Natural Gas, Coal, and Climate Change

An Associated Press article in the NY Times titled,

Natural Gas Overtakes Coal in U.S. Electric Generation 

caught my attention, as I was not aware of the total magnitude of natural gas in U.S. electric generation. Natural gas has a distinct advantage over coal in electric generation, namely only about half the amount of carbon dioxide is emitted (1). But it also has drawbacks, such as methane leakage, and disruption of local communities. For a very thorough analysis of natural gas' role in averting climate change, read Joe Nocera's analysis in the NY Times Opinion Pages titled,

Shale Gas and Climate Change

This Week at Interior

I have posted some of these weekly segments before, but in case you have forgotten that YOU can get them sent directly to you....here is today's.  Overall, I am very impressed, particularly with Secretary Jewell's clear insight into the issues.

Wind Power to Hydrogen Fuel for Transportation

Hydrogen is a very clean fuel. Convert hydrogen to electric energy in a fuel cell to power a vehicle, and exhaust H2O (water vapor). A clean way to make hydrogen is via electrolysis of liquid water.

Now wait one minute....Your are going to use electricity.... to make hydrogen...... to make electricity??? And you are going to tell me that makes sense???

Apparently it does, if you take into account electricity is very difficult and costly to store...read big, expensive batteries, whereas hydrogen is relatively easy to store, although a potentially very dangerous item if mishandled, or misused. Hydrogen has the additional advantages of longer range per fill-up, and much faster refueling time.

So has Tesla met its match? Probably not, but they seem to have found some competition. Read the following linked article from Renewable Energy World:

German Wind-to-Hydrogen Plant Takes Car-Fuel Battle to Tesla

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Settlement

From the International NY Times comes this article about
BP's $18.7 Billion Settlement

My only comment is that proper training, planning and engineering would have been a MUCH better way for BP to spend their $'s..... so the disaster could have been averted.

Deep Ocean Fish, Earth's Carbon Cycle and Climate Change

This is a link that has not been studied much in the past because the total mass of deep ocean fish was estimated to be relatively small. Recent studies however are showing that this estimate is incorrect, and that the total numbers and mass of deep ocean (mesopelagic zone) fish is in fact enormous.

Following are highlights from the NY Times article, Dark Regions of the Ocean May Shed Light on Climate Change and Other Issues:

.......Dr. Irigoien’s expedition, which included oceanographers from Spain, Australia and Norway, sailed the globe in 2010 and 2011 and last year produced a detailed report that estimated the overall bulk of mesopelagic fishes at 10 billion tons, and perhaps even more......

That figure is not only 10 times the earlier estimate but 100 times the globe’s annual catch of seafood and 200 times the estimated biomass of the world’s 24 billion chickens, considered the most numerous vertebrate on land.

Seawater absorbs tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, including that produced by the burning of fossil fuels. The creatures, in turn, use carbon to build their bodies, which eventually join the rain of life detritus into the abyss. (The bodies of humans are about 18 percent carbon, and those of mesopelagic fish about 8 percent.)

This carbon uptake by mesopelagic life prompted Villy Christensen, a fish scientist at the University of British Columbia, to call the deep creatures “unrecognized allies against climate change” and to oppose their harvesting.

This little fish, the Bristlemouth, sure looks like an ally to me.  

 Picture from the NY Times

Thanks to my sister-in-law Dianne for pointing out the above article

A new positive note on climate change action

Electric propulsion of aircraft:

When will I buy a ticket?....probably never....but I love the new technology.

Why politically motivated science is good science

Climate denialism is the real “hoax”: Why “politically motivated” science is good science  

The above linked article by Naomi Oreskes published in Salon presents an excellent case for government funded research on climate change.

We knew....BUT the remedies seemed so dificult!!!

The above pessimistic carton is from THE RECORDER, of Greenfield, Mass.

A one line quote by Ban Ki Moon from the linked article:
"....Climate change is the defining issue of our time."

It is an excellent article. The lead in paragraph is a real eye opener:

"On April 28, Cardinal Peter Turkson, released the following statement, “In our recklessness, we are traversing some of the planet’s most fundamental natural boundaries, and the lesson from the Garden of Eden still rings true today: pride, hubris, self-centeredness are always perilous, indeed destructive. The very technology that has brought great reward is now poised to bring great ruin."

Norway Makes a Historic Decision.....

Norway Makes a Historic Decision to Divest of Fossil Fuel Investments.

There is little I can add, except to say that this is a monumental decision for the good of life on Earth, and also that 350.org plus the Guardian, are doing a magnificent job to make the World aware of the climate disasters posed by continued burning of fossil fuels.

Oceans and Climate Change

The New York Times has just published a fascinating article about a 4 year study of ocean pelagic small organisms, from viruses and bacteria, to crustaceans, jelly fish, and salps. Be sure to watch the slide show, it is truly AMAZING!!!
  
Scientists Sample the Ocean and Find Tiny Additions to the Tree of Life
“A lot of what we didn’t really ever see before in the ocean are predators and parasites, zombies and vampires that are floating through this incredible set of diversity, battling it out,” Dr. Palumbi said. “All these tiny little critters add up to something that is really a part of the way our planet operates.”

The Guardian, Keep it in the Ground, an appeal to Bill Gates

On this LINK, you will find a wonderful video from the people of the World, seeking help with minimizing the threats of climate change. The video speaks directly to Bill Gates, a person who has huge resources and a good heart, so hopefully he will respond by helping keep carbon fuels in the ground..... at least via one route of divesting investments in fossil fuel companies.