Re: [geo] New Yorker coverage [podcast streaming and download]
39 views
Skip to first unread message
Ken Caldeira
May 11, 2012, 3:13:42 AM5/11/12
to xben...@gmail.com, Geoengineering FIPC
May 14, 2012
Michael Specter and Elizabeth Kolbert discuss whether we can invent a solution to global warming without destroying the world.
Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/podcasts/outloud#ixzz1uXi4ldco
Podcast available for download at: http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/downloads.newyorker.com/mp3/outloud/120514_outloud_specter.mp3
Podcast may be streamed at: http://www.newyorker.com/online/2012/05/14/120514on_audio_specter
On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 10:47 PM, Gregory Benford <xben...@gmail.com> wrote:
The Climate Fixers
Is there a technological solution to global warming?
David Keith, a professor of engineering and public policy at Harvard and one of geoengineering’s most thoughtful supporters, told me. “Nonetheless,’’ he added, “it is hyperbolic to say this, but no less true: when you start to reflect light away from the planet, you can easily imagine a chain of events that would extinguish life on earth.”
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/05/14/120514fa_fact_specter
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group.
To post to this group, send email to geoengi...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineerin...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en.
Russell Seitz
May 11, 2012, 2:59:02 PM5/11/12
to geoengi...@googlegroups.com
The New Yorker ' Annals of Science ' piece that is the webcast's point of departure may be read at :
On Friday, 11 May 2012 03:13:42 UTC-4, Ken Caldeira wrote:
On Friday, 11 May 2012 03:13:42 UTC-4, Ken Caldeira wrote:
May 14, 2012
Michael Specter and Elizabeth Kolbert discuss whether we can invent a solution to global warming without destroying the world.
Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/podcasts/outloud#ixzz1uXi4ldcoPodcast available for download at: http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/downloads.newyorker.com/mp3/outloud/120514_outloud_specter.mp3
On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 10:47 PM, Gregory Benford <xben...@gmail.com> wrote:
The Climate Fixers
Is there a technological solution to global warming?
David Keith, a professor of engineering and public policy at Harvard and one of geoengineering’s most thoughtful supporters, told me. “Nonetheless,’’ he added, “it is hyperbolic to say this, but no less true: when you start to reflect light away from the planet, you can easily imagine a chain of events that would extinguish life on earth.”
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/05/14/120514fa_fact_specter
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group.
To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineering+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
rongre...@comcast.net
May 12, 2012, 11:08:39 PM5/12/12
to kcal...@gmail.com, Geoengineering FIPC, xben...@gmail.com, Russell Seitz
Ken, List etal (especially Russell Seitz and Greg Benford)
I hope it might be helpful to say a little more about Elzabeth Kolbert's background and thoughts in the areas covered by the recommended audio. She has written much on climate for the New Yorker - andused that to produce a fine 2006 book on AGW - entitled "Field Notes from a Catastrophe". The last citations are from 2005 - none at all related to geoengineering.
The audio cite given by Ken below contains considerable questioning of her on geoengineering. I thought there were not very positive responses from her. Very near the end of the audio she says (unlike Michael Specter) that she sees no political or technical solution to AGW. If any of the numerous "Geo" list members interviewed by Specter (or earlier by Kolbert) can encourage the New Yorker editors to carry this topic further, I think that would be helpful. The New Yorker is clearly more concerned than most media on climate topics.
I hope Kolbert will herself now also write on geoengineering, given her good writing on climate from 6-7 years ago. Mr. Specter caught some of SRM, but I think he missed the CDR part of Geoengineering totally. Here is one example at about the 75%:point in his article, taking about the "rapid warming" problem - which I think fails to capture the spirit and possibilities of CDR.
"There are only two ways to genuinely solve the problem: by drastically reducing emissions or by removing the CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees do that every day. They “capture” carbon dioxide in their leaves, metabolize it in the branch system, and store it in their roots. But to do so on a global scale would require turning trillions of tons of greenhouse-gas emissions into a substance that could be stored cheaply and easily underground or in ocean beds.
My suggested revision: There is only one way to genuinely solve the problem: by both drastically reducing emissions and by removing the CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees do the second part every day. Through photosynthesis, they “capture” carbon dioxide (and release oxygen) using sunlight and water. To do so on a global scale would require annually turning billions of tons of carbon dioxide into charcoal, raw biomass, or liquid CO2 that can be stored in soil, deep underground, or in ocean beds.
Later he talks of using captured CO2 to generate synthetic fuels - as though that is CDR. No mention of the APS (Prof. Socolow) critique of DAC costs.
Ron
From: "Ken Caldeira" <kcal...@carnegie.stanford.edu>
To: xben...@gmail.com
Cc: "Geoengineering FIPC" <geoengi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 1:13:42 AM
Subject: Re: [geo] New Yorker coverage [podcast streaming and download]
I hope it might be helpful to say a little more about Elzabeth Kolbert's background and thoughts in the areas covered by the recommended audio. She has written much on climate for the New Yorker - andused that to produce a fine 2006 book on AGW - entitled "Field Notes from a Catastrophe". The last citations are from 2005 - none at all related to geoengineering.
The audio cite given by Ken below contains considerable questioning of her on geoengineering. I thought there were not very positive responses from her. Very near the end of the audio she says (unlike Michael Specter) that she sees no political or technical solution to AGW. If any of the numerous "Geo" list members interviewed by Specter (or earlier by Kolbert) can encourage the New Yorker editors to carry this topic further, I think that would be helpful. The New Yorker is clearly more concerned than most media on climate topics.
I hope Kolbert will herself now also write on geoengineering, given her good writing on climate from 6-7 years ago. Mr. Specter caught some of SRM, but I think he missed the CDR part of Geoengineering totally. Here is one example at about the 75%:point in his article, taking about the "rapid warming" problem - which I think fails to capture the spirit and possibilities of CDR.
"There are only two ways to genuinely solve the problem: by drastically reducing emissions or by removing the CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees do that every day. They “capture” carbon dioxide in their leaves, metabolize it in the branch system, and store it in their roots. But to do so on a global scale would require turning trillions of tons of greenhouse-gas emissions into a substance that could be stored cheaply and easily underground or in ocean beds.
My suggested revision: There is only one way to genuinely solve the problem: by both drastically reducing emissions and by removing the CO2 from the atmosphere. Trees do the second part every day. Through photosynthesis, they “capture” carbon dioxide (and release oxygen) using sunlight and water. To do so on a global scale would require annually turning billions of tons of carbon dioxide into charcoal, raw biomass, or liquid CO2 that can be stored in soil, deep underground, or in ocean beds.
Later he talks of using captured CO2 to generate synthetic fuels - as though that is CDR. No mention of the APS (Prof. Socolow) critique of DAC costs.
Ron
From: "Ken Caldeira" <kcal...@carnegie.stanford.edu>
To: xben...@gmail.com
Cc: "Geoengineering FIPC" <geoengi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 1:13:42 AM
Subject: Re: [geo] New Yorker coverage [podcast streaming and download]
Gregory Benford
May 13, 2012, 1:22:28 PM5/13/12
to rongre...@comcast.net, kcal...@gmail.com, Geoengineering FIPC, Russell Seitz
Ron, Ken, the List:
Elzabeth Kolbert wrote a brief introduction to an anthology last year, WELCOME TO THE GREENHOUSE. It's stories about global warming, mostly adaptation. The only geoengineering story in it is by me, I think--about opponents of using aerosols in the Arctic.
FYI, I attach the story.
Gregory Benford
Elzabeth Kolbert wrote a brief introduction to an anthology last year, WELCOME TO THE GREENHOUSE. It's stories about global warming, mostly adaptation. The only geoengineering story in it is by me, I think--about opponents of using aerosols in the Arctic.
FYI, I attach the story.
Gregory Benford
rongre...@comcast.net
May 15, 2012, 9:25:28 AM5/15/12
to Gregory Benford, Geoengineering FIPC, kcal...@gmail.com, Russell Seitz
Greg and list.
Thanks for the story. Very well written. I have found a library with a copy of the book - and look forward to reading more (on climate).
I have to run to more of a conference (WREF), where I had a forum on Biochar yesterday. I do not look forward to the day when I have to respond to a Biochar Science Fiction story of a persuasion similar to yours re sulfur injection.
You must have put a lot of time into that story - it is an effective mode of communication.
Ron
From: "Gregory Benford" <xben...@gmail.com>
To: rongre...@comcast.net
Cc: kcal...@gmail.com, "Geoengineering FIPC" <geoengi...@googlegroups.com>, "Russell Seitz" <russel...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2012 11:22:28 AM
Thanks for the story. Very well written. I have found a library with a copy of the book - and look forward to reading more (on climate).
I have to run to more of a conference (WREF), where I had a forum on Biochar yesterday. I do not look forward to the day when I have to respond to a Biochar Science Fiction story of a persuasion similar to yours re sulfur injection.
You must have put a lot of time into that story - it is an effective mode of communication.
Ron
From: "Gregory Benford" <xben...@gmail.com>
To: rongre...@comcast.net
Cc: kcal...@gmail.com, "Geoengineering FIPC" <geoengi...@googlegroups.com>, "Russell Seitz" <russel...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2012 11:22:28 AM
rongre...@comcast.net
Jun 4, 2012, 4:50:38 PM6/4/12
to Gregory Benford, kcal...@gmail.com, Geoengineering FIPC, Russell Seitz
Greg etal:
Sorry for the long delay in this response. Since your note below, besides reading your own "Eagle" story in the "WELCOME" book identified below, I have read or skimmed the other 15 short stories. Yours was by far the most interesting and well-done (from both a climate and geoengineering point of view). I recommend your story to those who may not have yet read it (it was an attachment on 13 May). Yours is a very rare combination of skills!
I think such stories are important as they are a different (and maybe only) way to communicate to most people. As I have now (belatedly) understood more of your work-week, I wonder if there are any other books (or stories) with a geoengineering (as opposed to climate) flavor in the 15 short author bios, or the longer list on the last several pages of "WELCOME"?
This thread started with reference to Elizabeth Kolbert. The Preface you have referenced is only one page long, but I don't want to take the time to re-keystroke it. Basically, she is supporting authorship such as yours for "Eagles". Her preface is not as negative that society will do something as I felt was in the audio link provided by Ken (below). I still would look forward to reading more from her on the Geoengineering topic.
Sorry for the long delay in this response. Since your note below, besides reading your own "Eagle" story in the "WELCOME" book identified below, I have read or skimmed the other 15 short stories. Yours was by far the most interesting and well-done (from both a climate and geoengineering point of view). I recommend your story to those who may not have yet read it (it was an attachment on 13 May). Yours is a very rare combination of skills!
I think such stories are important as they are a different (and maybe only) way to communicate to most people. As I have now (belatedly) understood more of your work-week, I wonder if there are any other books (or stories) with a geoengineering (as opposed to climate) flavor in the 15 short author bios, or the longer list on the last several pages of "WELCOME"?
This thread started with reference to Elizabeth Kolbert. The Preface you have referenced is only one page long, but I don't want to take the time to re-keystroke it. Basically, she is supporting authorship such as yours for "Eagles". Her preface is not as negative that society will do something as I felt was in the audio link provided by Ken (below). I still would look forward to reading more from her on the Geoengineering topic.
Ron
From: "Gregory Benford" <xben...@gmail.com>
To: rongre...@comcast.net
Cc: kcal...@gmail.com, "Geoengineering FIPC" <geoengi...@googlegroups.com>, "Russell Seitz" <russel...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2012 11:22:28 AM
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages