Canberra Weather Station

Last year we took the Climate Council to task for ignoring the 1939 Canberra heatwave (see HERE). The  high quality data available from Canberra's first weather station at Acton ignored because it somehow doesn't fit the alarming story. Looking over the NLA's Trove site today came across the photo below showing the station setup at Acton in 1921. Hard to deny, but somehow they managed it with a straight face!

http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/176097803

Scare mongering ABC journos need your help

Unfortunately ABC's current batch of bed wetting activists  reporters were born without the sense of perspective gene. This important gene helps normal people discern pure sensationalism from information that we need to pay attention to. Without the gene ABC's affected reporters appear incapable of telling fact from fiction and as a result it is open to spreading sensationalist propaganda.

Case in point is a report yesterday by ABC's Hamish Fitzsimmons. It appears that a dysfunctional perspective gene has affected  Hamish's ability to do basic research.

Here's Hamish's headline:
Sea level rises due to climate change could cost Australia $200b, Climate Council report finds
In his report Hamish provides a platform for professional doom-sayer Will Steffan to make the following statement:

"If you look at a 1.1 metre sea level rise - which is the high-end scenario for 2100 but that's what we're tracking towards - you're looking at more than $200 billion worth of infrastructure that's at risk." "If you look at some of our most vulnerable areas, and the Sydney region is one of those, you would say toward the end of this century that a one-in-100-year flood is going to be happening every few days," he said.

In regard to a sea level rise of 1.1m (1100mm) Will Steffan says "That's what we're tracking towards". Really?

Hamish didn't bother looking at the facts, nor it seems did the alarmist Climate Council. We spent approximately 30 seconds on the internet to locate the following chart from the
Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL):

Fort Denison: monthly mean sea level data

This shows long term sea level in the Sydney area. The graph shows flattish trends from the start of the record to about 1950, then a step change, followed by flattish trends to the end of the data. A simplistic linear regression analysis would provide an average annual sea level rise of about 0.55 mm per year. Extrapolated to 2100 this would amount to an additional rise of 47 mm. This is a very small fraction of what Steffen believes "we're tracking towards".

We have a bunch of alarmist activist scientists who it seems are incapable of analysing real world data feeding gullible reporters who basically appear unwilling to check the facts. The end result is the spread of misinformation.

Unfortunately at this stage there is no cure to what is being called Sponge Syndrome.

Update: The chart below extends the raw Denison data forwards in time and shows what needs to happen in order to satisfy the Climate Councils notion of what we're tracking towards". This lacks credibility and the ABC should ask the council about it.

Lies of the Climate Commission/Council: Part 18

ABC covered the Climate Council's latest beat up.

It included this summary:

2013-14 summer records included:

• 11 days above 42C in Adelaide
• Driest summer for 45 spots in Qld & 38 in NSW
• Sydney's driest summer in 27 years
• 20 days above 35C in Canberra

Source: Climate Council


Included in the "records" is reference to "20 days above 35C in Canberra".

The report did not mention that in 1939 the BOM station at ACTON (70099-one we have taken an interest in) recorded 23 days above 35C! There were also 5 more days above 30 in 1939.

See comparison below:

 

Summer 1939-ACTON 70099

Summer 2014-Canberra Airport 70351

James from Perth or NEW South Wales. ABC don't give a stuff

In October we noted some conflicting ABC reports about where the new climate council's first donation originated from. At the time ABC reported the following:

James in Perth?
'We had our first donation in last night from James in Perth - $15,' Dr Flannery told Breakfast this morning.

or James in New South Wales?
"We had our first donation from James in New South Wales for $15 at midnight," he said at the time.Tim Flannery suggested

We requested ABC follow this disparity up and yesterday we received this report from the Head of Audience and Consumer Affairs, Kirstin McLiesh:

Thank you for your email.  I regret the delay in responding to you.

The ABC accurately reported Dr Flannery’s statements on both occasions, as demonstrated by the video and audio footage accessible on the webpages to which you refer.  Whether the $15 donation was made by James in Perth or in New South Wales was not a material fact for the purposes of either of these reports and the ABC will not pursue this matter further.

ABC provided the climate council with free advertising and they can't even bother asking simple questions about un-important things like, um... facts!

Climate Council's first donation?

Some conflicting reports about where the new Climate Council's first donation came form...

According to the ABC, contenders are as follows....

James in Perth?
'We had our first donation in last night from James in Perth - $15,' Dr Flannery told Breakfast this morning.

or James in New South Wales?
"We had our first donation from James in New South Wales for $15 at midnight," he said at the time.

Climate Commission: The Prince of Precaution: last part

To mark the end of the Climate Commission we have published the serial version of The Prince of Precaution. Here's the ending and links to parts 1 to 4. Click to enlarge.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Climate Commission: The Prince of Precaution: Part 4

To mark the end of the Climate Commission we are publishing the serial version of The Prince of Precaution. Here's Part 4. Final part tomorrow. Click to enlarge.

Climate Commission: The Prince of Precaution: Part 3

To mark the end of the Climate Commission we are publishing the serial version of The Prince of Precaution over the next 2 days. Here's Part 3. Click to enlarge.

In a tiz

Meanwhile the other arm of the ABC, The Conversation is in a tiz about the loss of the Climate Commission. So concerned about dissent it has closed one article after just one comment, and that was removed. Having a conversation with yourself, is that the first sign of madness?

Re-writing climate commission history

UPDATE:
Seems I am wrong on this. In 2010 the then Gillard government did indeed promise a climate commission. However it did promise it would be independent, sadly history shows it was not.

Our apologies to activist Sara on this point she is indeed factually correct. I should know by now not to rely on ABC news as a reliable source of information.

see http://web.archive.org/web/20100820211502/http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/building-consensus-in-the-community/


Original post below.

ABC's resident environmental activist, Sara Phillips writes the following in a blog post:

"The Climate Commission was an election promise from the Gillard Government during the 2010 poll."

No it was not!  What was promised was a "citizen's assembly". 

Let's re-wind to July 2010. From: Gillard to ask the people on climate change.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-07-22/gillard-to-ask-the-people-on-climate-change/916006

"A re-elected Labor government would ask a new "citizens' assembly" for climate change advice, under a key part of the ALP's new climate change policy set to be launched by Prime Minister Julia Gillard today."

From The World today: Labor's revised climate change policy

JULIA GILLARD: Consensus on this issue should not depend solely on a fragile agreement between political parties. Adopting a market based mechanism to price carbon will transform the way we live and the way we work. 

Such a major change cannot be made and unmade on the oscillations of the political pendulum. 

If we are re-elected I will deliver a dedicated process, a citizens' assembly to examine over 12 months the evidence on climate change, the case for action and the possible consequences of introducing a market based approach to limiting and reducing carbon emissions.

7/10/2013: Julia Gillard scraps climate assembly

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/julia-gillard-scraps-climate-assembly/story-e6frfkvr-1225935583350

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has ditched her election policy of a climate change citizens' assembly.

Ms Gillard went to the election promising to bring together an assembly of 150 citizens to discuss ways to tackle climate change.

Speaking at a media conference after the first meeting of a new multi-party climate change committee, the prime minister said the policy would not go ahead.

"The committee concluded that in view of the creation of this committee and its intended outreach work that the proposal of a citizens' assembly should not be implemented and that there will be other ways of harnessing public dialogue engagement in the science of climate change and engagement in questions of pricing carbon,'' she said.

The Government will also set up a climate change commission.

Facts, such malleable items in the ABC hands.

Climate Commission: The Prince of Precaution: Part 2

To mark the end of the Climate Commission we are publishing the serial version of The Prince of Precaution over the next 4 days. Here's Part 2. Click to enlarge.

Climate Commission: The Prince of Precaution

To mark the end of the Climate Commission we are publishing the serial version of The Prince of Precaution over the next 5 days. Here's Part 1. Click to enlarge.

Climate Commission: End of the lies?

How long before the ABC notice?

The Herald Sun report:
Tim Flannery sacked, Climate Commission dismantled by Coalition

Smiley face from me!

Update: They noticed. 

Here's what Big Tim the prince of precaution stated to ABC:

"We've stayed out of the politics and stuck to the facts," he said.

We beg to differ:

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 17

Lies of the climate commission: Part 16 "bald faced liars"

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 15 - The disgruntled summer

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 14 - Climate on steriods!

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 13

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 12

Lies of the Climate Commission Part 11

Lies of the climate commission Part 10

Lies of the Climate Commission part 9-the cargo cult continues

Lies of the climate commission Part 8

Lies of the climate commission: Part 7 manufacturing certainty

Lies of the climate commission: Part 6 no islands evacuated

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 5-Calcification rates

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 4

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 3

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 2

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 1

And the lies roll on....TF: "We've just seen one of the earliest ever starts to the bushfire season in Sydney following the hottest twelve months on record."

and why:....?
Hazard reduction burn started major Sydney bushfire

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 17

Another report, another piece out of the old propaganda book.

The basis of this image:

is based on a lie.

The reality immediately above shows our children are already on that bright green pathway because the government's flaky Klimate Kommissars have exaggerated the climate's sensitivity to CO2.

This despicable piece of propaganda unquestionably reported by the government's other propaganda arm: your ABC.

The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that's also a hypocrite!

Tennessee Williams

Lies of the climate commission: Part 16 "bald faced liars"

Professor Roger Pielke Jnr has a piece on the commission's latest effort to misrepresent the science of climate change. As Andrew Bolt says: time they were sacked. Perhaps the public can also be refunded their ridiculous salaries.

Read the whole article at Roger's blog, some excerpts below.

Thou Shall Not Critique the Australian Climate Commission

Badly misrepresent? At no point do Crompton and McAneney ever "assert that the Commission wrongly used insurance losses in the Angry Summer report." Sorry, but this is a bald-faced lie from the Commission. Crompton and McAneney accurately state that the report refers to the "significant impacts of extreme weather on property" during the "angry summer." You can see a tweet below from the Commission which refers uncritically to another recent piece at The Conversation, one that is chock full of scientific inaccuracies. Apparently being completely wrong did not merit a press release, but I digress.

The statement by Will Steffen, a scientist speaking for the government in his official capacity on the climate commission, beggars belief -- "opportunistic and unbecoming of a research institution." The comment, which explicitly makes reference to the university as a whole, brings to mind the time that Richard Nixon demanded that all funding for MIT be cut of because he didn't like its politics.

There is actually nothing more becoming of a research institution than researchers willing to engage the public with the results of their scientific research. In democracies, it is OK to crtiique government -- in fact, governance is improved through such critique. There is nothing more offensive than a government that attacks researchers for the temerity to offer legitimate critique. In the US, we saw how the Bush Administration learned that lesson the hard way. It looks like the Climate Commission hasn't taken note.

Lies of the Climate Commission: Part 15 - The disgruntled summer

Some stats of extreme temperatures from the BOM listed below. Odd that in a year the climate was on"steriods" and the "Summer was Angry" (....my friend ...perhaps "like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli") that 2012 and 2013 seem to be MIA. Perhaps not that angry after all. Just a little disgruntled perhaps? (from 0:48)

Hottest Day in December Australia:

Official records for Australia in December

Records valid as of 31 January 2013

Rank	Value (°C)	Date	Station Name	State	Station Number	Elevation (m)	Latitude (°)	Longitude (°)
1	49.5	24 December 1972	Birdsville Police Station	QLD	38002	47	-25.90	139.35
2	49.4	21 December 2011	Roebourne	WA	4035	12	-20.78	117.15
3	49.2	22 December 2011	Onslow Airport	WA	5017	11	-21.67	115.11
4	49.1	23 December 1972	Moomba	SA	17096	39	-28.11	140.21
5	49.0	22 December 1972	Marree	SA	17031	50	-29.65	138.06
5	49.0	06 December 1981	Birdsville Police Station	QLD	38002	47	-25.90	139.35
5	49.0	21 December 2011	Roebourne Aero	WA	4090	11	-20.76	117.16

Hottest day in January

Official records for Australia in January

Records valid as of 31 January 2013

Rank	Value (°C)	Date	Station Name	State	Station Number	Elevation (m)	Latitude (°)	Longitude (°)
1	50.7	02 January 1960	Oodnadatta Airport	SA	17043	117	-27.56	135.45
2	50.3	03 January 1960	Oodnadatta Airport	SA	17043	117	-27.56	135.45
3	49.8	03 January 1979	Mundrabilla Station	WA	11008	20	-31.84	127.86
3	49.8	13 January 1979	Forrest Aero	WA	11004	156	-30.84	128.11
5	49.7	10 January 1939	Menindee Post Office	NSW	47019	61	-32.39	142.42

Note Feb yet to be updated. here t'is:

Official records for Australia in February

Records valid as of 28 February 2013

Rank	Value (°C)	Date	Station Name	State	Station Number	Elevation (m)	Latitude (°)	Longitude (°)
1	50.5	19 February 1998	Mardie	WA	5008	11	-21.19	115.98
2	49.8	21 February 1998	Emu Creek Station	WA	6072	111	-23.03	115.04
3	49.4	16 February 1998	Emu Creek Station	WA	6072	111	-23.03	115.04
4	49.2	09 February 1977	Mardie	WA	5008	11	-21.19	115.98
5	49.1	18 February 1998	Roebourne	WA	4035	12	-20.78	117.15

And the National tally, not a single 2012 or 2013!

NATIONAL

Highest temperature

State	Temperature (°C)	Date	Place name	Latitude	Longitude
South Australia	50.7	2 January 1960	Oodnadatta	-27.56	135.45
Western Australia	50.5	19 February 1998	Mardie	-21.19	115.98
New South Wales	49.7	10 January 1939	Menindee	-32.39	142.42
Queensland	49.5	24 December 1972	Birdsville	-25.90	139.35
Victoria	48.8	7 February 2009	Hopetoun	-35.72	142.36
Northern Territory	48.3	1 & 2 January 1960	Finke	-25.58	134.57
Tasmania	42.2	30 January 2009	Scamander	-41.46	148.26

Lowest temperature

State	Temperature (°C)	Date	Place name	Latitude	Longitude
New South Wales	-23.0	29 June 1994	Charlotte Pass	-36.43	148.33
Tasmania	-13.0	30 June 1983	Butlers Gorge	-42.28	146.27
	-13.0	30 June 1983	Shannon	-42.05	146.75
	-13.0	30 June 1983	Tarraleah	-42.30	146.45
Victoria	-11.7	15 June 1965	Omeo	-37.10	147.60
	-11.7	3 July 1970	Falls Creek	-36.87	147.28
Queensland	-10.6	23 June 1961	Stanthorpe	-28.66	151.93
	-10.6	12 July 1965	The Hermitage	-28.21	152.10
South Australia	-8.2	20 July 1976	Yongala	-33.03	138.75
Northern Territory	-7.5	17 July 1976	Alice Springs	-23.80	133.89
Western Australia	-7.2	17 August 2008	Eyre	-32.25	126.00

Rainfall - highest daily

State	Rainfall (mm)	Date	Place name	Latitude	Longitude
Queensland	907.0	3 February 1893	Crohamhurst	-26.81	152.87
New South Wales	809.2	21 February 1954	Dorrigo	-30.34	152.71
Western Australia	747.0	3 April 1898	Whim Creek	-20.84	117.84
Northern Territory	544.6	15 April 1963	Roper Valley	-14.93	134.01
Victoria	375.0	22 March 1983	Tanybryn	-38.68	143.68
Tasmania	352.0	22 March 1974	Cullenswood	-41.59	148.13
South Australia	272.6	14 March 1989	Motpena	-31.19	138.28

Rainfall - highest monthly

State	Rainfall (mm)	Month	Place name	Latitude	Longitude
Queensland	5387.0	January 1979	Bellenden Ker (Top Station)	-17.29	145.92
New South Wales	1620.6	January 1974	Upper Crystal Creek	-28.28	153.31
Western Australia	1540.4	January 2011	Kuri Bay	-15.49	124.52
Northern Territory	1252.1	January 2003	Redbank Mine	-17.19	137.74
Victoria	989.6	July 1964	Falls Creek	-36.87	147.28
Tasmania	984.0	October 1988	Mount Mawson	-42.68	146.58
South Australia	676.0	March 1989	Balcanoona	-30.53	139.30

Rainfall - highest annual

State	Rainfall (mm)	Year	Place name	Latitude	Longitude
Queensland	12461.0	2000	Bellenden Ker (Top Station)	-17.29	145.92
New South Wales	4539.7	1950	Tallowwood Point	-30.35	152.87
Tasmania	4504.1	1948	Lake Margaret Dam	-41.99	145.57
Victoria	3738.5	1956	Falls Creek	-36.86	147.28
Northern Territory	2953.2	2000	Channel Point	-13.17	130.12
Western Australia	2380.6	2000	Kimberley Coastal Camp	-14.58	125.91
South Australia	1852.6	1917	Aldgate	-35.02	138.75

Call that an Angry Summer? Now this is an angry summer (and spring and Autumn!)...

Maximum temperatures at Marble Bar, 1 October 1923 to 28 April 1924 showing the record number of days over 100°F (37.8°C).