From: spamme9@gmail.com   
      
   On 5/2/2012 6:48 AM, Morris Dovey wrote:   
   > On 5/2/12 6:32 AM, mike wrote:   
   >   
   >> I've been reconsidering my position on the severity, but don't know the   
   >> numbers.   
   >>   
   >> If I burn a BTU worth of coal, I put a BTU worth of heat   
   >> into the environment.   
   >> The greenhouse gasses change the dynamic of the interaction between   
   >> the sun and the earth to cause additional energy   
   >> to enter the biosphere.   
   >> So, I expect a short term increase in the RATE of absorption from the   
   >> sun. And there should be a decrease in this additional component over   
   >> time with some half-life.   
   >> If I integrate all that, how many extra sun BTU's did that BTU of coal   
   >> cost us?   
   >>   
   >> And there's a related issue about the heat capacity of the system.   
   >> If I could magically bring the earth back into thermal equilibrium,   
   >> then change all energy consumption to clean exothermic energy with   
   >> no greenhouse gasses...   
   >> At the current rate of energy consumption, how long would it take to   
   >> raise the temperature of the atmosphere by one degree??   
   >   
   > I don't know - to all of the above.   
   >   
   > I'm convinced that combustion-based energy technologies have overtaxed   
   > planetary resources to the point that there is no longer any upside to   
   > their continued use on any significant scale.   
      
   Can't disagree, but the ratios do matter.   
   If fossil fuel is 1% direct heat and 99% global warming, one might conclude   
   that nuclear energy is a viable alternative for generations.   
   >   
   > A cursory review of our "peak wood", "peak whale oil", and "peak   
   > petroleum" experiences leads me to conclude that fueled technologies all   
   > ultimately lead to some "peak fuel" point.   
   >   
   > Seems to me that it'd be smart to choose technologies that don't have   
   > downsides.   
   Yeah but...you have to have viable technologies to choose from.   
   The human race is selfish and greedy.   
   I've cut my carbon footprint in half over the last few years.   
   I could do more, but I'm greedy.   
      
   I like long, hot showers.   
   I can afford long, hot showers.   
   I'm not gonna stop just so there'll be more energy so YOU can   
   take a long, hot shower in my place.   
      
   The human race is also very resourceful in fixing problems.   
   But they don't care until it affects them directly in ways they   
   can't tolerate.  In this case, by the time that happens, it'll be too late.   
   I take great comfort in the fact that I have no descendants and   
   will be dead by the time it happens.  There's that greed again...   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)