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Climate change has turned permafrost into a carbon emitter

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Re: Climate change has turned permafrost into a carbon emitter

#21

Post by tzs »

dev_dull wrote: post #18
hanniabu wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, it's a dangerous runaway train rolling down a parabolic slop

Yet the rich keep buying waterfront properties.

If you are rich, why not? When sea level rise, increased frequency or intensity of bad storms, etc., makes it not worth living there...they can buy another house somewhere inland. Even if they have to completely write off the waterfront property, they should be reasonably OK.

It's the people who aren't rich who have to worry the most--the people that have most of their wealth tied up in their house, and so need to be able to sell it for a good price to afford to move.

Re: Climate change has turned permafrost into a carbon emitter

#22

Post by vonmoltke »

nostrademons wrote: post #19
the_gastropod wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And then the whole melting of sea ice thing. Sea ice is pretty much the whitest/most reflective surface on the planet. It then melts into the darkest/most absorbent surface on the planet. Are there any stabilizing forces we know about? I only ever hear about these types of positive feedback loops, and it scares the hell out of me.

The primary negative feedback loop is increased photosynthesis. As CO2 concentrations rise, there's more carbon in the air that can support plant life. There also tends to be both more sunlight (warmer air can support more water vapor before it precipitates into clouds) and more water (in absolute terms, from increased evaporation). Note that in the near term, the negative feedback of photosynthesis may be overwhelme…

Unfortunately, I think human land use is impeding that feedback mechanism, as there are large portions of land area that are not allowed to freely green up anymore.

Re: Climate change has turned permafrost into a carbon emitter

#23

Post by amaranth »

SlowRobotAhead wrote: post #20
dev_dull wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet the rich keep buying waterfront properties.

Didn't Obama just spend 15million for an on-beach estate? (EDIT: Apparently sale is not finalized)

It's a nice looking place and it'll be okay for the rest of his life (and probably his kids if they keep it). After that things get more worrying.

Re: Climate change has turned permafrost into a carbon emitter

#24

Post by Ididntdothis »

dev_dull wrote: post #18
hanniabu wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, it's a dangerous runaway train rolling down a parabolic slop

Yet the rich keep buying waterfront properties.

As far as I know in Florida they lobbied for the government to provide flood insurance because no private company would underwrite one.

Re: Climate change has turned permafrost into a carbon emitter

#26

Post by SlowRobotAhead »

amaranth wrote: post #23
SlowRobotAhead wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Didn't Obama just spend 15million for an on-beach estate? (EDIT: Apparently sale is not finalized)

It's a nice looking place and it'll be okay for the rest of his life (and probably his kids if they keep it). After that things get more worrying.

I wish more wealthy people would lead by example though. Like instead if Obamas bought much smaller place and made it carbon neutral.

Also, I have no idea, but what is the timeline for ocean's rising to make a place like his on beach uninhabitable? I thought it was much less time, like 12 years or so, there are so many predictions out there.

Re: Climate change has turned permafrost into a carbon emitter

#30

Post by not2personal »

SlowRobotAhead wrote: post #26
amaranth wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a nice looking place and it'll be okay for the rest of his life (and probably his kids if they keep it). After that things get more worrying.

I wish more wealthy people would lead by example though. Like instead if Obamas bought much smaller place and made it carbon neutral. Also, I have no idea, but what is the timeline for ocean's rising to make a place like his on beach uninhabitable? I thought it was much less time, like 12 years or so, there are so many predictions out there.

>I wish more wealthy people would lead by example though. Like instead if Obamas bought much smaller place and made it carbon neutral.

Al Gore's house and travel produces more carbon per day than you will produce all year. Carbon neutrality is for poor people and developing nations. Be quiet about this fact unless you want to be labeled a climate change denier.

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