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11 Nov 09
15:29
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03 Dec 06
The research, by Bristol University, suggests that despite rising emissions, the world is is still able to store a significant amount of greenhouse gases in oceans and forests.
According to the study, the Earth has continued to absorb more than half of the carbon dioxide pumped out by humans over the last 160 years.
This is despite emissions of CO2 increasing from two billion tonnes per year in 1850 to current levels of 35 billion tonnes per year.
Previously it was thought that the Earth's capability to absorb CO2 would decrease as production booms, leading to an accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
But Wolfgang Knorr, author of the new study, found that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has remained just over 50 per cent, with only tiny fluctuations being recorded despite the massive hike in output.
He pointed out that his study relied entirely on empirical data, including historical records extracted from ice samples in the Antarctic, rather than speculative climate change models.
"Previous studies suggested that in the next ten years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will accelerate because there is a lot less uptake by the Earth, there is no indication of this," he said.
However scientists cautioned that the ability of the oceans and rainforests to absorb carbon dioxide in the future may collapse, leading to a massive increase in temperatures.
Another study released this week found the amount of CO2 released as a result of cutting down the rainforests could have been overestimated. The research by VU University in Amsterdam found emissions from deforestation could be as low as 12 per cent, rather than 20 per cent.
Also, research has found that marine plants in the Antarctic are fighting climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as the ice melts. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) found that blooms of phytoplankton are thriving in swathes of water left open by the melting of ice shelves and glaciers.
But Dr Wolfgang Knorr cautioned that the world should still be trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as part of any climate change deal decided in Copenhagen next month.
He pointed out that the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is still increasing, even though half is absorbed by the Earth. Also there are fears that the oceans and soil become saturated and are unable to absorb any more CO2 in the future.
"Like all studies of this kind, there are uncertainties in the data, so rather than relying on Nature to provide a free service, soaking up our waste carbon, we need to ascertain why the proportion being absorbed has not changed," he said.
According to the study, the Earth has continued to absorb more than half of the carbon dioxide pumped out by humans over the last 160 years.
This is despite emissions of CO2 increasing from two billion tonnes per year in 1850 to current levels of 35 billion tonnes per year.
Previously it was thought that the Earth's capability to absorb CO2 would decrease as production booms, leading to an accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
But Wolfgang Knorr, author of the new study, found that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has remained just over 50 per cent, with only tiny fluctuations being recorded despite the massive hike in output.
He pointed out that his study relied entirely on empirical data, including historical records extracted from ice samples in the Antarctic, rather than speculative climate change models.
"Previous studies suggested that in the next ten years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will accelerate because there is a lot less uptake by the Earth, there is no indication of this," he said.
However scientists cautioned that the ability of the oceans and rainforests to absorb carbon dioxide in the future may collapse, leading to a massive increase in temperatures.
Another study released this week found the amount of CO2 released as a result of cutting down the rainforests could have been overestimated. The research by VU University in Amsterdam found emissions from deforestation could be as low as 12 per cent, rather than 20 per cent.
Also, research has found that marine plants in the Antarctic are fighting climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as the ice melts. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) found that blooms of phytoplankton are thriving in swathes of water left open by the melting of ice shelves and glaciers.
But Dr Wolfgang Knorr cautioned that the world should still be trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as part of any climate change deal decided in Copenhagen next month.
He pointed out that the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is still increasing, even though half is absorbed by the Earth. Also there are fears that the oceans and soil become saturated and are unable to absorb any more CO2 in the future.
"Like all studies of this kind, there are uncertainties in the data, so rather than relying on Nature to provide a free service, soaking up our waste carbon, we need to ascertain why the proportion being absorbed has not changed," he said.
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Especially this bit:
But Wolfgang Knorr, author of the new study, found that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has remained just over 50 per cent, with only tiny fluctuations being recorded despite the massive hike in output.
He pointed out that his study relied entirely on empirical data, including historical records extracted from ice samples in the Antarctic, rather than speculative climate change models.
"Previous studies suggested that in the next ten years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will accelerate because there is a lot less uptake by the Earth, there is no indication of this," he said.
But Wolfgang Knorr, author of the new study, found that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has remained just over 50 per cent, with only tiny fluctuations being recorded despite the massive hike in output.
He pointed out that his study relied entirely on empirical data, including historical records extracted from ice samples in the Antarctic, rather than speculative climate change models.
"Previous studies suggested that in the next ten years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will accelerate because there is a lot less uptake by the Earth, there is no indication of this," he said.
I do hope Mr Knorr doesn't like hill walking.
emissions of CO2 increasing from two billion tonnes per year in 1850 to current levels of 35 billion tonnes per year.
A staggering increase by any standards.
Let's hope the study is correct in its speculation about the earth absorbing C02. Either way, let's follow their advice and make sure the Copenhagen deals really make a difference.
A staggering increase by any standards.
Let's hope the study is correct in its speculation about the earth absorbing C02. Either way, let's follow their advice and make sure the Copenhagen deals really make a difference.
He's using the same equipment Brown uses to calibrate the national debt if he thinks CO2 has "remained at 50%".
Dr Wolfgang Knorr cautioned that the world should still be trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
This is exactly what I mean.
The morons amongst us assume that the sceptics think global warming is a myth and society needs not respond. In fact, all this story shows is healthy debate amongst scientists. All but the most barking mad of them share my view that temperatures are rising and carbon needs to be cut.
This is exactly what I mean.
The morons amongst us assume that the sceptics think global warming is a myth and society needs not respond. In fact, all this story shows is healthy debate amongst scientists. All but the most barking mad of them share my view that temperatures are rising and carbon needs to be cut.
Goring
I suspect that may be a missprint. Or at least I hope it is.
I suspect that may be a missprint. Or at least I hope it is.
Dr J
I would be interested in your comment about this sentence:
"Previous studies suggested that in the next ten years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will accelerate because there is a lot less uptake by the Earth, there is no indication of this," he said.
You see a lot of us are in neither the "nothing to worry" about nor the "sky is falling" camp. As you are a founder member of the "sky is falling" camp your view on actual evidence rather than conjecture which seems to contradict some of what the lobby says is interesting.
I would be interested in your comment about this sentence:
"Previous studies suggested that in the next ten years the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere will accelerate because there is a lot less uptake by the Earth, there is no indication of this," he said.
You see a lot of us are in neither the "nothing to worry" about nor the "sky is falling" camp. As you are a founder member of the "sky is falling" camp your view on actual evidence rather than conjecture which seems to contradict some of what the lobby says is interesting.
Let's get this right, Larry's...
When one scientist says "there is no indication of this", that's empirical.
But when NASA say global temperatures rose at an alarmingly accelerated rate throughout the 1900s, that's conjecture?
:0
You keep reassuring yourself with this** Larry's - you're doing far more for my cause than your own, believe me.
When one scientist says "there is no indication of this", that's empirical.
But when NASA say global temperatures rose at an alarmingly accelerated rate throughout the 1900s, that's conjecture?
:0
You keep reassuring yourself with this** Larry's - you're doing far more for my cause than your own, believe me.
Larry/EO -
the ocean absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere is not necessarily a good thing
dissolved CO2, ie carbonic acid, is, as you can probably guess from the name, acidic
this increased ocean acidity is one of the effects of increased CO2 concentration that there is fairly good consensus about, including its effects on oceanic food chains
the ocean absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere is not necessarily a good thing
dissolved CO2, ie carbonic acid, is, as you can probably guess from the name, acidic
this increased ocean acidity is one of the effects of increased CO2 concentration that there is fairly good consensus about, including its effects on oceanic food chains
"But Wolfgang Knorr, author of the new study, found that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has remained just over 50 per cent,"
have i not read this properly. what am i missing?
have i not read this properly. what am i missing?
even Al Gore has changed his stance on CO2 and now accepts new studies that show that co2 accounts for just 40% of warming.
I guess the science isn't as settled as Gore likes to make out.
http://worldbbnews.com/2009/11/gores-spiritual-argument-on-climate/
I guess the science isn't as settled as Gore likes to make out.
http://worldbbnews.com/2009/11/gores-spiritual-argument-on-climate/
Climate change is a natural phenomenon.
This planet had the Ice Age before man pumped millions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.
It recovered.
It will again.
The planet doesn't care that we live on it, it will look after itself.
This planet had the Ice Age before man pumped millions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.
It recovered.
It will again.
The planet doesn't care that we live on it, it will look after itself.
When mother nature has had enough of the human race she will shake us off like a dog does a pack of fleas.
And if I were her: I would do it ASAP.
And if I were her: I would do it ASAP.
Dr J
When one scientist says "there is no indication of this", that's empirical.
But when NASA say global temperatures rose at an alarmingly accelerated rate throughout the 1900s, that's conjecture?
My apologies. I didn't make it clear that I was quoting from an article. Although I think it was made clear that it was Knorr's view that his work was empirically based as opposed to much of the speculation relating to climate change models and theories.
As for rises in global temperatures thast would be a matter of historical fact and record. There is no doubt that there has been a trends upwards. Within that there have been fluctuations with the last few years seeing cooling. This is all evidence based.
The "alarmingly accelerated rate" to which you refer is somebody's (maybe yours) interpretation of the data and should perhaps be seen as hyperbole or the wild imaginings of a climate change fanatic. As I point out, the rate isn't accelerating at all.
When one scientist says "there is no indication of this", that's empirical.
But when NASA say global temperatures rose at an alarmingly accelerated rate throughout the 1900s, that's conjecture?
My apologies. I didn't make it clear that I was quoting from an article. Although I think it was made clear that it was Knorr's view that his work was empirically based as opposed to much of the speculation relating to climate change models and theories.
As for rises in global temperatures thast would be a matter of historical fact and record. There is no doubt that there has been a trends upwards. Within that there have been fluctuations with the last few years seeing cooling. This is all evidence based.
The "alarmingly accelerated rate" to which you refer is somebody's (maybe yours) interpretation of the data and should perhaps be seen as hyperbole or the wild imaginings of a climate change fanatic. As I point out, the rate isn't accelerating at all.
If he's quoting the CO2 content of the atmosphere at 50% in a published article, that rather opens up a number of questions about the value of his empirical approach.
Unless what he's actually saying (slightly ambiguous) is that the proportion of all the earth's CO2 to be found in the atmosphere has remained steady at around 50%.
In which case all he's saying is that approximately half of all CO2 emissions go into the atmosphere. All that would mean is that given the pace of increase of CO2 emissions worldwide, if man-made emissions do contribute to global warming/climate change (which his study doesn't appear to dispute) then we have a bit longer before the tipping point is reached. It certainly doesn't mean (if man-made emissions do contribute to global warming) that it's unnecessary to take steps to curb CO2 emissions.
In which case all he's saying is that approximately half of all CO2 emissions go into the atmosphere. All that would mean is that given the pace of increase of CO2 emissions worldwide, if man-made emissions do contribute to global warming/climate change (which his study doesn't appear to dispute) then we have a bit longer before the tipping point is reached. It certainly doesn't mean (if man-made emissions do contribute to global warming) that it's unnecessary to take steps to curb CO2 emissions.
Larry's Codpiece. 12 Nov 10:19
My apologies.
Dr J 12 Nov 12:19
I accept your apologies, Larry's.
Whats this an fin truce or something?
Can normal service be resumed as soon as possible please?
My apologies.
Dr J 12 Nov 12:19
I accept your apologies, Larry's.
Whats this an fin truce or something?
Can normal service be resumed as soon as possible please?
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