[halfstreet]

New blockbuster paper finds man-made CO2 is not the driver of global warming

The phase relation between atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperature

• Ole Humluma, b,
• Kjell Stordahlc,
• Jan-Erik Solheimd

• a Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
• b Department of Geology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), P.O. Box 156, N-9171 Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
• c Telenor Norway, Finance, N-1331 Fornebu, Norway
• d Department of Physics and Technology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway

Abstract

Using data series on atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperatures we investigate the phase relation (leads/lags) between these for the period January 1980 to December 2011. Ice cores show atmospheric CO2 variations to lag behind atmospheric temperature changes on a century to millennium scale, but modern temperature is expected to lag changes in atmospheric CO2, as the atmospheric temperature increase since about 1975 generally is assumed to be caused by the modern increase in CO2. In our analysis we use eight well-known datasets; 1) globally averaged well-mixed marine boundary layer CO2 data, 2) HadCRUT3 surface air temperature data, 3) GISS surface air temperature data, 4) NCDC surface air temperature data, 5) HadSST2 sea surface data, 6) UAH lower troposphere temperature data series, 7) CDIAC data on release of anthropogene CO2, and 8) GWP data on volcanic eruptions. Annual cycles are present in all datasets except 7) and 8), and to remove the influence of these we analyze 12-month averaged data. We find a high degree of co-variation between all data series except 7) and 8), but with changes in CO2 always lagging changes in temperature. The maximum positive correlation between CO2 and temperature is found for CO2 lagging 11–12 months in relation to global sea surface temperature, 9.5-10 months to global surface air temperature, and about 9 months to global lower troposphere temperature. The correlation between changes in ocean temperatures and atmospheric CO2 is high, but do not explain all observed changes.

[Kinds Of Pain Meds]

New paper proposes pumping sulfuric acid into atmosphere to fix non-existent problem

A geoengineering paper published today in Environmental Research Letters proposes spending $8 billion per year to pump 5 million tons of sulfuric acid [H2SO4] into the high atmosphere to reflect sunlight, to allegedly save the planet from the non-existent problem of anthropogenic global warming. The authors propose a 20 kilometer pipe connected to a "new aircraft design," but note their scheme has a "large uncertainty" that either the pipe or aircraft could fail, thereby spewing tons of sulfuric acid directly onto Gaia.

The full paper is here and states the "albedo modification material" of choice is H2SO4, which is sulfuric acid.

[Dynasty]

Paper finds droughts & floods due to natural variability, not man-made greenhouse gases

Regional Precipitation Trends: Distinguishing Natural Variability from Anthropogenic Forcing

Martin Hoerling NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado
Jon Eischeid and Judith Perlwitz NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory, and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado


Abstract In this study, the nature and causes for observed regional precipitation trends during 1977–2006 are diagnosed. It is found that major features of regional trends in annual precipitation during 1977–2006 are consistent with an atmospheric response to observed sea surface temperature (SST) variability. This includes drying over the eastern Pacific Ocean that extends into western portions of the Americas related to a cooling of eastern Pacific SSTs, and broad increases in rainfall over the tropical Eastern Hemisphere, including a Sahelian rainfall recovery and increased wetness over the Indo–West Pacific related to North Atlantic and Indo–West Pacific ocean warming. It is further determined that these relationships between SST and rainfall change are generally not symptomatic of human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols. The intensity of regional trends simulated in climate models using observed time variability in greenhouse gases, tropospheric sulfate aerosol, and solar and volcanic aerosol forcing are appreciably weaker than those observed and also weaker than those simulated in atmospheric models using only observed SST forcing. The pattern of rainfall trends occurring in response to such external radiative forcing also departs significantly from observations, especially a simulated increase in rainfall over the tropical Pacific and southeastern Australia that are opposite in sign to the actual drying in these areas.

Additional experiments illustrate that the discrepancy between observed and GHG-forced rainfall changes during 1977–2006 results mostly from the differences between observed and externally forced SST trends. Only weak rainfall sensitivity is found to occur in response to the uniform distribution of SST warming that is induced by GHG and aerosol forcing, whereas the particular pattern of the observed SST change that includes an increased SST contrast between the east Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and strong regional warming of the North Atlantic Ocean, was a key driver of regional rainfall trends. The results of this attribution study on the causes for 1977–2006 regional rainfall changes are used to discuss prediction challenges including the likelihood that recent rainfall trends might persist.

[thighikergove]

And of course by pumping all that "albedo modification" material in the air, there are bound to be many unintended consequences. For instance, the reason why summer days are hot and summer nights are cold in the desert is that the heat that lands during the day is reflected off in the night. Put those "albedo modification" particles in the sky and suddenly all that desert heat can't quite escape and is trapped. By sealing the atmosphere to keep out the heat, you're also sealing in the heat. I wonder if any of that sealed in heat would make its way to the polar caps, melting them.

[TaxSheemaSter]

Climate Change in a Real Greenhouse: Its Impact on Tomatoes


Reference
Dannehl, D., Huber, C., Rocksch, T., Huyskens-Keil, S. and Schmidt, U. 2012. Interactions between changing climate conditions in a semi-closed greenhouse and plant development, fruit yield, and health-promoting plant compounds of tomatoes. Scientia Horticulturae 138: 235-243.

Believing that anthropogenic-induced climate change will indeed "lead to an excessive change in climate conditions in greenhouses, particularly during the summer," Dannehl et al. (2012) developed what they call "a new climate strategy for greenhouses," which they designed "to avoid plant damages." This strategy consists of the combined application of "a high pressure fog system and CO2 enrichment that can be applied to decrease the inside temperature and to increase the levels of relative humidity and CO2 concentrations at a high ambient temperature." These goals were accomplished while the five German researchers worked with tomatoes in two separate cabins of an experimental Venlo-type greenhouse at the Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, where the plants were grown under identical light conditions, but where one of the cabins utilized a DescFog system equipped with a high-pressure fog creation unit that produced very small (10µm) droplets of demineralized water above the plants and thus ensured a uniform evaporative cooling of them. Simultaneously, the CO2 concentration of the cabin air was set at 900 ppm from 5 to 11 am and at 700 ppm from 11 am to 6 pm in both cabins. So what were the "fruits" of their labor?

Dannehl et al. report that the changed microclimate in the cabin with the DescFog system was "sufficient to accelerate plant growth, to increase dry matter in leaves, and to promote the formation of fruit set per truss in comparison to [plants] grown under conventional climate conditions." In addition, they say that the new climate strategy "led to a maximum total yield increase by 20%, to a reduction of blossom-end rot in tomatoes and to a pronounced increase in fruit size during the spring experiments," and that "the climate conditions caused by the new technology significantly promoted secondary metabolism, resulting in a maximum increase in contents of lycopene (by 49%), ß-carotene (by 35%), and phenolic compounds (by 16%) as well as associated antioxidant activity in the water-insoluble (by 18.5%) and water-soluble (by 35.4%) fraction compared to the conventional treated plants," which group of enhancements, in their estimation, "most likely benefits human health."
Archived 8 August 2012

[BPitt]

See whole document

John R. Christy, PhD
Alabama State Climatologist
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
1 August 2012
One Page Summary
1. It is popular again to claim that extreme events, such as the current central U.S.
drought, are evidence of human-caused climate change. Actually, the Earth is very large,
the weather is very dynamic, and extreme events will continue to occur somewhere,
every year, naturally. The recent “extremes” were exceeded in previous decades.
2. The average warming rate of 34 CMIP5 IPCC models is greater than observations,
suggesting models are too sensitive to CO2. Policy based on observations, where year-toyear
variations cause the most harm, will likely be far more effective than policies based
on speculative model output, no matter what the future climate does.
3. New discoveries explain part of the warming found in traditional surface temperature
datasets. This partial warming is unrelated to the accumulation of heat due to the extra
greenhouse gases, but related to human development around the thermometer stations.
This means traditional surface datasets are limited as proxies for greenhouse warming.
4. Widely publicized consensus reports by “thousands” of scientists are misrepresentative
of climate science, containing overstated confidence in their assertions of high climate
sensitivity. They rarely represent the range of scientific opinion that attends our
relatively murky field of climate research. Funding resources are recommended for “Red
Teams” of credentialed, independent investigators, who already study low climate
sensitivity and the role of natural variability. Policymakers need to be aware of the full
range of scientific views, especially when it appears that one-sided-science is the basis
for promoting significant increases to the cost of energy for the citizens.
5. Atmospheric CO2 is food for plants which means it is food for people and animals.
More CO2 generally means more food for all. Today, affordable carbon-based energy is
a key component for lifting people out of crippling poverty. Rising CO2 emissions are,
therefore, one indication of poverty-reduction which gives hope for those now living in a
marginal existence without basic needs brought by electrification, transportation and
industry. Additionally, modern, carbon-based energy reduces the need for deforestation
and alleviates other environmental problems such as water and air pollution. Until
affordable energy is developed from non-carbon sources, the world will continue to use
carbon as the main energy source as it does today.

[saumemeva]

Anyone remember when "Climate Change" was called "Weather", and nobody made a big deal over it?

[Siuchingach]

higher levels of CO2 encourage plant growth. Yep !

[CymnMaync]

Anyone remember when "Climate Change" was called "Weather", and nobody made a big deal over it?

Yes, vaguely... But I am getting old!

[JohnVK]

Let's do it.

Sounds like a great plan.

[Storwaytozy]

I have often thought that the southwest needs to have rusty cars like us northerners have. This should do the trick.

[sbrscnds]

Let's do it.

Sounds like a great plan.

It is probably already done!

[Ruiptuptubre]

And of course by pumping all that "albedo modification" material in the air, there are bound to be many unintended consequences. For instance, the reason why summer days are hot and summer nights are cold in the desert is that the heat that lands during the day is reflected off in the night. Put those "albedo modification" particles in the sky and suddenly all that desert heat can't quite escape and is trapped. By sealing the atmosphere to keep out the heat, you're also sealing in the heat. I wonder if any of that sealed in heat would make its way to the polar caps, melting them.

Relax these idiots know what they are doing ,they have degrees.

Nature knows nothing , we are now smarter than God and just about anything.Nature nearly got it right but remember ....man knows best.

[ffdfriendforurr]

Clearly funded by the oil industry.

[sasaderesada]

Google "albedo modification material"

About 339,000 results

[frkksptn]

John is it an attempt to reduce your 'footprint' to squeeze several related topics into one? It is a bit confusing IMO...

[Nifoziyfar]

John is it an attempt to reduce your 'footprint' to squeeze several related topics into one? It is a bit confusing IMO...

Yes. I put up several articles, and it was pushing other topics off the front page, so I consolidated. Sorry about the confusion.