From the Annals of Sno-Cone Science

There's
a vintage Bob and Ray radio sketch in which Bob plays "Mr. Science," a
parody of TV's "Mr. Wizard." He's trying to explain to his young
protege Sandy "the miracle of gas refrigeration."

"Doesn't it seem paradoxical to you that a refrigerator is made cold by
a flame?" Mr. Science asks. Sandy exclaims, "Holy cats! Wait 'til I
tell the gang at school that! I thought it was made cold by the ice
cubes, Mr. Science!"

Sandy's slippery grasp of physics and Mr. Science's increasingly
convoluted explanations characterize the debate over climate change
that was taking place in Washington and the media this week. As the
capital and much of the Eastern seaboard were digging themselves out
from two big snow events, climate change deniers were pointing to the
frozen tundra on the Potomac as evidence that global warming is a fraud.

Virginia's Republican Party used the blizzards to put out a snarky ad
attacking two of the state's Democratic congressmen who voted for the
cap-and-trade bill last year: "Tell them how much global warming you
get this weekend," the spot chortled. "Maybe they'll come help you
shovel."

Right-wing Senator Jim DeMint sent out a Twitter tweet: "It's going to
keep snowing until Al Gore cries 'Uncle!'" And the daughter and
grandkids of Republican Senator James Inhofe built a six-foot igloo on
Capitol Hill with signs announcing "Al Gore's New Home" and "Honk if
you [heart] Global Warming." Once again, the GOP mines comedy gold.

Granted, debating global warming while stuck in a snowdrift can seem a
little counterintuitive, especially if you tend to willfully deny
scientific evidence and prefer to limit your knowledge of the cold to
such things as sticking your tongue on the schoolyard flagpole and
enjoying the occasional Sno-Cone. And scientists didn't do themselves
any favors when the phrase "global warming" was coined. Compared to
"climate change," it's much too easy to misinterpret, intentionally or
not. (As some have suggested, "global weirding" might be more accurate
and helpful.)

In truth, and to get way too basic, warmer air holds more moisture and
when temperatures get colder it falls from the sky as a lot of snow.
Not to mention that short term weather phenomena, like blizzards, don't
necessarily reflect overall climate trends which are measured over
decades and more.

And by the way, as the progressive website Media Matters reports, if we
can momentarily shift our East Coast-centric eyes from our own icy
weather, note that they're having trouble getting enough snow at the
Olympics in Vancouver and Rio de Janeiro is wilting from its worst heat
wave in half a century.

One big fact that convinces me of the reality of climate change is the
seriousness with which America's defense and intelligence agencies are
taking it as a worldwide threat. The American Security Project, a
Washington think tank, reported last month that the Central
Intelligence Agency has relaunched a program "to share surveillance and
other data with scientists monitoring climate change," including
satellite photos. And in September, the CIA announced it was creating a
Center on Climate Change and National Security that will study "the
effect environmental factors can have on political, economic, and
social stability overseas."

The Chief of Naval Operations has established "Task Force Climate
Change" to "assess the Navy's preparedness to respond to emerging
requirements, and to develop a science-based timeline for future Navy
actions regarding climate change." Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has set the
year 2020 as a deadline for the Navy cutting its use of fossil fuels by
half.

On February 1, the Pentagon issued its Quadrennial Defense Review,
which establishes defense strategy and priorities and evaluates
potential international risks. It cites intelligence assessments that
"climate change could have significant geopolitical impacts around the
world, contributing to poverty, environmental degradation and the
further weakening of fragile governments. Climate change will
contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of
disease and may spur or exacerbate mass migration.

"While climate change alone does not cause conflict, it may act as an
accelerant of instability or conflict, placing a burden to respond on
civilian institutions and militaries around the world."

Among its other findings, the review cites a 2008 National Intelligence
Council report that more than 30 U.S. military installations were
"already facing elevated levels of risk from rising sea levels. DoD's
operational readiness hinges on continued access to land, air, and sea
training and test space. Consequently, the department must complete a
comprehensive assessment of all installations to assess the potential
impacts of climate change on its missions and adapt as required."

Consider yourself warned and, one hopes, suitably chastened. As Sandy
tells Mr. Science, "I'm never going to throw an ice cube from a moving
car again. Boy, Smokey the Bear's got enough trouble as it is!"

Precisely.