Live blog: Cyclone Yasi hits Queensland

Rosie says:

03:11pm | 02/02/11

Has anyone noticed all the “firsts” that this country has encountered since the controversial Julia Gillard became our first atheist female PM, unwed living in a defacto relationship at the Lodge. First big floods where many lives were lost, now the most powerful of cyclones that will be recorded, first tragedy of asylum seekers killed 35 metres off Christmas Island because it wasn’t detected by our hi tech boarder security!

I wouldn’t be worried about climate change being crap to some people but am more concerned what we are encountering since Gillard became PM.

Steely Dan says:

03:40pm | 02/02/11

@ Rosie

I am now officially convinced ‘Rosie’ is an ALP staffer hired to make the right look ludicrous.  Low blow, ALP.  Low blow.

Feralman says:

03:43pm | 02/02/11

@Rosie. I must concur…alas, it has taken you a while to see the light…yes Julia IS God….Amen.

Reg says:

03:55pm | 02/02/11

It seems our Rosie is into self-fulfilling prophesy. At least if global warming turns out to be a fizzer she’ll have to thank Julia for that. Now that should hurt. Yippee.

Sooo, it’s Rosie’s fanciful superstition that God is punishing all you dirty rotten leftie voters, once again proving the born to rule power of the right. Yasi and global warming and floods are apparently omens for Rosie? Just as long as they haven’t happened before of course.

Rosie says:

05:07pm | 02/02/11

My apologies Chongy my reply was meant for your mate Scarneck!

Congratulations for being apolitical this time unlike your mate Scarneck who couldn’t help himself but to trash the Opposition Leader!

As for the others sorry but can’t stand by and allow Scarneck, a Gillard supporter to bring up Tony Abbott in a negative sense when we worried sick about our fellow Australians and what Yasi is capable of doing.

nossy says:

05:33pm | 02/02/11

@T Chong - I see Tony Crook the WA National is now supporting the Flood Levy Chongy - looks like Tony the one trick pony is again showing us why he has a biG “L” for loser stamped on his forehead !

Jay says:

05:51pm | 02/02/11

Rosie keep it up, you may get a gig hosting next years Oscars.

Expat says:

06:41pm | 02/02/11

Indeed, Steely Dan. ‘Rosie’ is officially the Worst. Troll. Ever.

It’s incredible that someone could continually use the corpses of those lost in tragedies for cheap political attacks.

Rosie says:

09:38pm | 02/02/11

“Once more unto the the breach dear friends, once more”  Shakespeare

Bear with me if I hammer once agin the facts about Julia Gillard PM of Australia.

One of the worst things about watching TV on the “updates” on cyclone Yasi is seeing and listening to our PM’s monotone voice trying desperately to sound sincere. It is heart breaking watching her because there is nothing one can do to help those that are waiting nervously and anxiously to find out what destruction this category 5 cyclone will bring as it crosses their towns.

It is fake Julia trying to sound sincere and worse for her she has to stand up next to Anna Bligh who appears on TV with nothing but great sincerity filling us with great conviction and faith.

What is that saying? “If you can fake sincerity you’ve got it made!” Poor Julia thinks she has it made!

Steely Dan says:

10:40pm | 02/02/11

@ Rosie

“Bear with me if I hammer once agin the facts about Julia Gillard PM of Australia.”
Fact 1:  Rosie finds Gillard’s voice annoying.
Fact 2: Rosie thinks Gillard is insincere.

Gee, that’s pretty damning.  And relevant.

Expat says:

11:36pm | 02/02/11

The very worst thing so far about Cyclone Yasi is that at a time like this a troll like Rosie is once again trying to make cheap political attacks out of human tragedy. Disgusting and shameful.

acotrel says:

05:49am | 03/02/11

(completely apolitical) - Global warming?

persephone says:

08:04am | 03/02/11

Rosie

really, you are beneath contempt.

How do you explain Victoria’s bushfires (under both Howard and Rudd?)

Or do you go with Danny Nalliah from Light the Fires and say it was because Victoria passed laws decriminalising abortion?

How do you explain the drownings on the SIEV X under Howard?

Of course, this all could have been God punishing us in advance, knowing we were going to have an atheist female unmarried PM.

Better, in my book, than a married, Christian, male hypocrite, who encourages people to protest against a government tax aimed at cleaning up after a disaster whilst begging for donations for his party,

Although I’m sure the Liberal party’s inability to manage its finances properly is Julia’s fault, too.

Or God’s.

Well, someone else’s, anyway.

MarK says:

09:52am | 03/02/11

“Although I’m sure the Liberal party’s inability to manage its finances properly is Julia’s fault, too.”

It appears Julia has the same problem

http://www.alp.org.au/

Two links asking for donations.

A link asking for volunteers.

All on the front page.

I did struggle to find a link to the “great big new tax being the first of three this year” page.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

“to protest against a government tax aimed at cleaning up after a disaster “

Well at least you call a tax now. Still don’t get the reasoning though I see. It is a tax to prop her wasteful spending habits. You will get it in time

I read with interest that she will be able to find the money from the budget for the Yasi clean up.

Interesting.

Pray tell then why the need for this tax in the first place? Given Yasi was not on the radar when she announced this tax how did she find the cash from savings to clean it up? Why the need for a tax.

Gillard has some explaining to do.

Rosie says:

10:32am | 03/02/11

Hey Per Se Telephone did I upset you? Don’t blame me blame your mate Scarneck for bringing Tony Abbott into the equation. He should have remained completely apolitical like your other mate Chongy.

You should really lighten up, the main one being “Yasi” didn’t destruct as bad as we were made to believe and no lost of lives Big thank you to the sincere Anna Bligh and her team for acting accordingly.

Julia Gillard may now start working on the “flood levy” she so desires to impose upon the people of this country. Hopefully this will mean that I will see less of her insincerity and leave it all to Anna Bligh whose sincerity fills us with great conviction and faith.

On an even lighter note “Yasi” is the Fijian name for sandalwood, “wooden gold” the sandalwood that is known to bring sweet small of success because of its scent when used in the burning of incense. Yasi originated as a tropical low near Fiji so it was named by the Fiji Meteorollogical Service.

Never know this maybe the turning point in Gillard’s primeministership, “Yasi bringing the sweet smell of success”

“God we can only hope”

Tupou says:

10:58am | 03/02/11

@ Rosie

Good one and lucky for the baby that was born in one of the evacuation centres, it wasn’t in Fiji. No doubt he would have been named, “Cagilaba Yasi” ( Theknee La Ba) Hurricane Sandalwood.

All the best for the baby and everyone else that have to now deal with the aftermath of this cyclone

Expat says:

11:14am | 03/02/11

And so the vile troll ‘Rosie’ continues to insult those who perished in the floods and Christmas Island tragedies, and makes light of the destruction across FNQ. They really should chopper ‘Rosie’ into the area with a copy of his/her comments for the locals to enjoy. We’d never have to hear from him/her again.

He/she even attempts to justify her cheap political attacks by suggesting that two wrongs apparently make a right. Disgusting and shameful, again.

Barnyard Watcher says:

12:20pm | 03/02/11

Don’t be so hard on Rosie
When a chook gets demoted to the bottom of the pecking order, she gets angry.
Please don’t peck the angry chook.
She suffers enough already.

Rosie says:

12:20pm | 03/02/11

Expat if your name is short for Expatriate - a person living abroad allow me to remind you that Australia is a civilized democratic country. Don’t blame me for Julia Gillard’s insincerity and incompetency and if you can’t handle me pointing it out, you should leave for some other place where freedom of speech is suppressed.

What you have written about me is the far from the truth. I moved out of Townsville a few months ago, friends and loved ones have joked about my timing. Like every sensible person we all have been absolutely sick worrying about the people’s safety. I have experienced many cyclones but not being told beforehand that it would be a category 5 one. Beforehand just like all the people in the affected areas I was afraid of the devastation the cyclone may leave behind.

This morning after talking to my loved ones & friends, they are just happy to know it wasn’t as bad as predicted and are in good spirits joking because they are still amongst friends and loved ones. What else could they do?????????

My sentiments about the Queensland Preimer were echoed by many because she made all of us feel that what could have been done was done and it was up to those concerned to ride the storm out as best as they can. A complete opposite to PM Gillard who seems to appear only for her politcal gain.

There go suck on a lemon somewhere far away from this continent and take your shameful disgusting comments with you!

Expat says:

01:01pm | 03/02/11

And so the vile troll ‘Rosie’ continues to attempt to make cheap political attacks from human tragedy. Condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the floods and Christmas Island tragedies, and commiserations to those who have lost so much in the destruction across FNQ.

persephone says:

01:12pm | 03/02/11

Rosie

No one is trying to close down your right to criticise the PM or the government, so stop playing the ‘right to free speech’ card.

You weren’t commenting on her ‘insincerity’ or ‘competency’ but suggesting that the country was being punished because the PM was unwed and atheist.

If you’re going to make comments which are that stupid, you can expect to be criticised.

Free speech works two ways, you know.

Rosie says:

02:23pm | 03/02/11

Persephone - that was you and other’s assumption! Read my comments again made because your mate Scarneck’s mention of Tony Abbott;

Scarneck says:10:21am | 02/02/11

Does Tony Abbott still say ‘climate change is crap’ - is he on leave?

“Has anyone noticed all the “firsts” that this country has encountered since the controversial Julia Gillard became our first atheist female PM, unwed living in a defacto relationship at the Lodge.”

The words atheist etc I used are the facts and I used them to describe Julia Gillard our PM.

The “firsts” that I mentioned actually happened since she, under much controversy became PM of this country. These are devasting crisis that happened after she became PM and am more concerned about the crisis than I am about Tony Abbott saying climate change is crap!

It is your prerogative to read it however you want but cut the name calling! That goes for all the others assuming that because I heard Gillard boldly declare to the world that she was a non believer she is to blame as the cause of all these crisis.

Is it how you play your political game????????? I don’t I speak facts!

As for playing the right to free speech card it wasn’t aimed at you but Expat, not unless you are alias Expat.

Barnyard Watcher thanks but no thanks I don’t need you patronizing me as I am very capable of holding my own.

Expat says:

04:38pm | 03/02/11

Nobody is assuming anything, Rosie. You are continually trying to use human tragedies to make political attacks.

Here are your exact words ...

“Has anyone noticed all the “firsts” that this country has encountered since the controversial Julia Gillard became our first atheist female PM, unwed living in a defacto relationship at the Lodge. First big floods where many lives were lost, now the most powerful of cyclones that will be recorded, first tragedy of asylum seekers killed 35 metres off Christmas Island because it wasn’t detected by our hi tech boarder security!”

And here are more of your exact words, and here’s the link to the Punch article where you made this comment ...

“I repeat Gillard has brought bad karma to this country! Before Christmas, the horrendous tragedy in Christmas Island and now floods and the big cricket loss to the Poms we are likely to face!”

Rosie says:

06:25pm | 03/02/11

Yes Expat “Bad karma”  meaning a power regarded as predetermining events unalterably because of the controversial way in which Gillard became PM of this country and not because I often describe her with the facts that she is an atheist etc!

I have always played along with all your innuendoes even going as far as being known as some kind of religious nut that if you a non believer, unwed and living in a defacto relationship you will be punished by God.

As I said to your mate Persephone, it is your preogative to read into what I post however you want but cut the name calling.

This is a blog for goodness sake and it is up to the moderator to publish or not to publish!

Honestly you guys are a waste of bloody energy and time when you start assuming stuff when we critize the govt of your backing. A govt that is going to be recorded in the history books as the worst Govt in Australia’s political history!

Oh by the way fake Julia is faking her voice again to sound sombre this time when talking about the first death this year of one of our brave soldiers fighting in Afghanastan for our country. I wish she would leave it to the Defence Minister, the sincere sounding Mr Stephen Smith.

Have a good evenning guys, no more to be said. Give it a rest!

Expat says:

07:25pm | 03/02/11

Nobody is assuming anything, Rosie. Your exact words are there for everyone to see.

If you continue to insult the families who lost loved ones in the floods and Christmas Island tragedies, and those who have suffered the destruction wrought by Cyclone Yasi, by claiming that those deaths and that destruction were caused by the Prime Minister becoming the Prime Minister, then people will see your behaviour for what it is.

If you continue to try to use human tragedies to make political attacks, then people will continue to see your behaviour for what it is.

Rosie says:

07:06am | 04/02/11

Expat

Oh dear, still at it! There is no way you or anyone else will convince me so we will just have to agree not to disagree.

Yes my exact words are there for everyone to see because of the controversial way she became PM. The woman is “bad karma” and therefore I do not respect her as my PM.

Assuming again that I am insulting families who lost loved ones in the human tragedies that unfortunately have occurred since she SNATCHED POWER from Kevin Rudd is playing the political game of trying to make me feel guilty. Sorry won’t buy it!

If Rudd remained PM or if she had waited just before the 2010 Elections and declared herself as contesting the Election as the new leader of the Labor Party we wouldn’t be having this discussion. The woman is impatient, insincere, unsrupulous, unprincipled, lacks integrity and is a big time faker!

I really think you should fly away maybe to where Yasi orginated, there is military rule and no one is allowed to fault Fiji’s PM.

Gillard should get lessons from Anna Bligh on how to be herself when she is talking to the people during these “human tragedies” I am going to read David Penberthy’s article; “No-bullshit Bligh sets a new standard for politicians” which I already agree to!

Expat says:

09:36am | 04/02/11

Nobody is assuming anything, Rosie, and nobody is trying to make you feel guilty.

If you choose to continue to insult the families who lost loved ones in the floods and Christmas Island tragedies, and those who have suffered the destruction wrought by Cyclone Yasi, by claiming that those deaths and that destruction were caused by the Prime Minister becoming the Prime Minister, then people will see your behaviour for what it is, and continue to respond accordingly.

Saint says:

10:40am | 02/02/11

Didn’t take long for the climate change loonies to surface did it.

Scarneck, this has absolutely nothing to do with climate change. February is cyclone season in FNQ, always has been, always will be. There have been significant cyclones in the area since records began.

The most likely reason for the severity of this one is the recent change from El Nino to La Nina which typically causes climatic disturbances including heavier rains and more severe storm activity.

If you would like to be better informed, you can find plenty of information at http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/climatology/trends.shtml

Concerned Citizen says:

10:41am | 02/02/11

Tony Abbot-Cyclone Yasi ? WTF? explain

Adam Diver says:

10:44am | 02/02/11

At least Chong could control himself on this thread at the very least, try to stay on topic.

Best wishes to all who are in the path. Please don’t take risks, its not worth it.

Jade says:

10:46am | 02/02/11

Aaah yes… climate change! bahahaha.  Its storm season Scarneck. This is what happens in storm season.

Gregg says:

10:50am | 02/02/11

Tony’s crap as you call it on Climate Change is all about just how much can humans contribute to change compared to nature’s cycles itself and whilst Yasi is huge, even having cyclones can kind of go in cycles.
Go and have a look at history of them recorded for barely 200 years here and who knows just what they have been like in the 20, 000 to 200,000 years back beyond two centuries.
Best you get a few more Scars other than from cutting yourself up over TA.

James says:

10:55am | 02/02/11

Sceptics, boy are you on the wrong side of history, you are like people who tried to convice others that smoking doesn’t cause cancer only grossly more irresponsible.  This will be your legacy.

ClimateRealist says:

11:02am | 02/02/11

F**k me! When will you believers in the doomsday cult of climate change get the message! Your scare campaign has been revealed for what it is, utter nonsense. Crawl back in your hole you waste of oxygen, or, better still, if you’re in FNQ, stand outside your house at, oh about 10pm tonight and do us all a favour.

Duff says:

11:09am | 02/02/11

@Scarneck - you must realise, nothing short of a 100 metre tidal wave racing through the streets of Sydney is ever going to convince your hardline climate change skeptic/denier that climate change is not a left-wing, communist conspiracy dreamt up by the evil climatologists of the world merely so they can perpetuate their research grants.  So save your breath (or typing finger).  It’s not about facts, science or even common sense anymore.  It’s now a political issue and god forbid anyone should ever give in to the other side on a political issue, despite the consequences that may reap for the rest of us.

Bruce The Goose says:

11:25am | 02/02/11

@Scarneck

Good for you TChong, this is not the time for cheap point scoring.

And to the people of NQ best of luck & try to keep safe.

Steely Dan says:

12:55pm | 02/02/11

@ Saint

“this has absolutely nothing to do with climate change. February is cyclone season in FNQ, always has been, always will be”
Yes, Saint, we know that there have been cyclones in the past.  But the long-term climate forecast is for cyclones to strengthen off Qld.  It’s true that we can’t say that we wouldn’t be getting a cyclone in a no-AGW scenario, but saying that climate change couldn’t be a contributing factor is naive.

BTW, the BOM is also one of those ‘climate change loonies’.

Freeman says:

01:03pm | 02/02/11

Duff,
Glad to see that you recognise that the arument concerning AGW is political and not scientific. but really, that became apparent early on when the same people telling us AGW was happening ruled out nuclear power or any other practicle means to reduce carbon emmissions and started pushing for their AGW money handling scheme.

Saint says:

01:37pm | 02/02/11

@Steely Dan - I wasn’t suggesting any such thing. The climate has changed as a result of the change from El Nino to La Nina and one of the consequences is a strengthening in storm activity.

This is a completely natural phenomenon that has been going on since records began and there is not a scintilla of evidence that emissisons produced by man have anything to do with this. To suggest that it does without any evidence is simply proposterous.

And the reason this is so important is because the climate change loonies jump on each and every one of these completely normal and natural occurences as evidence of our wicked wicked ways so that they can further their agenda of having us all revert back to living in caves.

And I quoted the BOM for the very reason that they are climate change loonies and even they can’t deny that this is just part of the natural climate cycle.

Steely Dan says:

02:09pm | 02/02/11

@ Saint

“I wasn’t suggesting any such thing. The climate has changed as a result of the change from El Nino to La Nina”
Nobody’s denying that, but that doesn’t mean that climate change is not a factor.  Just as a La Nina increases our chance of cyclones in Nth Qld, so does a warming planet. 

“there is not a scintilla of evidence that emissisons produced by man have anything to do with this. To suggest that it does without any evidence is simply proposterous.”
http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/people/holland/files/hw2007final.pdf
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2007/2006GL028905.shtml
I think it would be preposterous to rule out climate change’s role in cyclone/typhoon/etc frequency and intensity.

“the climate change loonies jump on each and every one of these completely normal and natural occurences”
I get annoyed when climate change and climate change alone gets blamed for every weather event too.  But that doesn’t change the fact that it is expected to play an increasing role in our weather systems.

“even they can’t deny that this is just part of the natural climate cycle.”
I’m not saying that we’d be free cyclone-free all season without climate change.  I’m saying it’s a contributing factor - just as the La Nina is.

Al Hore says:

02:17pm | 02/02/11

Global Heating up Syndrome is caused from excessive LSD and chanting Lenin’s,,Together united we will never be defeated,,

Saint says:

02:41pm | 02/02/11

@ Steely Dan - it’s so refreshing to have this kind of debate without the usual nastiness, appreciate it.

That being said, can’t agree with you. There is no EVIDENCE that a warming planet is a factor in storm activity. There are boundless theories and models etc, all completely discredited and dangerous.

And that danger is what worries me. You seem to be a reasonable person. You also seem to be happy to accept, without any evidence, that a warming planet causes, amongst other things, a greater number of more ferocious storms (sorry to paraphrase, just trying to keep posts short).

The problem with this is that it feeds the loonies who are adament that its our emmissions that are warming the planet and therefore causing the climate change and they use this mechanism to pursue their anti-human, anti-development, basically anti-everything agenda.

It is encumbant upon all reasonable people everywhere to hold these crazies to account and demand REAL evidence of their claims before they are allowed to do more damage than they already have.

And while we’re at it, to demand that they refrain from the despicable use of these terrible events to make political mileage and push their wacky agenda. Yes Greens, that means you. JUST. SHUT. UP.

Steely Dan says:

03:07pm | 02/02/11

@ Saint

“There is no EVIDENCE that a warming planet is a factor in storm activity. There are boundless theories and models etc, all completely discredited and dangerous.”
Did you look at the link, or dismiss it out of hand? 

“Yes Greens, that means you. JUST. SHUT. UP.”
That sounds like ‘usual nastiness’ to me.

Saint says:

03:37pm | 02/02/11

@Steely Dan - no, did look at them and they are very interesting… theories.

But my point was more the linking of a warming planet to these completely natural and normal events (which concerns me) and the subsequent linking with emmissions which is where those on the AGW gravy train always end up - with no evidence or proof that hasn’t been completely discredited.

As for my nastiness, you’re 100% correct, that was nasty. But when it comes to the Greens and their abominable and dangerous behaviour, you’ll have to forgive my spleen being vented. These people are dangerous and it’s way past time that the rest of us stopped putting up with it.

Steely Dan says:

03:55pm | 02/02/11

@ Saint

“no, did look at them and they are very interesting… theories.”
So is germ theory of disease, and evolution, but we don’t dismiss those theories out of hand.  What was your problem with their research?  The data collection method?  Their analysis?

Warren says:

06:14pm | 02/02/11

@ Saint. You dismiss climate change as “just a theory” the same way Mel Gibson dismisses evolution as “just a theory”. Exactly where do you obtain objective scientific information if not from peer reviewed scientific papers? The bible?

Please site your scientific sources that “prove” the evidence has been discredited as you claim. Andrew Bolt’s blog doesn’t count.

acotrel says:

05:52am | 03/02/11

Eventually Tony abbott will have to comment?

persephone says:

08:19am | 03/02/11

Saint

yes, and to further educate yourself, follow the link given on that page and you’ll find:

http://climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/documents/resources/TR_Web_Ch5iv.pdf

Which contains information such as this:

‘Similar to studies for other
basins, Australian region studies
indicate a likely increase in the
proportion of the tropical cyclones
in the more intense categories,’

Like Cat 5, I suppose.

‘There is substantial evidence from
theory and model experiments that
the large-scale environment in which
tropical cyclones form and evolve is
changing as a result of greenhouse
warming.’

“there is some evidence that regional
frequencies of tropical cyclones may
change but none that their locations
will change. There is also evidence
that the peak intensity may increase
by 5% to 10% and precipitation rates
may increase by 20% to 30%.’

It amuses me that you guys are quite willing to believe what meteorolgists tell you about the likely impact of this cyclone, but not what they tell you about climate change.

If you were logically consistent, you would be telling people in Queensland not to worry, because Cyclone Yasi is only a theory.

Aitch B says:

09:00am | 03/02/11

@Persephone

And yet we had Professor Jonathan Nott (Queensland cyclone expert) interviewed on Lateline last night:

TONY JONES: “Can you or other scientists make a link with climate change? You talk about the warming oceans.”

JONATHAN NOTT: “Yes, well, we know that as oceans warm, tropical cyclones will increase in intensity, but we really need to see some years of data and a change in the trend of cyclones before we can actually state that these tropical cyclones are being influenced by humans in that sense.”

“So no one single cyclone or season of cyclones can definitely be pinned down to human causes, however, we just don’t know. I mean, this is the type of thing that we expect to see as a result of global warming.”

“So, if this sort of activity continues on in the years ahead, we probably will be able to say that, but at the present time, we can’t be sure.”

MarK says:

09:42am | 03/02/11

Anyway saint when you are finished having a laugh at pers link try this one out.

http://listverse.com/2008/04/09/top-10-scientific-frauds-and-hoaxes/

It is fun too.

persephone says:

01:19pm | 03/02/11

Yes, MarK, because scientists laying out the facts about climate change are SO funny!

I mean, who do they think they are, with their years of study and their PhDs and their peer reviewed articles based on years of study?

Oh, how often have I ROFLMAO’d when reading a peer reviewed article, based on scientific evidence, which predicted increasingly severe weather events as a result of climate change! Knowing, as I did, that any Liberal troll here could demolisth these years of research after a quick scan of Bolta and that eminent self made scientist Lord Monckton.

Who needs all these scientific types slaving away in their laboratories when you can get closer to the truth by wetting your finger, putting it out the window, and guessing?

Yet when exactly the same scientists tell us that there’s a big cyclone on the way, based on exactly the same kind of theories, evidence and research, strangely enough we believe them.

MarK says:

01:47pm | 03/02/11

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Do you believe yourself pers?

Awesome rant.

Meanwhile back on planet earth it appears thongs are cooling off and the fact all these peer review articles you tell us out there predicting this stuff are not…errr mentioned, by the high priests of your cult.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/02/01/snow-job-gore-channels-liberal-columnist-as-proof-of-global-warming-fueled-blizzards/

And look at this

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2011/02/uah-update-for-january-2011-global-temperatures-in-freefall/

Wow looks like January is really cold and stuff.

You want to give us some peer reviewed articles showing us all this. Maybe cc Gore and that Japanese dude in on the links so they have some gravitas on the subject.

Better yet lets ask Flannery why we built so many desal plants if we can expect more rain. Wouldn’t it have better to build some damns to catch the rain that now is going to fall more often so we can protect against the droughts that are going to occur more often?

Hang on a second…..it is going to rain more while simultaneously there will be more droughts….ummmmmmm…..not sure what to do with that.

And of course the clincher for you is a cyclone happened in cyclone season. Yep that does it. Scientists. All those years hard at work measuring stuff. All that book learning. And they predict that.

Awesome.

Randal says:

02:12pm | 03/02/11

@ Perse, as I am always keen to improve my level of education I took up your challenge and read this report, and after finding this phrasing in section 5.9.1, I had to ask myself, did you actually read the report that you are quoting??

Let me give you an example;

5.9.1 Tropical Cyclones:

“... Projected changes in tropical cyclones are subject to the sources of uncertainty inherent in climate change projections… Consequently there is large uncertainty in the future change in tropical cyclone frequency projected by climate models…”

Or this little pearl of wisdom from the same report:

5.9.1 Tropical Cyclones cont’d:

“...Substantial disagreement remains between climate models concerning future changes in tropical cyclone intensity…”

You must have missed the fairly important bit about the climate models not being overly accurate in regards to future predictions of cyclonic activity in your haste to blame Yasi on global warming.

Seriously though Perse, what is it with you warmists that causes you to mislead and exaggerate at every turn, is it little wonder with the constant alarmist rubbish that you lot put out there that you are losing the argument.

As for you @Scarneck I am certain that Tony would say that ‘climate change’ is very real, just that it is driven more by natural forcing factors rather than man, just as we have recently witnessed with the effects of the ENSO patterns that drive our weather on this continent, causing floods and cyclones from its current La Nina cycle.

Want some evidence of this, then consider that the last time we saw a La Nina of this size was in 1974, and what do you think happened that year, Brisbane was inundated by century record flood and Darwin was leveled by Cyclone Tracy…  Of course no mention of plant food being the cause in those days, as our illustrious scientists were too busy warning the world about another climate catastrophe, ‘Global Freezing’, which as all the rage in the 70’s.

The reality is that the extremity in weather that we have seen over past few months is part of a natural cycle of the earth, and only the arrogant, the naive, or the stupid would dream of suggesting that man has any affect upon the ENSO cycle of La Nina and El Nino.

Freeman says:

01:24pm | 02/02/11

scary,
Hopefully all those in the low lying areas will evacuate in time for the 5m surge on the coast. just looking at all the little towns this cyclone will cross. (I heard it will retain cyclone strenght winds all the way to the NT border?) there will be many people in remote areas affected.

Tony of Poorakistan says:

01:05pm | 02/02/11

Anything is better than that news.com.au website. javascript errors, third party artefacts and icons that take forever to resolve, preloaded videos (ditto). It is a shocker.  I’ve loaded content quicker from websites hosted on someone’s 386 in Valparaiso than news.com.au,  bits of which are hosted 10Kms away.

If you want up to date news on cyclones, http://www.usno.navy.mil/JTWC/

Elphaba says:

10:56am | 02/02/11

Tell me about it.  I’ve got family in Cairns.

It’s not a good day today.

Jade says:

11:15am | 02/02/11

Hope they stay safe!!!

Bilby says:

11:23am | 02/02/11

+1 for family in Townsville. It’s a tad hard to concentrate on work today.

Jade says:

11:50am | 02/02/11

Yeah I have friends and family in and around Carins and all down the coast!!! Very very hard to concentrate… every time you hear them say the storm is getting worse makes me cringe! :(  I hope everyone is as ready as they can be!

fairsfair says:

10:43am | 07/02/11

Hey Jim, thanks for the thoughts. I hope your kids and their mum were ok. We evacuated to Mackay and then ended up stranded in Townsville for a couple of days. It is far worse off than Cairns so I hope all is good. Even though I wasn’t in it, Yasi has been the worst experience of my life. The media panic that went on on Cairns prior to the event was extreme and quite frightening (hence the mass exodus). Being stuck on a flood affected National Highway just rubbed salt into the wounds. But I am a live and I had a house to come back to so all is good for my fair city.

Never unionised says:

07:24pm | 02/02/11

@nos Do you answer everything with Labor media releases and propaganda,Yes,Paid up techoncrat

nossy says:

09:07pm | 02/02/11

@Never unionised - paid up wealthy and handsome self funded retiree you mean fella !  I do lack a bit of confidence though my man !hahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Never Un says:

11:33am | 03/02/11

@ nose,Your lack of confidence it would seems come from a poor upbringing and lack of a male peer,wealth and other obviously as per the rest of your posts

iansand says:

11:20am | 02/02/11

The conversion from knots to km as a very rough rule of thumb is doubling.  Imaging something 3 times stronger.

James says:

11:23am | 02/02/11

Look Jim i sympathise with anyone directly or indirectly affected by this cyclone but I think it would be irresponsible to point out the overwhelming scientific concensus that says, on the evidence, this can be expected to happen more frequently and with greater severity. 

Do you want other people to be caught totally unprepared by disasters like this?

Jade says:

11:51am | 02/02/11

Of course it will james, since we are going into a La nina weather pattern. There will be a lot more rain for the next 7 years.  There is science for you   Climate change is a load of rubbish.

Jim says:

11:52am | 02/02/11

James - not the time or place for your argument. Park it till Friday.

James says:

12:29pm | 02/02/11

Jim, I strongly dissagree, this is precicely the time to have this argument because it very sharply focuses people’s mind on the choice they are making regarding greenhouse gas emissions, not to make the arguement would be gross negligence because as bad as Yasi might be, it only get worse from here and people need to know that.

Jim says:

12:43pm | 02/02/11

James…are you emotionally deficient at all? MY focus is on my 3 kids caught in Townsville, helping their mother tape up the windows, lifting everything onto tables and hoping they have enough food to last if/when the power goes out.

Keep your agenda for another day, clown. It is most definately NOT the time.

Steely Dan says:

12:59pm | 02/02/11

@ Jim

“James…are you emotionally deficient at all? MY focus is on my 3 kids caught in Townsville…”
Then stop surfing the internet to see what people think of the cyclone!  Why are you wasting your time telling people not to talk about it?  How is that going to help the situation?

Angry God says:

01:02pm | 02/02/11

OK James, This storm is occuring during a La Nina Pattern, 1974 had Cyclone Tracy and the last major Brisbane floods. Can you expect anyone to not comprehend that your arguement bulldust because in 1974 the Scientific convention was heading towards an Iceage. I believe that the cyclic conventions of the pacific are having more impact than mans emmisions.

That you IDIOTS claim that every event is due to climate change highlights your myopic moronic mendacity and ignores that the climate has always had a range of natural variability that shows in cycles and causes a range of changes from periods of drought to periods of less stability.

As I am in the cyclones path, I know that North Queensland has had storms before and we will have them again. A cyclone of this size has occured before in the late 1800’s, what caused that one. That you demand time to discuss this, highlights that you and all the other vampires who use AGW to waste money on Conferences (what cannot use a Skype link “sorry no, got to go to Cancun for a month”) and tell me that my small car is killing the environment whilst Al Gore fly’s to Paris for his lunch.

You have not got a majority of scientists, you know this is a Lie. The majority of scientists know that AGW is a scam that has deminished science and is a valid a theory as psychic spoon bending.

The funny thing is that your group always predicts the weather for 2100, you patently ignore that every model fails, you just continue to claim that in 90 years we will be 3 degrees warmer. So you beleive that this 0.3 degree change that has not occurred so far is to blame for this, and yet demand we even think of listening to your crackpot theory that is not supported by any real science. (Real science, proveable, repeatable).

Your lot predicted more Cyclones last year, and they did not occur. This year they reacon that we will encounter 6 on mainland Australia. The definition of a cyclone in Australia is made easier by the use of the BOM’s definition of a cyclone being way lower than the international standard.

The Greens are not for the Science, they are for stalinistic control of the masses, so they (as our betters) can live long and prosper off the plebians hard work. Well, I want to live long and prosper off my hard work, and I suggest that if you want to have more at the end of your life, that you go and get a real job and stop living off my taxes.

Steely Dan says:

01:43pm | 02/02/11

@ Angry God

“I believe that the cyclic conventions of the pacific are having more impact than mans emmisions.”
But The Man is stopping you from publishing your research in a scientific journal, right?

“That you IDIOTS claim that every event is due to climate change highlights your myopic moronic mendacity”
And that statement reveals your preference for straw men and alliteration.  Climatologists are not saying that if it wasn’t for global warming we would never have cyclones again.  They are not denying that natural patterns exist, as much as that position would be more convenient for you to attack.

“You have not got a majority of scientists, you know this is a Lie.”
I’m afraid a cursory glance over the peer-reviewed literature reveals that to be completely false.  I’m afraid you have to choose between accepting the scientific consensus or contending that it’s a conspiracy. 

“Your lot predicted more Cyclones last year”
Who is my ‘lot’?  Are you talking about a respected climatologist or a hippy you met at a bongo workshop?

“The definition of a cyclone in Australia is made easier by the use of the BOM’s definition of a cyclone being way lower than the international standard.”
Are you saying they’ve lowered the standard recently to inflate cyclone numbers?

“The Greens are not for the Science, they are for stalinistic control of the masses”
Stalinistic control of the masses.  Right.

James says:

02:46pm | 02/02/11

@Angry God, you will have the rest of your life to regret your stupid statements.

Angry God of Townsville says:

03:27pm | 02/02/11

And James, you will have the rest of your life to learn a little bit more. Regret requires the act to require remorse, no remorse, no regret.As for Steely Dan, To busy working to support the dole bludgers and hippy idiots to attend one of your workshops.

You can compare the BOM definitions and requirements for Cyclones against the international benchmark. The BOM is lower for the declaration of Cat1 and Cat2 with the majority of the world declaring these as Tropical Storms or Severe tropical storms. On reaching Cat3 you will then see the declarations of cyclones. I have not made this up, so why did the BOM change this and when??

As for the impacts of El Nino and La Nina, several publically available and supported papers have been produced highlighting the impacts on weather in the pacific. So why should I ignore well researched information that more closely tallies with current and previous events to follow a hypothesis that gets more revisions than ALP history books.

Reg says:

03:31pm | 02/02/11

Having experienced lots of cyclones and even the transit of the eye, I have a rule of thumb based on experience. Every core pressure point up or down from 960 means a vast change in severity. 960 is survivable with difficulty. The weather channel calls this one as 922 while various weather stations call 940. Either is VERY bad.

Experience also tells me that cyclones have a knack of deviating from a straight line as they approach the coast. As a side effect, no doubt associated with this gigantic disruption to the surface energy, Northern Sydney had a temperature of 33 degrees at 2am this morning and it was still 32.6 at 3am.

Steely Dan says:

03:51pm | 02/02/11

@ Angry God

“As for Steely Dan, To busy working to support the dole bludgers and hippy idiots to attend one of your workshops.”
Boom-tish.  But seriously, who was predicting lots of climate-change-caused cyclones last year?

“You can compare the BOM definitions and requirements for Cyclones against the international benchmark.”
I know.  They’re not trying to hide it.  Their cyclone FAQ page spells out how they deviate from the commonly-used Saffir-Simpson scale.  But that doesn’t mean anything.  It’s only a problem if they changed it to make it look like more cyclones were coming.

“I have not made this up, so why did the BOM change this and when??”
So you don’t know when they changed it.  Do we even know if they ever used the Saffir-Simpson at all?  How is the fact that they don’t use it suspicious?

“As for the impacts of El Nino and La Nina, several publically available and supported papers have been produced highlighting the impacts on weather in the pacific.”
Yes, we know.  And…?

“So why should I ignore well researched information…”
Why would I ask you to?  There’s no conflict between the existence of the SOI cycle and acceptance of climate change.

Ryan says:

09:01pm | 02/02/11

@Steely Dan: look just drop it, your little religion has been thouroghly debunked, I would have thought you people would be embarassed by being sucked in to such a joke. Seriously man, one of your biggest AGW people (Tim Flannery) was just not a few years predicting eternal drought in Australia, the stupid governments bought it “hook line and sinker” and blew billions of our hard earned tax dollars on desalination plants. Give it up man, you already look like a bunch of idiots with the tin foil on the head “the sky is falling, the sky is falling”.

Steely Dan says:

10:43pm | 02/02/11

@ Ryan

Don’t contribute to a debate of the science at all, Ryan, please.  Just keep doing what you’re doing.  You’re a true inspiration to us all.

Gregg says:

11:34am | 02/02/11

Thinking of you SM from a bit further away.
Unfortunately, now a Cat 3 and looks as though about Innisfail may cop it again or Ingham and tracking a bit further south.
Can you not still get in the car and hightail it down to about Mackay?
Best Wishes

Reg says:

04:06pm | 02/02/11

Too late to go anywhere SM. Just make sure the side of the house away from the wind has some open windows so that any air leaks from the windward side don’t inflate the house and help blow the roof off. Keep cool and be safe.  The toilet might have best bracing. Just put the lid down and have laugh if in blows back all over you.

Reverse the open windows if the centre passes over you but stay inside.

Angry God of Townsville says:

01:15pm | 02/02/11

Come visit sometime, you will be surprised on what a great little city we have up here.

But please do not stay, to many of us former southerners up here, who know that 25 degree winters make Townsville a real nice place to live.

Kika of Brisbane says:

04:37pm | 02/02/11

Townsville is a great little city. I reckon it’s more advanced than Brisbane in a lot of ways. Don’t knock it!

The Badger says:

12:51pm | 02/02/11

This really puts it into perspective.
Live updates from outer space of this fragile planet.

http://tinyurl.com/6zpp3ed

Ripa says:

02:18pm | 02/02/11

Dear god that things almost the size of the whole QLD state!
Good luck guys.

Zeta says:

12:28pm | 02/02/11

We will decide which cyclones come to Australia and the circumstances in which we come here!

Elphaba says:

12:30pm | 02/02/11

Oh man, I didn’t want to laugh at this, but I couldn’t help it.

Thanks for the giggle.

At Work says:

12:40pm | 02/02/11

That’s exactly right, Thomas.

After all, how else are they going to pay for their cyclone-making machine they’ve used to create the storm?

*facepalm*

Somebody put the trolls into the middle of Cairns for me?

The Badger says:

12:53pm | 02/02/11

Good reply Zeta

Take the opportunity when it presents itself.

Angry God of Townsville says:

03:31pm | 02/02/11

Snarky crap like this is what separates decent people from labor/green voters.

Reg says:

04:23pm | 02/02/11

Gold Mary Monica.

How delicious that you anger the snarky right-wing God of Townsville.

Reg says:

09:31pm | 02/02/11

This is not the first category five but I still wouldn’t mind a bit each way that it’s a fizzer. 280 kmh? I’ll cock my bum at the fountain if that bears any resemblance to actually. Storm surges not included.

Reg says:

07:29am | 03/02/11

Where were you?  Sissy!

Warren says:

07:08pm | 02/02/11

@Peter. Climate change scientists do not make cause and effect predictions about specific events. There is simply no way of knowing whether a particular event was caused by man made climate change or not, whatever the greenies say. What the modelling shows however, is that the chances of particular events occurring is increased, and that the events are more likely to be more intense, measured over a long time period (decades).

I would safely ignore the greenies, but to ignore the majority of the scientists would be foolish. The problem as has already been mentioned is not the science, but rather the politics and practicalities of how to manage this problem which are difficult, contradictory, potentially expensive and complex.

Reg says:

07:35am | 03/02/11

I do hope you’re pronouncing that properly. As in - care. You cannot say Cairns correctly without SMILING.  Please practice it and then spread the word. The Mayor can leave the money on the fridge. Thank you!

Mal says:

07:42am | 03/02/11

Tony is probably waiting for the next great announcement about another scheme which the government can stuff up.  Lets go Joolia, lets go Swanny.  Two more incompetent dribblers you could not meet.  Lets put optic fibre in the ground when the USA is going wireless.  Lets hand out money to people who don’t need it and then exempt them from the levy.  You just keep pushing that heavy barrow up the hill.

Reg says:

02:43pm | 03/02/11

Pete I called it last night at about 10pm. Go look. A big cyclone has to spread it’s energy over a very large area, it’s the little rippers you’ve got to watch. Even predictions of SEVEN metre surges had to be exaggeration. I’ve seen twelve metre waves clear the top of the sailing club in Yeppoon but they crashed straight down on the other side.. All pitch and no velocity.

Warnings of danger should be done discretely such as the Weather Bureau does, not like the Weather Channel did with frantic escalation to near panic point.

nossy says:

11:31am | 03/02/11

@Simon - and yet Simon despite your comments we here in QLD believe she has shown top class leadership during the floods and now the cyclone. So much so in fact she is a shoe in now to win the next election fella !  hahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

simon says:

01:09pm | 03/02/11

Good onya nossy, you can put up with her then. At the end of the day she is still the same corrupt, lying politician she was before these incidents. I would be careful saying she is a shoe in at the next election, there is a fair bit of water to pass under the bridge yet!!!

Lennie Guilbeaux says:

10:06pm | 03/02/11

Oh Simon, it appears you have been drinking from the cup of bile that your beloved leader Tony Baloney has. Whatever her political failings, the Queensland Premier has stood up as an excellent commander in chief during both recent crises. Ask some of the conservative mayors around Queensland their opinion of the way she has done her job and you will learn something.