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Another Broken Record

-- Jessie -- 02/16/2007

We're on a two-month record breaking streak.  This article from the Associated Press writes "it may be cold comfort during a frigid February, but last month was by far the hottest January ever"-and that's supposed to make us feel good?  According to the US National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., January's record, last set in 2002, was broken this year by .81 degrees, which is  a lot considering most records are typically only broken by hundredths of a degree.  While this was an overall worldwide warming, it was mostly the northern latitudes that influenced such a significant rise in temperature.  In fact, Siberia was on average 9 degrees warmer than usual while Canada was about 5 degrees above the average.  Overall the US was "about normal," although we all know a 70 degree January day is far from typical in New England.

Despite these warming trends and recent studies like the IPCC report, Sen. James Inhofe, longtime global warming skeptic, is still speaking out against what he considers to be a global "hoax."  And he's found himself an ally.  Recently Inhofe has praised and congratulated Czech President Vaclav Klaus for speaking out against global warming: "President Klaus is to be commended for his courage in speaking not only the truth about the science behind global warming fears, but the reality of the politicization of the UN."  Now that's a powerful duo you don't want to mess with.  (Read the entire story here.)

Sen. Chris Dodd was in NH yesterday, making it his second trip since he announced his candidacy for president.  "New Hampshire will give me a chance, I'll be back here soon and often," he said.  Dodd made a stop at the Portsmouth based Redhook Brewery where he listed his priorities, one of which was "energy and the environment."  (Read the story from the Portsmouth Herald here.)