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We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

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Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#151

Post by whyenot »

theparanoid wrote: post #43
mikeash wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Increasing CO2 does not necessarily result in more plants. The feedback cycles are complex and there are other limiting factors. Imagine, for example, if the oxygen concentration was increasing instead. Would you expect humans to multiply faster and reach a new equilibrium because of it? Concentrations have indeed been much higher in the deep past. The concern isn't destroying all life, it's damaging or destroying ci…

Most plants use the C3 fixation cycle and are relatively CO2 limited. Maize uses the more efficient C4 fixation cycle.

Most plants are nitrogen limited not CO2 limited.

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#152

Post by mirimir »

refurb wrote: post #103
JshWright wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're stretching the analogy a bit too far there... We know that increasing atmospheric levels of CO2 will result in higher temperatures (the mechanism is well understood, and the IPCC models have done a good job of predicting that over the past couple decades), we also know rising temperatures will result in rising sea levels (again, we have empirically observed this happening at rates consistent with our u…

the IPCC models have done a good job of predicting that over the past couple decades That's not my understanding. We had a warming "pause" from 2000 to 2010 (approximately). That was certainly not predicted. Then scientists went back to look for an explanation of the "pause". Ocean temperature data was then incoporated, other data adjusted and the "pause" was no more. I would characterize the climate modelling as con…

Yes, it's not settled. I suspect that the huge ramp up in SOx and particulate emissions from China played an important role. And now that China is cleaning up, reducing dependence on coal, and exporting less, the rate of global temperature increase will keep increasing.

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#153

Post by pfarnsworth »

codecamper wrote: post #51
shouldbworking wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see your point. To me it's like numerous engineers are warning me that the temperature of the building is going up quickly. When I ask any of them what to do they say we should stop producing heat. I ask whats going to happen when the building gets hotter quickly and get 10 different answers. Somebody tells me the building has been much hotter in the past, but this is the fastest its heated up before. I ask if it's…

Maybe scientists who spend their entire lives studying this stuff know more about it you. Maybe you should listen to them. Maybe they aren't exact with their knowledge. Maybe even it'll be more out of control than even they are able to forecast. What then?

You mean like the scientists and doctors who for DECADES claimed a diet low in fat was "heart healthy" and diets high in saturated fats and cholesterol would lead to heart disease, only for that to be rescinded in the last few years?

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#154

Post by jsjohnst »

codecamper wrote: post #51
shouldbworking wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see your point. To me it's like numerous engineers are warning me that the temperature of the building is going up quickly. When I ask any of them what to do they say we should stop producing heat. I ask whats going to happen when the building gets hotter quickly and get 10 different answers. Somebody tells me the building has been much hotter in the past, but this is the fastest its heated up before. I ask if it's…

Maybe scientists who spend their entire lives studying this stuff know more about it you. Maybe you should listen to them. Maybe they aren't exact with their knowledge. Maybe even it'll be more out of control than even they are able to forecast. What then?

I'd recommend you need to review the rules of HN. Would save you from downvotes!

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#155

Post by [deleted] »

alphapapa wrote: post #143
tzs wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If in the US I'd suggest getting politically active. It will take long enough even according to the pessimistic models (assuming we don't hit some doomsday scenario like the clathrate gun) for things to actually get noticeably bad [1] that a lot of people will choose short term profit over long term fixing the climate. That means that to seriously get things done soon is going to require government action, and that m…

Just to be clear, you're advocating dishonesty and deception--essentially, infiltration, a tactic used in espionage. This lies in stark contrast to the idea that progress comes by openly researching, and debating, and convincing one's opponents with reasoned arguments and evidence. If you have to deceive people to win, are you really "on the right side"? Or is everyone else just so stupid that you have no choice? You…

[deleted]

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#156

Post by losteric »

alphapapa wrote: post #143
tzs wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If in the US I'd suggest getting politically active. It will take long enough even according to the pessimistic models (assuming we don't hit some doomsday scenario like the clathrate gun) for things to actually get noticeably bad [1] that a lot of people will choose short term profit over long term fixing the climate. That means that to seriously get things done soon is going to require government action, and that m…

Just to be clear, you're advocating dishonesty and deception--essentially, infiltration, a tactic used in espionage. This lies in stark contrast to the idea that progress comes by openly researching, and debating, and convincing one's opponents with reasoned arguments and evidence. If you have to deceive people to win, are you really "on the right side"? Or is everyone else just so stupid that you have no choice? You…

Infiltration? Espionage? lol seriously? The Republicans shamelessly flaunt their positions and policies.

Dishonesty and deception? Again, lolwut. Parties are collections of people, they do not stand for specific ideas. Anyone that gets on the Republican membership list is, by definition, a Republican. Example A: Trump.

Signing up to a different party sounds exactly like what you're describing. Open the door to intellectual conversations with people from different social spheres, force confrontations between real person with real beliefs instead of strawmen.

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#157

Post by [deleted] »

crush-n-spread wrote: post #124
acabal wrote: post #42

Does anyone have ideas on how a mid-career software developer can switch gears into the clean energy/climate change industry, to do something to help? I've come to think that climate change will be humanity's defining moment, and that we'll all be suffering greatly come mid-to-late-century. I want to do what I can to put my professional skills to use in helping. But I'm not sure where to even begin.

Hello, please read up on Advanced Silicate Weathering, it is a feasible carbon sequestration technique. It is probably the best option that we have to get the carbon cycle back under control. http://www.greensand.nl/content/user/1/files/rog20004.pdf The idea is you crush and spread silicate rock dust, it produces cations and goes into the ocean, and then reacts with and absorbs carbon from the atmosphere to produce a…

[deleted]

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#158

Post by losteric »

jorgen123 wrote: post #141
acabal wrote: post #42

Does anyone have ideas on how a mid-career software developer can switch gears into the clean energy/climate change industry, to do something to help? I've come to think that climate change will be humanity's defining moment, and that we'll all be suffering greatly come mid-to-late-century. I want to do what I can to put my professional skills to use in helping. But I'm not sure where to even begin.

You could pick a solution area you feel attracted to from the Drawdown book ( http://www.drawdown.org ) and see how you can contribute. The Drawdown team has spent several years computing and ranking the impact of over 100 solution areas that can combine to reduce CO2 while also providing other benefits (so called no-regret solutions) You may find that high impact solutions are in areas you may not be thinking about…

Nice, I've been looking for something like this!

Do you happen to know what this kind of work is called? I'd like to find more from other fields and distribute them at my local college.

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#159

Post by losteric »

alphapapa wrote: post #145
bhickey wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And carbon taxes as reducing regulation.

How are you going to spin that?

It's a strategic regulation that replaces multiple tactical regulations. Therefore, carbon tax leads to fewer regulations.

Re: We Just Breached the 410 PPM Threshold for CO2

#160

Post by titojankowski »

acabal wrote: post #42

Does anyone have ideas on how a mid-career software developer can switch gears into the clean energy/climate change industry, to do something to help? I've come to think that climate change will be humanity's defining moment, and that we'll all be suffering greatly come mid-to-late-century. I want to do what I can to put my professional skills to use in helping. But I'm not sure where to even begin.

Your question inspired a blog post! Climate Change 2.0, How to Hack Your Way In To The Climate Change Revolution http://titojankowski.com/climate-change-2-0-how-to-hack-your...

If you find this topic interesting, join the Google group Climate Change 2.0: A Call to Adventure https://groups.google.com/forum/?nomobile=true#!forum/climat...

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