds of 105 mph (169 kph) as it moved northwest about 185 miles (295 km) off Port O’Connor, Texas, the National Hurricane Center said.
Up to 35 inches (97 cm) of rain are expected over parts of Texas, with winds up to 125 mph, and sea levels may surge as high as 12 feet (3.7 meters). Louisiana could get 10 to 15 inches of rain. Flood warnings are in effect for Louisiana and northern Mexico. “Life-threatening and devastating flooding expected near the coast due to heavy rainfall and storm surge,” the hurricane center said.....
Trump isn't ready for Harvey
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and...trump.html
EXCERPT: [...] That’s pretty scary, but what’s even more unsettling is that the government may not be prepared to deal with the effects of the storm. Trump’s reaction to Harvey has so far been underwhelming. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the storm in Thursday’s press briefing, saying Trump was “aware” of it, “has been briefed and will continue to be updated as the storm progresses.” Later in the day, the president himself tweeted a somber call to action, urging people to “plan ahead.” The irony here is that while Trump urges residents in the path of the storm to prepare themselves, he has failed to follow his own advice. He is greeting this storm without key administrators in place. This could very likely be the first major natural disaster of Trump’s presidency...
I Was an Exxon-Funded Climate Scientist
http://www.realclearscience.com/articles...10372.html
EXCERPT: [...] Yet Exxon’s choices have contributed directly to the situation we are in today, a situation that in many ways seems unreal: one where many elected representatives oppose climate action, while China leads the U.S. in wind energy, solar power, economic investment in clean energy and even the existence of a national cap and trade policy similar to the ill-fated Waxman-Markey bill of 2009. This latest study underscores why many are calling on Exxon to be held responsible for knowingly misleading the public on such a critical issue. For scientists and academics, though, it may fuel another, different, yet similarly moral debate. Are we willing to accept financial support that is offered as a sop to the public conscience? The concept of tendering literal payment for sin is nothing new....
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https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/25/16207...water-gulf
Hurricane Harvey Strengthens, Threatens U.S. with Most Powerful Storm in 12 Years
https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...-12-years/
EXCERPT: Hurricane Harvey intensified early on Friday into potentially the biggest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in more than a decade, as authorities warned locals to shelter from what could be life-threatening winds and floods. Harvey is set to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday on the central Texas coast where Corpus Christi and Houston are home to some of the biggest U.S. refineries. Oil and gas operations have already been affected and gasoline prices have spiked.
“Now is the time to urgently hide from the wind. Failure to adequately shelter may result in serious injury, loss of life, or immense human suffering,” the National Weather Service said. Harvey grew into a category 2 storm with winds of 105 mph (169 kph) as it moved northwest about 185 miles (295 km) off Port O’Connor, Texas, the National Hurricane Center said.
Up to 35 inches (97 cm) of rain are expected over parts of Texas, with winds up to 125 mph, and sea levels may surge as high as 12 feet (3.7 meters). Louisiana could get 10 to 15 inches of rain. Flood warnings are in effect for Louisiana and northern Mexico. “Life-threatening and devastating flooding expected near the coast due to heavy rainfall and storm surge,” the hurricane center said.....
Trump isn't ready for Harvey
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and...trump.html
EXCERPT: [...] That’s pretty scary, but what’s even more unsettling is that the government may not be prepared to deal with the effects of the storm. Trump’s reaction to Harvey has so far been underwhelming. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the storm in Thursday’s press briefing, saying Trump was “aware” of it, “has been briefed and will continue to be updated as the storm progresses.” Later in the day, the president himself tweeted a somber call to action, urging people to “plan ahead.” The irony here is that while Trump urges residents in the path of the storm to prepare themselves, he has failed to follow his own advice. He is greeting this storm without key administrators in place. This could very likely be the first major natural disaster of Trump’s presidency...
I Was an Exxon-Funded Climate Scientist
http://www.realclearscience.com/articles...10372.html
EXCERPT: [...] Yet Exxon’s choices have contributed directly to the situation we are in today, a situation that in many ways seems unreal: one where many elected representatives oppose climate action, while China leads the U.S. in wind energy, solar power, economic investment in clean energy and even the existence of a national cap and trade policy similar to the ill-fated Waxman-Markey bill of 2009. This latest study underscores why many are calling on Exxon to be held responsible for knowingly misleading the public on such a critical issue. For scientists and academics, though, it may fuel another, different, yet similarly moral debate. Are we willing to accept financial support that is offered as a sop to the public conscience? The concept of tendering literal payment for sin is nothing new....
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