The Oil Drum

With oil approaching $50 / bbl and natural gas prices languishing in the doldrums I thought it was appropriate to look at one reason for supressed demand and prices. North America, Europe and Russia are all experiencing uncommonly mild winter weather.

Figure 1. Surface temperature analysis map for December 2006 from the Goddard Institute for Space Studies. The datum period for comparison is 1951 to 1980. Note the large positive temperature anomalies over large tracts of North America, Europe and Russia which were 4 to 8 degrees C warmer this December compared with the datum period .

It has been an unseasonably warm fall here in NYC and much of the East Coast, meaning that people have been enjoying this great last gasp of great weather before the onset of winter. It also leaves no excuse to not get out and vote in Tuesday's municipal elections in New York. Not sure of who's running in your district? Go check out the NYC Campaign Finance Board website and familiarize yourself with who's running and what issues they are talking about. I strongly believe that the collective local responses to peak oil will be critical to adapting to a new way of life that is less dependent on oil. Be loud and be proud to discuss energy and transportation issues and how they impact your life to the candidates in your area.