Sunday, Aug. 5
Good morning, TexMessengers! Today in 1914, the first electric traffic light was installed in Cleveland, Ohio.
The drought that struck Texas last year was so extraordinary that scientists have concluded recent heat waves cannot result from anything but global warming.
The “godfather of global warming” found that the likelihood of such extreme temperatures occurring is 30 times greater now than it was during the 1950s through 1980s, The Associated Press reported Saturday.
NASA scientist James Hansen conducted the study and found that three specific periods of scorching heat – including last year’s Texas drought – were entirely the product of global arming.
Hansen’s examination of the wacky weather concluded before this year’s severe temperatures hit, but he told the AP this year’s degree-climbing climate is also likely a result of global warming.
“The new research makes the case for the severity of global warming in a different way than most scientific studies and uses simple math instead of relying on complex climate models or an understanding of atmospheric physics,” according to the AP. “It also doesn’t bother with the usual caveats about individual weather events having numerous causes.”
Every morning, we share some headlines from the 2012 presidential campaigns.
Reader Comment of the Day
In response to our Texas on the Potomac article “California Democrat: Cruz victory ‘thunderously underwhelming’” reader “Rotex” wrote in the comments forum:
“and since when does anyone in Texas care what a dem from ca says.”
TxPotomac lets you know what stories to look out for later this week.
Tomorrow and beyond:
★ Nov. 6, general election
Today in Texas History
On this date in 1873, James R. Moss and a band of seven men fought the last “Indian fight” in Llano County, an area notorious for raids by Native Americans. More>>>