Hi, thanks for the query on co2. I refer to ocean acidification as only part of my concern about rises in co2 levels. The impact on temp seems established also, and i refer you to ipcc for further info on the links and concerns on this. Regarding past changes in atmospheres and climates, yes these have ocurred and large and rapid ones are linked to mass extinctions. I dont wish that one our heavily populated world, especially where the most vulnerable and least to contribte pollution are hit soonest and hardest. Thus my concern for reducing co2 emissions, levels and avoiding rapid temperature rises is driven by concern for the welfare and suffering of people and animals. I think this is a widely shared driver behind climate campaigns and geo-eng developments? Best wishes, Emily Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on O2
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2014 15:13:08 To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [geo] Olson gives Spoerl Lecture on geoengineering, climate change solutions | The Lawrentian Why is it so clear to you that there is a problem? For the past 400,000 years there has been one warm cycle every roughly 1000 years and CO2 levels were low. Some cycles produced global temperatures warmer than now; the last cycle 1000 years ago was quite warm; much warmer than now. Greenland was much greener. The cycles last several hundred years. If the current warming is related to the next cycle in the series then CO2 is not the issue but local control of temperature might have some value (certainly not by CO2 emission reduction.) All the work on eliminating fossil fuels might simply be for naught. Safer to work on local temperature reduction and if not that at least have an open mind. This group is clearly wedded to CO2 emission as the source of the problem but in my opinion should have a more open mind,.i.e., focus on cooling techniques. ----- Original Message ----- From: emily @lewis-brown.net To: "s salter" <[email protected]. uk >, geoengineering@ googlegroups .com Sent: Saturday, February 8, 2014 8:15:35 AM Subject: Re: [ geo ] Olson gives Spoerl Lecture on geoengineering, climate change solutions | The Lawrentian Yes, frustrating. This 'either , or' mentality sits entirely Outside the geo -eng field from every experience i have had. We can only contiune to consistently frame geo -eng as a group of possible 'as well as' technologies. I wonder if the Sokolovs (sorry if spelling is wrong) wedge approach would adaptable to showing the possible contribution to reducing temperatures (directly or indirectly) through different geo -eng AND standard mitigation (emissions reductions) options, show how they can contribute alongside one another and how standard mitigation may not act fast enough now. Best wishes, Emily Sent from my BlackBerry ® smartphone on O2 -----Original Message----- From: Stephen Salter <[email protected]. uk > Sender: geoengineering@ googlegroups .com Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2014 12:57:38 To: <geoengineering@ googlegroups .com> Reply-To: [email protected]. uk Subject: Re: [ geo ] Olson gives Spoerl Lecture on geoengineering, climate change solutions | The Lawrentian Hi All Olson writes: "Rather than try and take preventative measures, such as expanding green energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, climate geoengineering aims to directly reverse the effects of global warming." Why not 'as well as' rather than 'rather than' ? I have been working on green energy for nearly 40 years. Stephen On 08/02/2014 10:31, Andrew Lockley wrote: > > http :// www . lawrentian .com/archives/1002557 > > Olson gives Spoerl Lecture on geoengineering, climate change solutions > > POSTED ON FEBRUARY 7, 2014 BY DANNY DAVIS > > Last week, the environmental science department held a lecture by > guest speaker Robert L. Olson from the Alternative Futures Institute. > The lecture was part of the Spoerl Lectureship in Science and Society > and discussed the problems of climate change and the implications of > the solutions presented. The lecture was held on Thursday, Jan. 30 at > 7 p.m. in Steitz Hall.The first half of the lecture discussed an > emerging technology called climate geoengineering. Climate > geoengineering is a category of technologies that could aggressively > alter the course of global warming, technology that is both feasible > and currently in development. These technologies serve as a 'quick > fix' to climate change. Rather than try and take preventative > measures, such as expanding green energy and reducing greenhouse gas > emissions, climate geoengineering aims to directly reverse the effects > of global warming.The associated technologies fall under two > categories: Those that aim to reduce sunlight to prevent warming and > those that remove carbon from the atmosphere to mitigate greenhouse > effects. The technologies that Olson presented varied in potential > effectiveness. The weakest, but also least potentially harmful > technology was aggressive reforestation. By planting trees in massive > numbers, the aim is to increase the amount of plants that scrub carbon > from the atmosphere and convert it into oxygen.Another possible > technology involves injecting iron into the oceans, which would cause > large algae blooms which would absorb carbon. As the phytoplankton > die, the carbon it absorbs would become part of the seafloor rather > than reenter the atmosphere. However, this would come with the > ramifications of algae blooms, which may cause harm to the atmosphere. > Another strategy would be to plant lighter-colored crops and paint > cities white to absorb less heat.The most powerful geoengineering > technology that was speculated, however, was the use of stratospheric > sulphate aerosols. Stratospheric sulphate aerosols are chemicals that > would be sprayed into the atmosphere by aircraft. The concept of this > technology would be to create a global dimming effect. In the lecture, > Olson cited a large volcanic eruption that released so many sulfates > into the air that it created a cooling effect. Even a one percent > reduction in sunlight, as Olson discussed, could potentially mitigate > the effects of global warming. However, the ramifications of injecting > sulfates are unknown and could potentially be extremely dangerous. > Olson argued that the best and safest way to mitigate the effects of > global warming would be to cut greenhouse gas emissions and simply > prepare for what he strongly alluded to be the inevitable effects of > global warming. Olson cited alarming studies which showed the > environmental impacts of small raises in average global temperatures. > One study he cited suggested that if global temperatures rise enough, > the amount of land area affected by severe drought could increase from > fifteen percent to forty-four percent by the year 2100.Olson discussed > issues with why preventative technologies have not been mobilized, > despite the alarming evidence that was presented. Olson took a > directly partisan stance and argued that the political right has > catered to the interests of the energy industry and climate change > deniers. As Olson argued, politics have been a major obstacle in > enacting environmental policies. Part of what makes geoengineering so > controversial is that the political right has recently shown support > of geoengineering, even if the ramifications aren't fully known yet, > he said.Junior Conor Sexton, an environmental studies major, discussed > the political situation around geoengineering. "In the current > political arena, it's a very viable option that's going to become > lucrative as time goes on. There are lot of unknowns, but that's the > path we're headed down if we're unwilling to take long term steps to > prevent climate change," he said.Though, politically, climate change > has not gained much traction, Olson pointed out that even some > conservative think-tanks are beginning to favor environmental policies > that would not harm businesses. One such policy is carbon taxing, in > which taxes from other areas in the economy are shifted onto a > company's carbon emissions to incentivize them to take environmentally > friendly steps. Additionally, Olson said he was optimistic that > something can be done about climate change. "It's really important for > us to have a dialogue between people who are concerned about climate > change and people who are skeptical." > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "geoengineering" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send > an email to geoengineering+ unsubscribe @ googlegroups .com. > To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@ googlegroups .com. > Visit this group at http ://groups. google .com/group/geoengineering. > For more options, visit https ://groups. google .com/groups/opt_out. -- Emeritus Professor of Engineering Design School of Engineering University of Edinburgh Mayfield Road Edinburgh EH9 3JL Scotland [email protected]. uk Tel +44 (0)131 650 5704 Cell 07795 203 195 WWW.see.ed.ac. uk /~ shs The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geoengineering+ unsubscribe @ googlegroups .com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@ googlegroups .com. Visit this group at http ://groups. google .com/group/geoengineering. For more options, visit https ://groups. google .com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to geoengineering+ unsubscribe @ googlegroups .com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@ googlegroups .com. Visit this group at http ://groups. google .com/group/geoengineering. For more options, visit https ://groups. google .com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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