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muriel_volestrangler

(106,157 posts)

252. When you look at Earth from space, human activity is obvious

Sun Sep 30, 2012, 07:51 AM

Sep 2012

You see agriculture that has replaced forests over thousands of square miles. You see Arctic sea ice at half the area it was 20 years ago. You see the Aral Sea almost dried up, over a period of 20 years:

When you look at records, it's blindingly obvious that humans are warming the planet, from what is already a warm period. Earth has not warmed this fast since it was coming out of an ice age. We are pushing the climate into areas that have not been experienced while we have had agriculture, or when the human population was abuot one thousandth of what it is now.

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Frankly, the world as we know it is going away, soon. [View all] MadHound Sep 2012 OP

It's just a matter of when, not if. Homo Sapiens will cease to exist at some point, that's an Bocks Car Sep 2012 #1

Yeah. We'll all be dead. So what? tabasco Sep 2012 #3

Exactly. So nothing...it's just how it is. Bocks Car Sep 2012 #14

Fifty years is a lot closer than a million, maybe? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author truebluegreen Sep 2012 #177

Yes, and what drives me into a cold, hard fury truebluegreen Sep 2012 #178

I love the parrots we keep as pets Plucketeer Sep 2012 #218

The only sure thing. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #86

Um, no .. sorry kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #116

Yeah, good point. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #122

np kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #130

that was awesome, i feel like ive been drinking with sheldon, great explanation loli phabay Sep 2012 #144

Will DU have a Nova forum? Kennah Sep 2012 #146

now do you mean Nova or NOVA, it gets confusing here in NOVA ;) loli phabay Sep 2012 #147

If we have one, will we need the other? Kennah Sep 2012 #154

Sheldon Cooper? He's awesome. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #213

You should watch it NICO9000 Sep 2012 #214

But Sheldon doesn't drink. Vidar Sep 2012 #249

of course he dosent silly, hes my designated driver well at least designated leonard caller loli phabay Sep 2012 #250

Lovely image. Works for me. Thank you. Vidar Oct 2012 #272

Thx, Kurt, just when I was about to pull the trigger.......n/t condoleeza Sep 2012 #145

I have always wondered what will happen to Jupiter and it's moons when Javaman Sep 2012 #174

Sir Nicholas Stern's podcast at Oxford, 'The Economics of Climate Change, or 3 reasons you don't... mahina Sep 2012 #155

If MrDiaz Sep 2012 #159

if i remember my ecology correctly cindyperry2010 Sep 2012 #2

Yes, why not? Where would you start, that isn't already forested? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #24

I remember seeing something about stimulating algae growth. randome Sep 2012 #28

That has never been feasible. RC Sep 2012 #39

Thanks. I was in danger of thinking we had nothing to worry about when the shit hits the fan. randome Sep 2012 #50

green spaces in as many places as possible cindyperry2010 Sep 2012 #65

Up to a point yes kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #118

A footnote in the records of The Galactic Federation BellaKos Sep 2012 #4

Actually: AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #85

Or .. kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #117

Was there another Obama bounce up in the polls? nt msanthrope Sep 2012 #5

I don't know, was there? MadHound Sep 2012 #7

because every time Obama has a good week.... scheming daemons Sep 2012 #23

scheming Daemons, I've posted solutions to this issue in other threads a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #26

Can you provide links? I'm curious. randome Sep 2012 #29

I'll have to search again, through the past posts I've made... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #35

Wow. How many balloons and how big? randome Sep 2012 #36

You'd start with 1 balloon... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #40

You know some kind of cryochiller that can get rid of heat? freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #58

Most of this is to get rid of the excess GWG a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #60

What's GWG? freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #67

GWG = Global Warming Gases a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #89

What's the incoming power? freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #94

incoming power is however much of the balloon surface we cover with solar panels a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #98

A calculation without units doesn't really explain anything. freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #246

Don't have to get rid of the heat. jeff47 Sep 2012 #193

Then why does Bob say the cryochillers have to be powered? nt freedom fighter jh Sep 2012 #245

Because they are converting atmospheric CO2 to solid CO2 jeff47 Sep 2012 #247

Sounds good int theory. Is full of holes in practice. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #61

Speck Tater... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #62

Go for it! I hope it works. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #69

Methane is a pretty "thick" gas, so it escaping isn't really an issue. a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #90

Will the FAA clear you to fill the air with balloons? Speck Tater Sep 2012 #101

I could see that as a pronlem... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #104

Let's do some math Speck Tater Sep 2012 #139

okay... let's do some math a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #160

Show me Speck Tater Sep 2012 #179

'Methane is a pretty thick gas' GCP Oct 2012 #268

the lift is about 54 lbs per thousand cubic feet a geek named Bob Oct 2012 #269

Good for you. I wish everyone was taking this seriously, brainstorming ideas, and Chemisse Sep 2012 #72

It gives me a hobby... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #91

Me too, Chemisse, me too. nt AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #140

Google Transition Movement. abumbyanyothername Sep 2012 #248

Yes, share pictures. n/t FedUpWithIt All Sep 2012 #192

as long as the camera in question doesn't break... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #204

Just one question.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #82

snarky comment? that's a sad attempt... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #93

Your posts read like engineering word salad to me... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #97

I agree with you... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #99

Yours is a pretty poor plan, MadHound Sep 2012 #119

then I guess we'll have to see... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #120

No, I've given you fact. MadHound Sep 2012 #127

If you can get me a decent price on those cryo chillers, that would be great. a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #132

Really, Bob, I have to say your plans don't sound very geeky to me muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #164

nope... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #168

You think you can extract 4 tons of methane per day directly from the air with 50kW? muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #169

You can't possibly be this bad at engineering. jeff47 Sep 2012 #195

The issue that I have with your plan... Blanks Sep 2012 #219

I'm also working with a few friends to build some green rafts a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #220

A couple of interesting plants... Blanks Sep 2012 #222

basically, yes a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #223

An idea this brilliant needs its own soundtrack. I got the duck AND the weed covered. Systematic Chaos Sep 2012 #224

I can go along with this... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #225

Hogweed! n/t zappaman Sep 2012 #236

you haven't provided any fail safe for that plan nebenaube Sep 2012 #80

okay... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #92

Since CO2 is denser than air, I don't think those balloons are going to rise very far . . . hatrack Sep 2012 #113

As I pointed out... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #114

Yeah, well, good luck. hatrack Sep 2012 #126

thank you for the well wishing a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #128

FYI, hatrack, the abbreviation "nt" goes in the *subject line* of the post, NOT tblue37 Sep 2012 #137

Oh? XemaSab Sep 2012 #138

LOL, and people think I love conspiracy theories, MadHound Sep 2012 #30

"we're already growing peaches in Ohio..." truebluegreen Sep 2012 #180

come up here? where do you think the methane roguevalley Sep 2012 #51

Speaking of methane . . . hatrack Sep 2012 #129

+1000 nt Mojorabbit Sep 2012 #143

Climate is being treated as just another Media Problem by the PTB.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #156

My goodness...talk about nonsense... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #70

Nonsense, eh? You will eat those words when food prices skyrocket and coast lines flood. Zalatix Sep 2012 #78

I hope you are right Mojorabbit Sep 2012 #141

+1 necessitating vindication, of course. nt patrice Sep 2012 #44

What would that have to do with this OP? Is there any issue that is okay to discuss on DU sabrina 1 Sep 2012 #202

That's why we have to have a space program. It is, and always was, marybourg Sep 2012 #6

That might be a viable solution, MadHound Sep 2012 #8

Maybe, tho there has been some interesting developments. eqfan592 Sep 2012 #42

There are a number of theKed Sep 2012 #105

We currently lack sufficient incentives. jeff47 Sep 2012 #198

Doubtless it will be *much* easier to turn a non-earth planet magical thyme Sep 2012 #59

Thank you. You put it well. muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #167

Very true, Muriel. Very true indeed. nt AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #217

The vast majority of species that have ever existed on earth are already extinct MNBrewer Sep 2012 #9

We are unique and I think we will do whatever we need to do in order to survive. randome Sep 2012 #47

Every species that has ever existed has been "unique" and did whatever it needed to MNBrewer Sep 2012 #49

Anything is possible. Recognizing that is part of being human, too. And what sets us apart. randome Sep 2012 #52

No, not "anything" is possible. MNBrewer Sep 2012 #54

We can, it's just a matter of when. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #121

Yes, our uniqueness is truebluegreen Sep 2012 #181

Every species alters its environment.. Our uniqueness is the ability to affirm or deny it. MNBrewer Sep 2012 #221

It's a good point, and frankly, unless Obama can shed the Dem party's corporate shackles villager Sep 2012 #10

Even if Obama went full bore on attacking climate change, MadHound Sep 2012 #13

Well, certainly the efforts of every government/economic system on the planet... villager Sep 2012 #15

Th article the OP posted has some excellent suggestions: marions ghost Sep 2012 #38

too bad that we're all dead by 2030... n/t nebenaube Sep 2012 #81

No we won't. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #84

I thought it was 100 million marions ghost Sep 2012 #161

Are Skinner and EarlG gone for another week? DevonRex Sep 2012 #11

Do you ever actually read anything for comprehension? MadHound Sep 2012 #16

Oh you poor thing. Bless your heart. Nt DevonRex Sep 2012 #17

Again, the demonstration that you can't argue the facts of any issue. MadHound Sep 2012 #18

Here's a mirror for your comments... a geek named Bob Sep 2012 #45

inane prickishness Agony Sep 2012 #77

Aren't you the darling. Javaman Sep 2012 #175

the Republicans have primary responsibility for this evil set of circumstances Berlum Sep 2012 #12

Some life form somewhere EmeraldCityGrl Sep 2012 #19

One would think that the rich and powerful who HAVE OFFSPRING would at least care. Alas, no. WinkyDink Sep 2012 #20

They think their money will protect them, MadHound Sep 2012 #21

And maybe it will, in Paraguay, or Denver, or NZ..... WinkyDink Sep 2012 #25

That's what REM said nearly 30 years ago, but the world we know is still here. MjolnirTime Sep 2012 #27

I believe they said it would happen about 30 years from then. n/t librechik Sep 2012 #32

We had the same problem then and we knew it then and we were ignoring it then as well. Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #100

Well, It *Is* True That for Over 40 Years, On the Road Sep 2012 #133

Thanks for the perfect example. n/t Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #172

EXACTLY! Scientists are just wrong sometimes. What's so hard to understand about that? johnlucas Sep 2012 #260

WTF, man? No one gets out of this world alive anyway. . . DinahMoeHum Sep 2012 #31

Yeah, but you know, it would be nice to leave a viable civilization behind, MadHound Sep 2012 #34

Meh, I look at it this way: Planet Earth itself will survive us. . . DinahMoeHum Sep 2012 #57

Save the planet! NO!!! We are going away! longship Sep 2012 #33

LOL. Yeah, it's kind of like the earth is running a fever to kill us germs off. nt SunSeeker Sep 2012 #48

actually, it's possible that if we delay much longer truebluegreen Sep 2012 #182

My landlord still expects the rent on the First. bluedigger Sep 2012 #37

The proof that we are doomed is in THIS VERY THREAD. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #41

"THIS VERY THREAD' is proof that our species is doomed? panader0 Sep 2012 #46

I didn't say "cause", I said "proof". Evidence. A sample of the national attitude. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #56

childish idiots fascisthunter Sep 2012 #53

so basically this means my children will die a painful death. WestWisconsinDem Sep 2012 #83

Sometimes it's not very pleasant around here. SammyWinstonJack Sep 2012 #109

The thread proves nothing, your post however proves you do not believe your own Bluenorthwest Sep 2012 #102

I do find myself hard to believe at times. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #135

And that's one of the major problems we face today. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #232

Oh for fuck's sakes. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #111

Amazing, Isn't It? On the Road Sep 2012 #124

Have you read the new article in Rolling Stone? Javaman Sep 2012 #176

You massively underestimate our capabilities. jeff47 Sep 2012 #199

The word you want happens to be the word "indicates." truedelphi Sep 2012 #208

And what lies behind it? Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2012 #257

Why am I not surprised that your last sentence contains the word "glad"? patrice Sep 2012 #43

It will hit the vulnerable people hanging on by their fingernails first Warpy Sep 2012 #55

It looks like the OP has started some dialogue.... defacto7 Sep 2012 #64

My own carbon footprint is laughably low Warpy Sep 2012 #66

We CAN stop it, it's just a matter of how and when(no conceit here). AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #110

People live in deserts & have for centuries. The problem is food distribution not food supply johnlucas Oct 2012 #263

We haven't been motivated to solve it yet Warpy Oct 2012 #270

Evangelicals salivate for the Rapture. ErikJ Sep 2012 #63

Ah, yes, because they are Christians HockeyMom Sep 2012 #75

Well, You Could Also Make Another Comparison: On the Road Sep 2012 #125

I'm going to go on record with my predictions Speck Tater Sep 2012 #68

2040-2050 life extinct. I need a year for the pool. DevonRex Sep 2012 #71

. XemaSab Sep 2012 #106

n/t BOG PERSON Sep 2012 #73

Well that's that, then...may as well shoot myself now. WestWisconsinDem Sep 2012 #74

NOT UNTIL AFTER YOU'VE VOTED, DAMMIT! OmahaBlueDog Sep 2012 #76

Don't EVER believe predictions that say there is no hope. Speck Tater Sep 2012 #79

But you yourself are pushing that very message when you insist we are doomed Bluenorthwest Sep 2012 #107

Exactly. Don't believe me. I might be wrong. nt Speck Tater Sep 2012 #134

And I feel fine. porphyrian Sep 2012 #87

The misanthropy in this thread disgusts me. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #88

It's Kind of Amazing, Isn't It, On the Road Sep 2012 #131

It always is. Iggo Sep 2012 #95

Cherry picking worst case scenario? Jessy169 Sep 2012 #96

The OP is actually working off one of the better case scenarios. wickerwoman Sep 2012 #142

Earth won't turn into Venus....that's impossible, figuratively or otherwise. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #230

I just want to know how an article about an ongoing ecological disaster became a Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #103

Good question! countryjake Sep 2012 #151

As bad as things are and could (plausibly!) get....... AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #108

Gosh, Delphinus Sep 2012 #112

This is when I do not regret my age.... Swede Atlanta Sep 2012 #115

I'm guessing 150 years kurt_cagle Sep 2012 #123

Some of this seems plausible, but......... AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #243

It's already gone ibegurpard Sep 2012 #136

Discouraging. countryjake Sep 2012 #148

What can our group at DU do about this? flamingdem Sep 2012 #149

I plant trees. raouldukelives Sep 2012 #171

+1 tama Sep 2012 #183

Well if nothing else, this explains the lack of time travelers Duer 157099 Sep 2012 #150

Sorry, no such thing as time travel johnlucas Oct 2012 #273

We won't disappear as a species. We are just too resilient. Kennah Sep 2012 #152

You nailed it. renie408 Sep 2012 #173

Can we please wait about five years? MercutioATC Sep 2012 #153

the world we know is going away, but not because of climate change. HiPointDem Sep 2012 #157

Then there is no point in worrying about it. renie408 Sep 2012 #158

You really think there are too many humans for this planet to sustain right now? sabrina 1 Sep 2012 #205

The Mayans warned us about this ages ago..... MzShellG Sep 2012 #162

I just had a crazy idea. Ganja Ninja Sep 2012 #163

So those 5 missing nukes are planted in Yellowstone Park.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #165

Yeah or that. Ganja Ninja Sep 2012 #166

Whew... now THAT would be one hell of an explosion... not the nukes.. defacto7 Sep 2012 #189

Why tama Sep 2012 #184

It would likely be more than just the rich and powerful that survive as far as mankind is concerned. Ganja Ninja Sep 2012 #187

I wish... 99Forever Sep 2012 #170

"What we hoped was that we could stop the coming end of the world." Zorra Sep 2012 #185

Yep. In fact, if we want to improve humanity's condition, we have NO choice in the matter. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #216

Can I have your stuff? snooper2 Sep 2012 #186

Makes me wonder MitchS Sep 2012 #188

You have made a sensible post. People are getting too carried away johnlucas Sep 2012 #255

I remember when we passed 350 ppm stuntcat Sep 2012 #190

CO2 and methane should be viewed as valuable resources. Blanks Sep 2012 #191

Guess how many pounds of CO2 in a tank of gasoline? Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #196

Let me see if I've got this straight: Blanks Sep 2012 #206

It's CO2. That's one C and two O's from the air. Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #207

OK, fair enough. Blanks Sep 2012 #210

Re: "Are the RW radio hacks spreading this bullshit?" No, in fact, quite the fucking opposite. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #231

Get a clue? Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #235

I may have been a tad harsh. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #242

Agreed! It is too early to hang our heads and start crying. Jessy169 Sep 2012 #200

It will be a heck of a lot worse Chico Man Sep 2012 #194

A volcano eruption could cause global cooling. Blanks Sep 2012 #211

Sad but true. AverageJoe90 Sep 2012 #215

Plan B: hide head between knees and scream till the oxygen is gone librechik Sep 2012 #197

350ppm of what? HDCowboy Sep 2012 #201

Good point - and until most people wake the F up and truedelphi Sep 2012 #209

Isn't this that there science stuff? Rick Santorum doesn't approve tarheelsunc Sep 2012 #203

Things change. The world as we know it changes every day... yawnmaster Sep 2012 #212

Most of the spike in CO levels has been in the last couple decades - Asian industrialization leveymg Sep 2012 #226

Hey, you're getting off the narrative here slackmaster Sep 2012 #228

I was just drawn that way . . . leveymg Sep 2012 #229

That is SO fucking sad.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #238

The only thing constant in the world I know is change slackmaster Sep 2012 #227

The Earth changes...just like everything else in the Universe johnlucas Sep 2012 #233

That was easy, Write off thousands of research studies with a sentence or two.... Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #237

What? Angry that I reminded you that human beings have limitations? johnlucas Sep 2012 #244

Nah, We're trashing the place. Thousands of gigatons of CO2. Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #251

Trust me, the Earth has seen worse johnlucas Sep 2012 #253

When you look at Earth from space, human activity is obvious muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #252

Remember humans are not the only heavily populated species on the planet johnlucas Sep 2012 #254

The carbond dioxide from fossil fuel burning far outweighs the heat output muriel_volestrangler Sep 2012 #256

No, I'm just arguing from your framework johnlucas Sep 2012 #258

Your reply is rambling and largely off topic muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #261

And my point was we only affect habitats on Earth not Earth's climate itself johnlucas Oct 2012 #262

So it comes down to wishful thinking on your part muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #264

1,450 years? Are you serious? johnlucas Oct 2012 #265

You're sticking you head in the sand to ignore what you don't want to hear muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #267

Scientists are human. They CAN & DO get things WRONG johnlucas Oct 2012 #271

Kinda sounds like what I'm hearing from the far right, we're headed the way of Greece Hippo_Tron Sep 2012 #234

More doom and gloom, eh? MineralMan Sep 2012 #239

According MIT computers, the global collapse will occur in 2030 davidn3600 Sep 2012 #240

From Post Carbon Institute Junkdrawer Sep 2012 #241

And I used to feel badly that the sun will burn out in a billion years! Auntie Bush Sep 2012 #259

Mr. President, I would not rule out the chance to preserve a nucleus of human specimens. slackmaster Oct 2012 #266