Arkansas Blog: How hot is it?

Two degrees hotter than average in Little Rock and Fort Smith in 2006, says the Sierra Club and U.S. PIRG, drawing on a national report available here.

Global warming is upon us, in other words.

On the other hand, hasn't the weather been pleasant this week?

Sierra Club news release on the jump.

SIERRA CLUB NEWS RELEASE

The average temperature in both Little Rock and Fort Smith was about 2°F above average in 2006, according to a new report released today by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG). In the report, entitled Feeling The Heat: Global Warming and Rising Temperatures In the United States, U.S. PIRG said this warmer-than-normal weather is indicative of what Arkansas can expect with continued global warming.

“Throw out the record books, because global warming is raising temperatures in Arkansas and across the country,” said Glen Hooks, Associate Regional Representative for the Sierra Club. “The long-term forecast is for more of the same unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution from power plants and passenger vehicles,” continued Hooks

According to the National Climatic Data Center, the 2006 summer and 2006 overall were the second warmest on record for the lower 48 states. 2007 is on track to be the second warmest year on record globally.

To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, U.S. PIRG compared temperature data for the years 2000-2006 from 255 weather stations located in all 50 states and Washington, DC with temperatures averaged over the 30 years spanning 1971-2000, or what scientists call the “normal” temperature.

Key findings for Arkansas include:

• Over the course of 2006, Little Rock experienced 90 days where the temperature hit at least 90°F, which is 18 days more than the historical average. Fort Smith experienced 91 days where the temperature hit at least 90°F, which is 19 days more than the historical average. Heat waves have serious implications for human health, causing heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and even death.

• In 2006, Little Rock experienced average maximum temperatures — the highest temperatures recorded on a given day — of 2.6°F above normal, and Fort Smith experienced average maximum temperatures of 3.8°F above normal. During the summer, average maximum temperatures were 1°F above normal for Little Rock and 1.6°F above normal for Fort Smith.

• In 2006, the average temperature was 2°F above normal in Little Rock (Adams Field) and 2.1°F above normal in Fort Smith (Fort Smith Municipal Airport). Nationally, the average 2006 temperature was at least 0.5°F above normal at 87% of the locations studied.

In April 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that North America could experience significant water stress, forest fires, and “an increased number, intensity, and duration of heat waves” as temperatures continue to rise.

“Scientists are sounding alarm bells about the impacts of continued global warming,” stated Hooks “The good news is that those same scientists say we can avoid the worst effects of global warming by taking bold action now to reduce global warming pollution,” continued Hooks

To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, the United States must halt increases in global warming emissions now, cut emissions by at least 15-20% by 2020, and slash emissions by at least 80% by 2050.

“The better news is that we have the technology at our fingertips to cut global warming pollution and forge a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Hooks.

The United States could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants, businesses, homes, and cars more efficient and generate more electricity from clean, renewable sources, such as wind and solar power.

Comments

As someone who believes that global warming is real, I think the Sierra Club has picked the wrong time to blather on about it, in the middle of our coolest summer in a long time.

Posted by: mm | July 24, 2007 11:34 AM

Anyone remember the year in which Central Arkansas summer temps were over 100 in the days and over 90 at nights for two whole months? 1981 or 1982? Who was blowing the hot air then?

Posted by: ses | July 24, 2007 11:53 AM

Several high executives of OG&E have been treated for depression lately due to worry over loss of revenue caused by our unseasonably cool summer here in the Fort.

Why, it's been cool enough for me to spend time in the attic looking over my box of Y2K preparations.

Posted by: Deathbyinches | July 24, 2007 12:41 PM

The summer of 1980 was the hot one. I remember something like 40 days in a row over 100. I lived in Conway at the time, and the one water source, Lake Beaverfork was pumped into nearby Cadron Creek where the water intake was. Unfortunately, just above the intake a farmer was growing rice and pumping that water onto his flooded fields. Conway had to resort to using Arkansas River water which was brown and salty and loaded with chlorine. Nothing like enduring 100 degree weather and having salt water to drink. Seems like there was no rain at all from June till about October or November.

One point to make about Global Warming is that there will always be fluxuations in temps. The true test is the average temperature over a period of time. This is what melts the icecaps, and raises the sea level.

ARK. BLOG: 1980. Worst summer ever. Older folks dropping like flies. Temp around 100 at midnight. Lows in the 80s. No rain. A new baby at my house. We didn't think it would ever break and it was well into September before relief truly came.

Posted by: pollen | July 24, 2007 12:58 PM

Never rained in Searcy during that 60 day period. Thousands of big oak trees in White County died during that summer. Arkansas agriculture state wide was a disaster.

Posted by: ses | July 24, 2007 01:15 PM

"One point to make about Global Warming is that there will always be fluxuations in temps. The true test is the average temperature over a period of time. This is what melts the icecaps, and raises the sea level."

True enough. That's what I believe to be a strength of this report. It doesn't just look at some random year. It compares average temperatures at 255 weater stations over a 30 yr period (1971-2000) to the data fro 2006 (latest available data).

The conclusions: it's getting measurably hotter. We can do some things to reverse this trend, but we do need to take action now.

Individually, we can reduce our carbon footprint by recycling, driving less, and using less electricity in our homes.

As a state and a nation, we can raise car mileage requirements, invest in clean/renewable energy, and turn away from dirty, polluting sources of energy like coal. There are several bills before Congress right now that address these very issues. I encourage you to ask your Congressperson to support them.

For more information on how you can help combat global warming, check out http://sierraclub.org/twopercent/

Posted by: Lorax | July 24, 2007 01:28 PM

"Individually, we can reduce our carbon footprint by recycling, driving less, and using less electricity in our homes"

True enough we all need to reduce what we add. There are things being done that don't get a lot of press from the Global Warming folks. One is the emission ratings on big trucks have been cut drastically over the last several years. There were major cuts on the 07 models and there will be more in 2010. There is a price to be paid by the owner of the truck, 07's cost 5-7.5K more than 06 models, have less horsepower and get worse fuel economy. But it is good for the air we breathe and I am in support of it and things that make sense.

But Global Warming is a theory, just like Global Cooling was a theory in the 70's. It is an activist theory that people with out a purpose (Gore) can build a platform for people to listen to. We need to do better in taking care of what we have and not worry so much about the sky falling.

Posted by: DraftinHog | July 24, 2007 02:24 PM

Hey Max,
you posted a hyperlink
that is causing the page
a serious overflow problem.

ARK. BLOG: Not for me, but I'll check.
-

Posted by: Lwood | July 24, 2007 02:48 PM

I was a flagman on a road paving crew during the summer of '80. We

I was the new guy, so I got to stand at the back on the freshly laid hot asphalt.

We paved highway 7 from the deer junction south to the newton county line. We stayed at Fairview campground. No water and no electricity, so we took our baths in Richland creek.

I owe my life to some friends I made. After I stopped them, I'd stick my head in the car window and absolutely chug the cold beer they handed me.

Posted by: Love Hillary, or Leave | July 24, 2007 03:46 PM

............YEDOMA.............

Yedoma is the permafrost layer in arctic areas. It is gradually melting and the results have been described as a Time Bomb. As temperatures gradually increase the carbon gases trapped in or held in by yedoma will be released at an increasing rate. There are no self-limiting factors in this phenomenon. The carbon lying below the yedoma is mostly methane, 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. It is being released 5x faster than thought and may release 100x more carbon per year than burning of fossil fuels.
Nature magazine, Sept 7 2006.

Posted by: Lwood | July 24, 2007 07:41 PM

Arkansas Blog

How hot is it?

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