ABC at least acknowledged disagreement about whether global warming explains the current heat wave and drought in the South, but didn't bother with devoting even one second to any view contrary to the politically-charged line espoused by VP Al Gore. Here's ABC's Ned Potter. Potter failed to match Jennings' promise of a look at other possible explanations. Even last night's flooding in Tennessee fits the pattern, though it would seem the opposite of Texas drought. At least two people died in eight inches of rain.
Scientists say extra heat in the atmosphere makes thunderstorms stronger.
And unless patterns change scientists say we will see more extremes, more flood, more drought, more heat. Now there's a bit of solid scientific evidence. The government says today that nine Midwestern states have been the wettest in 70 years, seven Northeastern states wettest in 26 years. Vice President Gore with a warning. Policy aside, scientists who have ways of studying temperatures even before records were kept, had a startling observation today.