Last Update: February 05, 2010 07:01. This site is undergoing renovation. Bear with me.
Why have we got only four years until dangerous global warming becomes inevitable? Answer
February 5, 2010 The Carbon Done It. Dr Richard Alley's presentation at the AGU in 2009 summarizes what is known about CO2 in previous climate change. To quote: -- a very interesting character who always puts things in a nice perspect...
February 4, 2010 Copenhagen Falls Short. No surprise here in the Copenhagen game, so now we wait for the Mexico set. But China is less at odds with itself.
January 31, 2010 China, Post-Copenhagen. China appears to be at odds with itself over controlling CO2 emissions.
January 31, 2010 Language Matters. Frank Luntz, spin doctor to the Republicans, offers advice on fighting global warming.
January 29, 2010 What We Don't Know (yet) about Global Warming. A good summary of the recent Nature article on current state of uncertainty in global warming.
January 28, 2010 Green Grass of Home At last an ecologically sound reason to not mow the lawn, or ever better, get rid of the lawn.
January 23, 2010 Arctic Tundra Vanishing A thoughtful look at changes in Alaska's tundra on the North Slope.
January 22, 2010 2009 Our Hottest Year Tamino shows how to calculate the planet's average temperature.
January 19, 2010 It Has Been Cold. James Hansen explains why it has been so damned cold recently, in the Northern Hemisphere that is.
January 15, 2010 Two Metres It Is. A thoughtful piece by two U.S. academics on projected sea level rise.
January 7, 2010 Arctic Methane Another report on Arctic methane. With the caveat that no-one has looked before, so the methane emissions may not be a new phenomenon.
March 20, 2009 Copenhagen Synthesis March 09 This is like a mini-IPCC report prepared in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate talks in late 2009.
5th Jan 2010 US Fades Away This is one of the few reports to appear in the US media on Obama's performance at Copenhagen. Thinker
5th May 2008. Arctic Methane. Indications that Arctic Ocean floor and sediment are releasing methane, by melting of frozen methane hydrates, represent the potentially most dangerous positive feedback in global warming scenarios. But note the preliminary nature of this research, Spiegel
3rd May 2008. IMF Promotes Starvation. This is off-topic, but instructive in the collateral damage inflicted by the great powers of the world. CounterPunch
27th April 2008. Tasman Retreats. This time it's the glacier retreating. I had a look at the base of the Tasman Glacier last year. It was sobering to stand at a point several hundred feet above the now lake Tasman and read that 100 years ago the ice had been as high as where I was standing. PhysOrg
19th April, 2008. All The Ice That's Fit to Melt. A journalistic article from Nature on the state of the science of Greenland ice-sheet melting. Currently, Greenland melt is raising sea level by 0.6mm per year (courtesy RealClimate). Nature
18th April 2008. Sea Rising or Land Sinking? This article blames sea level rise caused by global warming for the predicament of these inhabitants of the Bengal side of the Sundarbans. The photo on the top right of this page was taken in 2007 on the Bangladesh side of the Sundarbans, and was assumed to illustrate erosion caused by global warming. Not so. It turns out the Sundarbans are sinking, as are other deltas such as the Mississippi. Global warming is making things worse, but the inhabitants of coastal Bengal and Bangladesh were in trouble anyway. Guardian
18th April, 2008. The Food Crunch. This is a good summary of the factors behind recent food supply problems and price rises. The facts and figures at the end are illuminating. Elephant continues to escape notice. Guardian
17th April, 2008. Clouds in Positive Feedback. These "supergreenhouse" events are what put the frighteners on James Lovelock. Currently the burning of fossil fuels puts out a lot of aerosols, a negative (cooling) effect. In the future, we may have to burn biofuels just to create aerosols. That is, we can have biofuels and food shortages (aka famine), or we can have a supergreenhouse and consequent food shortages. PhysOrg
15th Feb 2008. Antarctic Melt. This picture was recently taken in Wilkes Land, which is in East Antarctica, the part that is not expected to melt for centuries. Widespread panic should follow. Reuters
21st Nov James Lovelock at The Royal Society This speech (also available on video at the Royal Society's website) summarizes the deepening gloomy view of a leading scientist. Although he does retain a touching faith in technology solutions to global warming. Royal Society
24th Oct. U.S. Fossil Policy. A disturbing analysis of U.S. commitment to using fossil fuels for electricity generation. It also points out the folly of focusing on road transport; using alternative fuels will most likely lead to food shortages. Znet
21st Oct. CO2 Sink Fills Up. If confirmed, this signals the start of rapidly rising CO2 levels and thence global warming. However, it is only for the North Sea, and the methodology is not mentioned. Reuters
15th Oct. A Bounced Czech. Vaclav Klaus has expressed his dismay at the Al Gore Nobel award, and elsewhere rails against the "scientific consensus", a form of informational cascade. In this interview he expands on the theme. The subtext is his resentment at global warming stealing the limelight from the heroes of the downfall of the communist era, not least himself. Financial Times
7th October. Is Nostrodamus Right. A new book claims Nostrodamus predicts WWIII starting next year. The UN's chief for humanitarian affairs believes climate change disaster is already upon us. Is this what Nostrodamus foretold? Guardian
28th Sept. Ice-free Summers in Arctic. This year's summer melt of Arctic ice has resulted in a record shrinkage of ice cover, down to 1.6 million square kilometres. Independent
28th Sept. Prisoners of Global Warming. The conundrums of stopping global warming are well known, principally those of free-loaders such as Australia and America, and also of poorer countries such as China pointing at past emissions of GHG's by wealthy ones. Game theory could help in getting out of these impasses. Economist
11th Sept. Greenland Melts. The melting of the Greenland ice-sheet is one of those "tipping points" that could occur much sooner than expected. The rapid movement of a particular glacier is of course not sufficient to predict the disappearance of the whole ice sheet, but it is the sort of event that is an expected precursor. Guardian
11th Sept. That Two Degree Limit The EU has defined a rise of two degrees Celsius as "dangerous" - as the article mentions, there is a risk of reaching a tipping point, where low-probability, high-impact events may occur. Reuters
Arctic Ice - New Record Cryosphere Today has some good plots that show Arctic ice extent had by August 9th reached a new minimum, with another few weeks to go before the usual season minimal point. Cryosphere Today
Hurricane Statisitcs. This study identifies a link between hurricane intensity and sea surface temperatures, and therefore to global warming. Note this article conflates frequency and intensity. Independent
The Dead Zone of Hypoxia. This could be a serious side-effect of global warming. The Black Sea at a depth greater than 100 metres in permanently hypoxic, and events similar to this one have been reported off the coast of Namibia. Science Mag.
Invest in Alternative Energy. Save the planet while getting rich? The smart money in New York believes so. Reuters
Measuring Sea Level A new satellite, Jason-2, will provide greater certainty on sea level changes. Satellite measurement began over a decade ago. This article is a good overview of the state of the art. BBC
How Now Brown Cloud. Particles in the atmosphere in Asia are being fingered as a net global warmer; this is contrast to the global dimming theory of industrial pollution in Europe and North America. Aerosols are still a vexed subject in climate science. BBC
Terminating Coal Power US states - not the United States - are pulling the plug on new coal-powered electricity generation. Full article requires subscription, but the summary says it all. WSJ
Arnold's Empire of the Sun California's push for alternative energy is gaining momentum - a 550MW sun-driven power station is large by any standard. NY Times
China's Involuntary Export. The role of dust plumes - aerosol's - as a factor in climate is not fully understood. New research aims to identify the effects of both natural dust storms and man-made air-borne pollutants. WSJ
Costs of Glacier Melt. Peru and Bolivia face huge costs as the Andean glaciers melt away. Economist
Can Politicians Get It? The recent record floods in Asia and elsewhere certainly correlate with global warming. But, based on recent items about China, India and the US, it seems unlikely that our politicians have enough understanding of simple climate science to make the connection between cause and effect. (Honourable exception being Margaret Thatcher, and of course others.) Reuters
Glacier Melt Increasing. The headline should state: Additional 6 inches (150mm) of sea rise due to increased glacier melt. Not much by itself, but adds to the view that a sea level rise of over a meter (3 feet) is probable this century. Independent
Beyond the Nation State. A political scientist notes that issues such as climate change require a global perspective, but he rejects the logical step of a directly elected planet government. Guardian
Politicians the Real Problem? The technology to control global warming may be within our reach, but the enabling political process most certainly is not. Economist
Carbon Trade-offs A new acronym for us - CDM, Clean Development Mechanism. The worthiness of the intention is beyond doubt and it is to be hoped the UN can ensure the credibility of these initiatives. Reuters
Guilt Free Imbibing A South African wine-maker has become carbon neutral - to save the planet or for marketing reasons? BBC
Tuvalu Going Under Tuvalu is competing with the Maldives to be the next Atlantis. The article mentions that Tuvalu is being swamped at 5.6mm (about 1/4 inch) per year, so more than just sea level rise is at work. The ocean floor under Tuvalu is presumably sinking, so Tuvalu should win the contest with the Maldives. That global warming is not the only narrative here does not however exonerate it. Independent
Sun's Energy Neglected The NY Times has a long article on using direct solar energy as a power source, and how it is neglected both in research funding and deployment. And one new coal fired power station is commissioned each week. NY Times
India Moves on Climate Change. Well, maybe 'moves' is overstating it. But a potential super-polluter - and super-victim - is acknowledging the problem. BBC
Carbon Tongue in Cheek? Rep. Dingell from Michigan (read Detroit; read GM, Ford, Chrysler) plans a carbon tax for the United States. TheConservativeVoice
The Next China Syndrome. China is an emerging economic and military superpower, and now seems intent on adding super-polluter to its line-up of medals. Its chief environmental officer, in rejecting binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions, declared, "The time is not right." So when will it be a good time? Guardian
UN Warns of Encroaching Deserts. This BBC article emphasises the impact climate change is having on drylands as the deserts expand. The original UN report spreads the blame a little further, but does warn than 50 million people may be displaced in the near future, with Darfur-like consequences. BBC
CO2 Sequestration - myth or saviour? UK plc drops out. CO2 sequestration is the proposal to bury CO2 from fossil fuels in old oil wells and under ocean sediments "for up to 10,000 years." It is being done in at least one North Sea oilfield by the Norwegians, but it looks as though bureaucratic priorities will keep Britain out of this one. Guardian
Did the IPCC understate the risks? A new paper published by the Royal Society suggests that both a dangerous rise in ocean levels and a runaway rise in global temperature are possible without CO2 sequestration. Independent
Glaciers on the move. A new report from the British Antarctic Survey shows an increased rate of flow and mass loss for glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsular Independent
CO2 emissions rising; Arctic ice melting. Putting aside the alarmist headline, this article references a report showing that CO2 output is increasing faster than IPCC projections, and another on Arctic ice melt, again faster than expected. Independent
The G8 Acknowledges Climate Change. RealClimate has posted the sections from the recent G8 Summit Declaration concerning climate change. The political process moves slowly, but it is moving. RealClimate
The Great American Drying? Climate scientists are reluctant to ascribe a particular weather event to climate change, even though climate models predict such outcomes. The UK Independent has no such qualms. Independent
A carbon tax that could work. As a way to cut CO2 emissions economists tend to favor a carbon tax over alternatives such as caps and trading. Here is one attempt at designing such a tax. canada.com
Snows of Kilimanjaro not melting after all. It has been mentionned before in the press, but an article in the next issue of American Scientist revisits the view that Kilimanjaro's ice is more a victim of a drying climate than global warming. But what is causing the drying? Seattle Times
Galciers to Disappear Austrian scientists report that glaciers worldwide are in sharp retreat, and blame CO2 emissions and the consequent global warming observed since 1970. Common Dreams
January 27, 2010 Ghost of Obama's Past Obama and Global Warming: A Cautionary Tale
January 27, 2010 India Journal Notes from a trip to India, November 2009