asipocz’s Recent Comments

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Soward Address

  I don't believe so, neither were the press present.  It was an astounding pronouncement.  We'll have to see what happens when the agency he heads reviews the dozen or so coal-fired power plants that TXU wants to build.

  Andrew Sipocz

  On Another silly debate around the IPCC report posted 2 years, 9 months ago 10 Responses

• Click here to view comment in original post

  Hurricanes and the Commissioner's view of AGW

  I attended the biennial Galveston Bay conference last week and saw a great presentation by one of your collegues, Jennifer Irish.  Basically it floored everyone.  The gist was that hurricane intensity (max. sustained winds) maybe a poor way of gaging storm strength and subsequent damage.  Rather, storm size (distance from eye to area of max. winds) and wind speed are a better indicator of storm surge (the most damaging aspect of the storm) height.  Katrina and Rita, a category 3 and barely a 2, were very large, intense storms, fueled by passage over warm loop currents in the Gulf, which radically dropped in wind speed during eye wall replacement cycles and increasing shear.  Turns out the drops in wind speed did little to reduce their storm surge and destruction.  I think when the NOAA and AMS folks state that AGW's effect on storm intensity is unknown, they are doing so knowing that max. wind speed is a tricky thing to predict and isn't essentially tied to sea surface temps.  However, it turns out that AGW caused increases in storm size and subsequent damage maybe more easy to predict using sea surface temp changes.  More work needs to be done investigating how AGW will effect Gulf loop currents, etc.  Any thoughts?

  Lastly, Larry Soward, the commissioner of the Texas Council on Environmental Quality (our air and water quality agency) and the govenor's former chief of staff, gave the closing address.  Started out normal, great job everyone etc., and then suddenly it seemed like he dropped his notes and went on a tear about how there is no downside to the reduction of green house gases.  He discussed the adverse effects of climate change and rising seas on Texas very eloquently.  The conference gave him a spontaneous standing ovation.  Afterwards I learned it was the first time he gave this address.  This is the agency that will have to approve new coal fired power plants in Texas.

  Andrew Sipocz

  On Another silly debate around the IPCC report posted 2 years, 9 months ago 10 Responses