Large waterspout off Malta

@M. Vella:
Fact: Ice cover in Greenland has increases this winter.

North pole ice pack has increased this winter.

Some Glaciers that had retreated are now growing back, some at a rate of kilometers per year.

Fact: The Ozone layer has been forgotten: it seems that it has reformed quite well. This could have a real impact on global temperatures, considering that this (ozone layer) impedes solar UV radiation (meaning heat) from entering the atmosphere.

Fact: Surface temperatures on other planets have increased during the last years, in parallel with earth's temperature rise.

Fact: Global temperatures as calculated from fossils etc, during the ages, do not correspond with atmospheric CO2 levels.

Fact: There are many more facts indicating that GW is not anthropogenic but natural. If only one can read and weigh all the scientific reports.

This should not in any way mitigate against all developments made or being made in the use of renewable sources of energy, since oil is one of the major pollutants of this planet, especially from oil spills, SO2 gas and NOx gases, particulates etc.

@M. Vella: That we have experienced global warming is not disputable. That it is man made is.
Fact: The CO2 levels have increased from 0.25 % of total atmospheric gases to 0.35% during the last 50 years or so. I still am trying to find a scientific paradigm which proves that this 0.01% increase in CO2 levels is the cauase of thetemperature increases. Meanwhile it has been scientifically established that temperates have actually decreased since 1998, the hotetst year on record. Should you be interested you may read about the 'Maunder cycle'. Just a quote from such a report on this:
'The atmosphere has been warming for 300 years, as the activity of the Sun has increased from the Maunder Minimum that ended in 1700 towards the Grand Maximum of the past 70 years, during which solar activity was greater than at almost any previous similar period in the past 11,400 years (Solanki et al., 2004; and see Usoskin et al., 2003, and Hathaway, 2004). This is a peer-reviewd report and has great scientific weight.

Fact: Some scientists are now predicting global cooling.


(continued)

@ Alexander Grima

http://www.torro.org.uk/TORRO/research/whirlextreme.php

it has been proved without doubt that the global warming we are experiencing is man-made!

@ A. Ellul, your comments are indeed very informative ... much appreciated.

With reference to the tornado that hit Malta in 1551 or 1556, one must note that the planet was going through what is today called the little ice age (LIA for short). The LIA commenced about 1250 AD and reached its minimum temperatures around 1650. It is calculated that the LIA ended around 1850. The LIA caused famines, displacements and wars during its minimum period.

Hence the strong tornado that hit the islands in 155’s could easily have been an effect of the global cooling the planet was going through.

Furthermore there is a school of thought among many scientists that the global warming being experienced is not necessarily man made, but is part of the natural cycle that the planet goes through in time. Some are even saying that the maximum has been reached and we are now experiencing temperatures that are lower than those in the 1990’s. Only time will tell.

@ R. Briffa ... the 1551/ 6 water spout transforming into a tornado, is not only the first one recorded but the most devastating, leaving scores dead ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valetta,_Malta_Tornado

This is not the effect of global warming per se. Waterspouts have been a rather common thing. The oldest recorded one was in 1551/6 forming over the Grand Harbour. Fishermen also say that they are often seen outside the shores of Malta.

now we shall pay eco tax and we have solved our problems. no more global warming.

global warning has nothing to do with this... thats wind from south meeting wind from west... the perfect storm haha

most interesting article however this is really not a rare occasion. Last month I saw a large water spout off the coast of NW Gozo. Probably we're too far off north to make any news :)

simply amazing... was at Siggiewi at the moment and you could see it approaching and growing as it neared.

If only we can use that sprout as an alternative energy since this is the hot topic recently.

I definately think this is the effect of global warming. I mean, look at the wierd weather all over the world! I think the Americans should sign the Kyoto treaty now...

@ Mr. Sultana

Let's not be silly: these have been happening since the beginning of time!

Saw it from my school but it started at around 11:30 and ended at about 11:50 spectacular

The effects of global warming...