jleidel

After having spent a good portion of my professional career at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab [one of the largest climate research centers in the US], I picked up some interesting statistics. Our task was essentially to do long-range [50+ year] climate change studies using what is called "coupled climate models." Given the Earth's temperature, salinity, lunar cycles, geography, atmospheric chemistry, ocean circulation, atmospheric circulation, ocean ice, etc, etc, etc... we would perform extensive research on the affects of change from human and natural events on long-term climate. This, coupled with measured atmospheric chemistry from mother NOAA.

So... one of the most interesting statistics we came away with was the overall carbon contribution of humans. Of all the carbon emissions burped into the Earth's atmosphere every year, humans contribute a measly 5%. Of that 5%, 3% comes from the US, 2% comes from Western Europe and Asia. Given the recent move by the US and Western Europe to "prevent climate change" [whatever that means], that distribution will flip by the middle of the next decade. Given the rapid growth in China, they will most likely make up 3% of the Earth's carbon emissions, the US and Western Europe making up the other 2%.

What does this tell us? The natural processes in the individual macro ecosystems emit more carbon than humans, by an overwhelming margin. Every time a relatively large volcano erupts, it emits more carbon in 48 hours than all of the human race in 365 days.

Moral of the story? Drive your 928!! Drive it with single chamber Flowmasters!! Be smart about your daily chemical disposal. I wouldn't suggest intentionally dumping oil or coolant down your drain. However, tuning up your 20 year old German fun machine and heading down to Dallas for the OCIC will *NOT* affect global climate. Neither will all the hybrid Prius' on the planet...

RKD in OKC

A guy where I work has a Prius. He commutes about an hour to work every day, I think its about 50 miles one way. He puts enough miles on it that at the current gas prices the increased gas mileage pays the car payment with what he saves on gas every month.

jleidel

But does he "enjoy" the drive????

S4ordie

+100 Thanks for the correction. After the restorers get a look at it and if they determine the car is best parted out then the dismantlers should be notified.

RKD in OKC

Well...his wife is with him.

S4ordie

jleidel - like you, I have some scientific experience in perhaps a slightly different way. In a previous earlier professional life I was an exploration geophysicist in the oil industry. Previous to that I was in the military in a variety of capacities of which I received some advanced education regarding meteorology.

I agree the fervor over climate change and the relevance of human contribution to the carbon content of the atmosphere is sketchy. But what is not are the obvious effects of human pollution on a regional and sometimes global basis. If you are old enough to remember, Los Angeles where I grew up mostly, had horrific air quality. Cleveland and most of the great lakes had horrible pollution in their rivers and lakes, the northeast forests were being denuded by acid rain from the factories smokestacks upwind, the great Chesapeake ecosystem was, and still is dying as are most native species among most waterways, rivers, lakes and coastlines. We have made progress in the regional sense, the air in LA is cleaner, the Cuyahoga river in Cleveland no long catches on fire, the trees in the northeast are more threatened by boring beetles than upwind smokestacks, etc.

Your suggestion to be responsible with the disposal of chemicals is good and should be heeded by all. But again I think it is important to understand the purpose of the CA junker law isn't so much about climate change, it is about regional change and safety. In this regard it is notable and necessary. As a witness to firsthand benefit of programs like these in the past, I am all for it and support it completely. Especially if it gets dangerous cars off the road.
Now in another somewhat related way, we should all be more concerned about how much oil is left in the world. This matter, though not heavily considered by many, should be the much greater world concern over climate change. I encourage people to watch a well done documentary called "Crude Awakenings".

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/31064

Much of what this film reports have been known in the oil industry for decades. I first heard of this in the early 80's at the International Society of Exploration Geophysicists. The news then was shocking. Now it should be alarming.

The good news here is there will be incredible change of life and eco friendly technologies will emerge that will help slow down the consumption and will become more prevalent. The side benefit to these things is that they are also environmentally friendly which, despite your opinion regarding global warming, will please everyone. This is a subject perhaps better suited for OT.

worf928

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Okv

Indeed, when we see it this way, regulations can contribute to a better life for citisens.

I remember when catalysts became mandatory - they were then seen as a bad thing by many car enthusiasts, because they killed power.
But, what happened is that the automotive industry solved the problems, and cars have since then developed to be more powerful than ever.

Too much regulation though, may not produce benefits for the public.
Here, the government changed the new-car tax to benefit diesel engines.
I thought this was a bad solution, because diesels pollute far more than a moderns petrol engine with cats.
This problem was solved later; when everybody had bought diesels, they increased the annual tax on diesels.

Okv

The problem is, that it is most certainly worse here, at least for taxes.
I have thought about relocation myself, as the current government steadily introduces new obstacles for people that want to create and run their own business.

But, when you look around, you will see that other places and nations have issues as well.
You will end up with some balance of pros and cons, any way.

When I go to the Swiss web pages, I am made welcome to come to Switzerland and start a business, as long as I can make a living out of it.
(Pro: can start business - cons: business must be profitable)
If you want to come to Norway, you are guided to the social welfare system.
(Pro: money for nothing - cons: that was not what you had in mind..)

S4ordie

[QUOTE=Okv;6689562]
I thought this was a bad solution, because diesels pollute far more than a moderns petrol engine with cats.
QUOTE]


Okv - The new diesels are indeed cleaner in many regards to gasoline engines. I just sold a Mercedes E320 Bluetech. I tproduced fewer ppm of contaminates and less Nox than a comparable gasoline engine. Here in the U.S. the price of low sulphur diesel is at times 20% higher in cost than gasoline. That to me that is the greatest detriment to diesels. The new direct injection engines (sort of a cross between a diesel and gasoline engine) hold great promise for effficiency and performance.

S4ordie

New Zealand is the most business friendly country on earth. I lived there a few years ago and was just amazed at how eager they are for foreign investment and for people with viable business opportunites to go there.

Warren928

Prius owners can be proud of saving gas money, but its true, the batteries production is a pollution problem. And they can feel slightly less guilty of supporting the OPEC bastards.

Running a catalytic convertor on certain cars could be a major environmental liability if the car runs the cat too hot, and catches fire, because then often the whole car is burned to a crisp. High peformance cars that are for special racing purposes should continue not to have them. Also, street cars need to run without them when working on the fuel curve tuning process for the same reasons.

V2Rocket

happily, 2 weeks ago my family went on a road trip to the bay area in a 32' RV with the ford 6.8 V10. the trip was about 400 miles each way.

we averaged about 9MPG.

my dad took a piece of paper and wrote on it "prius offset" and stuck it in the back window.

and all was well.