[geo] The Weather and Climate, CUP
The book by Lovejoy Schertzer at the link below has just been published. It offers a new, physically based distinction between weather and climate, separating them by a regime called 'macroweather', which it is argued is what general circulation models simulate rather than true climate. There are obviously implications for the modelling of geoengineering. http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9781107018983 Adrian Tuck *** 'ATMOSPHERIC TURBULENCE: A Molecular Dynamics Perspective'. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-923653-4. http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199236534 *** -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[geo] Aliens spotting geoengineering, aliens doing geoengineering.
From current issue of 'NewScientist' Astronomers have begun to sniff out the chemical make-up of a few exoplanet atmospheres, finding spectral lines of CO2, CH4, H2O and Na. These substances have been found around giant planets that orbit very close to their starts, making them relatively easy to detect. In principle it should also be possible to see the much fainter spectral signature of synthetic gases such as the CFCs in the atmosphere of an Earth-like planet. Unintentional pollution would probably be at too low a level for us to detect, and if it lasts only decades or centuries we'd have to be very lucky to spot it anyway. But such gases might be used to warm planets to make them suitable for habitation. I think the only way we would see something like this over interstellar distances would be as a signatures of artificial global warming, says Mark Claire at the UEA, UK. If we were to colonise Mars, we might consider engineering the climate with CFCs or NaF6 to make it warmer. This raises two interesting (albeit far-fetched) possibilies: 1) We could potentially scan the cosmos for active geoengineering schemes on other planets. Likely, what we'd be able to detect most easily is more akin to terraforming - using greenhouse gases to raise temperature, as described above. However, it is also perhaps possible that we might look for effects of manufactured aerosol haze, etc. I can't think of a way to do this, but a successful detection would have two effects. Firstly, letting us detect an alien civilisation (pretty cool). Secondly, being able to spot which geoengineering technologies are most popular among alien civilisations - potentially giving us a heads up on which techniques work well. If we find for example that plenty of planets have sulphur haze schemes, it suggests that they can be safely used (although not necessarily with our own technology). This would potentially be the first possible interplanetary technology transfer. (Trust me, I'm an alien) 2) We should give consideration to the interplanetary risks of geoengineering schemes. While it's likely that any long-lived alien civilisation would be able to find humans by looking for albedo changes resulting from land use change, or spectral lines in our atmosphere from pollution, it's nevertheless a non-zero possibility that geoengineering would be the first detectable 'tell tale' of an industrial civilisation. As such, we should at least consider the possibility that geoengineering would directly betray our existence to aliens. Bearing in mind the history of contact between technological and primitive societies on Earth, breaking cover might not be a very smart thing to do. I accept that this is all very speculative, but it's nevertheless interesting. Furthermore, most big steps forward start with seemingly ludicrous ideas : TV, manned flight, moon landings, etc. A -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[geo] Dealing with the uncertainties of climate engineering: Warnings from a psychological complex problem solving perspective D. Amelung, J. Funke
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X13000110 Dealing with the uncertainties of climate engineering: Warnings from a psychological complex problem solving perspective Dorothee Amelung, , Joachim Funke Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Hauptstraße 47-51, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 6221 547571; fax: +49 547273. Available online 28 March 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2013.03.001, How to Cite or Link Using DOI 1. Introduction 2. Why finding a solution to climate change means solving a complex problem 3. Psychological complex problem solving research in the context of climate politics 4. Implications of the complex problem solving perspective for the problem solver 5. Discussion 6. Conclusion Abstract Decision-makers in the context of climate politics are confronted with considerable uncertainties due to the complexities inherent in the relevant natural and social systems. Nonetheless, pressure on decision-makers to find solutions to dangerous climate change is rising due to the inertia in the climate system. Considering these pressures, technological options (climate engineering) have been proposed to counteract the effects of climatic change. However, introducing options that bear their own scientific uncertainties means further adding to the complexity of the situation. By adopting the psychological perspective of complex problem solving research, we analyze one frequently neglected source of uncertainty with regard to climate engineering: errors of the political problem-solver in his interaction with the situational demands of complex problems. More specifically, we examine the psychological sources for human error that are common in dealing with the uncertainties implied in this type of problem. We will conclude from the complex problem solving perspective that a consideration of climate engineering in the context of climate change can provide a dangerous illusion of controllability. Highlights ► Newly emerging climate engineering technology complicates climate strategy selection. ► We apply psychological complex problem solving research to this topic. ► We examine the specific difficulties for the political problem-solver. ► Difficulties lie in model building, information retrieval, prediction and goal setting. ► Climate engineering provides a dangerous illusion of controllability. Keywords Complex problem solving; Geoengineering technology; Decision-making; Uncertainty; Climate politics -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
[geo] More on Geoengineering in Africa
Actually, biogeoenineering as described in this fascinating article: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6127/1618.abstract and in the media here: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/fairy-circle-termites/ http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/29/science/fairy-circles-in-africa-may-be-work-of-termites.html Building on the termite's (and beaver's) successes, could humans then also safely and sustainably geoengineer their environment? Greg From: Andrew Lockley andrew.lock...@gmail.com To: geoengineering geoengineering@googlegroups.com Sent: Sun, April 7, 2013 12:01:21 PM Subject: [geo] Dealing with the uncertainties of climate engineering: Warnings from a psychological complex problem solving perspective D. Amelung, J. Funke https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X13000110 Dealing with the uncertainties of climate engineering: Warnings from a psychological complex problem solving perspective Dorothee Amelung, , Joachim Funke Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Hauptstraße 47-51, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 6221 547571; fax: +49 547273. Available online 28 March 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2013.03.001, How to Cite or Link Using DOI 1. Introduction 2. Why finding a solution to climate change means solving a complex problem 3. Psychological complex problem solving research in the context of climate politics 4. Implications of the complex problem solving perspective for the problem solver 5. Discussion 6. Conclusion Abstract Decision-makers in the context of climate politics are confronted with considerable uncertainties due to the complexities inherent in the relevant natural and social systems. Nonetheless, pressure on decision-makers to find solutions to dangerous climate change is rising due to the inertia in the climate system. Considering these pressures, technological options (climate engineering) have been proposed to counteract the effects of climatic change. However, introducing options that bear their own scientific uncertainties means further adding to the complexity of the situation. By adopting the psychological perspective of complex problem solving research, we analyze one frequently neglected source of uncertainty with regard to climate engineering: errors of the political problem-solver in his interaction with the situational demands of complex problems. More specifically, we examine the psychological sources for human error that are common in dealing with the uncertainties implied in this type of problem. We will conclude from the complex problem solving perspective that a consideration of climate engineering in the context of climate change can provide a dangerous illusion of controllability. Highlights ► Newly emerging climate engineering technology complicates climate strategy selection. ► We apply psychological complex problem solving research to this topic. ► We examine the specific difficulties for the political problem-solver. ► Difficulties lie in model building, information retrieval, prediction and goal setting. ► Climate engineering provides a dangerous illusion of controllability. Keywords Complex problem solving; Geoengineering technology; Decision-making; Uncertainty; Climate politics -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
