Posted on 07/29/2006 7:54:52 AM PDT by TankerKC
Vegetation die-off (areas of reddish-brown) in New England observed by NASA satellite, revealing the negative influence of heating oil use on normally healthy vegetation.
(Greenbelt, Maryland) A new sensor on a NASA Earth-orbiting satellite has for the first time observed a global-scale die off of vegetation, a new article in Science magazine reports this week.
"We were amazed at the continental scale that this die off occupied", said Dr. John Jorgenson of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The relatively rapid change in vegetation characteristics was observed from late summer through the fall, when the multi-million dollar NASA instrument recorded a distinct change in vegetation color from green to various shades of yellow, brown, orange, and red.
"While there have been anecdotal reports for many years of this die-off phenomenon, those reports have been restricted to local regions. We have, for the first time, documented the global scale of the event, which covers much of the Northern Hemisphere during the months of September and October", said Dr. Jorgenson.
While the exact mechanism for the phenomenon is unclear, the researchers believe that it is related to increasing fossil fuel use, especially home heating oil, during the fall when temperatures turn cooler. "We know that particulate pollution from the burning of fuel oil can have a negative effect on healthy vegetation, and so the correlation between heating fuel use and vegetation die-off constitutes 'smoking gun' evidence for this association", Jorgenson said.
Bolstering this theory, Jorgenson claimed, is the observed return of vegetation health in the spring as temperatures warm and heating oil use drops to near zero.
The new findings will likely help fuel increasing calls for restrictions on the widespread and indiscriminant use of fossil fuels, due to their proven connection to uncontrollable climate changes, such as tsunamis and killer hurricanes.
When contacted for comment on the new results, discredited global warming skeptic Dr. John Michaels told this reporter, "I think the NASA scientists should investigate the possibility that this die-off is directly related to decreasing levels of sunlight and the resulting cold temperatures as winter approachers". When told of Dr. Michaels' theory, Jorgeson replied, "Well of course he would say that…everyone knows he is in the pocket of 'big oil'. Besides, how else would you explain the fact that the die-off does not occur in tropical locations, where heating oil use is virtually unheard of?"
It's a shame that this is what is taught in college now. Years ago, in 1st grade, we were taught about the seasons, Fall and Winter, where leaves die and fall off of the trees just to come back in the Spring/Summer.
They also taught us little tykes not to panic, running around in circles shrieking our little heads off, when we see all of the leaves come off of the trees. Too bad this part of the lesson has been dropped...
Maybe I should get my PhD and write a doctoral thesis on water flowing down hill. The heck you say!?!?!?
This story has to be an April Fools joke.
Is there someplace we can get a look at those memos?
The whole web site is satire.
LOL. "I think the NASA scientists should investigate the possibility that this die-off is directly related to decreasing levels of sunlight and the resulting cold temperatures as winter approachers". Cute satire.
I realized it the second time I read the article that it had to be satire...but I do enough reading in the sciences that I have seen some things posted almost this outrageous. And they meant it.
I should have pinged on Enquirer...not enough coffee...
You aren't crazy. It is happening over most of the northern hemisphere. We can try to ignore it, but it is happening.
The worst thing is, it is accompanied by a lengthening of days in the south. If yo monitor the data nd look at trends, it gets warmer and warmer there every day. It will be nearly 100 degrees in some areas of Australia on Christmas!
I was buying the article up to the last paragraph. It certainly sounds real though.
Funny, I thought die-off doesn't occur in the tropical locations because it doesn't get cold there!
And you know - Due to climate change my waist has been expanding. My theory is that it's due to the warmer air being lighter, thereby putting less pressure on my blubber, causing it to expand.
Wait a minute... I've got to finish off these three Big Macs and super-jumbo fries.
I believe that this is Micheal Moore's excuse also...
Folks, this is satire. I love it. It reflects the actual state of global warmining "science". Very funny. BTTT.
You must have received your check from Exxon-Mobile recently.
Yep. Pennsylvania is not a New England state.
Oh nothing. If I start to spell your screen name backwards, it is M U R D.....
I think Freepers can see the truth here.
This is actually satire of a satirical site. This is produced by real scientists who believe in global warming, and personally, they have made a convert out of me.
DOWN WITH MANKIND!
From the same site:
Dr. Frost also described ongoing research into the application of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle to climate studies. Her concern is that the large number of climate researchers that are now observing the climate system are actually changing the Earth's climate because of their observations, and believes this effect needs to be taken into account in computerized climate models.
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