climatechangedispatch--2020-04-30--Meeting The Terawatt Challenge

Meeting The Terawatt Challenge

Written by Duggan Flanakin , guest post on .
Posted in Latest news In his latest seminal book , A Question of Power : Electricity and the Wealth of Nations , the Austin , Texas-based energy analyst and futurist Robert Bryce declares that “ electricity has become a human right.
” It ’ s not an “ endowed by our Creator ” human right , nor one enunciated by a constitution or UN charter .
It ’ s not akin to freedom of religion or speech .
It ’ s not some entitlement we get for free .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this all-empowering energy source ; a right for all human lives to be improved and blessed the way ours have been ; a right to never be denied access to sufficient , reliable , affordable electricity , on a phony claim that letting you have it would hurt the environment or climate .
Try to imagine your home , school , healthcare , business , community , or world – your life – without this amazing energy source , and you will wholeheartedly agree with Bryce .
In chapter 16 , Bryce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a term coined by the late Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley , who posited that , if we can provide sufficient electricity to all peoples of the world , we can largely eliminate the massive problems of poverty , polluted environments , unsafe water , and food insecurity .
Bryce solemnly notes that our world is still far from that goal .
But we can get there .
Bryce traces the history of harnessed electricity , from Benjamin Franklin through Tesla , Edison and Westinghouse – to the much less well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who developed electric elevator motors ( enabling skyscrapers ) and the nation ’ s first electric rail system .
He illustrates how Franklin Roosevelt brought affordable electricity to rural America and oversaw the construction of massive dams that provided cheap electricity to every corner of America .
It was FDR , Bryce notes , who in 1932 proclaimed that “ Electricity is no longer a luxury ; it is a definite necessity.
” Bryce then hits us with the horrific reality that roughly 3.3 billion people ( 45 % of humanity !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual per capita electricity consumption is less than 1,000 kilowatt-hours per year ( kWh/yr ) – about what his home refrigerator uses .
These people barely survive in unplugged countries .
Another 2.7 billion people ( 37 % ) scrape by in low-watt countries .
Only 19 % of all people on planet Earth live in “ high-watt ” nations ( more than 4,000 kWh/yr ) – the bottom threshold , says Dr. Alan Pasternak , the key dividing line below which countries can not improve their Human Development Index .
A major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the unplugged – and even the low-watt – nations is the lack of societal integrity , capital investment , and affordable energy .
Yet , to ensure that all humanity can reach its full potential – to liberate women from endless drudgery , enabling them to develop their innate skills and talents – requires that the human right to electricity be recognized and made a reality .
How do we reach this lofty but essential goal ?
An essential component of societal integrity is that governments enforce the rule of law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ where factions share political and economic power .
In the poorest countries , elites organize society for their own benefit at the expense of the vast mass of people .
Capital – and energy – are much easier to obtain in a free society .
To illustrate the magnitude of the gap between Unplugged and High-Watt nations , Bryce chronicles the meteoric rise of the Giant Five – Alphabet ( Google ) , Amazon , Apple , Facebook , and Microsoft – each of which consumes more electricity each year than many entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Bitcoin , also have giant electricity appetites , as does the marijuana industry .
These businesses all know from experience the cost that electricity blackouts impose on them – and their customers .
Both weather and sabotage threaten the integrity of the electric grid , but the greater threat is the folly of those who believe that wind and solar alone can provide sufficient electric energy for a high-tech society , let alone the world ’ s billions .
Bryce chronicles how four factors – cost , storage , scale , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over our energy and power systems .
Electricity prices are soaring in countries like Germany , which panicked after Fukushima and began shuttering its nuclear power plants .
A third of German businesses , including automotive , see high electricity costs as threats to their viability , Bryce notes .
Rising electricity costs following the enactment of Ontario ’ s Green Energy Act led to political defeat for the Liberal Party and the rescission of 758 renewable energy contracts .
Even in California , civil rights leaders have filed a lawsuit , decrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discriminate against minority and low-income consumers ; it is now working its way through the legal system .
Bryce ’ s reporting suggests that the elitists who are pushing renewable energy – like despots in broken ( low-watt or unplugged ) countries – ignore the poor and middle class and treat rural areas as if they were uninhabited or just irrelevant , as they pursue unattainable goals that heavily burden taxpayers while threatening electricity reliability .
Meeting California ’ s 80 % renewable mandate , for example , will require massive increases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in wind and solar electricity generation .
Green energy growth today can not even keep up with the annual increase in global electricity demand , let alone replace all conventional power .
But the final nail in the renewables coffin is land use .
Bryce cites multiple studies showing that an all-wind grid would mean turbine farms would cover a tenth of the nation ’ s total land .
Frustrated by the indifference of urban elites to the real-world impacts on human health and wildlife , rural counties are fighting wind farms with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present a choice between vanishing ecosystems and “ clean ” energy that is actually highly polluting .
Mining for metals and minerals to build wind and solar systems would also be monumental .
Despite opposition by environmentalists , developing nations are rapidly turning to nuclear as fuel for the future .
But , Bryce notes , it takes national commitments akin to the New Deal to provide both the political stability and financial backing to construct and operate large nuclear power plants economically .
High-watt countries have imposed exorbitant permitting and regulatory costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with antinuclear zeal , this greatly limits the prospects for nuclear energy .
Thanks to fracking , natural gas has become abundant and cheap .
It must be a major part of the world ’ s electricity generation future .
Yet governments in high-watt countries are already banning fracking , blocking new pipelines , and even demanding that citizens mothball their gas-burning appliances .
Despite all the attacks on affordable , reliable fuels , Bryce is optimistic about the world ’ s ability and willingness to meet the terawatt challenge and provide electricity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biosphere .
Indeed , in little over a century , a fifth of the world has gone from no electricity to high-watt usage and another three-eighths is somewhat electrified – and their environments are better for it .
The humanist response to the Terawatt Challenge , Bryce asserts , is to empower the billions who are living in the dark to come into the bright light of modernity , progress , and better , longer , healthier lives .
This will require societal integrity , massive infusions of capital , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that electrifying the world will take time .
But it can – and must – be done .
Government regulation of these entities has become increasingly bloated and corrupt , Bryce notes .
We must significantly change our standards for both fossil fuel and nuclear power plants , to acknowledge technological improvements , the falsity of many environmentalist claims , and the fact that not having more of those power plants impose enormous costs on lands , wildlife , human health , and human rights .
Duggan Flanakin is director of policy research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( www.CFACT.org ) and author of many articles on energy , climate change , and environmentalism .

Written by Duggan Flanakin, guest post on Apr 30, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
In his latest seminal book, A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations, the Austin, Texas-based energy analyst and futurist Robert Bryce declares that “electricity has become a human right.”
It’s not an “endowed by our Creator” human right, nor one enunciated by a constitution or UN charter. It’s not akin to freedom of religion or speech. It’s not some entitlement we get for free.
But it is definitely a fundamental right of access to this all-empowering energy source; a right for all human lives to be improved and blessed the way ours have been; a right to never be denied access to sufficient, reliable, affordable electricity, on a phony claim that letting you have it would hurt the environment or climate.
Try to imagine your home, school, healthcare, business, community, or world – your life – without this amazing energy source, and you will wholeheartedly agree with Bryce.
In chapter 16, Bryce speaks of “the Terawatt Challenge.” It’s a term coined by the late Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley, who posited that, if we can provide sufficient electricity to all peoples of the world, we can largely eliminate the massive problems of poverty, polluted environments, unsafe water, and food insecurity.
Bryce solemnly notes that our world is still far from that goal. But we can get there.
Bryce traces the history of harnessed electricity, from Benjamin Franklin through Tesla, Edison and Westinghouse – to the much less well known but equally important Frank Julian Sprague, who developed electric elevator motors (enabling skyscrapers) and the nation’s first electric rail system.
He illustrates how Franklin Roosevelt brought affordable electricity to rural America and oversaw the construction of massive dams that provided cheap electricity to every corner of America.
It was FDR, Bryce notes, who in 1932 proclaimed that “Electricity is no longer a luxury; it is a definite necessity.”
Bryce then hits us with the horrific reality that roughly 3.3 billion people (45% of humanity!) still live today in places where annual per capita electricity consumption is less than 1,000 kilowatt-hours per year (kWh/yr) – about what his home refrigerator uses. These people barely survive in unplugged countries.
Another 2.7 billion people (37%) scrape by in low-watt countries. Only 19% of all people on planet Earth live in “high-watt” nations (more than 4,000 kWh/yr) – the bottom threshold, says Dr. Alan Pasternak, the key dividing line below which countries cannot improve their Human Development Index.
A major barrier, therefore, to electricity sufficiency for the unplugged – and even the low-watt – nations is the lack of societal integrity, capital investment, and affordable energy.
Yet, to ensure that all humanity can reach its full potential – to liberate women from endless drudgery, enabling them to develop their innate skills and talents – requires that the human right to electricity be recognized and made a reality.
How do we reach this lofty but essential goal? An essential component of societal integrity is that governments enforce the rule of law. The freest and wealthiest countries are those where factions share political and economic power.
In the poorest countries, elites organize society for their own benefit at the expense of the vast mass of people. Capital – and energy – are much easier to obtain in a free society.
To illustrate the magnitude of the gap between Unplugged and High-Watt nations, Bryce chronicles the meteoric rise of the Giant Five – Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft – each of which consumes more electricity each year than many entire countries.
Financial services, from Visa to Bitcoin, also have giant electricity appetites, as does the marijuana industry.
These businesses all know from experience the cost that electricity blackouts impose on them – and their customers.
Both weather and sabotage threaten the integrity of the electric grid, but the greater threat is the folly of those who believe that wind and solar alone can provide sufficient electric energy for a high-tech society, let alone the world’s billions.
Bryce chronicles how four factors – cost, storage, scale, and land use – prevent renewables from taking over our energy and power systems.
Electricity prices are soaring in countries like Germany, which panicked after Fukushima and began shuttering its nuclear power plants.
A third of German businesses, including automotive, see high electricity costs as threats to their viability, Bryce notes.
Rising electricity costs following the enactment of Ontario’s Green Energy Act led to political defeat for the Liberal Party and the rescission of 758 renewable energy contracts.
Even in California, civil rights leaders have filed a lawsuit, decrying how the state’s climate policies discriminate against minority and low-income consumers; it is now working its way through the legal system.
Bryce’s reporting suggests that the elitists who are pushing renewable energy – like despots in broken (low-watt or unplugged) countries – ignore the poor and middle class and treat rural areas as if they were uninhabited or just irrelevant, as they pursue unattainable goals that heavily burden taxpayers while threatening electricity reliability.
Meeting California’s 80% renewable mandate, for example, will require massive increases in costly electric storage because of seasonal variation in wind and solar electricity generation.
Green energy growth today cannot even keep up with the annual increase in global electricity demand, let alone replace all conventional power. But the final nail in the renewables coffin is land use.
Bryce cites multiple studies showing that an all-wind grid would mean turbine farms would cover a tenth of the nation’s total land. Frustrated by the indifference of urban elites to the real-world impacts on human health and wildlife, rural counties are fighting wind farms with renewed vengeance.
Giant solar arrays also present a choice between vanishing ecosystems and “clean” energy that is actually highly polluting. Mining for metals and minerals to build wind and solar systems would also be monumental.
Despite opposition by environmentalists, developing nations are rapidly turning to nuclear as fuel for the future.
But, Bryce notes, it takes national commitments akin to the New Deal to provide both the political stability and financial backing to construct and operate large nuclear power plants economically.
High-watt countries have imposed exorbitant permitting and regulatory costs on themselves and poor countries; together with antinuclear zeal, this greatly limits the prospects for nuclear energy.
Thanks to fracking, natural gas has become abundant and cheap. It must be a major part of the world’s electricity generation future.
Yet governments in high-watt countries are already banning fracking, blocking new pipelines, and even demanding that citizens mothball their gas-burning appliances.
Despite all the attacks on affordable, reliable fuels, Bryce is optimistic about the world’s ability and willingness to meet the terawatt challenge and provide electricity to a hungry world, without wrecking the biosphere.
Indeed, in little over a century, a fifth of the world has gone from no electricity to high-watt usage and another three-eighths is somewhat electrified – and their environments are better for it.
The humanist response to the Terawatt Challenge, Bryce asserts, is to empower the billions who are living in the dark to come into the bright light of modernity, progress, and better, longer, healthier lives.
This will require societal integrity, massive infusions of capital, and the right choices of fuels. Bryce admits that electrifying the world will take time. But it can – and must – be done.
Government regulation of these entities has become increasingly bloated and corrupt, Bryce notes.
We must significantly change our standards for both fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, to acknowledge technological improvements, the falsity of many environmentalist claims, and the fact that not having more of those power plants impose enormous costs on lands, wildlife, human health, and human rights.
Duggan Flanakin is director of policy research for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of many articles on energy, climate change, and environmentalism.
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climatechangedispatch--2020-04-30--New Federal Report Antidote To Overheated Arctic Alarmism

Written by Terence Corcoran on .
Posted in Latest news We now leave this southern coronavirus hell to take you way , way up North to the Canadian Arctic where , according to a news report , “ the frozen North is gone forever ” and the “ top of the world is turning upside down.
” The sensational language was allegedly based on a new research report , Canada ’ s Oceans Now : Arctic Ecosystems , 2019 , released on Earth Day last week by Bernadette Jordan , federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans .
The report received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story that tended to do what most media stories do when appraising material linked to climate change .
Small research factoids are routinely morphed into asteroids of climate destruction .
For example , the news report on the disappearing frozen North claimed that Arctic Ocean waters are “ 33 percent less salty than in 2003 and about 30 percent more acidic — enough to dissolve the shells of some small mollusks.
” Sounds bad .
But it turns out that the body of water that is 33 percent less salty is part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a giant spin cycle and salt levels fluctuate .
For many years it moves clockwise and for many years it moves counterclockwise .
Andrea Niemi , a federal research scientist and a lead author of the new Arctic Ecosystems report , said in an interview the low-salt reference “ does not apply to the entire Canadian Arctic.
” Nor is it likely permanent .
As the water spins in one direction over hundreds of kilometers , spurred by atmospheric shifts , fresh water from rivers and melting ice dilutes the salt content .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to change directions and the salt content will again increase .
Will the salt content return to what it was in 2003 is not known , but it is clear that the 33 percent decline in Arctic Ocean salinity has not happened and therefore is not a sign of imminent Arctic desalination .
Another aspect of the news report suggested that melting ice is interfering with the molting cycle of ringed seals , making them open to polar bear attacks .
Niemi said the ringed seal risk is based on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not apply across the Arctic .
As for polar bears , Niemi notes that while polar bear populations are struggling in Hudson Bay , “ in other parts of the Canadian Arctic they are doing OK. ” Then there ’ s the attack of the Pacific salmon .
Due to warming , warmer-water species are moving in , including Pacific salmon , to the point where fishing communities are hauling in salmon instead of char .
A large salmon influx occurred in 2019 .
It seems unlikely , however , that the arrival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a climate crisis for the local population .
The same question can be asked about much of the changes taking place in Canada ’ s Arctic .
Change appears to be happening as ice melts .
But does the change recorded so far amount to turning the Arctic upside down ?
Do the changes signal a looming catastrophe ?
Niemi said during my interview that the report was not intended to be a forecasting document .
Instead , through 190 pages based on the work of more than 50 federal researchers , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canada as something of an unknown planet ready to be discovered .
The 30-page public summary of the report , Canada ’ s Oceans New : Arctic Ecosystems , repeatedly notes that scientific understanding of the region is limited and “ filled with major gaps ” that need to be filled .
Rather than portray the Canadian Arctic as a collapsing ecosystem facing climate disaster and species extinction , the report serves as a basis for serious science and social research into a dynamic , non-static , ever-changing environment .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is changing but the type and speed of changes are not the same in all locations .
Understanding the state of Canadian Arctic ecosystems is necessary to explain and manage present conditions and future changes .
The state of an ecosystem describes conditions in a specific location — both the normal conditions and how they change over time.
” The public report is not an alarmist call for action to save a collapsing frozen , pristine environmental stereotype .
The fact is that little is known about the Canadian Arctic and there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been little long-term , sustained scientific monitoring of ocean conditions and species in Canada ’ s Arctic .
As a result , scientific evidence is limited to identify , explain , and predict ecosystem changes across the Canadian Arctic.
” The report is a welcome cool-headed antidote to the sensational portrayal of the Arctic as a melting disaster that ’ s killing polar bears .
As Niemi put it during our interview , “ the Arctic is characterized as being very different from year to year .
Those differences are normal .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific and Inuit knowledge.
” Today , a new element is having an impact .
The Arctic , she adds , is moving away from “ normal variation ” toward a new normal that is driven by “ climate variability as well as climate change.
” In other words , the actual federal report on Canada ’ s Arctic suggests change is underway .
The only element that ’ s upside down is the sensational language in the media and elsewhere that implies the Arctic is heading into some kind of oblivion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ good .
Read more at Financial Post

Written by Terence Corcoran on Apr 30, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
We now leave this southern coronavirus hell to take you way, way up North to the Canadian Arctic where, according to a news report, “the frozen North is gone forever” and the “top of the world is turning upside down.”
The sensational language was allegedly based on a new research report, Canada’s Oceans Now: Arctic Ecosystems, 2019, released on Earth Day last week by Bernadette Jordan, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
The report received little attention outside of a Canadian Press story that tended to do what most media stories do when appraising material linked to climate change. Small research factoids are routinely morphed into asteroids of climate destruction.
For example, the news report on the disappearing frozen North claimed that Arctic Ocean waters are “33 percent less salty than in 2003 and about 30 percent more acidic — enough to dissolve the shells of some small mollusks.”
Sounds bad. But it turns out that the body of water that is 33 percent less salty is part of the Beaufort Gyre where water circulates in a giant spin cycle and salt levels fluctuate. For many years it moves clockwise and for many years it moves counterclockwise.
Andrea Niemi, a federal research scientist and a lead author of the new Arctic Ecosystems report, said in an interview the low-salt reference “does not apply to the entire Canadian Arctic.”
Nor is it likely permanent. As the water spins in one direction over hundreds of kilometers, spurred by atmospheric shifts, fresh water from rivers and melting ice dilutes the salt content.
At some point, the great gyre is expected to change directions and the salt content will again increase.
Will the salt content return to what it was in 2003 is not known, but it is clear that the 33 percent decline in Arctic Ocean salinity has not happened and therefore is not a sign of imminent Arctic desalination.
Another aspect of the news report suggested that melting ice is interfering with the molting cycle of ringed seals, making them open to polar bear attacks.
Niemi said the ringed seal risk is based on a case study in Hudson Bay and does not apply across the Arctic.
As for polar bears, Niemi notes that while polar bear populations are struggling in Hudson Bay, “in other parts of the Canadian Arctic they are doing OK.”
Then there’s the attack of the Pacific salmon. Due to warming, warmer-water species are moving in, including Pacific salmon, to the point where fishing communities are hauling in salmon instead of char.
A large salmon influx occurred in 2019. It seems unlikely, however, that the arrival of salmon as a food source constitutes a climate crisis for the local population.
The same question can be asked about much of the changes taking place in Canada’s Arctic. Change appears to be happening as ice melts.
But does the change recorded so far amount to turning the Arctic upside down? Do the changes signal a looming catastrophe?
Niemi said during my interview that the report was not intended to be a forecasting document.
Instead, through 190 pages based on the work of more than 50 federal researchers, the report cautiously portrays the vast Arctic region of Canada as something of an unknown planet ready to be discovered.
The 30-page public summary of the report, Canada’s Oceans New: Arctic Ecosystems, repeatedly notes that scientific understanding of the region is limited and “filled with major gaps” that need to be filled.
Rather than portray the Canadian Arctic as a collapsing ecosystem facing climate disaster and species extinction, the report serves as a basis for serious science and social research into a dynamic, non-static, ever-changing environment.
“The Arctic, on a global scale, is changing but the type and speed of changes are not the same in all locations. Understanding the state of Canadian Arctic ecosystems is necessary to explain and manage present conditions and future changes. The state of an ecosystem describes conditions in a specific location — both the normal conditions and how they change over time.”
The public report is not an alarmist call for action to save a collapsing frozen, pristine environmental stereotype. The fact is that little is known about the Canadian Arctic and there is much to learn.
“There has been little long-term, sustained scientific monitoring of ocean conditions and species in Canada’s Arctic. As a result, scientific evidence is limited to identify, explain, and predict ecosystem changes across the Canadian Arctic.”
The report is a welcome cool-headed antidote to the sensational portrayal of the Arctic as a melting disaster that’s killing polar bears.
As Niemi put it during our interview, “the Arctic is characterized as being very different from year to year. Those differences are normal. I think that’s something important in scientific and Inuit knowledge.”
Today, a new element is having an impact. The Arctic, she adds, is moving away from “normal variation” toward a new normal that is driven by “climate variability as well as climate change.”
In other words, the actual federal report on Canada’s Arctic suggests change is underway. The only element that’s upside down is the sensational language in the media and elsewhere that implies the Arctic is heading into some kind of oblivion.
A changing Canadian Arctic might even be good.
Read more at Financial Post
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climatechangedispatch--2020-05-01--NY Times Busted For Overstating Antarctic Ice Loss

Written by James Taylor on .
Posted in Latest news The New York Times is attempting to panic people with an article today claiming alarming ice loss in Antarctica .
However , as recently as 2015 , NASA reported satellite measurements that show Antarctic ice mass has been growing since at least 1992 when satellites began taking measurements .
Clearly , either the New York Times story is wrong or the Times is telling an unnecessarily alarmist story about a few years of minor ice loss after many more years of ice gain .
The Times article claims , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , while the continent is losing mass overall as the climate changes , the change is uneven.
” The assertion is only half true .
Given that less than five years ago , NASA satellite instruments reported long-term and continuing growth in Antarctic ice mass , it is factually inaccurate for the Times to state , “ Researchers have known for a long time that … the continent is losing mass….
” SEE ALSO : Sorry Alarmists , Antarctica Is Not ‘ Rapidly Melting ’ On the other hand , the Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss is “ uneven.
” The ice-change map accompanying the Times article shows that a much larger portion of Antarctica is gaining ice than is losing ice .
The asserted overall ice-mass loss comes primarily from a relatively few locations along the very edge of the West Antarctic ice shelf .
Those locations line up almost perfectly with locations where scientists have recently discovered volcanoes under the ice .
The more accurate overall picture is that scientists have documented long-term growth in the Antarctic ice sheet , even during most of the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent trend of ice loss , the trend is minor , confined to just a small portion of West Antarctica , has been occurring for less than five years , and is likely due in significant part to undersea volcanoes rather than climate change .

Written by James Taylor on May 1, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
The New York Times is attempting to panic people with an article today claiming alarming ice loss in Antarctica.
However, as recently as 2015, NASA reported satellite measurements that show Antarctic ice mass has been growing since at least 1992 when satellites began taking measurements.
Clearly, either the New York Times story is wrong or the Times is telling an unnecessarily alarmist story about a few years of minor ice loss after many more years of ice gain.
The Times article claims, “Researchers have known for a long time that, while the continent is losing mass overall as the climate changes, the change is uneven.”
The assertion is only half true.
Given that less than five years ago, NASA satellite instruments reported long-term and continuing growth in Antarctic ice mass, it is factually inaccurate for the Times to state, “Researchers have known for a long time that … the continent is losing mass….”
SEE ALSO: Sorry Alarmists, Antarctica Is Not ‘Rapidly Melting’
On the other hand, the Times is correct that any current asserted ice loss is “uneven.” The ice-change map accompanying the Times article shows that a much larger portion of Antarctica is gaining ice than is losing ice.
The asserted overall ice-mass loss comes primarily from a relatively few locations along the very edge of the West Antarctic ice shelf.
Those locations line up almost perfectly with locations where scientists have recently discovered volcanoes under the ice.
The more accurate overall picture is that scientists have documented long-term growth in the Antarctic ice sheet, even during most of the past 40 years.
If there is a recent trend of ice loss, the trend is minor, confined to just a small portion of West Antarctica, has been occurring for less than five years, and is likely due in significant part to undersea volcanoes rather than climate change.
Read more at Climate Realism
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climatechangedispatch--2020-05-01--Robert Redford: Pandemic Provides ‘Pleasant Surprises’ For Eco-Warriors

Written by Douglas Ernst on .
Posted in Latest news Hollywood icon Robert Redford says the coronavirus pandemic has produced a number of “ pleasant surprises ” for environmentalists who are faced with the “ daunting ” task of saving the planet from climate change .
The long-time activist penned an NBC op-ed with his son James on the green lessons Americans can learn from the deadly contagion .
“ What has the scourge of COVID-19 revealed to us ?
” he asked Thursday .
“ Will any of these hard-won lessons help us as we turn to face the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the horizon ?
” The actor pointed to President Trump as an example of “ failed leadership ” before pivoting to a global economic shutdown ’ s effect on the environment .
“ There have also been some pleasant surprises , ” the pair continued .
“ As many of the world ’ s transportation and industrial sectors have reduced operations , there has been a remarkable decline in global levels of carbon dioxide emissions .
Of course , the cost in life and livelihood negates any celebration .
Nonetheless , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very real glimpse of the potential for global environmental repair .
… Clearly , inertia [ on green activism ] is unacceptable.
” Mr. Redford then said that “ the power of collective action ” must be applied because “ global entities unwilling to adjust their profits for the greater good ” are a continued obstacle to environmentalists .
“ [ We need ] to wrest control of environmental policies held hostage by stakeholders desperately clinging to their profits and power , ” he said .
“ If we come together to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will blunt the curve of climate change and create a better world for the many generations to come .
”

Written by Douglas Ernst on May 1, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
Hollywood icon Robert Redford says the coronavirus pandemic has produced a number of “pleasant surprises” for environmentalists who are faced with the “daunting” task of saving the planet from climate change.
The long-time activist penned an NBC op-ed with his son James on the green lessons Americans can learn from the deadly contagion.
“What has the scourge of COVID-19 revealed to us?” he asked Thursday. “Will any of these hard-won lessons help us as we turn to face the potential calamity of climate change that looms on the horizon?”
The actor pointed to President Trump as an example of “failed leadership” before pivoting to a global economic shutdown’s effect on the environment.
“There have also been some pleasant surprises,” the pair continued. “As many of the world’s transportation and industrial sectors have reduced operations, there has been a remarkable decline in global levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Of course, the cost in life and livelihood negates any celebration. Nonetheless, there is no denying that we have gotten a very real glimpse of the potential for global environmental repair. … Clearly, inertia [on green activism] is unacceptable.”
Mr. Redford then said that “the power of collective action” must be applied because “global entities unwilling to adjust their profits for the greater good” are a continued obstacle to environmentalists.
“[We need] to wrest control of environmental policies held hostage by stakeholders desperately clinging to their profits and power,” he said. “If we come together to do what we can, we can and will blunt the curve of climate change and create a better world for the many generations to come.”
Read more at Washington Examiner
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climatechangedispatch--2020-05-01--Study: CO2 Emissions From Dry Inland Waters Much Higher Than Thought

Written by UFZ on .
Posted in Latest news Inland waters such as rivers , lakes , and reservoirs play an important role in the global carbon cycle .
Calculations that scale up the carbon dioxide emissions from land and water surface areas do not take account of inland waters that dry out intermittently .
This means that the actual emissions from inland waters have been significantly underestimated—as shown by the results of a recent international research project led by scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research ( UFZ ) in Magdeburg and the Catalan Institute for Water Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in Nature Communications .
“ It all began in 2013 , during a measurement campaign in Catalonia in Spain , ” says Dr. Matthias Koschorreck , a biologist in the Department of Lake Research at UFZ .
Together with a Spanish team , he was studying the release of greenhouse gases in the catchment of a small river .
“ It was summer and parts of the riverbed were dry .
On a whim , we decided to take some measurements in those areas too , ” Koschorreck explains .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the riverbed released unexpectedly high levels of carbon dioxide.
” Koschorreck and his colleague Dr. Rafael Marcé from ICRA in Girona ( Spain ) , decided to investigate that further .
Results from various locations in Spain and Germany all produced the same finding : dry inland waters released readily measurable and sometimes considerable levels of carbon dioxide .
“ We wondered whether this might be the case in other regions of the world and whether greenhouse gas emissions from inland waters might be fundamentally underestimated , ” says Koschorreck .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gases from land and water surface areas , inland waters that dry out intermittently haven ’ t previously been taken into account.
” To investigate these questions , in 2016 Koschorreck and Marcé together with a core team of six German and Spanish scientists launched the dry flux research project , with the aim of measuring greenhouse gas emissions from dry inland waters .
As part of a workshop held at the UFZ ’ s Magdeburg site , they developed a measurement and sampling concept for their study .
They then engaged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every participant at the workshop got in touch with research teams all over the world to see whether they would be interested in taking part in measurement campaigns on freshwater systems in their area , ” explains Koschorreck .
“ The response was amazing .
Twenty four research teams from all over the world took part , which meant that we were able to collect data from 196 different sites on every continent except Antarctica.
” Each team carried out three closed-chamber measurements in dry areas of at least three freshwater systems in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or pond .
This involves placing a special measuring container with its open end downwards on the ground , separating the air inside the container from the ambient air .
An analytical device is then used to measure the change in the amount of carbon dioxide inside the container .
At the same location , the project partners also took samples of the dry sediment and measured its moisture , organic matter and salt content , temperature , and pH .
The large , complex dataset was evaluated by Philipp Keller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake Research at the UFZ and first author of the study , who came to some interesting conclusions .
“ We found significant carbon dioxide emissions from dry areas of inland waters across all climate zones , ” says Keller .
“ So this really is a global phenomenon.
” The researchers also discovered that these emissions are in fact often higher than typical emissions from water surfaces of the same size .
“ We were able to show that dry areas of inland waters actually account for a significant proportion of total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Koschorreck .
“ If you take account of this in global calculations for inland waters , the carbon dioxide emissions increase by six percent.
” But what mechanisms are responsible for the release of carbon dioxide from dry inland water sediments ?
“ Respiration processes of microorganisms , ” says Philipp Keller .
“ The more substrate available—the more organic matter in the soil—and the more favorable the conditions like temperature and sediment moisture , the more active they are , and the more carbon dioxide is released.
” From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers concluded that the factors responsible for carbon dioxide release are essentially the same all over the globe .
“ The interaction of local conditions like temperature , moisture , and the organic matter content of the sediments is crucial , and it has a bigger influence than regional climate conditions , ” Keller explains .
So what do the results of the study mean for the future assessment of carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters ?
“ Our study shows that carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters have been significantly underestimated up @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Written by UFZ on May 1, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
Inland waters such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs play an important role in the global carbon cycle.
Calculations that scale up the carbon dioxide emissions from land and water surface areas do not take account of inland waters that dry out intermittently.
This means that the actual emissions from inland waters have been significantly underestimated—as shown by the results of a recent international research project led by scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Magdeburg and the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA).
The study was published in Nature Communications.
“It all began in 2013, during a measurement campaign in Catalonia in Spain,” says Dr. Matthias Koschorreck, a biologist in the Department of Lake Research at UFZ.
Together with a Spanish team, he was studying the release of greenhouse gases in the catchment of a small river.
“It was summer and parts of the riverbed were dry. On a whim, we decided to take some measurements in those areas too,” Koschorreck explains. “The results surprised us—these dry, gravelly areas of the riverbed released unexpectedly high levels of carbon dioxide.”
Koschorreck and his colleague Dr. Rafael Marcé from ICRA in Girona (Spain), decided to investigate that further.
Results from various locations in Spain and Germany all produced the same finding: dry inland waters released readily measurable and sometimes considerable levels of carbon dioxide.
“We wondered whether this might be the case in other regions of the world and whether greenhouse gas emissions from inland waters might be fundamentally underestimated,” says Koschorreck.
“In studies that scale-up emissions of greenhouse gases from land and water surface areas, inland waters that dry out intermittently haven’t previously been taken into account.”
To investigate these questions, in 2016 Koschorreck and Marcé together with a core team of six German and Spanish scientists launched the dry flux research project, with the aim of measuring greenhouse gas emissions from dry inland waters.
As part of a workshop held at the UFZ’s Magdeburg site, they developed a measurement and sampling concept for their study. They then engaged the help of their international networks.
“Every participant at the workshop got in touch with research teams all over the world to see whether they would be interested in taking part in measurement campaigns on freshwater systems in their area,” explains Koschorreck.
“The response was amazing. Twenty four research teams from all over the world took part, which meant that we were able to collect data from 196 different sites on every continent except Antarctica.”
Each team carried out three closed-chamber measurements in dry areas of at least three freshwater systems in their region—a river, lake, reservoir, or pond.
This involves placing a special measuring container with its open end downwards on the ground, separating the air inside the container from the ambient air.
An analytical device is then used to measure the change in the amount of carbon dioxide inside the container.
At the same location, the project partners also took samples of the dry sediment and measured its moisture, organic matter and salt content, temperature, and pH.
The large, complex dataset was evaluated by Philipp Keller, a doctoral researcher in the Department of Lake Research at the UFZ and first author of the study, who came to some interesting conclusions.
“We found significant carbon dioxide emissions from dry areas of inland waters across all climate zones,” says Keller. “So this really is a global phenomenon.”
The researchers also discovered that these emissions are in fact often higher than typical emissions from water surfaces of the same size.
“We were able to show that dry areas of inland waters actually account for a significant proportion of total carbon dioxide emissions from these freshwater systems,” says Koschorreck. “If you take account of this in global calculations for inland waters, the carbon dioxide emissions increase by six percent.”
But what mechanisms are responsible for the release of carbon dioxide from dry inland water sediments?
“Respiration processes of microorganisms,” says Philipp Keller. “The more substrate available—the more organic matter in the soil—and the more favorable the conditions like temperature and sediment moisture, the more active they are, and the more carbon dioxide is released.”
From the results of the study, the researchers concluded that the factors responsible for carbon dioxide release are essentially the same all over the globe.
“The interaction of local conditions like temperature, moisture, and the organic matter content of the sediments is crucial, and it has a bigger influence than regional climate conditions,” Keller explains.
So what do the results of the study mean for the future assessment of carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters? “Our study shows that carbon dioxide emissions from inland waters have been significantly underestimated up until now,” says Koschorreck.
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
Read rest at Phys.org
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climatechangedispatch--2020-05-01--5 New Studies: High-Mountain Asian Glaciers Are Advancing, Surging

Written by Kenneth Richard on .
Posted in Latest news Glacier surges of 100s of meters within mere months have been occurring throughout High Mountain Asia ( the Karakoram region , especially ) for decades , even centuries .
It ’ s the Karakoram “ anomaly ” and it ’ s thought to be “ natural.
” So why are the regions where glaciers are retreating thought to be responding to unnatural climate changes ?
“ The January 2018 to September 2019 surge of Shisper Glacier , Pakistan , detected from remote sensing observations … The glacier surface velocity profiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glacier continues to be in an active surge phase resulting in advance of the snout and expansion of the ice-dammed lake .
Surface glacier velocities are as high as 48 m d−1 .
Between 18 December 2018 and 8 May 2019 , the glacier snout advanced at ~6 m d−1 with a total overall advance of 860 m. The lake formed due to damming of an outflow stream from Mochowar Glacier expanded to its maximum area ( 29.69 ha ) in May 2019 before drainage started on 23 June 2019.
” “ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former tributary of the once larger Hasanabad Glacier ( Hunza region ) , dammed the proglacial river of Muchuhar Glacier , which formed an ice-dammed lake and generated a small Glacial Lake Outburst Flood ( GLOF ) .
Surge movement produced the highest recorded Karakoram glacier surface flow rate using feature tracking ( ~18 ± 0.5 m d−1 ) and resulted in a glacier frontal advance of 1495 ± 47 m. The surge speed was less than reports of earlier Hasanabad advances during 1892/93 ( 9.3 km ) and 1903 ( 9.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1973 and 2000–2001.
” “ Our results indicated that the recent surge of the Monomah Glacier , the largest glacier in the Bukatage Massif , started in early 2009 and ceased in late 2016 .
From 2009 to 2016 , its area and length respectively increased by 6.27 km² and 1.45 km , and its ice tongue experienced three periods of changes : side broadening ( 2009–2010 ) , rapid advancing ( 2010–2013 ) , and slow expansion ( 2013–2016 ) .
During 2000–2012 , its accumulation zone was thinned by 50 m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 90 m. During 2015–2017 , its flow velocity reduced from 1.2 to 0.25 m/d , and the summer velocities were much higher than winter velocities .
We conclude that the recent Monomah Glacier surge is thermal-controlled ” Glacier advance in the Karakoram region occurs in natural cycles • The “ Karakoram Anomaly ” – where some glaciers in the Western Himalayas surge and advance as other regional glaciers retreat – has been cycling for at least 200 years .
The last glacier advance/surge cycle occurred in the 1950s to 1960s .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that most of the glaciers that have surged recently , have also surged in the 1950 to 1960s as surge cycles are often in the 40 to 60 year range .
Combined with further evidence of previous surges , it seems that the so-called ‘ Karakoram Anomaly ’ is around since at least 200 years .
It is also shown that two glaciers that are listed as surging are only expanding , that flow blocking of tributaries plays an important role for several surges , that surging glaciers are mostly free of debris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variability in regard to surge durations ( from 2 to 50+ years ) and surge cycles ( from 20 to 80+ years ) .
” “ The contrasting hydroclimatic changes in the Karakoram region and the western Himalaya , as inferred from the glacier mass balance data , are based on the observations of the past few decades .
However , our study shows the persistence of contrasting hydroclimatic variability over the past millennium ( Figure 3d and 3e ) , which indicates that the ‘ Karakoram anomaly ’ is part of natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ Karakoram anomaly ’ is a natural phenomenon and is probably caused by spatially varying hydroclimatic trends in HMA [ High Mountain Asia ] .
” Glacier advance and retreat cycling may occur without an “ external climate trigger ” If glacier advances occur in cycles and are considered natural , this begs the question : Why are the cycles or trends of glacier retreat considered to be an unnatural result of human-induced climate change ?
The answer may be that neither glacier retreat nor advance is a consistent consequence of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Brinkerhoff et al.
, 2017 ) .
Instead , there may be a “ cycle of advance and retreat in the absence of externally imposed climate change ” because… The lack of a clear climate change signal could explain why researchers ( McNabb and Hock , 2014 ) found in a study of 50 Alaskan glaciers from 1972-2012 there was… South of Alaska , there are three of the United States ’ largest glaciers in one single location : Mount Rainier , Washington .
One glacier is retreating , another is stable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and advanced .
“ The north and east slopes of Mount Rainier , Washington , are host to three of the largest glaciers in the contiguous United States : Carbon Glacier , Winthrop Glacier , and Emmons Glacier .
Each has an extensive blanket of supraglacial debris on its terminus , but recent work indicates that each has responded to late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century climate changes in a different way .
While Carbon Glacier has thinned and retreated since 1970 , Winthrop Glacier has remained steady and Emmons Glacier has thickened and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclude a retreating glacier is responding to human-induced warming , whereas nearby stable and advancing glaciers are responding to natural variability .
Read more at No Tricks Zone

Written by Kenneth Richard on May 1, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
Glacier surges of 100s of meters within mere months have been occurring throughout High Mountain Asia (the Karakoram region, especially) for decades, even centuries.
It’s the Karakoram “anomaly” and it’s thought to be “natural.” So why are the regions where glaciers are retreating thought to be responding to unnatural climate changes?
The advancing glaciers of High Mountain Asia (HMA)
A Pakistan glacier advanced 860 meters in 6 months during 2018/19.
Rashid et al., 2020
“The January 2018 to September 2019 surge of Shisper Glacier, Pakistan, detected from remote sensing observations … The glacier surface velocity profiles indicate that the ablation zone of the glacier continues to be in an active surge phase resulting in advance of the snout and expansion of the ice-dammed lake. Surface glacier velocities are as high as 48 m d−1. Between 18 December 2018 and 8 May 2019, the glacier snout advanced at ~6 m d−1 with a total overall advance of 860 m. The lake formed due to damming of an outflow stream from Mochowar Glacier expanded to its maximum area (29.69 ha) in May 2019 before drainage started on 23 June 2019.”
A Karakoram glacier advanced 1495 meters from 2017 to 2019.
Bhambri et al., 2020
“In 2017–2019 a surge of Shispare Glacier, a former tributary of the once larger Hasanabad Glacier (Hunza region), dammed the proglacial river of Muchuhar Glacier, which formed an ice-dammed lake and generated a small Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). Surge movement produced the highest recorded Karakoram glacier surface flow rate using feature tracking (~18 ± 0.5 m d−1) and resulted in a glacier frontal advance of 1495 ± 47 m. The surge speed was less than reports of earlier Hasanabad advances during 1892/93 (9.3 km) and 1903 (9.7 km). Surges also occurred in 1973 and 2000–2001.”
A Qinghai–Tibet Plateau glacier advanced 6.27 km² (area) from 2009-2016.
Guo et al., 2020
“Our results indicated that the recent surge of the Monomah Glacier, the largest glacier in the Bukatage Massif, started in early 2009 and ceased in late 2016. From 2009 to 2016, its area and length respectively increased by 6.27 km² and 1.45 km, and its ice tongue experienced three periods of changes: side broadening (2009–2010), rapid advancing (2010–2013), and slow expansion (2013–2016). During 2000–2012, its accumulation zone was thinned by 50 m, while its ice tongue was thickened by 90 m. During 2015–2017, its flow velocity reduced from 1.2 to 0.25 m/d, and the summer velocities were much higher than winter velocities. We conclude that the recent Monomah Glacier surge is thermal-controlled”
Glacier advance in the Karakoram region occurs in natural cycles
The “Karakoram Anomaly” – where some glaciers in the Western Himalayas surge and advance as other regional glaciers retreat – has been cycling for at least 200 years. The last glacier advance/surge cycle occurred in the 1950s to 1960s.
Paul, 2020
“A major outcome of this analysis is that most of the glaciers that have surged recently, have also surged in the 1950 to 1960s as surge cycles are often in the 40 to 60 year range. Combined with further evidence of previous surges, it seems that the so-called ‘Karakoram Anomaly’ is around since at least 200 years. It is also shown that two glaciers that are listed as surging are only expanding, that flow blocking of tributaries plays an important role for several surges, that surging glaciers are mostly free of debris, and that surges show a great variability in regard to surge durations (from 2 to 50+ years) and surge cycles (from 20 to 80+ years).”
The “Karakoram anomaly” is a “natural phenomenon”.
Managave et al., 2020
“The contrasting hydroclimatic changes in the Karakoram region and the western Himalaya, as inferred from the glacier mass balance data, are based on the observations of the past few decades. However, our study shows the persistence of contrasting hydroclimatic variability over the past millennium (Figure 3d and 3e), which indicates that the ‘Karakoram anomaly’ is part of natural variability. … This study indicates that the ‘Karakoram anomaly’ is a natural phenomenon and is probably caused by spatially varying hydroclimatic trends in HMA [High Mountain Asia].”
Glacier advance and retreat cycling may occur without an “external climate trigger”
If glacier advances occur in cycles and are considered natural, this begs the question: Why are the cycles or trends of glacier retreat considered to be an unnatural result of human-induced climate change?
The answer may be that neither glacier retreat nor advance is a consistent consequence of an “external climatic trigger” after all (Brinkerhoff et al., 2017).
Instead, there may be a “cycle of advance and retreat in the absence of externally imposed climate change” because…
“…interactions between ice flow, glacial erosion, and sediment transport drive these cycles, which occur independent of climate variations. Water availability controls cycle period and amplitude, and enhanced melt from future warming could trigger advance even in glaciers that are steady or retreating”
The lack of a clear climate change signal could explain why researchers (McNabb and Hock, 2014) found in a study of 50 Alaskan glaciers from 1972-2012 there was…
“…no corresponding change in the number of glaciers retreating nor do we see corresponding acceleration of retreat rates. To the contrary, many glaciers in the region have advanced…”
South of Alaska, there are three of the United States’ largest glaciers in one single location: Mount Rainier, Washington.
One glacier is retreating, another is stable, and the third glacier has thickened and advanced.
Moore et al., 2019
“The north and east slopes of Mount Rainier, Washington, are host to three of the largest glaciers in the contiguous United States: Carbon Glacier, Winthrop Glacier, and Emmons Glacier. Each has an extensive blanket of supraglacial debris on its terminus, but recent work indicates that each has responded to late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century climate changes in a different way. While Carbon Glacier has thinned and retreated since 1970, Winthrop Glacier has remained steady and Emmons Glacier has thickened and advanced.”
It is not reasonable to conclude a retreating glacier is responding to human-induced warming, whereas nearby stable and advancing glaciers are responding to natural variability.
Read more at No Tricks Zone
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climatechangedispatch--2020-05-01--Canadian Mayor Wants Military Jets To Bomb 15-Mile Ice Jam

Written by Ben Kew on .
Posted in Latest news , Videos A local mayor from the Canadian state of Alberta pleaded with the state ’ s Premier Jason Kenney this week to deploy military jets to bomb a 15-mile-long ice jam that has left much of his town underwater , he revealed Tuesday .
Up to 15,000 people from the town of Fort McMurray were forced into a mandatory evacuation on Monday after a rapid spring thaw caused an ice jam that caused rivers in Alberta to flood .
“ Significant resources are being dedicated to berming and sandbagging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Centre to mitigate flood risk , ” local officials said in a statement .
“ There is no threat to this area at this time and we remain in constant communication with staff at the hospital.
” According to local officials , the thaw created a 15.5-mile-long ice jam blocked jamming both Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers , sending floods of waters into local towns and villages .
“ Water levels are rising , and the situation can change quickly .
Members of the public in areas under a Mandatory Evacuation Order are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” they continued .
“ Access to the Lower Townsite remains closed .
Anyone remaining in high-risk areas , traveling downtown to observe flooding or for other non-essential purposes , are putting themselves , first responders , and others at risk of a serious incident.
” The mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo , Don Scott , revealed on social media he asked Kenney for fighter jets to bomb the ice , hoping to prevent further damage .
“ We have requested assistance from the federal government as we face this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was only recently the victim of a car accident .
Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon insisted Tuesday that the situation will resolve itself naturally when warmer weather melts the jams .
“ Ice-jam floods are very unpredictable and conditions can change quickly with little warning , ” he told reporters in Edmonton .
“ There is no reasonable engineering solution to unlock the ice jams at this point .
We have to rely on warm weather to soften the ice.
” Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland confirmed the federal government was aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways to help .
“ The fact that flooding season and , in due course , forest fire season is coinciding with coronavirus in Canada is posing some special challenges , ” she told reporters in Ottawa Wednesday .
“ We have been gearing up for those from the outset and this is an issue we are looking at urgently today .
”

Written by Ben Kew on May 1, 2020 . Posted in Latest news, Videos
A local mayor from the Canadian state of Alberta pleaded with the state’s Premier Jason Kenney this week to deploy military jets to bomb a 15-mile-long ice jam that has left much of his town underwater, he revealed Tuesday.
Up to 15,000 people from the town of Fort McMurray were forced into a mandatory evacuation on Monday after a rapid spring thaw caused an ice jam that caused rivers in Alberta to flood.
“Significant resources are being dedicated to berming and sandbagging the area surrounding the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre to mitigate flood risk,” local officials said in a statement. “There is no threat to this area at this time and we remain in constant communication with staff at the hospital.”
According to local officials, the thaw created a 15.5-mile-long ice jam blocked jamming both Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers, sending floods of waters into local towns and villages.
“Water levels are rising, and the situation can change quickly. Members of the public in areas under a Mandatory Evacuation Order are at risk and must leave immediately,” they continued.
“Access to the Lower Townsite remains closed. Anyone remaining in high-risk areas, traveling downtown to observe flooding or for other non-essential purposes, are putting themselves, first responders, and others at risk of a serious incident.”
LOOK: Huge floods caused by a rapid spring thaw in Alberta, Canada forced thousands to evacuate their homes pic.twitter.com/K5WyKtYWJK — Bloomberg QuickTake (@QuickTake) April 29, 2020
The mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Don Scott, revealed on social media he asked Kenney for fighter jets to bomb the ice, hoping to prevent further damage.
“We have requested assistance from the federal government as we face this new crisis,” wrote Scott, who was only recently the victim of a car accident.
Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon insisted Tuesday that the situation will resolve itself naturally when warmer weather melts the jams.
“Ice-jam floods are very unpredictable and conditions can change quickly with little warning,” he told reporters in Edmonton. “There is no reasonable engineering solution to unlock the ice jams at this point. We have to rely on warm weather to soften the ice.”
Flooding triggered by ice jams on the Peace River receded, leaving large chunks of ice strewn about in Alberta, Canada. More than 450 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to the flooding. https://t.co/K8dQ7wW0IR pic.twitter.com/wth4Nyql3l — ABC News (@ABC) April 30, 2020
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland confirmed the federal government was aware of the situation and was looking for ways to help.
“The fact that flooding season and, in due course, forest fire season is coinciding with coronavirus in Canada is posing some special challenges,” she told reporters in Ottawa Wednesday. “We have been gearing up for those from the outset and this is an issue we are looking at urgently today.”
Read more at Breitbart
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climatechangedispatch--2020-05-01--Ford, Rivian, Others Scrap E-Vehicle Plans Amid Pandemic

Written by Ben Geman on .
Posted in Latest news The economic and logistical toll of the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the rollout of several electric vehicle models , and even canceling one project .
Driving the news : Ford and the EV startup Rivian just scrapped plans to jointly develop a vehicle under the Lincoln brand that would use Rivian ’ s “ skateboard ” platform .
• The companies cited the “ current environment ” in announcing the decision Tuesday .
Why it matters : Automotive News reports that it “ appears to be the first announcement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the crisis.
” But beyond that cancelation , other product launches and schedules are being delayed as the EVs are caught up in the turmoil that ’ s pushing back various types of cars .
Where it stands : Here are several models affected — or potentially affected — by the crisis .
• Rivian has pushed the production of its upcoming electric pickup and SUVs into the first half of 2021 to complete the retooling of an Illinois factory .
• General Motors told the EV site Electrek that a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has now been pushed into 2022 .
• Via coverage in Electrek and TechCrunch , the production and delivery timeline for Chinese EV startup Byton ’ s M-Byte SUV is now uncertain .
• Ford said yesterday that the timing of some of this year ’ s product launches , including the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover , could slide , depending on how long its operations are disrupted .
• The startup Lordstown Motors said last week that production of its Endurance pickup is now slated for January of 2021 instead of late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beyond the immediate delays , the industry ’ s big investments in electrification could be slowed .
“ [ We ] anticipate many auto companies will cut back on their EV efforts or delay them significantly to address near term cash needs , ” Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note Tuesday .
• Meanwhile , the consultancy Wood Mackenzie sees near-term effects on the consumer side , forecasting a 43 % drop in global EV sales this year .

Written by Ben Geman on May 1, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
The economic and logistical toll of the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the rollout of several electric vehicle models, and even canceling one project.
Driving the news: Ford and the EV startup Rivian just scrapped plans to jointly develop a vehicle under the Lincoln brand that would use Rivian’s “skateboard” platform.
The companies cited the “current environment” in announcing the decision Tuesday.
Why it matters: Automotive News reports that it “appears to be the first announcement of a vehicle cancellation in the U.S. attributed to the crisis.”
But beyond that cancelation, other product launches and schedules are being delayed as the EVs are caught up in the turmoil that’s pushing back various types of cars.
Where it stands: Here are several models affected — or potentially affected — by the crisis.
Rivian has pushed the production of its upcoming electric pickup and SUVs into the first half of 2021 to complete the retooling of an Illinois factory.
General Motors told the EV site Electrek that a “refreshed” version of its Chevrolet Bolt has now been pushed into 2022.
Via coverage in Electrek and TechCrunch, the production and delivery timeline for Chinese EV startup Byton’s M-Byte SUV is now uncertain.
Ford said yesterday that the timing of some of this year’s product launches, including the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, could slide, depending on how long its operations are disrupted.
The startup Lordstown Motors said last week that production of its Endurance pickup is now slated for January of 2021 instead of late this year.
The big picture: Beyond the immediate delays, the industry’s big investments in electrification could be slowed. “[We] anticipate many auto companies will cut back on their EV efforts or delay them significantly to address near term cash needs,” Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the consultancy Wood Mackenzie sees near-term effects on the consumer side, forecasting a 43% drop in global EV sales this year.
Image by omarsaldib from Pixabay
Read rest at Axios
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climatechangedispatch--2020-05-01--Coronavirus Can’t Stop The Wind-Power Blowhards

Written by Alan Moran on .
Posted in Latest news For Australian energy , 2020 started precariously .
The bushfires showed the vulnerability of the nation to its subsidy-induced reliance on renewable energy .
Average prices in January reached near-record levels .
In addition , the market manager was forced to intervene spending over four times as much as normal — $ 310 million — buying services and compensating suppliers in order to stabilize the system .
In February , low demand , an influx of renewable energy , and high supplies of hydro brought about a halving of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions continued in March when they were reinforced by a forced cessation of demand and ample gas supplies caused by the COVID-19 crisis .
And in April prices fell to $ 35 per MWh .
Such levels were last seen five years ago , before wind/solar subsidies caused closures of two major coal power stations , resulting in a two-and-a-half-fold increase in prices and , due to the higher share of intermittent electricity , a permanent lift in unreliability .
Forward markets indicate that prices that were previously forecast at $ 75 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per MWh , a level that will be maintained through 2021 .
This trend could continue in later years if , as is constantly threatened , one of the big three aluminum smelters were to close , thereby reducing national electricity demand by five percent .
Long term , the low prices can not be maintained with the current wind/solar-rich generation , even if there is an-ongoing deindustrialization .
Wind and solar costs are difficult to estimate since the contracts are confidential and the headline price contains various contingencies .
CSIRO estimated the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per MWh and Bloomberg New Energy Finance at $ 40-74 .
Lazards put the cheapest wind at $ 52 .
On some estimates , large scale solar is cheaper .
China , which in the March quarter of 2020 announced approved more new coal capacity than in the whole of 2019 , is clearly unimpressed with such estimates .
One reason for this may be that intermittent renewables also need a firming contract which presently costs $ 40 per MWh but which Snowy Hydro says will fall to $ 25-30 .
Add to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) earns a discount on the average spot price because of its lesser availability during high price events ( when typically , there is little wind ) .
According to the Energy Council , wind on average received in 2018/19 24 percent less per MWh than the average spot price in South Australia ( in NSW it was only five percent less ) .
A further cost is seen in January this year when the market manager had to buy , and charge to wind farms , frequency control services ( FCAS ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also choosing to back off to avoid high FCAS charges .
Thus , if the spot price is $ 55 per MWh , a wind farm capable of a variable production cost of $ 50 per MWh would need $ 90 per MWh because of • its earnings being discounted by , say 20 percent , or $ 10 per MWh • a hedge cost at , say , $ 30 per MWh In addition , it would have other costs caused by the lack of system strength and FCAS charges .
Offsetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the renewable subsidy , which last year averaged $ 31.5 per MWh ( about $ 457,000 per turbine ) .
Forward prices have this declining to around $ 20 per MWh .
Long term it has to fall to zero , which means a wind/solar-dominated system would deliver electricity with support to offset wind/solars ’ intrinsic unreliability at best at $ 80 per MWh .
Wind and , to a lesser degree , large-scale solar is now a mature technology and is likely to see cost reductions not dissimilar from those of nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a system dominated by coal plants , supplemented by fast start hydro and gas , can provide a highly reliable electricity supply system at around $ 55 per MWh .
China and other developing countries would probably not be able to match this as they lack the low cost and conveniently located coal we have on the East coast .
Even so , they will have nuclear/fossil-fuelled electricity at far less than the $ 80 we can hope for from our present policy settings .
The energy-intensive industries are therefore likely to migrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see costs higher than they need , an outcome of which is a lower exchange rate and lower living standards .
The market manager , AEMO , has released a plan that indicates the network could accommodate up to 60 percent “ instantaneous penetration of wind and solar and could be adapted to accommodate 75 percent .
AEMO does not specify what the costs of this would be .
Meanwhile , renewable energy lobbyist Martijn Wilder , who the Commonwealth has appointed to head up hand-outs to renewables through the Australian Renewable Energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more monies to be directed into renewables as a result of coronavirus .
His views are supported by the head of the Business Council who opined , “ Every dollar we invest in energy , should be a dollar towards a lower carbon economy ” .
Maybe we just want to be poorer than we need to be .

Written by Alan Moran on May 1, 2020 . Posted in Latest news
For Australian energy, 2020 started precariously. The bushfires showed the vulnerability of the nation to its subsidy-induced reliance on renewable energy.
Average prices in January reached near-record levels. In addition, the market manager was forced to intervene spending over four times as much as normal — $310 million — buying services and compensating suppliers in order to stabilize the system.
In February, low demand, an influx of renewable energy, and high supplies of hydro brought about a halving of the previous month’s prices.
These conditions continued in March when they were reinforced by a forced cessation of demand and ample gas supplies caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
And in April prices fell to $35 per MWh. Such levels were last seen five years ago, before wind/solar subsidies caused closures of two major coal power stations, resulting in a two-and-a-half-fold increase in prices and, due to the higher share of intermittent electricity, a permanent lift in unreliability.
Price of Electricity: NEM Average ($/MWh)
Forward markets indicate that prices that were previously forecast at $75 per MWh are now at around $55 per MWh, a level that will be maintained through 2021.
This trend could continue in later years if, as is constantly threatened, one of the big three aluminum smelters were to close, thereby reducing national electricity demand by five percent.
Long term, the low prices cannot be maintained with the current wind/solar-rich generation, even if there is an-ongoing deindustrialization.
Wind and solar costs are difficult to estimate since the contracts are confidential and the headline price contains various contingencies.
CSIRO estimated the cost of wind at around $50 per MWh and Bloomberg New Energy Finance at $40-74.
Lazards put the cheapest wind at $52. On some estimates, large scale solar is cheaper.
China, which in the March quarter of 2020 announced approved more new coal capacity than in the whole of 2019, is clearly unimpressed with such estimates.
One reason for this may be that intermittent renewables also need a firming contract which presently costs $40 per MWh but which Snowy Hydro says will fall to $25-30.
Add to this, wind (but not solar) earns a discount on the average spot price because of its lesser availability during high price events (when typically, there is little wind).
According to the Energy Council, wind on average received in 2018/19 24 percent less per MWh than the average spot price in South Australia (in NSW it was only five percent less).
A further cost is seen in January this year when the market manager had to buy, and charge to wind farms, frequency control services (FCAS) and require backoffs, with wind farms also choosing to back off to avoid high FCAS charges.
Thus, if the spot price is $55 per MWh, a wind farm capable of a variable production cost of $50 per MWh would need $90 per MWh because of
its earnings being discounted by, say 20 percent, or $10 per MWh
a hedge cost at, say, $30 per MWh
In addition, it would have other costs caused by the lack of system strength and FCAS charges.
Offsetting these penalties, wind and solar receive the renewable subsidy, which last year averaged $31.5 per MWh (about $457,000 per turbine). Forward prices have this declining to around $20 per MWh.
Long term it has to fall to zero, which means a wind/solar-dominated system would deliver electricity with support to offset wind/solars’ intrinsic unreliability at best at $80 per MWh.
Wind and, to a lesser degree, large-scale solar is now a mature technology and is likely to see cost reductions not dissimilar from those of nuclear of fossil plant.
In Australia, a system dominated by coal plants, supplemented by fast start hydro and gas, can provide a highly reliable electricity supply system at around $55 per MWh.
China and other developing countries would probably not be able to match this as they lack the low cost and conveniently located coal we have on the East coast.
Even so, they will have nuclear/fossil-fuelled electricity at far less than the $80 we can hope for from our present policy settings.
The energy-intensive industries are therefore likely to migrate away from Australia and other industries will see costs higher than they need, an outcome of which is a lower exchange rate and lower living standards.
The market manager, AEMO, has released a plan that indicates the network could accommodate up to 60 percent “instantaneous penetration of wind and solar and could be adapted to accommodate 75 percent. AEMO does not specify what the costs of this would be.
Meanwhile, renewable energy lobbyist Martijn Wilder, who the Commonwealth has appointed to head up hand-outs to renewables through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, finds their appointee is calling for more monies to be directed into renewables as a result of coronavirus.
His views are supported by the head of the Business Council who opined, “Every dollar we invest in energy, should be a dollar towards a lower carbon economy”.
Maybe we just want to be poorer than we need to be.
Read more at Spectator AU
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