Seeking a less catastrophic way to cool global warming
Who wants a drumstick? The six-foot-tall phorusrhacos longissimus roamed what is now Argentina during the Middle Miocene.
People often talk as if warming temperatures are the only evidence of human-induced global climate change. But the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also has increased dramatically.
For most of the past 800,000 years, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations ranged from about 180 to 280 parts per million. Today, it is 387 parts per million — and growing.
Carbon dioxide levels have been higher, but not recently. A newly published study estimates that you’d have to go back 15 million years to find a sustained period when CO2 levels were this high. That was during the Middle Miocene Period.
Global temperatures at that time were warmer by between 5 degrees and 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Sea levels were 75 feet to 120 feet higher. There was no Arctic Ocean ice cap or large ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.
Something else was missing from the Earth as we now know it: Humans.
The study is the first to link changes in sea levels with atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide for the period between 20 million and 800,000 years ago.
Earlier studies measured carbon dioxide levels in air bubbles trapped in Arctic ice. But the latest research used a chemical analysis of the shells of ancient sea creatures to calculate atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
The study comes as Congress is debating legislation aimed at capping the amount of carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere.
The so-called cap-and-trade bill would create a market that would put a price on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, oil refineries and large industrial facilities. That would encourage development of new technologies.
But even if that bill were approved — big polluters and industry groups have mobilized in opposition — CO2 concentrations probably will continue to grow.
That uncomfortable reality underscores the importance of international negotiations set to resume in early December in Copenhagen, Denmark. Negotiators will try to shape a new climate agreement to replace the Kyoto Treaty, which expires in 2012.
With the clock ticking, it now appears unlikely that negotiators will finish the new treaty. But they can — and they must — continue working to find common ground.
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for years. Some scientists say the amount of CO2 could reach more than 600 parts per million unless restrictions are put in place. That level of CO2 in the atmosphere would be disastrous.
Scientists think that massive volcanic eruptions finally cooled global temperatures at the end of the Middle Miocene Period. We have to hope for something less catastrophic this time.
Another one of the muslim’s lies.It is freezing everywhere now.Wkae up and smell the SNOW!!
I find it far more plausible that debt, inflation and statism will impact our lives (as it has repeatedly bubbled up for much of recorded history - including very recent history) than models claiming acute shifts in a system based on 6/10,000th of something that’s reactive to a tiny portion of the spectrum of electromagnetic energy bursting out of a wobbly fission / fusion furnace. If, ultimately, we’re concerned with human life (and I don’t think that’s the case with some climate people), we ought to go after the low-hanging-fruit; the threats to freedom.
We aren’t doing enough. Our earth’s temperature regulator needs calibration to temper the wide swings up and down. It is proven fact that CO2 is the cause of global warming. This administration speaks loudly and then laughs in our face when it comes time to act. No more. It is time for an environmental revolution.
* No more jet-setting by the elite. This includes politicians and rock stars. A 95% tax should be applied to jet fuel.
* No more large mansions by the elite. Also a 95% tax should be applied to natural gas, electricity and building materials.
* Time for people to speak with their actions. No more hypocrits. If you are for climate control, then you are going to put some money in the game. No more large cars. No more long commutes. No more unnecessary trips. No more purchasing items that are not necessary. Laws need to be enacted to monitor what people do and how wasteful they are with our energy.
* No more carbon credits. This is just a sham to make people rich and it encourages lousy behavior.
The time to act is now. We must sacrifice now so that there is a planet for our kids. If you care about your kids, you will move this cause forward.
Why do you continue to scare the American Public. Global Warming is only a “theory” and a very poor one. Temperatures have plummeted but you people just won’t stop. This is nothing but a SCAM, and your paper is part of the idiots that either believe this scam or just so damned stupid to acknowledge it.
Not only that, but because of this idiocy, we now have to fact this totally idiotic and senseless Cap & Trade bill. You people and your paper are a major part of the problem. Try reporting some facts, at least on both sides, before you make such useless statements. NO wonder your readership has plummeted. So much of what you place opinions on are nothing but unfunny comic section.
The unintended consequences of this wealth redistribution scheme will be staggering. To move away from our current system of energy before there is a replacement with only a lame promise that we will “encourage development of new technologies,” is suicidal.
If global warming is such a looming disaster, don’t just talk about shuffling around some dollars. Actually reduce the non-essential energy use and human activities that contribute to it.
Turn off all street lights, landscape lighting, and lighted advertising from midnight to five am to save electricity from burning fossil fuel. Just carry flashlights.
Disband and eliminate professional and collegiate sporting events saving the energy wasted for stadium or arena lights, fuel to get fans to games, and tons of paper reporting scores.
Ban hunting, fishing, and camping. Those big boats, campers and motor homes burn tons of fuel.
Forbid production, possession, and consumption of meat. Cows, chickens, and hogs produce all kinds of flatulence gasses and require space that could be growing trees to consume CO2. A secondary benefit would be the fuel saved in reduced weight carried by cars and busses hauling around the fat folks.
These are just a few quick suggestions to help hold us over until the next round of volcanic eruptions. I’m sure the government worshipers can come up with many more solutions to save the world from destruction by humans. Why these half-way cap and tax measures. Do something now, before it’s too late and global cooling hysteria comes back.
“A newly published study estimates that you’d have to go back 15 million years to find a sustained period when CO2 levels were this high.”
Q; What was the reason for CO2 levels being so high back then?
A: Yet another exapmle of the failed policies of the last 8 years?
If I were not to quibble with your science, let’s say we agree to a treaty with western countries, and kill our consumer driven economy with cap and trade…
And meanwhile, back at the ranch, China, Russia and India keep cranking the emmissions.
This will help the planet, HOW?
Don’t say nevermind when it comes to China. You could shut down everything in this country right now at this minute and tell everyone to stop breathing, and you would still have smog and particulate matter in Los Angeles because of the goings on in China.
The only thing that cap and trade is going to do is to make everything that we use or buy, more expensive. It won’t just be utilities, it will be everything offerred by business to consumers that use utilities.
You do realize that people have limited incomes, right? There is a limit to how much that you can tax us before a) it makes us angry and b) we run out of our own money.
Too many ‘good ideas’ coming out of Washington these days. There would probably be fewer if these jokers had to pay for it our of their own checking accounts.
As we say to toddlers, you can have the red one or the green one, but you can’t have both. Pick it. You cannot have all of these programs and allow us to be able to support ourselves.
Actually carbon dioxide is a good thing, and more is better. Since climatologists have determined that it has little to no actual involvement in the greenhouse effect, which by the way is the only thing that keeps us from frying in our own juices, there is no point in continuing along this line of thought.
Greenhouse (the earthbound kind) operators regularly enrich the atmosphere of the greenhouse with additional carbon dioxide. It has the benefit of reducing the water and fertilizer requirements plus produces more vigorous plant growth and higher productivity. If there is to be any hope of feeding the rapidly growing world population, we will need every bit of help we can get.
Politicians can and do make mistakes, limiting carbon dioxide by taxation will rank at the top of the list of boners.
Wow, who could have known that we have so many scientists commenting on these forums? Science bad! Now lets take the caddy for a spin!