First, the good news that ought not be ignred, but may be wishful thinking: "Soden said there is no debate that global warming is real and should be further researched." Certainly research must continue, there are far too many that think Meteorology is like a religion that some accepts, and other do not. But, our leaders must accept somre responsibility for this level of ignorance. I have heard too many give "a wink and a smile" when talking about Global Warming and some have been wrong in the public statemensts. At an Envoronment Impact on the Bay Area one of the main speakers actually said that both are true: The bay water level may raise by three feet or more, and flood SFO and OAK Airports and then went on to predict a REDCUTION in rain water to drink. Ikept quiet but could not understand how someone could claim opposing trends could be real. Of course, increasing ocean temperatures increases water evaporation, FOR AS LONG Global Warming continues. Even this column includes the claim that the "Soden emphasized that his research does not link human-caused global warming with more hurricanes" and "but it does suggest future hurricanes may produce more rain. " "That meshes with a May study from government meteorologists that predicted fewer but more powerful hurricanes by the end of this century. " Thermodynamics require that heating the oceans produces more water vapor that produce more rain. Also, increased air temperatures somewhere, WILL incrase temperature differences that lead to winds, waves, hurricanes, etc. Since hurricanes dissipate energy (heat), as the energy that must be dissipated incrases what? Will there be a longer or a shorter hurricane and cyclone seasons. ---- Note: No mereorologist I met studied thermodynamics. I worked in weather research for two years.