hmm
at a guess, this timeline for fusion power is super-optimistic, but might be achieved if it had Manhattan Project-scale state backing https://t.co/fg0Yz1qKZV— ryan cooper (@ryanlcooper) September 29, 2020
― Give me a Chad Smith-type feel (map), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 18:40 (three years ago) link
thing is, there are also a lot of clean energy tech that already works well, and which are also expected to improve over time. a Manhattan/Apollo Program-scale effort, for clean energy, would achieve many of the same goals as nuclear fusion, but would be much, much more likely to succeed
― idkwtf (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 19:17 (three years ago) link
sounds like socialism
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 29 September 2020 19:21 (three years ago) link
but fusion was one of those things i thought was really cool when i was 12 so there's that
― Give me a Chad Smith-type feel (map), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 19:26 (three years ago) link
reminds me of 12-year-old elon musk, dreaming about building single-car tunnels
― idkwtf (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 19:57 (three years ago) link
Figuring out grid-scale longer term power storage seems a way bigger priority than the never ending jobs program for Physics PhDs that fusion research has been for the past 60+ years. Even for nuclear engineers, modular fission reactors, thorium reactors, and travelling wave breeders have way better prospects of making a dent.
― Voulez-vous un coup d'etat, ce soir? (Sanpaku), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 21:06 (three years ago) link
I don’t care I’m with map it was cool when I first learned what “torus” meant and I want it to happen.
― sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 21:08 (three years ago) link
i was being mostly sarcastic ftr but yes there is a small, sweet and silly part of me that thinks it would be cool if fusion happened before the planet becomes completely inhospitable and i'm truly sorry
― Give me a Chad Smith-type feel (map), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 21:12 (three years ago) link
Grid scale longer term energy storage doesn't need figuring out, it needs building, but more important than that is connecting disparate grids to take advantage of geographical diversity to minimise the need for storage.
Also renewables don't need a Manhattan project, they are bankable, and much cheaper than fossil alternatives. If you want to spend money, spend money on the grid infrastructure to connect them and move the energy around (see above).
― American Fear of Scampos (Ed), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 21:13 (three years ago) link
Xps:
I'm still there for the aesthetic of multi=billion dollar fusion reactors. Just not for the practicality.
https://fusion.bsc.es/wp-content/uploads/jet_in-e1583947675875.jpg
― Voulez-vous un coup d'etat, ce soir? (Sanpaku), Tuesday, 29 September 2020 21:18 (three years ago) link
same but with tokamak
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 29 September 2020 21:29 (three years ago) link
Australia's Bureau of Meterology has reported the highest minimum September temperatures on record, at 2.49 degrees above the 1961-90 average. The second-hottest recorded since 1910 at 2.63 degrees above the average max temp, beaten only by 2013's 3.43 degree blip.
― erratic wolf angular guitarist (sic), Thursday, 1 October 2020 09:45 (three years ago) link
It’s all fine nothing to see here the free market has fixed climate change.
wait, maybe:
China reportedly orders halt to imports of Australian coal Industry news sources report that Beijing has told several state-owned steelmakers and power plants to stop imports with immediate effectThe move comes amid ongoing tensions in the relationship between China and Australia and reportedly affects both thermal and coking coal.
Industry news sources report that Beijing has told several state-owned steelmakers and power plants to stop imports with immediate effect
The move comes amid ongoing tensions in the relationship between China and Australia and reportedly affects both thermal and coking coal.
― Covidiots from UHF (sic), Wednesday, 14 October 2020 05:12 (three years ago) link
75 ways Trump made America dirtier and the planet warmer, listicle in the Graun
"his administration...has spent nearly four years systematically dismantling core environmental protections, some of which stretch back decades."
― Covidiots from UHF (sic), Tuesday, 20 October 2020 06:30 (three years ago) link
The Australian government: climate change isn't real. you're not on fire. farms don't need water. I'm not coming back from Hawaii. shut the fuck up.
Also The Australian Government: rushes legislation through Parliament to enforce martial law in reaction to climate disasters
― Un-fooled and placid (sic), Thursday, 22 October 2020 09:04 (three years ago) link
I’ve been worried about this ever since I first heard about methane hydrates but this feels like the end game now. This is one of the stronger feedback loops.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/oct/27/sleeping-giant-arctic-methane-deposits-starting-to-release-scientists-find
― American Fear of Scampos (Ed), Tuesday, 27 October 2020 19:52 (three years ago) link
In other news the fat blonde prick in charge of the UK schooled the fat blonde prick in charge of Australia on climate change.
― American Fear of Scampos (Ed), Tuesday, 27 October 2020 20:04 (three years ago) link
Keep hoping that the titles of the two climate threads are changed to reflect that this is the one about mostly Australian climate politics. But since the Siberian seas have been mentioned, this is an extraordinary year for both sea ice extent and temperature anomalies.
https://i.redd.it/6wrioa41ftu51.jpghttp://www.karstenhaustein.com/reanalysis/gfs0p5/ANOM2m_arctic/ANOM2m_f00_arctic.png
― Advanced Doomscroller (Sanpaku), Tuesday, 27 October 2020 22:44 (three years ago) link
http://www.karstenhaustein.com/reanalysis/gfs0p5/ANOM2m_arctic/ANOM2m_f00_arctic.png
Third try:https://i.imgur.com/wZtwvZi.jpg
― Advanced Doomscroller (Sanpaku), Tuesday, 27 October 2020 22:46 (three years ago) link
I can see them!
― Bidh boladh a' mhairbh de 'n láimh fhalaimh (dowd), Tuesday, 27 October 2020 22:49 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpGDM7T7sMA
― Welcome to Nonrock (breastcrawl), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 02:55 (three years ago) link
The Trump administration recently appointed a climate-skeptic non-scientist to head the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the nation’s premier scientific agency.
Craig McLean, the agency’s acting chief scientist... had sent some of the new political appointees a message that asked them to acknowledge the agency’s scientific integrity policy, which prohibits manipulating research or presenting ideologically driven findings.The request prompted a sharp response from Dr. Noble. “Respectfully, by what authority are you sending this to me?” he wrote, according to a person who received a copy of the exchange after it was circulated within NOAA.Mr. McLean answered that his role as acting chief scientist made him responsible for ensuring that the agency’s rules on scientific integrity were followed.The following morning, Dr. Noble responded. “You no longer serve as the acting chief scientist for NOAA,” he informed Mr. McLean, adding that a new chief scientist had already been appointed. “Thank you for your service.”
The request prompted a sharp response from Dr. Noble. “Respectfully, by what authority are you sending this to me?” he wrote, according to a person who received a copy of the exchange after it was circulated within NOAA.
Mr. McLean answered that his role as acting chief scientist made him responsible for ensuring that the agency’s rules on scientific integrity were followed.
The following morning, Dr. Noble responded. “You no longer serve as the acting chief scientist for NOAA,” he informed Mr. McLean, adding that a new chief scientist had already been appointed. “Thank you for your service.”
Replacing Mr. McLean, who remains at the agency, was Ryan Maue, a former researcher for the libertarian Cato Institute who has criticized climate scientists for what he has called unnecessarily dire predictions.Dr. Maue, a research meteorologist, and Dr. Noble were joined at NOAA by David Legates, a professor at the University of Delaware’s geography department who has questioned human-caused global warming. Dr. Legates was appointed to the position of deputy assistant secretary, a role that did not previously exist.Neil Jacobs, the NOAA administrator, was not involved in the hirings, according to two people familiar with the selection process.
Dr. Maue, a research meteorologist, and Dr. Noble were joined at NOAA by David Legates, a professor at the University of Delaware’s geography department who has questioned human-caused global warming. Dr. Legates was appointed to the position of deputy assistant secretary, a role that did not previously exist.
Neil Jacobs, the NOAA administrator, was not involved in the hirings, according to two people familiar with the selection process.
― Un-fooled and placid (sic), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 20:36 (three years ago) link
what... the everloving fuck
― Li'l Brexit (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 21:40 (three years ago) link
Forgot the link, sorry: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/climate/trump-election-climate-noaa.html
(Dr Noble was previously a White House policy adviser).
― Un-fooled and placid (sic), Wednesday, 28 October 2020 21:46 (three years ago) link
Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus.
oh wait that's just the regular slanderous fraud by the energy minister, still being ignored by the cops. Meanwhile, an open letter to the PM sees 700 out of 700 medical specialists declaring that Angus is harming the health of the country and the planet.
The last time my name was printed in The Australian it was in the context of them trying to get me sacked. Great to see it again, alongside many people I am proud to call colleagues and friends. The #ClimateCrisis is a health crisis pic.twitter.com/fiknHM3w4q— Amy C🍩🍩pes (@coopesdetat) November 1, 2020
While we're here, let's see the results of the Royal Commission into last season's bushfires.
A 600 page document, offering 78 recommendations in total.
Importantly, it clarifies that the climate *risk* involves 3 factors: climate variability, global socioeconomic development & resulting emissions + aerosols, & regional climate responses to these. Over the next 20 yrs, our climate path is essentially locked in regardless of mitigation actions.
The Commission says it heard evidence the climate is 'virtually certain' to get warmer, with ongoing drying of the southeast likely, and other threats including ongoing sea level rise & increased extreme weather events like flash floods.
The report cites figures from insurance companies estimating disasters already cost Australia $18.2bn per year, on average in the decade 2007-17.
"Sea levels are also projected to continue to rise. Tropical cyclones are projected to decrease in number, but increase in intensity. Floods and bushfires are expected to become more frequent and more intense."
"Over 3,000 homes were destroyed. Estimates of the national financial impacts are over $10 billion. Nearly three billion animals were killed or displaced and many threatened species and other ecological communities were extensively harmed."
the Commission says there is concern around air quality mitigation guidance (eg masks, purifiers) and levels of evidence. There needs to be a priority to standardise national messaging, Smoke Plans, etc around these issues before the next air quality crisis. Guess it's lucky that hardly anyone in Australia is wearing masks to prevent COVID transmission, so that doesn't have to be factored in!
The impact is not limited to fires, noting people affected by 2011 Brisbane floods were 5.3x more likely to experience worse overall health, and 2.3x more likely worse respiratory health vs the general population. Also noting that many already-vulnerable groups live in exposed areas.
Etc!
Anyway, the ostensibly left-wing opposition party has already signed off on the government's plan to achieve COVID recovery by increasing fossil fuel extraction, so that's probably going to make all these recommendations out of date by the next fire disaster. Might as well not bother reading them, eh?
― edited for dog profanity (sic), Monday, 2 November 2020 02:33 (three years ago) link
Good luck Australia. At least you all have the most luxurious skin care brand in the world going for you.
― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Monday, 2 November 2020 03:17 (three years ago) link
And that's just the bushfire cost
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/02/lack-of-climate-action-over-50-years-will-cost-the-economy-34tn-and-880000-jobs-report
― American Fear of Scampos (Ed), Monday, 2 November 2020 03:29 (three years ago) link
Climate denier and new NOAA chief scientist Ryan Maue purged his Twitter account of tweets insulting climate scientists, journalists, and activists. Emily Atkin saved them: NOAA's new top scientist deletes evidence of his climate views
― Advanced Doomscroller (Sanpaku), Monday, 2 November 2020 20:43 (three years ago) link
He'll be fired soon enough
― healthy cocaine off perfect butts (the table is the table), Monday, 2 November 2020 21:51 (three years ago) link
Thread: world leaders congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris which mention climate change. Australia conspicuously absent.
When world leaders mentioned "climate" alongside their congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on winning #Election2020...Thread 🧵— Akshat Rathi (@AkshatRathi) November 7, 2020
― Advanced Doomscroller (Sanpaku), Saturday, 7 November 2020 22:00 (three years ago) link
not really:
Prime Minister of Australia https://t.co/4GG8BBlXWd— Akshat Rathi (@AkshatRathi) November 7, 2020
― kiss some penis reference (breastcrawl), Saturday, 7 November 2020 22:11 (three years ago) link
Nah, he's in there, but with language that says "we cannot do anything now, more money must be funnelled to big business to let them devise a solution"
― @oneposter (✔️) (sic), Saturday, 7 November 2020 22:14 (three years ago) link
xp
Headline: two new species of adorable aeronautic mammal discovered in Australia!
https://i.imgur.com/Efj4MPg.jpg
Paragraphs 11 through 17: climate change has already reduced numbers by 80%, and sent several populations extinct.
"For the southern species, anything over 20 degrees Celsius at night means it has to use its energy to actively cool itself and high temperatures also put them off their food and stop them eating."
― @oneposter (✔️) (sic), Sunday, 8 November 2020 22:05 (three years ago) link
WaPo: The Trump administration is asking oil and gas firms to pick spots where they want to drill in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as it races to open the pristine wilderness to development and lock in drilling rights before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
― @oneposter (💹) (sic), Tuesday, 17 November 2020 00:50 (three years ago) link
Also, the Trump admin is fast tracking the Oak Flat Land Exchange in Arizona in order to deliver the land, including all sacred cultural sites of the Apache, to mining giant Rio Tinto before the new admin takes office. (This provision was added to the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act as a midnight rider by American hero John McCain in 2015.) The Arizona Central examines Rio Tinto's promises to protect sacred sites based on past fulfilment of such promises: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2020/11/16/rio-tinto-copper-mine-not-protect-oak-flat-look-australia/6245846002/
― @oneposter (💹) (sic), Tuesday, 17 November 2020 11:08 (three years ago) link
Rio Tinto, destroying indigenous property since 1873.
― American Fear of Scampos (Ed), Tuesday, 17 November 2020 11:14 (three years ago) link
JUst spent a lot of the weekend in From The Ground uP webinars I think a lot of which were recorded and are now up on youtube,Had some interesting stuff in over the days i caught.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 17 November 2020 11:47 (three years ago) link
Still, at least the Trump admin will be gone soon, and Biden has appointed a true fighter for the environment to be the White House liaison between business and "climate change activists".
During his 10 years in Congress, Rep. Cedric Richmond has received roughly $341,000 from donors in the oil and gas industry — the 5th highest total among House Democrats. That includes corporate political action committee donations of $50,000 from Entergy, an electric and natural gas utility; $40,000 from ExxonMobil; and $10,000 apiece from oil companies Chevron, Phillips 66 and Valero Energy.Richmond has raked in that money while representing a congressional district that is home to 7 of the 10 most air-polluted census tracts in the country. Richmond has repeatedly broken with his party on major climate and environmental votes. During the climate crisis that has battered his home state of Louisiana, Richmond has joined with Republicans to vote to increase fossil fuel exports and promote pipeline development. He also voted against Democratic legislation to place pollution limits on fracking — and he voted for GOP legislation to limit the Obama administration’s authority to more stringently regulate the practice.
Richmond has raked in that money while representing a congressional district that is home to 7 of the 10 most air-polluted census tracts in the country.
Richmond has repeatedly broken with his party on major climate and environmental votes. During the climate crisis that has battered his home state of Louisiana, Richmond has joined with Republicans to vote to increase fossil fuel exports and promote pipeline development. He also voted against Democratic legislation to place pollution limits on fracking — and he voted for GOP legislation to limit the Obama administration’s authority to more stringently regulate the practice.
― @oneposter (💹) (sic), Wednesday, 18 November 2020 01:15 (three years ago) link
Studies in the last decade have suggested that global warming is exacerbating the effects of El Niño and La Niña events.Today the Bureau of Meterology announced Australia is facing three-times the normal threat level of deadly rain and cyclones to end 2020.― erratic wolf angular guitarist (sic), Wednesday, August 19, 2020 7:21 AM (three months ago)
Today the Bureau of Meterology announced Australia is facing three-times the normal threat level of deadly rain and cyclones to end 2020.
― erratic wolf angular guitarist (sic), Wednesday, August 19, 2020 7:21 AM (three months ago)
welp
Byron Bay Beach is almost gone, as Parts of QLD and NSW continue to be battered by wild weather, with warnings of king tides, damaging winds and heavy rainfall. Authorities are warning people to stay home as the worst is yet to come. pic.twitter.com/w4Jk3hOGbl— The Project (@theprojecttv) December 14, 2020
― huge rant (sic), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 01:55 (three years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/LKKQ4st.png
― huge rant (sic), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 01:58 (three years ago) link
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/15/china-scaling-up-weather-modification-programme-we-should-be-worried
It's a slim nothing of a piece but why is it that this geoenginnering programme is attacked when it's China carrying out the project?
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 21:38 (three years ago) link
China having the capacity to do it is not so much the problem as is the question of whether the decision whether to use that capacity will be a joint decision of the world or a unilateral decision of the Chinese government. Making massive investments in a technology usually leads to using it. See also: every weapons program ever.
― Respectfully Yours, (Aimless), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 21:45 (three years ago) link
That's not part of the worry of the writer which seems to be worrying about it because it's China. Its not that far removed from anti-China conspiracy that we've seen this year, even if the tone is libersl-style cincern.
And it's not like it has to be a joint decision. Countries pursue their own weapons programs all the time no matter how dangerous that might be.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 22:42 (three years ago) link
*liberal-style concern
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 22:43 (three years ago) link
Countries pursue their own weapons programs all the time no matter how dangerous that might be.
And I'm sure you can't see how any problems can come of that.
― Respectfully Yours, (Aimless), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 22:48 (three years ago) link
whenever I read about weather manipulation, geo-engineering, etc. by any state or body the only thing I think is "come the glorious kaczynskian revolution, death to technophiles"
― Babby's Yed Revisited (jim in vancouver), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 22:51 (three years ago) link
It's a very Silicon Valley solution, at first. but that isn't even the tone The Guardian is taking, and I wonder what the difference would be in coverage with the couple of geo-enginnering projects I've read about that are based in the West.
― Respectfully Yours, (Aimless), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 bookmarkflaglink
There are problems with doing nothing. It's pretty clear the Paris accord isn't enough and that kind of long drawn out negotiation can't be the only way either. Whether you and I have a problem isn't the issue. China is doing it and the West can't do much about it, they won't throw sanctions like they could if Iran was doing it instead.
― xyzzzz__, Tuesday, 15 December 2020 23:03 (three years ago) link
AFAICT from the article, China isn't stratospheric albedo engineering. They're experimenting with the same cloud seeding they used to help clean up the air, and prevent event delays, for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This perhaps also has some application in reducing tropospheric particulate pollution,
― A Like Supreme (Sanpaku), Tuesday, 15 December 2020 23:29 (three years ago) link