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Old 12-23-2010, 08:52 AM   #240 (permalink)
NeilBlanchard
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Climate is long term; weather is short term.

Lots of rain (6 months worth in less than a week) is different than it has been -- a data point showing possible long term change.

The snow pack is the source of water in the summer, and if the snow pack is melting faster than it is built up, then that is another data point showing possible long term change.

If the small amount of rain that normally come all through the year stops happening, then you get a drought; then that is another data point showing possible long term change.

There is more lightning now, and there is more water evaporation, and there are stronger storms more often. So, when rain does happen, it is far more intense more of the time than it used to be; and this is another data point showing possible long term change.

More lightning with more drought, then you get more and larger wildfires, and this weakens the landscape's ability to absorb the rains, which are stronger than they normally are, so you get more landslides; which is another data point showing possible long term change.

New and different patterns, with more or less precipitation and at different times than what was normal -- is the new normal. In other words, things have changed.
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