My frustration with the often false, misleading, and exaggerated information pushed by the Seattle Times ClimateLab is frequently expressed in this blog, but the tall tales provided this week is worth a rating of at least four Pinocchios.
The story suggests that the Samish Tribe of NW Washington has to "race" to document their heritage sites because rising sea level and "intensifying storm surges" remove any chance to understand their significance."
In reality, none of this is true.
The Seattle Times claims that Already, ocean waters around Puget Sound have risen some 9 inches since 1899 and climatologists expect the waters to rise perhaps a foot or more by 2050. This will cause coastal flooding and erosion, both of which will also be made worse by intensifying storms throughout the region.
This is totally wrong and contradicts observations and the best science.
First, there is no evidence...none...that storms are intensifying in the region. All studies, including one done by the UW Climate Impacts Group, contradict this. I have done research on this subject as well, including a careful study of climate model projections.
NO INCREASE IN STORMS. The Seattle Times' claim is in error.
Second, the Seattle Times used the wrong sea level rise information.
Sea level rise is NOT uniform over western Washington and is much less in the northern waters where the Samish tribe is located.
Why? Because of the effects of the glaciers, which were thicker and heavier to the north. The weight of glaciers pushed the land down...and it is still rebounding.
Let's consider how much sea level has changed at the Lummi Reservation near Bellingham. There is a NOAA measurement site right there at Cherry Point (see below).
There is NO SEA LEVEL RISE. In fact, sea level is FALLING slightly.
Going further south, here is the sea level change at Friday Harbor. Sea level is rising there...but much less than claimed by the Seattle Times.
How much? About 1.2 mm a year, or about 4 inches in 86 years. You will note the sea level trend is not increasing over time. No acceleration due to global warming.
A good estimate of the rise of sea level over the Lummi domain would be an average of Bellingham and Friday Harbor, so about 2 inches in 86 years.
That is about 0.023 inches per year.
The Seattle Times suggested that sea level will rise about a foot by 2050 over Lummi lands.
Reality, based on the best observations, is 0.57 inches (.023* 23 years). Yes, about HALF AN INCH.
This is what the Lummi Tribe will have to "race" against.
False information, exaggeration, and hype. This is what advocate-funded "journalism" gets you.
The Seattle Times is failing our community by promoting such misinformation.
The BS is tiring, isn't it? How do they make money publishing this junk? How does the business model work?
ReplyDeletePropaganda is well paid for.
DeleteCliff,
ReplyDeleteHas anyone at the ST ever reached out to you about your reporting on their factual errors?
I was raised a blue dog democrat, my father was one of the original administrators of Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, (then known as PSAPCA), in fact, he was the ONLY person involved with the subject when this initiative was still part of the King County Health Department back in the 60's...in other words, he knew his stuff! He turned me on to you blog YEARS ago. Dad told me to take your word as BIBLE! (so to speak). As far as I am concerned you are the last word on all things weather related around these parts.
ReplyDeleteProfessor Mass,
ReplyDeleteThank you for once again taking on the Seattle Times' Climate Lab reports. A counterperspective to them is always appreciated so that we can see both sides and draw our own conclusions.
You say that the land in the Northern regiond of our state is still rebounding after being pushed down by the weight of the glaciers. Do we know how long it might take for the land up there to fully rebound from that?
Also, looking at the map you provided showing the Northern region's lack of recovery compared to the rest of the state, I couldn't help but notice that the Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Kitsap areas may also not be done rebounding. Do we know how long it might take for the rebounding to occur in these areas?
Thank you.
Thanks for putting this out there Cliff. This is not just mis-information, but mal-information, i.e. purposely published to “keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) (H. L. Mencken.) A climate Lab implies scientists wearing white coats doing rigorous careful experiments. They are nothing of the sort and need to be exposed.
ReplyDeleteThere was an article in the local paper about bigger waves and a 10 inch sea level rise on the west coast in the last century. I took an average of the 11 west coast ports that have the longest record of measurements at 96 years average. 6 of these ports I have been into with my own sailboat. The average feet per 100 years was 0.40 per year and 4.83 inches over 100 years. So the 10 inch figure is hogwash!
Thank you Cliff for not just working to advance science, but also for valiantly fighting back against the lies and propaganda tearing at the fabric of our trust in all things science related.
ReplyDelete