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NickB79
NickB79's Journal
NickB79's Journal
December 16, 2023
If you saw a car flip and roll into the median, would you stop to help?
So I'm in the break room at work, and a coworker is telling us how, on his way home from a weekend in Duluth (Minnesota), he sees a car in the northbound lane of I-35 spin out in ice, roll multiple times, and hit the dividing wires. If it weren't for those wires, it would have rolled into incoming traffic, ie his car.
He laughs and says it made him slow down the rest of the way home.
I was like "You didn't stop to help?!?"
His response was no, but it's fine because he saw another car behind him stop so it's fine. Another coworker chimed in that he wouldn't either, because "You don't know who that is. What if it's a murderer?" A couple of other coworkers nodded along.
And I keep thinking about that. How scared of the world do you have to keep driving as someone is potentially dying inside that vehicle? How do you sleep at night? What if that was your child, and someone drove by?
And it's not even the first time I've had these discussions. My wife and I found a lost child at the Mall of America a few years ago. Dozens of people walking by and going around him, looking away from a visibly terrified, crying child. Watching that sea of people just part around him. Long story short, I went to him, mall security was called, kid's parents found. And coworkers chided me for approaching a crying child, because "what if you're accused of being a child abductor?" WTF???
I've been at my job 20 years. I've worked with a lot of these guys since I started. Between these kinds of regular discussions, the Trump presidency, the response to COVID, and the response to the George Floyd murder, I've realized that a lot of my coworkers are only skin-deep good people. That makes me so profoundly sad.
December 10, 2023
Building wind power, canceling coal -- it's all drowning under borrowing costs
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/09/climate-talks-newest-threat-interest-rates-00130949DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Plans to push South Africa and Indonesia off coal sputtered. So have offshore wind farms on the New Jersey and British coasts, and a green hydrogen project in an Italian port city.
Climate projects around the world are sinking because of high borrowing costs driven by interest rates — jeopardizing a major plank of the international effort to prevent the most catastrophic damage from warming temperatures.
But rising interest rates have imperiled these goals.
Interest rates were one reason developers gave for canceling major offshore wind projects in recent months, including two projects near New Jersey by the Danish company Ørsted and a Swedish business’ project in the North Sea. In September, no bidders turned out for a September offshore wind energy auction in the U.K., also related to the effects of higher borrowing costs.
Climate projects around the world are sinking because of high borrowing costs driven by interest rates — jeopardizing a major plank of the international effort to prevent the most catastrophic damage from warming temperatures.
But rising interest rates have imperiled these goals.
Interest rates were one reason developers gave for canceling major offshore wind projects in recent months, including two projects near New Jersey by the Danish company Ørsted and a Swedish business’ project in the North Sea. In September, no bidders turned out for a September offshore wind energy auction in the U.K., also related to the effects of higher borrowing costs.
December 10, 2023
Good. I can see the point that horse preservationists make to leave horses alone in the western US (provided we reintroduce predators like wolves), since they were native 20,000 yr ago, but there is no reason to let them roam Australia.
Feral Horses Shot by Helicopter in Plans To Cull 14,000 (Australia)
https://www.newsweek.com/feral-horses-brumbies-shot-helicopter-invasive-species-1850073These horses are considered an invasive species in Australia, numbering up to 400,000 across the whole country. They descend from horses brought over by European settlers. They pose a threat to local ecological systems due to their grazing and trampling of the ground and native plant species, particularly in the Australian Alps, according to the Invasive Species Council, which aims to "seek stronger laws, policies and programs to protect nature from harmful pests, weeds and diseases."
Good. I can see the point that horse preservationists make to leave horses alone in the western US (provided we reintroduce predators like wolves), since they were native 20,000 yr ago, but there is no reason to let them roam Australia.
December 10, 2023
Seasoned scuba diver dumbfounded after encountering several species for the first time: 'Something's not right here'
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/seasoned-scuba-diver-dumbfounded-encountering-023000575.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJJv8AVvytueM2ZIaZb3jTyVI4dTBNqm7eDS7t-L4KiuNQhPLGOlkzHUtHiRq7fescaOKqbE4_MT-PXU2TpIlvPpO1mQJDJu9gcbnVJlJ9Xf5VIWg3dS6mn-k0NCTWlYg6631v65bgE2g2yFZ_NBAaKXmheljvWoF9JeNBQtElQDTropical fish have started to appear off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, startling one experienced scuba diver who has been swimming in those waters for the past two decades.
Scuba diver Lloyd Bond spoke to Phys.org about his discoveries, which have included seahorses, cornet fish, triggerfish, and butterfly fish — none of which are native to the cool northern climate of Nova Scotia.
Bond said he spotted his first tropical fish around eight years ago and that the sightings have increased dramatically over the last five years.
Scuba diver Lloyd Bond spoke to Phys.org about his discoveries, which have included seahorses, cornet fish, triggerfish, and butterfly fish — none of which are native to the cool northern climate of Nova Scotia.
Bond said he spotted his first tropical fish around eight years ago and that the sightings have increased dramatically over the last five years.
December 8, 2023
Snip
Edit: here's the link, sorry!
https://phys.org/news/2023-12-million-year-history-carbon-dioxide-comfort.amp
A new 66 million-year history of carbon dioxide offers little comfort for today (we're screwed)
Mainstream estimates indicate that on scales of decades to centuries, every doubling of atmospheric CO2 will drive average global temperatures 1.5 to 4.5° Celsius (2.7 to 8.1° Fahrenheit) higher. However, at least one recent widely read study argues that the current consensus underestimates planetary sensitivity, putting it at 3.6 to 6°C of warming per doubling.
Snip
The consortium's members did not collect new data; rather, they came together to sort through published studies to assess their reliability, based on evolving knowledge. They excluded some that that they found outdated or incomplete in the light of new findings, and recalibrated others to account for the latest analytical techniques. Then they calculated a new 66-million-year curve of CO2 versus temperatures based on all the evidence so far, coming to a consensus on what they call "Earth system sensitivity." By this measure, they say, a doubling of CO2 is predicted to warm the planet a whopping 5 to 8° C.
Edit: here's the link, sorry!
https://phys.org/news/2023-12-million-year-history-carbon-dioxide-comfort.amp
December 6, 2023
The only way we'll stave off catastrophic, potentially civilization-collapsing climate change is to stop burning fossil fuels. Fast.
Fossil-fuel emissions are over a million times greater than carbon removal efforts
https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/12/04/1084381/fossil-fuel-emissions-carbon-removal-efforts/amp/However, one technology sometimes touted as a cure-all for the emissions problems has severe limitations, according to the new report: carbon dioxide removal. Carbon removal technologies suck greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere to prevent them from further warming the planet. The UN panel on climate change has called carbon removal an essential component of plans to reach international climate targets of keeping warming at less than 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above preindustrial levels.
The problem is, there’s very little carbon dioxide removal taking place today. Direct air capture and other technological approaches collected and stored only around 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023.
That means that, in total, emissions from fossil fuels were millions of times higher than carbon removal levels this year. That ratio shows that it’s “infeasible” for carbon removal technologies to balance out emissions, O’Sullivan says: “We cannot offset our way out of this problem.”
The report also had bad news about nature-based approaches. Efforts to pull carbon out of the atmosphere with methods like reforestation and afforestation (in other words, planting trees) accounted for more emissions removed from the atmosphere than their technological counterparts. However, even those efforts are still being canceled out by current rates of deforestation and other land-use changes.
The problem is, there’s very little carbon dioxide removal taking place today. Direct air capture and other technological approaches collected and stored only around 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023.
That means that, in total, emissions from fossil fuels were millions of times higher than carbon removal levels this year. That ratio shows that it’s “infeasible” for carbon removal technologies to balance out emissions, O’Sullivan says: “We cannot offset our way out of this problem.”
The report also had bad news about nature-based approaches. Efforts to pull carbon out of the atmosphere with methods like reforestation and afforestation (in other words, planting trees) accounted for more emissions removed from the atmosphere than their technological counterparts. However, even those efforts are still being canceled out by current rates of deforestation and other land-use changes.
The only way we'll stave off catastrophic, potentially civilization-collapsing climate change is to stop burning fossil fuels. Fast.
December 4, 2023
Cheap oil would severely slow the global push for EV adoption as well. Maybe that's what they're really discussing at COP28 this week.....
Saudi Arabia could 'flush' the oil market with a flood of supply to regain control over prices
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/saudi-arabia-could-flush-oil-053428962.htmlSaudi Arabia may "flush" the market with a flood of supply that would sink prices, an expert said.
That comes as OPEC+ concluded its latest meeting where members pledged voluntary production cuts without giving firm commitments.
Meanwhile, US crude output has been on a tear this year, hitting new record highs.
That comes as OPEC+ concluded its latest meeting where members pledged voluntary production cuts without giving firm commitments.
Meanwhile, US crude output has been on a tear this year, hitting new record highs.
Cheap oil would severely slow the global push for EV adoption as well. Maybe that's what they're really discussing at COP28 this week.....
December 4, 2023
That is amazing. We replaced our propane furnace 5 yr ago with a new Carrier unit, and replaced the AC with a Carrier Infinity heat pump that integrates to the furnace. It can operate down to 15F, at which point the system kicks in the gas furnace. Now, instead of burning gas 7 months of the year (Oct to April, since we're in Minnesota), we burn it 3 months. We save hundreds of dollars per year.
With this kind of advancement, it's getting close to the point a person could get off gas completely, even in a northern climate.
I may consider replacing my heat pump in a decade now, and removing my propane furnace altogether.
A heat pump that can operate down to -28C! Wow
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/11/29/lg-launches-residential-air-to-water-propane-heat-pump/The new product utilizes propane (R290) as a refrigerant and has a global warming potential of 3. According to the manufacturer, it can achieve a flow temperature of 75 C and 100% heating output even at extremely low outside temperatures of -15 C, with the operating range reaching down to -28 C.
LG is offering the heat pump in four versions with nominal capacities of 9 kW, 12 kW, 14 kW and 16 kW. Its seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) is reportedly over 5.
The manufacturer said the heat pump can also be integrated with energy storage systems (ESS) to maximize the use of residential PV systems.
“Surplus energy can be stored in the ESS battery and diverted to the AWHP’s integrated water tank during the daytime, when solar energy production is at its peak,” it explained. “In the evening, when energy consumption is typically high, the ESS utilizes the stored energy to provide hot water and to power home appliances, boosting energy efficiency and energy self-reliance.”
LG is offering the heat pump in four versions with nominal capacities of 9 kW, 12 kW, 14 kW and 16 kW. Its seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) is reportedly over 5.
The manufacturer said the heat pump can also be integrated with energy storage systems (ESS) to maximize the use of residential PV systems.
“Surplus energy can be stored in the ESS battery and diverted to the AWHP’s integrated water tank during the daytime, when solar energy production is at its peak,” it explained. “In the evening, when energy consumption is typically high, the ESS utilizes the stored energy to provide hot water and to power home appliances, boosting energy efficiency and energy self-reliance.”
That is amazing. We replaced our propane furnace 5 yr ago with a new Carrier unit, and replaced the AC with a Carrier Infinity heat pump that integrates to the furnace. It can operate down to 15F, at which point the system kicks in the gas furnace. Now, instead of burning gas 7 months of the year (Oct to April, since we're in Minnesota), we burn it 3 months. We save hundreds of dollars per year.
With this kind of advancement, it's getting close to the point a person could get off gas completely, even in a northern climate.
I may consider replacing my heat pump in a decade now, and removing my propane furnace altogether.
November 28, 2023
Chill hours are a common requirement for many fruiting trees. Something similar happened to Georgia's peach crop.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/06/georgias-peach-crops-2023-suffers/70293494007/
Winter isn't coming: climate change hits Greek olive crop
https://phys.org/news/2023-11-winter-isnt-climate-greek-olive.amp"The old growers here say it is very important for the trees to rest in the winter. It takes about one to two months of good cold weather for the tree to rest... so that it can yield later," Vassilaki said.
Athanassios Molassiotis, an agronomist and head of the arboriculture lab of Thessaloniki's Aristotelio University, said his team recorded an increase in temperature of two degrees during October, November and December 2022 compared to a year earlier.
This affected the olive buds "because we know that the tree bears fruit after cold winters, especially the Halkidiki variety, which has high requirements at low temperatures in winter," he said.
"We found that in many trees, there was no flowering and therefore no fruit afterwards," Molassiotis said.
Athanassios Molassiotis, an agronomist and head of the arboriculture lab of Thessaloniki's Aristotelio University, said his team recorded an increase in temperature of two degrees during October, November and December 2022 compared to a year earlier.
This affected the olive buds "because we know that the tree bears fruit after cold winters, especially the Halkidiki variety, which has high requirements at low temperatures in winter," he said.
"We found that in many trees, there was no flowering and therefore no fruit afterwards," Molassiotis said.
Chill hours are a common requirement for many fruiting trees. Something similar happened to Georgia's peach crop.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/06/georgias-peach-crops-2023-suffers/70293494007/
November 26, 2023
Just started to get a few flakes today here (Twin Cities, MN).
I remember deer hunting as a kid 30 yr ago in November, it was a lot easier to follow a blood trail with a few inches of the white stuff on the ground.
New maps show where snowfall is disappearing
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/11/25/weather/snowfall-temperatures-climate-change-water/index.htmlCNN
—
Snowfall is declining globally as temperatures warm because of human-caused climate change, a new analysis and maps from a NOAA climate scientist show.
But less snow falling from the sky isn’t as innocuous as just having to shovel less; it threatens to reinforce warming, and disrupt food and water for billions of people.
Climate scientists say the future of snowfall is pretty clear: A warmer world driven by human pollution means precipitation is more likely to fall as rain than snow, all else being equal.
—
Snowfall is declining globally as temperatures warm because of human-caused climate change, a new analysis and maps from a NOAA climate scientist show.
But less snow falling from the sky isn’t as innocuous as just having to shovel less; it threatens to reinforce warming, and disrupt food and water for billions of people.
Climate scientists say the future of snowfall is pretty clear: A warmer world driven by human pollution means precipitation is more likely to fall as rain than snow, all else being equal.
Just started to get a few flakes today here (Twin Cities, MN).
I remember deer hunting as a kid 30 yr ago in November, it was a lot easier to follow a blood trail with a few inches of the white stuff on the ground.
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