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?"
"100% chance of sunshine toward morning with an increasing likelihood of darkness toward nightfall, women and minorities hardest hit."
If you want make a global warming nut cringe ask them about volcanic activity within the last 5 years.
I have not seen the numbers/data behind this and can't say much about the basic science. That said, the explanation given by the "big oil" scientist would explain both explain things at the equator and towards the poles as changes in light patterns are more extreme there with the seasons. Finally, who officially discredits scientists these days? Since the catholic church got out of the business, I did want to know who was dispensing the good science seal of approval.
I've got an open mind on both climate change and that man may be influencing it. I also know that when scientists get new fancy toys, they notice things that they have not seen before and begin to think about why. The first reason given is rarely spot on.
Finally TankerKC, what evidence? This would have NOTHING to do with AlGores global warming as particles in the air would tend to cool things. Only curious as to what mounting you were referencing so ominously.
Amazing how well that cycle corresponds with the heating oil usage season...
Ugh!! Is this satire? I mean autumn is usually what happens here and is normal! Sept.-Nov. Leave turn brown and go dormant...if it was a real 'die-off' adult trees etc. wouldn't return in the spring....
alarmist
BWAAAAHAHAHA! This site is better than the Onion ever thought of being.
Are you sure this isn't a satire?
"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?"
And the seasons there aren't summer-fall-winter-spring, but dry and wet?
I think our leg is being pulled, and we're so used to outrageousness, that we missed it.
Just in case you are being serious here is the sites disclaimer:
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Yes, it's satire, and so far most posters don't seem to realize it.
Yes, I agree. Must be satire.
How can use of heating oil affect the health of growing vegetation?
I agree---the evidence is mounting that NASA is full of idiots. No wonder they can't get the Shuttle fixed, or successfully do the calculations necessary to get a satellite to Mars.
Cheez--vegetation naturally starts to go dormant as the weather turns drier and warmer in mid to late summer. My lawn here in Washington is doing exactly the same thing.
You think the leaves falling off the trees is bad? Around here a strange hard crust forms on the surface of the lakes. It sometimes reaches several inches thick and becomes hard enough to walk and sometimes even drive on!
Is this really from some satirical source, like The Onion?
The skeptic says the "die-off" is a result of cold temperatures, and the counter-argument is that the die-off doesn't happen in the tropics? Did I get that right? Is there some hidden logic in that counter-argument, something I failed to see?
"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"
Comments from Dr. nhoward14 (not an actual doctor):
This event has historically been referred to as "fall" or "autumn" and was previously assumed to be related to the shortening of time of available sunlight and lower air temperatures leading foliage to enter a so-called dormant state.
Thanks to the availability of this new satellite imagery, we can prove that the actual cause is the burning of fossil fuels which typically increases during this time of year.
Some have argued that this phenomenon has been going on for centuries and long before heating oil consumption became popular among humans. I counter this argument by saying that pre-historic males, i.e. pre-1960's, were full of hot air and would repeatedly use the hot air to subjugate women and minorities. That hot air formed the original "greenhouse" which is, of course, being exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels today.
[extreme sarcasm off]
And what does that mean? If you are complaining of my bona fides, you go look up my comment and posting record.
Doh! Don't respond without:
A) checking the site
B) re-reading what you are responding to for satire
C) actually getting out of bed first and drinking some coffee
D) turning on your sense of humor
I am shamed.
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