The Pseudo-Science of Weather

Our friend over at Steel Cowboy calls them "weather liars." He has a point.

Weathermen like to think of themselves as "scientists." If you challenge that notion, you are looked upon with disdain.

But let me tell you about science. (If you don't want to be told about science, simply stop reading now.)

Science has some particular characteristics: Science must be "observable." Science must be "predictable." Science must be "replicatable."

Some "sciences" are good at all three of those characteristics, some are not so good.

Physics is pretty good at all three, as long as the math is right.

If we know the distance to the moon, the velocity of the moon as it orbits the earth, the various frictions from the atmosphere of earth and a few other factors, we can put a lander on the moon, manned or unmanned.

Chemestry is pretty good at all three, again, with math a fairly critical component.

We can observe water. We can predict that combining two parts hydrogen with one part oxygen will produce water. And it will work every time.

Psychology is a philosopho-science. You can observe behavior. You can predict some behavior, but not very well, and occasionally you can replicate behavior. Most of psychology, though, is more philosophical than scientific.

Likewise, Sociology.

(For the record, Psychology and Sociology were my majors in college.)

Weather. Ah, weather.

You can certainly observe weather. You certainly can predict weather with only a hint of certainty. Weather cannot be replicated very well, except in small chambers and in computer models (which are tainted with the input of the data entry process.)

For instance, where goes hurricane Wilma?

The "cone of uncertainty," at this writing, covers almost the entire west coast of Florida, from the "big bend" to the Florida Keys. Thanks for the help, guys.

But then, why do we expect that the same people who cannot tell us with any accuracy whether or where it will rain, could begin to tell us where it will hurricane?

Why do we think they know what is happening with "global warming?"

There is a cold front that has made its way across much of the nation. Already, some states have had snow.

This is global warming?

The earths atmosphere is far too vast, and there is far too much data about which we do NOT know to be able to talk about weather or global warming with any degree of certainty.

If you think this atmosphere is big, you should consider the greatness of our Creator.

Isaiah tells us that His right hand spans the universe.

The Hubble space telescope has shown us that the universe is far more vast than even the best scientists had thought. They were rather taken by surprise by what it revealed.

And God's right hand spans it.

When we sing, "What a mighty God we serve," we ain't just whistlin' "Dixie."

When the splitting of an atom can release the energy to distroy Hiroshima, and the universe is made up of trillions of atoms to the trillionth power and the God we serve is more powerful than would be the splitting of them all, we must conclude that He is a fearful and awesome God.

That a God that powerful, that awesome, that mighty, that majestic, that holy and that righteous loves little ole "nothing" me is the most astonishing thought possible.

He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our praise. He is worthy of our devotion. He is worthy of our servitude. He is worthy of our self-lessness. He is worthy of our thanksgiving. He is worthy of our right attitudes. He is worthy of our time, talents and abilities. He is worthy of our giving 100% of ourselves to Him without any reservation at all.

Oh, and one more thing.

He knows where Wilma is going.