The other day I said it doesn't get that much hotter here in Yuma than In Phoenix AZ. Today it is hotter here current temperature is 121.6 F @ 3:52PM.
All this talk about global warming. Hog wash! I remember back in the 80's during a River Trip the temperature in Bullhead, AZ one afternoon was 124F. That's a whole 2.4F warmer. Isn't that what scientists say is difference between global warming and the next ice age?
Scott
The daily high or low isn't what they refer to, it is the change in the average long term temperature. For instance, here they are tracking the average temperatures of many rivers and global warming or not, they found that the average summer water temperature has gone up 1.4 degrees 'average' in the last few years. Doesn't sound like much but that change places them in the 24 Celsius range which is infringing upon the upper limits of what the rainbow trout can survive in. Just another degree or so and I'll have to hang up the ol' flyrod rod for good.
Also it's often the spin off effects that multiply the damage as much or more so than the temp itself. Another local example. Less rain = water too shallow for breeding. Too much rain and silt run off destroys river beds and makes the water uninhabitable, destroying breeding grounds or the fish themselves.
Even more scary, every year we have more and more reported "fish kills" where a portion of a river becomes "anoxic", totally depleted of oxygen due to warmer waters going stagnant and in turn, promoting the riverbeds getting covered in "sea lettuce" that is a total oxygen hog of a slimy, green, stinky plant. In generations past, nobody can remember fish kills of this magnitude except those caused by negligent farming practices. Also, these are happening earlier every year.
When rivers go anoxic, the water turns milky white or sometimes a pale, whiteish green. Add to that all the dead floating fish and let me tell you, it is not pretty.
I think patterns over time are normal but
our climate here is definitely changing and so far, not at all for the better. I can only hope your doubts of Global Warming turn out to be correct but I have read a lot on both sides of the argument and as a normally almost unshakable optimist, I still stand pretty much on the "We are quiet nearly F--ed" side of the fence.
Speaking of cycles, here goes yet another rebirth of an Axiom hot topic. Hopefully I stirred up a cyclone to come back and check out Monday.
