Global warming: A Russian study

In my previous post, Global warming: Liberals dispute Russian scientists, I responded to a commenter who claimed that an article disputing global warming by the respected Russian scientist Dr. Sorokhtin was a hoax.

Among the complaints was that the commenter had been unable to find information about another scientist, Dr. Habibullo Abdussamatov, or his research cited in the article.

As I pointed out, the commenter clearly didn’t know what he was talking about, as I was able to track down Dr. Abdussamatov quite easily. Now, Dr. Abdussamatov has replied to my e-mail and sent me links to the paper in question:

English translation

Russian version

In a nutshell, his study cites a 200-year cycle of solar energy output which he believes accounts for much of global warming. This cycle is currently winding down, and Abdussamatov predicts global temperatures will decrease in coming years, bottoming out sometime in the middle of the 21st century.

Note that this paper was written in 2005 and it includes the statement (translated, which is why the wording may sound strange), “If in 2008-2010 cessation of the global warming continues, this will provide indisputable evidence in favor of assertion that the Sun cannot warm the Earth as before, and the anthropogenic global warming is a Great Myth.” Here we are now in 2008, temperatures have been flat for 10 years, and British scientists are predicting 2008 will be the coldest year since 2000.

The hallmark of real science is the accuracy of its predictions. We still have to wait awhile to see if Dr. Abdussamatov’s prediction bears out, but at this moment, actual temperatures look to be in line with his theory. It will be interesting to find out the ultimate results.

Big Brother alert: Smart thermostats, dumb bureaucrats

The California Energy Commission, after being caught trying to slip through a plan to control the state’s thermostats by remote control, has decided to make its plan “voluntary.”

In case you missed it, the commission will be voting next month on a plan to require new homes and other buildings, along with buildings that undergo “significant” (read “any”) remodeling of temperature systems, to install remote-controlled thermostats so that bureaucrats in some remote utility office can decide to shut off your heat or air-conditioning whenever there’s a “power emergency.”

In other words, when bureaucrats’ poor planning threatens to result in blackouts or brownouts, or when the utility needs to save money, they can reset the temperature in your house or office whether you want them to or not. It’s only the recent public outcry over this plan that convinced the commission last week to make this program “voluntary,” which is governmentspeak for “it will be mandatory as soon as we feel voters are distracted.”

The thermostat proposal is part of a larger strategy that includes new power meters in homes that will tell you how much you’re spending at any given moment, and coincidentally lay the groundwork for further remote control of your home environment.

Here’s a prediction: If this thermostat regulation passes, look for it to first become involuntary, followed closely by the requirement for remote-controlled washers, dryers, refrigerators and other appliances. At no point will anyone in California’s government make a serious effort to simply build new powerplants and make sure we have enough electricity.

Once again, “environmentalism” is being used as a cover to slowly strip away our liberties and quality of life. This proposal should be opposed by voters and any responsible elected officials, and the CEC itself bears close watching.

See the S.F. Chronicle article.