[geo] Dirty secret to avert climate disaster: BECCS

2017-12-10 Thread Eric Durbrow
Wired magazine has a critical review of BECCS and, to a lesser extent DAC. No mention of Chory’s research on suberin/cork but I assume that’s because it is even more speculative. https://www.wired.com/story/the-dirty-secret-of-the-worlds-plan-to-avert-climate-disaster/ Comment: I worry that

[geo] We can improve a enzyme to sequester more CO2

2017-12-07 Thread Eric Durbrow
This study looks at a specific enzyme RuBisCo and suggest we can modify it to trap more CO2 for both carbon emissions and food production. Maybe. Abstract: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6368/1272 SummaryArticle: https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/12/key-plant-proteins-that-grab-co

[geo] Glacial run-off impurties—what are they?

2017-12-05 Thread Eric Durbrow
There is a wonderful infographic on recent research indicating that Greenland glaciers may be retaining much more water than thought. It is at the NYTimes (possibly pay-walled) at

[geo] New York TImes host streaming climate tech talk

2017-11-29 Thread Eric Durbrow
Starts today and ends tomorrow, I think. Live streaming. Available on youtube.com but see below. By experts they seem to mean business leaders although there are a few scientists. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/climate/climatetech-jerry-brown.html?hp -- You received this message because

[geo] Recent Climate Fiction on primetime American TV

2017-11-20 Thread Eric Durbrow
CBS (in the US) has a usually thoughtful political TV drama called Madame Secretary. In the latest episode, the heroine, the US Sec of State, has to brainstorm solutions to melting permafrost in Russia and elsewhere releasing smallpox and other pathogens. They abandon the ideas of mylar sheet over

[geo] “Micro-climate engineering” green roofs in cities

2017-11-10 Thread Eric Durbrow
Perhaps, tangental. Seville planners think they can cool their city despite significant temperature increase with 204-700 hectares of green roofs. Summary: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171110113938.htm Comment: My layperson’s understanding is that it is very difficult to

[geo] Summary of House Science Hearing on climate and geo-eng: not so bad?

2017-11-09 Thread Eric Durbrow
Summary is here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/us-house-science-committee-just-had-a-rational-hearing-about-climate/ Does anyone have a link to the transcript? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from

[geo] New research on soil carbon sinks

2017-11-08 Thread Eric Durbrow
Summary is here (and includes links to abstracts): https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171108092406.htm The gist: We probably have underestimated how much carbon can be stored in agricultural soil minerals (found in the first 3 feet or so) and changes in agricultural practices can

[geo] TED Talk on CDR

2017-10-31 Thread Eric Durbrow
This seems new… https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_kruger_can_we_stop_climate_change_by_removing_co2_from_the_air -- 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

[geo] Massive volcanic eruption 1257 documentary online

2017-10-28 Thread Eric Durbrow
Perhaps tangental but PBS NOVA has a very good documentary on the largest eruption in the last 2000 years that caused temperatures to decrease worldwide. About a third of London’s population died from weather related famine. It explains to the public just what are aerosols and how they block

Re: [geo] Geostorm Rising

2017-10-15 Thread Eric Durbrow
Here is a preview article that suggest it might be more of a comedy disaster movie. Apparently there have been some last minute changes… https://io9.gizmodo.com/wait-geostorm-is-a-disaster-comedy-now-1796679890 On 15 October 2017 at 13:22:51 , Russell Seitz (russellse...@gmail.com) wrote:

[geo] Warming Permafrost+microbes+sunlight = Co2

2017-10-05 Thread Eric Durbrow
Although indirectly related to climate engineering, I thought people would find this interesting as the topic of warming permafrost has come up many times. Nature abstract of study showing how certain microbes are activated by sunlight to release CO2 from warming permafrost. But the study also

[geo] Possible power supply for CDR?

2017-09-26 Thread Eric Durbrow
This might be tangental but this fairly new renewable energy system, evaporative engine power, might be useful for CDR as hinted in the summary/press release. The Nature article uses modeling to find that this energy source could be scalable and appropriate to most of Western US. Press release

[geo] Less pessimistic climate study in Nature: We can do 1.5 degree

2017-09-19 Thread Eric Durbrow
Here is a less pessimistic climate modeling project published in Nature today (18 Sept). The authors conclude that the 1.5 degree goal is still feasible. http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo3031.html?foxtrotcallback=true Here is a BBC report that includes criticism of the

[geo] CDR recommended to avoid catastrophic climate change

2017-09-15 Thread Eric Durbrow
A new PNAS article on ways to mitigate catastrophic climate scenario. They try to gauge probabilities for catastrophic/extreme and “unknown/extreme scenarios. They include carbon extraction and sequestration (but I think they mean ambient CDR rather than carbon extraction from fossil fuel power

[geo] Pop press: Rethinking hurricane engineering

2017-09-09 Thread Eric Durbrow
This NBC article refers to the 2015 PNAS study on using aerosols to weaken hurricanes. However, there seems to be some new information, a bit, about Chinese climate engineering. https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/could-re-engineering-earth-help-ease-hurricane-threat-ncna799816 -- You received

[geo] Carbon budget/removal in NYTimes interactive

2017-09-06 Thread Eric Durbrow
FYI There is a slick interactive graphic at the NYTimes that lets people see if they can meet the world’s carbon budget restriction but a combination of reduced emissions AND achieving Carbon Removal. At

[geo] Environmentalists that denounce climate eng research; what to do?

2017-08-28 Thread Eric Durbrow
Attenborough referred to climate engineering as “fascist" (he meant that a small group of people would control the climate) and Gore has called it “insane…delusional". Bill McKibben called it a "serious deadend” Is it too late to reach out to environmental leaders and get them to change their

[geo] Possible way to remove nitrous oxide? Maybe.

2017-08-24 Thread Eric Durbrow
The Nature abstract below suggest that a particular bacteria, Nitrospira iopinata, can help reduce the amount of nitrous oxide floating around by sponging up ammonium. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature23679.html?foxtrotcallback=true The press release trumpets that

[geo] Some good news? Arctic hydrates relatively insensitive to warming

2017-08-22 Thread Eric Durbrow
Although this is not directly related, I know that release of arctic floor hydrates has been discussed before on this list. This recent Nature report might assuage your anxiety. (At least in the short-term.) https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15745 Summary:

[geo] “Off-the-record” geo-engineering meeting?

2017-08-07 Thread Eric Durbrow
>From the Atlantic… I think off-the-record means no press. But does it really mean no transcripts? https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/geoengineers-meet-off-the-record/536004/?utm_source=feed -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups

[geo] Master’s thesis comparing CDR strategies

2017-07-26 Thread Eric Durbrow
Forgive me if this has already been posted. It is a U Mich Master’s thesis (2017) comparing a dozen or so CDR strategies by gigatons of carbon captured. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/136610/315_CarbonDioxideRemovalOptions.pdf?sequence=1=y Comparison table starts page 17

Re: [geo] Help: What do we know and what don't we know about solar geoengineering?

2017-07-19 Thread Eric Durbrow
Possible bullet points • It is virtually impossible to use SRM as an effective weapon. • However, some countries may see it as a weapon esp if deployed unilaterally. On 19 July 2017 at 9:41:57 , Klaus Lackner (klaus.lack...@asu.edu) wrote: What are the most important things we know about solar

[geo] Why is shinnier roofs, sidewalks, and tree planting considered geo-engineering

2017-07-08 Thread Eric Durbrow
I read the NY Times article below: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/07/us/california-today-cool-pavements-la.html and wondered why LA’s plans to make sidewalks and roofs more reflective and to plant

[geo] Slightly good news? Coal down globally

2017-06-16 Thread Eric Durbrow
Tangental to climate engineering but I think we need some good news… According to this article https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/3/21/14988436/global-coal-boom-decline The trend to burn less coal seems to be established globally and not just in developed countries. According to

[geo] Unwieldy chants for Climate March

2017-04-29 Thread Eric Durbrow
My wife and daughter said that these chants are too geeky for today’s climate march: All we are saying…. Is give cautious research in solar radiation management, olivine, BECC, and marine cloud brightening a chance... and What do we want? Slight change in cloud albedo! How do we it? Precise

[geo] Photosynthesis to clear air of CO2?

2017-04-25 Thread Eric Durbrow
In the summary (below) it said that the device would use photosynthesis and a special material to reduce CO2 and then create energy.. either: 1. next to a fossil fuel plant 2. or on shingles in a house. So it *seems* that it might do ambient CO2 capture. The abstract is here:

[geo] Effective Climate Action Slogans?

2017-04-21 Thread Eric Durbrow
Here in the US we are having a March for Science tomorrow and March for the Climate on the 29th. Does anyone have a pithy eye-catching scientifically accurate slogan to help raise climate awareness? E.g. “0 Emissions Not Enough: Carbon Capture!” (I’m posting this query here as I would like to

[geo] Sequestering carbon in farm soil

2017-04-14 Thread Eric Durbrow
Here is a nicely done story published in Wired and Grist. The idea: More modifying plants and planting farmers can collect and store *much more* carbon in the soil than had previously thought possible. https://www.wired.com/2017/04/crucial-climate-mystery-just-feet/ Reactions? -- You received

[geo] A novel target for climate engineering? Fly larvae in freshwater

2017-03-17 Thread Eric Durbrow
The gist: a particular species of fly uses methane to keep its larva near the surface in freshwater. That is about 2k to 130k larva per 1 meter2 of freshwater. But methane use by the larva increases in dirty water. So keep freshwater from becoming dirty e.g. agricultural run-off might decrease

[geo] New Geoeng Disaster film

2017-03-08 Thread Eric Durbrow
A movie that takes on geo-engineering (by satellite). Bjork singing in the background, I think. http://io9.gizmodo.com/disaster-thriller-geostorm-will-have-the-most-terrifyin-1793079770 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To

[geo] Flooding the Sahara to alleviate sea rise?

2015-10-20 Thread Eric Durbrow
Can someone point to a study or simulation of what would happen to sea rise were the Sahara, somehow, flooded? Or is it possible for a layperson to calculate the average volume of sea level rise by 2100 and then somehow see how much of the Sahara or other deserts would have to be flood to

[geo] Another CDR technique?

2015-10-19 Thread Eric Durbrow
I apologize if this has been posted before…. http://www.sciencemag.org/content/350/6258/302 "A new material with micropores might be a way to fight climate change. Scientists have created crystals that capture carbon dioxide much more efficiently than previously known materials, even in the

[geo] Evidence for deep-ocean frozen methane release VERY bad news?

2015-10-15 Thread Eric Durbrow
I found this recent article extremely disturbing but perhaps I am exaggerating the impact of possible deep-ocean methane release. Can someone provide a perspective? Is this a potential "game-over?” Eric Abstract: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2015GC005955/abstract Press Release:

[geo] Can super-super-super computers really help climate engineering efforts?

2015-05-14 Thread Eric Durbrow
The NYTimes had an interesting article about a researcher who wishes to create exascale supercomputing sooner rather than later using a low-power but inexact approach. I’m more interested in the hardware needs for future climate modeling mention in this article. I’m curious whether the climate

[geo] Rayleigh Jet Ships for MCB: But what would they look like?

2014-12-17 Thread Eric Durbrow
This has probably been mentioned before but an analysis of various techniques for MCB was published in the last few days by Royal Society. http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/372/2031/20140056#sec-10 The most energy-efficient technique to get the spray particles up was the Raleigh

[geo] Research on sea spray as aerosol

2014-11-30 Thread Eric Durbrow
This NSF research and brief video, I think, seems related to marine cloud brightening. http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/aerosols.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_51 http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/aerosols.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_51 -- You received this message

Re: [geo] 1. What are the important tractable research problems in solar geoengineering? (Help me prepare for CEC14)

2014-08-05 Thread Eric Durbrow
Problem 1: Reducing disinformation and potential sabotage about active solar geoengineering projects Importance: Given the controversy abut chemtrails, disinformation is very likely to occur regarding GE projects. Disinformation can lead to sabotage of GE projects that are widely distributed