Gawd, it's hot...

[Dondilion]

Now snowing.

[Wasillaguy]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Also, as ice and snow disappear in the Arctic, there is a loss of reflectivity in the earth's surface. That causes solar radiation to warm the earth's surface more than normal.

John

Ice and snow have not disappeared from the arctic. It might not be as deep, but it's still plenty white.
Also, as this winter much of the lower 48 has been unusually covered in white, reflectivity is increased across a vast area that normally absorbs lots of solar radiation (especially developed areas where pavement abounds), cooling the earth's surface.

[Oerets]

I don't know it is mid February here and I saw the first snow flake of the season today. Last Tuesday it was 60* and sunny. Let me tell you that is not the normal winter weather I'm use to.




Barney

[merrylander]

Single digit temps and about an inch of that white crap along with strong winds. Makes me glad that we planted that line of white pines along the northwest property line.

[merrylander]

Ha! I just went up to get another coffee, it is 9 degrees outside and 72 degrees inside and the big Trane is running in pure heat pump mode, no auxiliary heaters on.

[Boreas]

I know the feeling, Rob. It hasn't even broken 50 degrees here yet! Brrrrrr!!!

John

[merrylander]

John I am just amazed at what that XL1400 can do, most heat pumps of ten -- fifteen years back would give up at twenty degrees. Since the only energy source on our court is electricity that could bankrupt you. Especially at the obscene prices they charge down here.

[Wasillaguy]

They just built a new power plant here that can also run on diesel should our natural gas supply run out. Prices went up 50% to pay for it. If they ever have to switch it to diesel, prices will likely triple.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Wasillaguy

They just built a new power plant here that can also run on diesel should our natural gas supply run out. Prices went up 50% to pay for it. If they ever have to switch it to diesel, prices will likely triple.

When I lived near Ottawa they only read the meter every two months as it did not pay to read it monthly. Starting with Pickering and the early CANDU and culminating in the massive power station on the Bruce Peninsula they have enormous generating capacity.