Climate Change / Global Warming Discussion

[mspohr]

https://phys.org/news/2020-10-climate-drove-early-human-species.amp

Climate change likely drove early human species to extinction, modeling study suggests

"Our findings show that despite technological innovations including the use of fire and refined stone tools, the formation of complex social networks, and—in the case of Neanderthals—even the production of glued spear points, fitted clothes, and a good amount of cultural and genetic exchange with Homo sapiens, past Homo species could not survive intense climate change," says Pasquale Raia of Università di Napoli Federico II in Napoli, Italy. "They tried hard; they made for the warmest places in reach as the climate got cold, but at the end of the day, that wasn't enough."

"It is worrisome to discover that our ancestors, which were no less impressive in terms of mental power as compared to any other species on Earth, could not resist climate change," he said. "And we found that just when our own species is sawing the branch we're sitting on by causing climate change. I personally take this as a thunderous warning message. Climate change made Homo vulnerable and hapless in the past, and this may just be happening again."

 

[nwdiver]

So... this is how idiotic homo sapiens are as a species. This is us.

The Epitome Of Stupidity: Oil Companies Chill The Ground In Alaska So They Can Keep Drilling

 

[mspohr]

So... this is how idiotic homo sapiens are as a species. This is us.

View attachment 600679

The Epitome Of Stupidity: Oil Companies Chill The Ground In Alaska So They Can Keep Drilling

As long as there's money to be made, greed will prevail. Isn't capitalism great?

 

[mspohr]

Newsom to be sued over fracking permits

Siegel said the permits are “illegal” and fail to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. The Center for Biological Diversity warned Newsom on Sept. 21 of their intent to sue if his administration continued to issue fracking permits.

 

[mspohr]

More wild ideas

10 million snowblowers? Last-ditch ideas to save the Arctic ice

 

[nwdiver]

As long as there's money to be made, greed will prevail. Isn't capitalism great?

I don't think it's really about money anymore. It's even dumber than that. It's about identity. Those operations have LOST money over the past 10 years. IIRC oil needs to be >$60/bbl for them to make any money. But they keep going on a wing and a prayer because it's all they know.....

 

[Norbert]

Regarding recent political claims about CO2 emissions of China:

One needs to consider that China's population is 4 times at larger than the US.
Per person, as of 2018, emissions are:

China: 7.2 tonnes per person per year (10.06 billion t / 1.393 billion population).
USA: 16.6 tonnes per person per year (5.42 billion t / 327.2 million population).

So per person, the US emits more than twice as much CO2 as China.
Obviously, both numbers are ridiculously large, and the US shouldn't use China as an excuse, nor the other way around.

 

[SageBrush]

Regarding recent political claims about CO2 emissions of China:

One needs to consider that China's population is 4 times at larger than the US.
Per person, as of 2018, emissions are:

China: 7.2 tonnes per person per year (10.06 billion t / 1.393 billion population).
USA: 16.6 tonnes per person per year (5.42 billion t / 327.2 million population).

So per person, the US emits more than twice as much CO2 as China.
Obviously, both numbers are ridiculously large, and the US shouldn't use China as an excuse, nor the other way around.

The USA per capita is a lot worse than your numbers suggest because of the fraction of China carbon emissions dedicated to USA consumption

 

[Norbert]

The USA per capita is a lot worse than your numbers suggest because of the fraction of China carbon emissions dedicated to USA consumption

An interesting factor. Difficult to generalize and quantify though, I guess.

 

[mspohr]

Small increases in air pollution linked to rise in depression, finds study

The researchers found that an incremental increase in nitrogen dioxide, largely produced by diesel vehicles, heightened the risk of common mental disorders by 39%. For tiny particle pollution, which comes from burning fuels, and brake and tyre dust, the risk rose by 18%.

 

[mspohr]

'Sleeping giant' Arctic methane deposits starting to release, scientists find

Scientists have found evidence that frozen methane deposits in the Arctic Ocean – known as the “sleeping giants of the carbon cycle” – have started to be released over a large area of the continental slope off the East Siberian coast, the Guardian can reveal.

High levels of the potent greenhouse gas have been detected down to a depth of 350 metres in the Laptev Sea near Russia, prompting concern among researchers that a new climate feedback loop may have been triggered that could accelerate the pace of global heating.

 

[mspohr]

These Zombies Threaten the Whole Planet

After decades of booms and busts, an enormous backlog of these inactive wells has built up, and it grows about 6 percent each year. There are now 97,920 wells, like the one on Mr. Romaniuk’s land, that are licensed as temporarily suspended, compared to the province’s 160,000 active wells. The inactive wells are unlikely to be switched on ever again but have not yet been decommissioned. No one knows how many are leaking methane and other pollutants.

 

[mspohr]

Shell’s climate poll on Twitter backfires spectacularly

A climate poll on Twitter posted by Shell has backfired spectacularly, with the oil company accused of gaslighting the public.

 

[mspohr]

Global food production emissions 'would put Paris agreement out of reach'

Our diets and agricultural production around the world are so carbon-intensive that emissions from the global food system alone would be enough to put the Paris climate goals out of reach, even if all the other major sources of emissions were closed down, research has shown.

Deforestation and the conversion of land from peatlands, wetlands and other natural habitats are major contributors to the climate crisis. Other major sources of emissions from food production are artificial fertilisers; methane from livestock; methane from rice in paddyfields; and livestock manure.

 

[Norbert]

Looks like we will rejoin the Paris climate agreement

 

[SageBrush]

Looks like we will rejoin the Paris climate agreement

And a lot more, hopefully.

I know it is somewhat traditional to name public facilities after past presidents so I want to be the first to offer a suggestion:

D Trump Public Dump

 

[cpa]

Assuming that the Republicans hang onto the Senate (unclear if the Democrats can win both runoff elections in Georgia), just how much will Moscow Mitch will work with Biden to move the needle to renewables?

Recall that in 2011, McConnell vowed to make Obama a one-term president. Recall further how he gamed the Supreme Court nomination procedure. To me, the ball is squarely in the Senate unless both Senators from Georgia are Democrats.

 

[rays427]

https://phys.org/news/2020-10-climate-drove-early-human-species.amp

Climate change likely drove early human species to extinction, modeling study suggests

"Our findings show that despite technological innovations including the use of fire and refined stone tools, the formation of complex social networks, and—in the case of Neanderthals—even the production of glued spear points, fitted clothes, and a good amount of cultural and genetic exchange with Homo sapiens, past Homo species could not survive intense climate change," says Pasquale Raia of Università di Napoli Federico II in Napoli, Italy. "They tried hard; they made for the warmest places in reach as the climate got cold, but at the end of the day, that wasn't enough."

"It is worrisome to discover that our ancestors, which were no less impressive in terms of mental power as compared to any other species on Earth, could not resist climate change," he said. "And we found that just when our own species is sawing the branch we're sitting on by causing climate change. I personally take this as a thunderous warning message. Climate change made Homo vulnerable and hapless in the past, and this may just be happening again."

Yes, they died as it got colder not warmer. As pointed out they couldn't move fast enough to warmer regions. This shows that in general warmer is better than colder for humans.

 

[JRP3]

It shows that fast changes are bad for humans.

 

[Norbert]

Transition website with layout for Biden-Harris Climate change plan:

Climate Change | President-Elect Joe Biden