'We Are Due'          
    Part 3 of 4

   Roger Pielke, a Univ. of Colorado prof, says that in the 47 years before 1970 there were 14 large storms in the U.S. Since 1970, we have had four hurricanes ranked Cat 4 or 5 making landfall. 

   He admits we may see more storms, "Because the world has experienced a period of good fortune; we are due." 

   Ryan Maue, research meteorologist in Florida, agrees that during the past 50 years, tropical storms and hurricanes have not become more frequent.

   Climate models predict that over the next 50 years the world will see stronger storms. Patrick Michaels, Cato Institute, says that given the variability in hurricanes each year, it could take 50 years to determine whether current models are correct. 

   Meanwhile, on Monday at the UN, China, which has been given a pass until 2030, had the nerve to say that "countries (translation: the U.S.) must honor our commitments and follow through on the Paris Agreement." This from a central government adding coal-fired generating plants on a regular basis. 

All the fuss over 0.3 degrees    
   Where should the U.S. put scarce resources? The Paris deal could cost tens of trillions of dollars over 50 years, and what would it achieve? 

   Cal Beisner, Cornwall Alliance, said the more optimistic outcome would lead to 0.3 degrees F of cooling: "It won't save human lives." 

   Not to minimize a single life lost to a hurricane, it might be worth comparing storm numbers with other causes before selling the farm to cool Earth by a fraction of a degree.

Tomorrow: What would save lives?