Global Warming Page

WSRL.ORG / Rural Colorado Energy Issues, Global Warming/Climate Change - May 2008, Rev. Feb. 2010 - Page 1

I really hadn't planned on covering global warming issues but recent developments make it really dumb not to. Here in Western Colorado, many are still in denial that the

Jim Hansen - NASA

planet is warming at all and many more don't believe that the warming is anthropogenic (human caused) in nature. All this in light of the several in depth reports on anthropogenic global warming induced climate change that have been created by some of the most prestigious and qualified national laboratories in the U.S. It's as if people here are living in their own little worlds and believe that outside world influences will never impact them.

Warming: The Causes -

National research laboratories have been investigating literally thousands of factors related to global warming. It's most amusing to me to hear an individual expound on one or two factors such as water vapor or thermometers placed in hot urban locations as the reasons for perceived but unreal global warming. The problem and related causes are infinitely more complex than these quite simple views. One of the best presentations given recently has been by Dr. Bill Collins who is now associated with the California based Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. People with access to satellite TV programming can catch his presentation on the University of California TV (UCTV) channel. The presentation is titled "The Future of the Earth's Climate: Frontiers in Forecasting". A companion slide show with high quality slides of those given in the TV presentation can be downloaded from this address (20 megs). For those with a fast broadband Internet connection, UCTV programming schedules and on-demand TV viewing can be found at this address. From the data given, the main cause of global warming is virtually without question anthropogenic CO₂.

Bill Collins - Lawrence Berkeley

How Much Time? -

The short answer is probably 10 years or less. One of the most troubling facts to me is the ever decreasing estimates on how soon we must act. As more and more hard scientific data is collected, it's becoming apparent that we must act soon or face very dire consequences. Rather than restate what many others are now saying, I will reference a private website much like mine that details the facts and projected time frames.

The Renewable Energy Option Updated 02/08-

For the record, I'm 100% in favor of renewable energy sources that don't involve growing food products for fuel. The problem with renewables is that they very likely will never come close to meeting needed energy requirements in the needed time frames. The same is true of hydro resources. Energy needs are very large and immediate. Failure to meet requirements will result in both economic and living standard declines. Long term, these options are solid and should be used. There is little commercial experience in this area, however, to build on in the short term. Electrical energy costs from renewables promises to be about twice the current cost not totally considering construction costs. Politicans everywhere have quoted the benefits of Ethanol and the E85 campaign. Now, late research shows these programs and programs like them probably produce far more greenhouse gases than they were reported to avoid. More on this later.

Fossil Coal -

In this environment, the only way coal can be used as a resource is to sequester the resulting combustion CO₂ (not to mention the many other pollutants) and keep it out of the environment. This is a whole lot easier said than done. There are no large scale commercial coal plants, especially at this altitude, that fully sequester CO₂. In all likelihood, such a proven plant is decades away and promises to be very expensive.

Nuclear Power -

Until I see hard numbers that renewables can economically & fully meet future energy requirements, in my mind, nuclear power is the only option that can commercially scale quickly to meet those requirements. As an example and referring back to my nuclear page, and the Gen IV site, the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) also known as a liquid fluoride reactor (LFR) is the only reactor type that I know of that has been built and operated over a period of years. It's basically a closed cycle process that produces little or no radioactive waste. Powered by thorium, nuclear fuel sources are quite large and relatively inexpensive. As depicted, by using a Brayton Turbine Cycle (no water) plus steam bottoming, this process is a highly efficient process that produces large amounts of power with virtually no CO₂ .

Corrupt Intellectuals -

April 2009 Update - "The truth is finally coming out". Remember the names and organizations in the linked article. These people are your enemy and I consider them traitors. Any government that allows this degree of deception to be perpetrated on the citizens of the U.S. deserves to be immediately removed from office and replaced. In my view, it's certainly unfortunate this did not occur.

Some people have no ethics and will do anything for money. My conclusion is, after doing

Exxon Mobil

much reading, that individuals associated with the "Marshall Institute" are little more than enemies of the U.S. and it's citizens. It's hard for me to imagine the number of deaths (including my father) and the amount of suffering these individuals have caused world wide. My fear is that their poisonous ideology will continue to result in future massive deaths and immeasurable suffering. It's also my opinon that these organization have had major influence on Washington politics and the citizens of the U.S. will suffer a great deal as a result. More information in the links to the right and on Google. Who is/was funding these groups? Good old Exxon Corporation among others. I quess the Valdez disaster wasn't enough for them.

Scientific Data & Politics -

I have just a few comments on a recent Senate report released on 12-20-07. My main advise is "watch the money". Keep in mind that 400 anti-climate change scientists is a relatively low number compared to the thousands of scientists doing climate change research. Also keep in mind that if anthropogenic induced climate change is real, many, many millions of lives will likely be lost in addition the the displacement of a billion or so people. I especially do not like people or organizations that cherry pick scientific reports (usually outdated) or climate related events and then attempt to make a political statement from them. Research is ongoing. It should be obvious that older data is often wrong. There is a constant flow of new, near term data that is used to update current models and concepts on climate change. Above all, don't believe statements from people like Al Gore or the "Science and Public Policy Institute". Believe the raw scientific data and make up your own mind using common sense. I would advise you to eliminate from consideration anybody and/or organization that has ties to any commercial interest or political or public policy group. Also, anyone receiving proceeds from a book they have written on climate or global warming. I have also found that statements and opinions from arm-chair scientists (many retired) are of little use. The term "peer review" is often times meaningless and represents review of data by like minded scientists that are part of the "good ole boys club".

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Climate Change Links
Aug. 2010

Corrupt Intellectuals
Updated July 2010