In response to the Associated Press article published Jan. 16 (“NOAA, NASA say 2014 warmest year on record”):

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that “2014 averaged … 1.24 degrees above the 20th-century average,” and NASA agreed that it was the hottest as compared to the 1951-1980 average.

We have two agencies saying the same thing but using totally different time periods, and using data that is not even available. It is likely they have read the book titled “How to Lie with Statistics.”

First of all: NOAA called this the warmest year globally but failed to include the ocean and land temperatures within 30 degrees latitude of the North Pole and South Pole. Both areas have experienced below-normal temperatures during the past few years. So how can NOAA say that 2014 has been the hottest year globally if it excludes 33 percent of the globe?

The article also quotes a scientist who said that 2014 was the warmest in 5,000 years, but the reporter forgot to mention that it was warmer 1,000 years ago than today. Do we ever question how many cars were on the road back then, or what industrial plants were using for fuel?

Then NASA cherry-picked by comparing 2014 to a very cold period from 1950 to 1980. This 30-year period was cyclically much colder than the 1930s and 1940s. But it was a very good way to skew data to make 2014 look much warmer than it actually was. Wonder if they also read the book “How to Lie with Statistics.”

Advertisement

In reality, the Arctic and Antarctic have experienced below-normal temperatures during the past few years, and the ice has rapidly expanded. Meanwhile, global temperatures have not increased in 17 years. Does this sound like global warming?

David Dilley

CEO, Global Weather Oscillations

Hiram


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.