The Best Season That Never Was
I was amused by your choice of winter 2005/2006 as the “the best season that never was.” However, you might want to re-classify it as “the worst season that never was.” (See “The Best Season That Never Was,” April 21.)
Temperature records have been maintained in Portland since 1835, and are available on the Web from the Global Historical Climatology Network. I’ve done the long-term trend analysis; the unusual warmth in Portland is indeed “a harbinger of toastiness on the horizon.”
From 1835 to 2003, annual average temperature in Portland has shown an upward trend at 1.4 deg.C/century. This is twice the global average, which is no surprise; global warming affects the northern hemisphere more than the southern, and mid-to-high latitudes more than tropical areas. It also affects winter more than summer; during the same time period, July temperatures in Portland have risen only 0.8 deg.C/century, while January temperatures are rising at 1.7 deg.C/century and February temperatures at an even higher 2.1 deg.C/century.
Global warming is real. And don’t expect it to bring comfort and joy; one of the consequences is rising sea level. If the Greenland ice sheet melts, raising sea level 20 feet, coastal cities like Portland will suffer greatly. Also, the effects on the hydrological cycle — including flooding and drought — are very hard to predict, but also are very likely to be unpleasant.
Grant Foster
Chief Scientist, Island Data Corp.
Portland
Seen + Heard
I wanted to thank you for your support of the Deaf Film Festival. (See “Seen + Heard,” by Jeff Inglis, April 14.) Your article in the Phoenix about our festival was awesome, especially the “calling out” of all the other news organizations. I literally sent e-mails to over fifty people in regards to that press preview and the festival. You are without a doubt the best in entertainment news in this area. Thanks again.
Tony Sequeira
PR Rep, 4th Annual Deaf Film Festival
Sibilance
Seems as though the “Sibilance” staff is ready to kick old As Fast As right out of Portland, Maine. (See “Sibilance,” March 31.) As it turns out, three out of four members still live in the original Port City, and we’re still incorporated in Maine. Just because I’m living with my girlfriend while she goes to college, doesn’t mean I’ve left Portland, Maine, behind. Frankly, I’ve been in Maine more often than Oregon in the past few months. I hope you’ll still love me. If you choose not to, that’ll be OK, because it’s sunny and 75 degrees here and the flowers are a-bloomin’.
Spencer Albee
As Fast As member
Portland, Oregon
