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The article makes the very valid point that global warming is of course about the energy balance. An increase in carbon dioxide is one of the factors that will
by aliasEli 5y ago
The article makes the very valid point that global warming is of course about the energy balance.
An increase in carbon dioxide is one of the factors that will influence this energy balance. But there are several other processes that could influence this. The processes that are the most worrying are the ones with positive feed-backs, i.e. they are faster when temperature increases. Virtually all physical, chemical processes run faster when the temperature increases[0].
There are some simple feed-back processes that could become important, such as the thawing of permafrost (releasing methane, also a greenhouse agent) or the melting of snow/ice (reducing the albedo of the earth and enhancing the radiation it absorbs).
[0] It is also true for most biological processes.
- HPsquared 5y agoMy personal concern is, if those positive feedbacks start occurring we will need to intervene in the energy balance directly. It would be worthwhile to research those methods so they're available if the worst happens.
- hulitu 5y agoWe already do this: we sell energy certificates. In a certain country i heard: we are not polluting enough. We will have to sell more energy certificates. My faith in humanity is quiet limited.
- AstralStorm 5y agoLike what, painting Earth white? Constructing a massive dust cloud in space to reflect/disperse sun? Nothing short of that or removing GHG will fix things. And even if we do those, we will have problems with increased CO2 concentrations, acid rain and seawater acidification comes to mind. Current biosphere is unable to adapt to huge CO2 levels on a short notice.
- HPsquared 5y agoThose kind of things become relevant once positive feedback starts. If an overweight patient is having a heart attack should the doctor give diet advice or CPR?