The Big Question: Is there a technological solution to the problem of global warming?

[Hobjob]

Comprehensive and interesting article on this in Independent to-day

The Big Question: Is there a technological solution to the problem of global warming? - Climate Change, Environment - The Independent

Too long to paste really.

There was also a suggestion last week that if all houses in the world were painted white, then would have a significant impact too. I'm sure google will find it.

[Meta menardi]

I have constructed a computer that will answer this question. It is called "Deep Thought 2", and it is programmed not to come up with a numerical answer. Predicted program finish, year 0000.

[Rob_D]

I like the ideas but ocean fertilisation, or cloud seeding seem a little risky. Other ideas don't seem to scale. Hard to imagine a simple and easy solution that won't have big risks but who knows.

Something like fusion power could totally change the balance - if we genuinely had limitless, cheap and clean electricity then GW might be easy to solve. Having grown up in the shadow of the JET project in Culham, that was a big disappointment and fusion power seems as far away as ever. Let's hope ITER makes some big advances.

[tuckmeister]

Pykrete is a super-ice, strengthened tremendously by mixing in wood pulp as it freezes. By freezing a slurry of 14 percent wood pulp, the mechanical strength of ice rockets up to a fairly consistent 70 kg/sq cm. A 7.69 mm rifle bullet, when fired into pure ice, will penetrate to a depth of about 36 cm. Fired into pykrete, it will penetrate less than half as far — about the same distance as a bullet fired into brickwork. Yet you can mold pykrete into blocks from the simplest materials and then plane it, just like wood. And it has tremendous crush resistance: a one-inch column of the stuff will support an automobile. Moreover, it takes much longer to melt than pure ice. But as strong and eco-friendly as it is, pykrete remains forgotten today save among glaciologists, who express bafflement over why no one has made use of it. "I don't really know why it has languished in obscurity," admits Professor Erland Schulson, director of the Ice Research Laboratory at Dartmouth College.

So during winter months by adding wood pulp, recycled paper, cotton fibers to the advancing ice fields or glaciers it would make them more resilient to the summer melting?

Just a thought..

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by tuckmeister

Pykrete is a super-ice, strengthened tremendously by mixing in wood pulp as it freezes. By freezing a slurry of 14 percent wood pulp, the mechanical strength of ice rockets up to a fairly consistent 70 kg/sq cm. A 7.69 mm rifle bullet, when fired into pure ice, will penetrate to a depth of about 36 cm. Fired into pykrete, it will penetrate less than half as far — about the same distance as a bullet fired into brickwork. Yet you can mold pykrete into blocks from the simplest materials and then plane it, just like wood. And it has tremendous crush resistance: a one-inch column of the stuff will support an automobile. Moreover, it takes much longer to melt than pure ice. But as strong and eco-friendly as it is, pykrete remains forgotten today save among glaciologists, who express bafflement over why no one has made use of it. "I don't really know why it has languished in obscurity," admits Professor Erland Schulson, director of the Ice Research Laboratory at Dartmouth College.

So during winter months by adding wood pulp, recycled paper, cotton fibers to the advancing ice fields or glaciers it would make them more resilient to the summer melting?

Just a thought..

sadly not - strong and crush resistant as it is there is nothing in the pykrete that stops ice from turning back to water at above 0 degrees C .

[birding dave]

Global warming, what global warming? Biggest con ever!!! Politicians have jumped on this just to get extra taxes out of us.

[BloomingMarvellous]

Well said birding dave, totally agree with you.

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by birding dave

Global warming, what global warming? Biggest con ever!!! Politicians have jumped on this just to get extra taxes out of us.

Global warming is fact, there is proof. As to the cause, well, that is not so clear cut, but the risks of us not doing anything about it are terrible for humans if you are wrong. The risks to us acting to prevent further global warming would just be inconvenient if I am wrong.

[seamusagleann]

Originally Posted by birding dave

Global warming, what global warming? Biggest con ever!!! Politicians have jumped on this just to get extra taxes out of us.

could well be !! can i just bring this to everyones attention

Forestry Law Change Will Help Global Warming Fight (from The Herald )

[Hoppingmad]

Originally Posted by seamusagleann

could well be !! can i just bring this to everyones attention

Forestry Law Change Will Help Global Warming Fight (from The Herald )

Thanks for posting that link, it is interesting. I am following an Open University course called The Earth in Crisis and articles like this are really useful.

Debbie

[Digit]

The Big Question deserves a Big Answer.
Assuming that GW is man made the answer is simple in theory. Stop over breeding!

Roy.

[davejg]

Originally Posted by Digit

The Big Question deserves a Big Answer.
Assuming that GW is man made the answer is simple in theory. Stop over breeding!

Roy.

The only sensible answer, bring down the population by one third problem soved. I think it is an orbital thing as mars is warming as well. Whatever happens it will not destroy the human race, just change our present society a lot, hence governments wanting to keep the status quo.

[Hedgeland]

Originally Posted by davejg

The only sensible answer, bring down the population by one third problem soved. I think it is an orbital thing as mars is warming as well. Whatever happens it will not destroy the human race, just change our present society a lot, hence governments wanting to keep the status quo.

So are we going for a human cull just like we do when animal populations get too large.

I'll enjoy the public consultation on that........

As for climate change and what can be done - what if the billions of pounds being spent on new power stations was spent on installing solar power on every roof? Would not generate all energy needs but would reduce the need for many more power plants whilst also providing a new market for work in production and installation. Jobs and reduced carbon seems and easy win.
(dont quote me on the reduced carbon as i have not calculated carbon costs of producing solar panels and if during the life of panel it recoups - this is just my rants)

[1957split]

Supposing it’s a natural phenomena and there is no stopping it?

Is there a real problem? The government has taxed us to the hilt on everything linked to global warming, that’s their cure to solve this problem, keep paying the green taxes and it’ll go away, ask them.

If we don’t start controlling the population they’ll be no wildlife in Britain [or the world], the human race can’t share, profit comes first. Do you believe they’ll save a field or rain forest if people need the land for food or somewhere to live.

Unless there’s control, we’re all doomed [but the animals will go first unless of course there edible].

Scary, but as the worlds population grows the faster we'll out grow the planet and it's resources

Man = Problem. More man = More problem.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by 1957split

....If we don’t start controlling the population they’ll be no wildlife in Britain [or the world], the human race can’t share, profit comes first. Do you believe they’ll save a field or rain forest if people need the land for food or somewhere to live.

Unless there’s control, we’re all doomed [but the animals will go first unless of course there edible].

Scary, but as the worlds population grows the faster we'll out grow the planet and it's resources

Man = Problem. More man = More problem.

You've hit the crux of the problem. There are simply too many people on this planet.

Go back several hundred years, and there would only be a fraction of the numbers of people alive today. Go back several thousand years, and populations would have been still less.

Advances in technology have allowed the population explosion, to the extent that (if we accept global warming is a reality) the planet can no longer cope with our artificially sustained numbers.

I'm afraid I cannot see any viable way forward in the long term, other than strict control of populations.

People will not readily accept reductions in lifestyle, so this will ultimately only be achieved by draconian measures at governmental levels by taxation or whatever.

Before we reach that stage though, the various energy providers will have made themselves umpteen billions of pounds, by increasing energy costs on the premise that fuels are running out, or renewable energy costs more, or a million and one other excuses that we, - as the average Joe Bloggs, will have to put up with, because we cannot live without our ready supply of energy. (Be it originating from gas, electricity, oil, coal, nuclear, renewable, or whatever).

The world will become even more a place of wide variation between the "have's" and "have not's"

I'm absolutely conviced that world wide warfare will occur as a result of this problem at some time in the future, as nations will defend their right to carry on regardless. As I've already said elsewhere, does anyone seriously think they would get any sensible response from countries such a China, (or America for that matter), if they had to drastically cut their energy consumption.

Would such countries sit back and accept things? Do you think it would be beyond their thinking to start invading other countries to plunder resources?

I have no answers, other than being certain of one fact - nowadays, there are far too many people requiring far too many resources, from the finite supplies available on this planet.

Regards
Mike.

[PMG]

....... and the easiest population control?? Stop paying child benefit ......

Pauline

[kiwi]

Maybe go like china and only allow one child per couple and a tax if you exceed that limit.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by seamusagleann

could well be !! can i just bring this to everyones attention

Forestry Law Change Will Help Global Warming Fight (from The Herald )

How wonderful and yes I'm being sarcastic! So if we want photos on unspoilt wild uplands we had better rush up to Scotland this year and photograph as many un-interrupted views as poss - before 'plane propellors on stilts' get planted everywhere ......... first it was coniferous forest they blanketed the land with - which at least is something growing - but now these hidious waste of time, space and money contraptions ....... and the wildlife where these are going to be put? Oh don't worry about that - it will die - but who's going to miss a few greenshank, merlin. golden eagle, SE owl, Hen harrier, red grouse - oh no - I forgot - they won't be put on grouse moors - can't have those birds dying ........

And the reason for these - so that shareholders can make zillions and have yachts and second homes on tropical islands - anything to do with global warming? Is the motive anything at all to do with global warming and sustainable energy? Don't make me laugh...... the only thing these will sustain is big bank balences and cocaine-fuelled existences ..........

Yours disgusted as usual
Pauline

[deancorleone]

100% agree on this. I know as a people we unfortunatly tend to go along with what people want us to believe is the truth, but years on i think we have all wised up to the fact that the sun is the major factor, the heat is intensifying, no longer can politicians blame 4x4's for not just heating up our planet, but many in the galaxy!

Biggest con ever, carbon tax ?!?! what will they think of next to get more control over us ?