Tag Archives: Climate Change

Does global climate change have an influence on tropical cyclone activity?

Posted on July 11, 2020 by Fred Pickhardt

Does global climate change have an influence on tropical cyclone activity and can these influences be detected?  This question is important given the high risk to populations along coastal regions. This question was tackled in a recent assessment published in The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society Continue reading →

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Hurricane Storm Surges in Tampa Bay

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Fred Pickhardt

The highest storm surges in Tampa Bay are usually associated with hurricanes, with the three highest tides occurring during Cat 3 storms in 1848, 1921 and 1985. Hurricane Elena in late August of 1985 caused the highest storm surge recorded … Continue reading →

Posted in Sea Level Rise, Storm Surge, Tropical Cyclones, Weather History, Weather Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tale of Two Hemispheres

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Fred Pickhardt

Interesting split in SST temperatures for the Northern Hemisphere vs. the Southern Hemisphere.  The Northern Hemisphere SST anomaly is predominately warmer than normal while the Southern Hemisphere appears to be mostly cooler than normal. NOAA Global SST Anomaly https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/sst/anomaly/2019/anomnight.8.8.2019.gif   … Continue reading →

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What is the greenhouse effect?

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Fred Pickhardt

What is meant by the greenhouse effect? What is the greenhouse effect and how does it affect our climate? The sun is the primary source of energy here on the earth.  Heat generated from the earth’s interior (geothermal heat) is … Continue reading →

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Slowing Sea Level Rise Projections

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Fred Pickhardt

In recent years there have been several projections regarding sea level rise, including claims that the oceans could rise up to 10 feet by 2100.  It is time to consider just how much weight we should give these projections as … Continue reading →

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Global temperatures may fall as the El Nino weakens

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Fred Pickhardt

The past year’s strong El Nino started to heat the tropical atmosphere starting last spring with the global temperatures following later as the heat was redistributed around the globe. The tropical temperatures peaked in early January with the global temperatures … Continue reading →

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Do Ocean Currents account for much of the current Global Warming?

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Fred Pickhardt

One Hypothesis out there comes from William M. Gray Professor Emeritus Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University:   “A slowing down of the global ocean’s Meridional Overturning Circulation (global conveyor belt) is the likely cause of most of the global … Continue reading →

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What is the role of the oceans in Global Warming/Climate Change?

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Fred Pickhardt

  There has been much press and controversy in recent years about global warming or climate change.  Opinions range from doomsday scenarios to absolute disbelief.  As a meteorologist (not climatologist), I say that the truth is somewhere in between these … Continue reading →

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