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Wednesday, September 19, 2018

CO2’s Greenhouse Role: ‘Homo insapiens’ and the Goldilocks Zone

When greenhouse gas levels dropped too low in Earth’s distant geologic past, its entire surface became deeply encrusted in ice for millions of years until their levels once again rose sufficiently to melt the ice. Later on, when carbon dioxide levels rose too high in conjunction with the extended volcanic activity that formed the Siberian Traps, the biosphere cooked and the Permian–Triassic extinction event known as the Great Dying occurred. Once the level of CO2 decreased to friendlier levels, life was eventually restored. Next, the extended period of volcanic activity that formed the Deccan Traps released so much carbon dioxide that much of life again was extinguished. Then, once again after much geologic time, balance was finally restored and life resumed.

Today, we see greenhouse gas levels increasing and again temperatures are increasing. However, instead of extreme volcanic activity releasing CO2 over hundreds of thousands and millions of years, the carbon dioxide is being released very suddenly by mankind burning vast amounts of carbon laden fossil fuels. 

The wise thing would to have curtailed our consumption of coal, petroleum and natural gas when we realized the problem back in the 80s. Seemingly, however, the taxonomic name ‘Homo sapiens’ (meaning wise man in Latin) should be ‘Homo insapiens’ (unwise man).

http://samslair.blogspot.com/2018/08/global-warming-its-already-too-late-and.html?m=1

Related postings:
https://samslair.blogspot.com/search?q=Snowball+Earth&max-results=20&by-date=true&m=1

Global Warming: Russians Are Big Believers In Global Warming

While many parts of the world are beginning to struggle from the effects of climate change, “Russia is looking to capitalize on it, with the Kremlin driving a narrative that touts the economic benefits.

“Like more and faster access to petroleum and mineral reserves that were previously unreachable. The Northern Sea Passage, a legendary shipping lane along Russia’s Arctic coastline, has been largely inaccessible for part of the year because of dense sea ice. But now, that ice is melting, opening up a new trade route for Russia's cargo ships. Russian oil companies are already betting big on the new reserves they hope to find in the Russian Arctic, and other industries — like mining — are ramping up production since they now have faster shipping routes to many ports.

“The problem of climate change is actually the problem of adaptation to climate change. This is not a tragedy,” said Nobel Prize-winning climatologist Oleg Anisimov. “Certainly some places will become unlivable, but other areas are places that will become more livable.

“But the Russian people seem unaware, or unconcerned, about the environmental impacts of these climate change-related activities, like pollution from the booming factories, and wildfires in the North that destroyed million of acres of forest in a major tourism area.”

Russia Profiting Off Global Warming:
(12 minutes)
https://youtu.be/kbtZaqWVUgA

Note: Russians are big believers in global warming because the early phases of climate change will benefit them more than hurt. However, this short sightedness ignores the long range cycling in of disastrous effects that will occur later on for them. By the time their (and our) fear factor kicks in, it’ll be too late.

Long Term Effects Of Global Warming:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_effects_of_global_warming