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Some Eye Candy June 8, 2007

Posted by spacemom in : Kids , 8 comments

We can’t always be serious around here!
My girls!
My girls Part 2!

A moment on global climate change June 8, 2007

Posted by spacemom in : Current Affairs, Science , 3 comments

May 30, 2007:
On NPR, Michael Griffin, head of NASA had the following to say about global warming.

MR. GRIFFIN: I have no doubt that global — that a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a
problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to
assume that the state of earth’s climate today is the optimal climate,
the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need
to take steps to make sure that it doesn’t change. First of all, I
don’t think it’s within the power of human beings to assure that the
climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown,
and second of all, I guess I would ask which human beings - where and
when - are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this
particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the
best climate for all other human beings. I think that’s a rather
arrogant position for people to take.

Bastard!
First, it is what many consider “Global climate change”. It’s not just
a warming of the planet, but major climatic changes across the
planet. We are threatening species, both flora and fauna with this
change.

Second, I take offense to the following part of the quote:

“First of all, I don’t think it’s within the power of human beings to
assure that the climate does not change, as millions of years of
history have shown, and second of all, I guess I would ask which human
beings - where and when - are to be accorded the privilege of deciding
that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the
best climate for all other human beings.”

Yes, climate changes. We know this. Start with some basics: the
inclination of the earth changes in a cyclic pattern. The eccentricity
of the earth’s orbit changes in a cyclic pattern. The sun has a solar
cycle that changes the amount of energy that is released into space
and hence towards earth. However, let’s look at the TIME SCALES we are
discussing:

Links: Ask a scientist
Axial Tilt of the Earth
The inclination of the Earth: Right now we are at around 23.5 degrees
of inclination to normal. With precession and the tilt changes, we can
actually get the inclination of the earth up to over 24 degrees.
Stop for a minute and think about that. The tropics will
EXPAND and be warmer during those periods. The Earth will warm up. We
are in a low inclination right now. How about the time scale? About
44,000 YEARS.

Link: Orbit of the Earth
The Earth orbits the sun in an ELLIPSE, not a circle. This ellipse
changes in time, about a 21,000 year cycle. The above link describes the
effects on climate much better than I could.

For those who don’t know, the Sun is a star. An active, evolving
star. It doesn’t just sit up in the sky, passive. It is a violent body
and it too undergoes cycles of change. Right now, we are gearing up
for something called “Solar Max”. Every 11 years, (22 if you count the
magnetic orientation of the sunspots), the Sun goes through a cycle of
sunspots. Starting somewhere in the 1200s up to the 1700s, there was a
“Little Ice Age” in the Northern Hemisphere. It
coincides with a period of low solar activity. This is known as the
“Maunder Minimum”. During this time, many people starved due to low
crop production and the economic ruin that followed. See here

Here is of the reconstructed temperatures for the last 1000 years.
Please refer to the wiki page for more details.
You will notice the RAPID increase during the last 70
years. This is the significant issue. We KNOW that greenhouse gases
make a different to our climate. That’s why we call them Greenhouse
gases.
Can you see the start of the run up coincides with the massive
production that the United States started during WWII? Remember that
from history? We got out of the Great Depression from the War. We
started really producing items and then world production took off
after the war.

Take the time to read this article on the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change.

Climate on Earth can not be stable. It is not that easy. There are
numerous factors changing that. However, Earth is and has always been
in a delicate balance. Too much rain, we can’t grow the food we need
to survive. Too much sun, the same thing can happen. Too cold? We will
need fuel or movement to warmer locales to survive.

It is not that today is the “best climate for all human beings”. It is
that we are seeing a trend of damage to the climate that will take it
out of the safe envelope for humans to survive on Earth. Things are
not as simple as we cut out greenhouse
gas, the climate is stable. However, I find it “arrogant” (to use Mr. Griffin’s
words) to see a trend, see a possible cause, see impending damage
to other species and to do nothing about it.

Yes, there are some scientists who argue that the climate change is
not really caused by human actions. I respectfully disagree with
them. I believe a major contributor the the climate changes we are
experiencing IS human actions. And it is for US, the humans, to
make changes to deal with this.

Ahem, now off my soap box for today….

The little things June 7, 2007

Posted by spacemom in : Kids, Depression, Go Team Go Team Go Team , 1 comment so far

The greatest part of the trip to Hawai’i was the little things.


I want to offer a loud Congratulations to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim! You’ve won the Stanley Cup and you deserved it!

Jay’s crohn’s has taken a turn for the worse. It started in Hawai’i and it has gotten worse everyday. I am hoping that it is because we’ve been 8 weeks since his last infusion of medicine. His next one is Monday. To see him double over with cramps after eating is so hard. I hate this disease.

A friend recently asked “What have you done for yourself lately?”
Many friends responded. They had great plans and situations, a spa weekend, time off, things like that.
Me? Not so much.
The trip was fun, but with a few exceptions, it was almost 24/7 with the kids (my parents are good with the kids, but they would rather watch the kids with us, not alone). I am trying to line up a babysitter for next weekend. It’s our 10th anniversary and I want to at least go out.

How Cute is THIS? June 6, 2007

Posted by spacemom in : Life...otherwise , 3 comments

Half-pocket

I got my MacBook 13 in yesterday for work. My Dell Brick has just about died. So I bought this cute little bag this morning. Is this CUTE or what? I can’t wait to get it instead of my dorky Astronomical Data Systems Meeting bag….

Protected: Family: Can’t live with them… June 6, 2007

Posted by spacemom in : In A Family Way , Enter your password to view comments

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Climb! June 5, 2007

Posted by spacemom in : Life...otherwise, Seeing the World Through Astronomy , 2 comments

Tuesday was a busy day here in Oahu. The morning started with a hike up Diamond Head Crater. The original plan was to not take my parents,but they decided to come. The hike has 100 stairs at the end, and very uphill trails. My dad suffered a minor stroke a few years ago that took out his hearing in one ear and his balance. Some parts of the trail were too rough for Dad, so he and Mom went back.

But the girls did it. Soleil did the whole thing without help and Luna needed some carrying at times.
As a treat, (and for hydration), some shave ice at the bottom. That really got the girls excited…

Then, swimming in the ocean, in the pool, watching Hawaiian Dancers and finally, Jay and I got out for a well deserved night off…
Sigh….

Soleil and Luna (with Dad's hat) climbing up Diamond Head Soleil and Luna (with Dad’s hat) climbing up Diamond Head

Home June 4, 2007

Posted by spacemom in : Seeing the World Through Astronomy , 4 comments

But our luggage isn’t…..yet

Sigh