Climate Change

New Bern, NC
35 05.91 N 077 01.95 W

We have been asked if we've seen the effects of climate change in the last six years of cruising. The short answer is no.

A more thoughtful answer is that it takes many years to become completely acclimated to the climate variations of a single location.  (Interesting word acclimated huh?)   Now we travel so much that I don't think we'll ever again be able to claim expertise in the climate of any location at all.

So what notable changes have we seen?   We've experienced fewer gales in recent years. I suspect though that is because we've learned to avoid migration mid-October to November, abd March to mid-April.  Not global warming.

2005, our first year cuising was a really big year for hurricanes (including Katrina and Wilma).  Since then there have been almost none on the east coast.  I doubt that is due to climate change.

In 2009/2010 we experienced a really frigid winter in Florida.   However, I'm told that such winters occur there once every 20-25 years.  It's unusual but nothing new and not a sign of climate change.

I saw a Canada Goose in southern Florida for the first time this year, but a single goose can not prove global trends.

So, the long answer is no.  We can't claim to have observed any climate change.   Most notable is how we've changed our habits to adapt to the climate in our cruising areas.