to euggordon
If you read my message you will see I don't rely on reducing atmospheric
CO2 but rather on using water vapor effects to cool the planet. Reducing
CO2 would be a side benefit.
Brian
On Oct 28, 2013 10:01 AM, "Brian Cartwright" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> Just a few comments:
>
> Ron - I think Vandana Shiva's cautions about biochar and other
> geoengineering ideas ("role ... should be zero") may be rhetorically
> overstated. But I just want to look at biochar to the extent that it can be
> called geoengineering. If I could characterize your views, you generally
> look to extrapolate the role of biochar to sequester the maximum
> atmospheric CO2. That would be large-scale geoengineering, I think we would
> agree. And because there could be substantial benefits to soil and energy
> supply, you argue that this is a superior tool to other CDR proposals.
>
> Just removing CO2 from the atmosphere won't cool the planet quickly
> enough, because of numerous sinks and feedbacks. I advocate soil carbon
> sequestration for other primary benefits: reversing aridification of
> enormous areas of land that are increasingly radiating heat because of
> losing vegetative cover, reversing the damages done by industrial
> agriculture which have depleted carbon with the plow and with chemical
> inputs killing off microbes and other soil organisms, and restoring
> hydrology that comes from forests providing the biological seeds for
> clouds, and from supporting microclimates to hold moisture in the soil.
> These benefits use water vapor effects that cool much more effectively than
> CO2 reduction.
>
> And yes, CO2 being sequestered is also urgent. Biochar obviously does
> that. But if you think that biochar has to be given the whole job, the
> logistical side-effects could be disastrous. I'd rather see us use biochar
> in concentrated doses (after all, it's still very expensive) as a catalyst
> and stimulant to effective prime soil carbon. quickly boosting mychorrizal
> fungi and microbial communities, and regreening landscapes. The soil carbon
> is the priority, and biochar is an invaluable tool for the purpose.
>
> We agree on a lot of things about biochar. I just think you're putting the
> cart before the horse.
>
> Brian
>
> <snip>
>
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