Thursday, February 16, 2023

No credible scientist advocates mitigation only. I know many of them.

Mitigation is about the immediate weather incidents accompanying the climate crisis. Mitigation is immediate survival and offers no solution to end the crisis. Ending the climate crisis is paramount to the outcomes of current generations and those to come. A crisis is meant to be ended. 

STOP GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS!

16 February 2023
By Damien Carrington

The world is at risk of descending into a climate “doom loop”, a thinktank report has warned. (click here)

It said simply coping with the escalating impacts of the climate crisis could draw resources and focus away from the efforts to slash carbon emissions, making the situation even worse.

The damage caused by global heating across the globe is increasingly clear, and recovering from climate disasters is already costing billions of dollars. Furthermore, these disasters can cause cascading problems including water, food and energy crises, as well as increased migration and conflict, all draining countries’ resources.

The researchers, from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Chatham House, said a current example of the impact of the climate crisis complicating efforts to reduce emissions and other action was the debate over whether keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5C – the international goal – was still possible.

Those arguing 1.5C was still possible risked perpetuating complacency that today’s slow pace of action was sufficient, the researchers said, while those arguing it was not possible risked supporting fatalism that little that could now be done, or “extreme approaches” such as geoengineering.

Avoiding a doom loop required a more honest acceptance by politicians of the great risks posed by the climate crisis, the researchers said, including the looming prospect of tipping points and of the huge scale of the economic and societal transformation required to end global heating. This should be combined with narratives that focused on the great benefits climate action brought and ensuring policies were fairly implemented....

Climate Tipping Points should be observed and reported on regularly.

The location of climate tipping elements (click here) in the cryosphere (blue), biosphere (green), and ocean/atmosphere (orange), and global warming levels at which their tipping points will likely be triggered
.

Climate tipping points are conditions beyond which changes in a part of the climate system become self-perpetuating. These changes may lead to abrupt, irreversible, and dangerous impacts with serious implications for humanity. Armstrong McKay et al. present an updated assessment of the most important climate tipping elements and their potential tipping points, including their temperature thresholds, time scales, and impacts. Their analysis indicates that even global warming of 1°C, a threshold that we already have passed, puts us at risk by triggering some tipping points. This finding provides a compelling reason to limit additional warming as much as possible. —HJS

Oh, well. There is always the summer 5ks.

February 7, 2023
By James Cook and Brendan Quealy

ACME — Changes have been made to the 47th annual North American Vasa (click here) this coming weekend because of current weather conditions and forecasts for the remainder of the week.

Vasa, one of the largest cross-country skiing events in the United States, will only be one day this year, with all of Sunday’s classic races canceled amid fear there won’t be enough snow.

“The weather forecast is pretty unpredictable,” Vasa Race Director Janice Davidson said. “Our (snow) base is pretty limited as it is.”

The Traverse City forecast from the National Weather Service calls for temperatures in the 40s and rain Thursday, which would dramatically shrink the already-limited amount of snow on the ground at Timber Ridge Resort in Acme, host of the annual series of races that draws thousands of participants. Wednesday also is predicted to be in the 40s.

Davidson said Saturday’s modified slate is being rebranded as a “Looptacular,” featuring courses all going on the same 6-kilometer loop at Timber Ridge....

A qualifying race for Iditarod was cancelled due to poor weather.

February 15, 2023
By Brandon Champion

Marquette, MI - Sled dog races set to take place in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (click here) have been canceled due to deteriorating weather conditions, the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association announced Wednesday.

Due to safety concerns, the UP200, Midnight Run and Jack Pine 30 set to depart from Washington Street in Marquette this weekend have been canceled.

“Safety is our top priority. Given the rain overnight, the impending flash freeze and the lack of snow in this week’s forecast, it would be irresponsible to encourage mushers, volunteers and spectators to be on the trail this weekend. We will make the best of a difficult situation,” said Darlene Walch, UPSDA president....

The video was last year. The cancellation is the first time in the history of the race. 

 

There is the issue of the appropriate nature of the object and it's customers.

The fact the objects were immediately identifiable is a concern, too. The companies involved will no doubt want their equipment back and replacement for any damage, but, why weren't they readily identifiable? I don't understand how objects simply fly around the country without appropriate identification.

There is still the question as to what information is being gathered, for what reason and who are the customers to that information. It is all a question of national security. 

February 16, 2023
By Joey Garrison and Michael Collins

...He said the intelligence community is "still assessing" objects (click here) that were shot down over Alaska, Canada's Yukon Territory and Lake Huron. "Nothing right now," he said, suggests the objects are tied to China’s spy balloon program, even though they were shot down about a week after the U.S. shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the Atlantic coast.

Biden said the intelligence community's "current assessment" is that the three objects were "most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions studying weather or conduct other scientific research."...

Water quality is required in the USA in 2023.

February 16, 2023
By Jennifer Somers

St. Charles, Missouri -The City of St. Charles (click here) shut down another water well in the Elm Point Wellfield to maintain safe drinking water for its residents after detecting contamination.

The closure of City Well No. 7, announced Thursday morning, means that the city has shut down six of its seven wells due to traces of 1,2-dichloroethene and vinyl chloride. To combat a drinking water shortage, the city has been purchasing millions of gallons of water daily from the City of St. Louis instead of producing its own at a lower cost....

This tragedy could have been prevented. The railroad is responsible.

February 16, 2023
By Scott Dance and Justine McDaniel

Train derailment (click here) in East Palestine, Ohio photo from drone overflight 

East Palestine, Ohio - Fear, uncertainty and anger (click here) are mounting among residents of this Ohio village after a train derailment and fire unleashed a glut of toxic chemicals on Feb. 3.

Officials have tried to assure locals that the town is safe to live in — a message imparted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan, who visited the village Thursday — but many say that’s only left them with more questions.

Concern about air pollution from the Norfolk Southern train’s wrecked rail cars has given way to long-term worries about contamination of the water and soil in East Palestine and beyond. Many who evacuated as the blaze burned are questioning whether it was safe to come back. Some say they are suffering headaches and rashes and are not comforted by what they see as a lack of solid answers from authorities....

From the National Cancer Institute

Vinyl chloride exposure (click here) is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.

This accident could have been prevented. There are reports the train was experiencing mechanical problems the day before. This is not an issue of any long drawn out lawsuit that will result in a guilty verdict. The facts are known and the railroad is directly responsible for this tragedy. It could have been prevented.

February 16, 2023
By Benjamine Duer

...drone photo...

A new federal lawsuit (click here) against Norfolk Southern over the massive train derailment here alleges that 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride were released into the environment.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday by law firm Morgan & Morgan in U.S. District Court's Northern District of Ohio is one of six suits the railroad company is facing after the derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border almost two weeks ago....

...Attorney Rene Rocha with Morgan & Morgan described the amount of vinyl chloride released into the environment as "pretty shocking." The law firm based its calculation on the total volume of five 25,800 gallon DOT 105J300W tank cars carrying 8.6 pounds per gallon of vinyl chloride....