History of climate is tied to the history of mankind

As mentioned in previous columns, there have been a multitude of major climatological changes on this planet of ours dating back to prehistoric times. These climate upheavals since the year 1012 B.C. have occurred approximately every 500 years, the last one in 1968, some 34 years ago.

The world's overall climate patterns continue to fluctuate between COLD & DRY, WARM & WET, WARM & DRY, COLD & WET and then back again to COLD & DRY. It remains my firm climatological opinion that we are currently moving from the WARM & DRY climate phase into a COLDER and WETTER period.

The history of climate has shown that within each of these 500-year weather cycles, there have been various other cycles ranging from about 100 years down to 7 years or less. These shorter duration periods within the longer cycles are called "rhythms within rhythms."

Although the 500-year cycles of global climate are very predictable many years in advance, the shorter term "rhythms" vary greatly. In fact, like snowflakes, no two rhythms are ever alike. They often have an extremely profound effect on human life. Economic, health and governmental trends are greatly influenced by these pendulating swings in climate. Cycles of WAR and MIGRATIONS OF PEOPLE are closely tied to these massive shifts, often sudden, in climate.

At each termination point of a given 500-year major climate cycle, we've seen as well an end to a rather pronounced epoch period in history. Things change drastically around the world as a new weather cycle takes over. Nations tend to rise or fall with the altered global climate. Religious revivals, much like the current one, spring to life. It's almost like an entirely NEW WORLD is "reborn." A NEW BEGINNING arrives. There's often RENEWED HOPE and RESTORED VIGOR. In this case, I see SHOWERS OF BLESSING for the U.S. and much of the rest of this thirsty planet.

Below I have listed each of the past seven 500-year climate termination dates and what followed historically shortly thereafter. I would also add that we are currently in a 70-year rhythm cycle of WIDE WEATHER EXTREMES that began in 1968 and won't end until around the year 2038, when this climatologist will be 95 years old. I hope to live to see its climax, which could become the WILDEST period weatherwise (and probably otherwise) in at least 1,000 years, since the days of Leif Ericcson, who, along with the Eskimos, really discovered the North American Continent a millennium ago during a period that was even WARMER than today when the Vikings actually FARMED Greenland!

Since 1968, during the first half of this cycle of wide extremes, we've literally seen tens of thousands of weather records fall that had previously stood for hundreds of years in some cases. We're still 34 years away from 2038, so it's likely that we will break thousands of additional records of rain, snow, heat, drought, cold, etc., including many local marks.

GLOBAL 500-YEAR TERMINATION DATES OF MAJOR CLIMATE CYCLES

1012 B.C. - Massive migrations of peoples, particularly in Asia.

535 B.C. - Glaciers advanced in Europe, more migrations.

28 A.D. - The Death and Resurrection of CHRIST!

467 A.D. - Roman Empire dies off, additional migrations.

999 A.D. - The Vikings take advantage of the best weather in 5,000 years.

1486 A.D. - The "heart" of The Renaissance, widespread explorations.

1969 A.D. - Mankind steps onto the moon. A "NEW AGE" has begun…good or bad…it's here to stay!

90-DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK

My former high school principal from Pittsburg, California, Sterling MacFarlane, turns 88 tomorrow. "Mac," as he is known, has lived in the Coeur d'Alene area for many years during retirement. He has been a great inspiration to my wife Sharon and I over the many decades since the late 1950s. Happy Birthday, young man!

Mac should have a fairly nice birthday weatherwise as we are back to some warmer and drier conditions following last week's on-and-off much-needed showers and unseasonably chilly temperatures. The moderate snows in the nearby mountains should make my friend Gary Stockinger from Avista very happy. (I enjoy his monthly "Stockinger Report" on moisture.)

Looking down the meteorological roadway for the next 90 days or so, I see a widely fluctuating weather pattern overall into mid-July, especially between now and the "new moon" phase of May 19-26. This period should actually be wetter than normal across North Idaho and the rest of the so-called Inland Empire with a bit cooler temperatures on the whole despite some warmer than normal spells at times.

Speaking of warmer than usual weather, I'm still looking for readings near or even above 80 degrees by May 6-10 with scorching 90s possible, particularly in southeastern Washington State, by sometime around Memorial Day into early June. By early-to-mid July, however, we may see a couple of "Sholeh Days," hot and humid near triple-digit levels. (Mrs. Patrick dislikes "Houston, Texas-like weather" with a passion!)