Met1: Introduction to Meteorology Series (v1.0)

 This is the first essay on the new topic of climate, environment and earth science. 

We are in the midst of climate change. More areas every year face extreme drought or extreme flooding. Hurricanes and Tornados are increasing in frequency. Extreme cold or heat spells are increasing in frequency. Polar ice caps are melting, and ocean/sea levels are projected to rise. Patterns of Ocean currents are changing. Ecologies are changing. The average temperatures are rising. There is little doubt among scientists that the changes are due to human activities. 

These "Met" series of essays are NOT about climate change policies, mitigation approaches, economics and markets, safe transitions, or costs. Climate change related national and international policy decisions are very complex things. This is especially true with the need to counter huge, vested interests and for the whole world to move in lock step to really address the threat. Also, there is the general reluctance of officials to make hard decisions, and for the people to accept changes they don't want. There are also cross-national disagreements on who does what. Lastly charting a safe transition from today's economy to tomorrow's climate friendly one without big economic dislocations or costs is not easy. I will stay clear of all that in this series. 

The Met essays are more focused on understanding the scientific basis of weather and climate change called meteorology. I will start with fundamental basic meteorological concepts and progress on to more advanced weather events and its science. The difference between climate and weather is essentially one of time. Climate is the average of weather patterns at a given location over a long time. There is a branch of meteorology called climatology, that goes beyond this met series which is the current focus. Climatology is the study of the slowly varying behavior of Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land (climate) over a long period of time. I may touch on climatology and other related science later.

My hope is that understanding this series, sets you up to more fully understand at least the meteorology science background in contemporary climate change discussions ongoing in national and international forums and filter climate change information or disinformation you receive with a different lens. 

I had written previously my thoughts on what can be done about climate change.

https://climatebyjay.blogspot.com/2024/06/what-can-be-done-about-climate-change.html


If later, I do dwell into climate policy it will only be focused on the most competent/responsible policy making bodies and research organizations internationally and, in the US, and links to their work. No opinions. Or I will skip policy altogether since I believe it takes far more expertise and knowledge to write about it than I can reasonably possess. Govt Climate Policies at-least in the US typically takes the form of incentives to go in a certain direction when market forces push is not strong enough or put brakes to go in other directions including erecting trade barriers when market forces are too strong pushing that. It also could be incentives for people to adopt certain behaviors or disincentives for people not to do so. It could also involve antitrust enforcements or new laws and regulations or direct government interventions into markets with direct funding. Also, there are cross country negotiations and deals and international forums like COP.

Different countries have different challenges with policy. The climate problem is the same and the causes are the same. However, there could be wide differences in various countries. The orientation of the elected officials could be different. The forces and counter forces at play could be different. The policy crafting machinery could be different. The details of the key core problems to be solved could be different. And lastly the average wealth, education, acceptance and engagement of the people could be different. All this may result in different solutions rolled out and a different process to arrive at those solutions.

Climate Policy often is formulated in a sea of political currents and conflicting forces and counter forces at play. It is not easy. For example, congress bills emerge from the "sausage making factory". It may not align with your preferred policy preferences even with your favored party in power. But that is the way it works. Think tanks and Research Organizations contribute ideas and some of them are adapted and included in a real policy.

Enjoy.  Remember I am learning the material too as I am writing. 

Key reference is Prof Robert Fovell of UCLA. Also, web sources may be used.

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