Climate Change
Yeah that Halley 6 doesn't look like a safe place to be, it's gonna go soon.
Giant iceberg breaks off from Antarctica, but not due to climate change
https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/giant-iceberg-breaks-off-from-antar...
Does all this melted ice add volume to the sea ?
Try this experiment. Take an icecube out of the fridge and put it in an empty glass. After the icecube has melted, tip the contents of the glass into the sea. Then have a think about what you just did.
Yeah it does SL.
And, more records..
And global sea-ice extent has now set a new *all-time* record low...
— Zack Labe (@ZLabe) February 1, 2023
➡️ Arctic (2nd lowest on record for date) + Antarctic (lowest on record for date)
[Graphics: https://t.co/ecHYax1KfT. Data from https://t.co/aUqFYm6GYc for the satellite-era. I am using a 5-day running mean.] pic.twitter.com/grDDK8FGMT
wallpaper wrote:Try this experiment. Take an icecube out of the fridge and put it in an empty glass. After the icecube has melted, tip the contents of the glass into the sea. Then have a think about what you just did.
Haha, while I appreciate the clever use of sarcasm and irony WP it seems you're using it to try to bully me into agreeing with you. Why don't we take your experiment and multiply it by 6 billion people?
Anyhow that one chunk gone is the size of greater London ffs and keep in mind at the bottom of these graphs it says ZERO. No sea ice, it's all melted!
The problem is a 1mm rise in sea level is 1m of coastline lost. Not sure about the coast wherever the hell you live but around here that's another chunk of the the GORd gone for a start.
It's later than you think
not sure what you're talking about @StandingLeft.. I thought you posed the question as to whether the water from icemelt (icebergs/icesheets/glaciers etc) adds volume to the sea. Maybe I should have said this:
Take a massive glass about the size of Mt Everest. Stick a few glaciers and icebergs in it, let them melt and then empty the glass into the ocean and see what happens.
Q: Does water from icemelt increase the volume of the oceans leading to sea level rise?
A: Of course it fucking does. Any idiot can see that.
Now as to what you're on about this idiot has no idea.
Here’s a good job if anyone’s interested. What do you think, a legit attempt to do something positive or just greenwashing?
https://jobs.deloitte.com.au/job/Sydney-Carbon-Forests-Portfolio-Manager...
Carbon markets are a quagmire. Cowboy stuff. Needs massive overhaul.
https://wentworthgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Final-Chubb-Submis...
Just bring back a carbon tax already.
Some need to give up their comforts , some but not all .
Supafreak wrote:Some need to give up their comforts , some but not all . https://youtu.be/G3prIBTxT9M
the real (coming) class war...
slater's a carbon offsetter jetsetter too, or was...
now he's just cooked... too much global warming?
did I see it commented on somewhere else on swellnet - the Four Corners story earlier this week on the dodginess of some forest carbon offsetting schemes (PNG focus)? I cannot recall, but worth a look and read of the associated ABC news articles if you have any interest in this rapidly emerging sector. Certainly much 'carbon cowboy' stuff going on out there bonza. And how about the Aus corporates not doing their due diligence...
and sort of related, the article link below. Good to see some common sense and good science getting some air on an important issue for Australia.
https://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/opinion/2023/01/31/comment-harvesting-...
Voters know what they have to do, don't they?
Supafreak wrote:WTF Labor ? https://michaelwest.com.au/santos-wins-fracking-approval-for-towrie-gas-... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrkE_VaMD4k
Yep, very poor form!
No matter how farked Labor may be, they are still an improvement over this mob....
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/22/nsw-could-invest-...
Wonder if Perrotet is actually an android.
Did anyone catch the first story about New Zealand and Gabrielle’s brief interaction on 7.30 report tonight. Wow so much destruction. I hadn’t seen that much footage of the carnage. Just heard radio reports. We’ve had major floods recently but wow how bad did our brothers cop it. The amount of silt through some places and people’s homes after the water subsided astounded me.
How did your area cope Island Bay?
I know you are in the west but surely there was some bad outcomes. Was a lot of the damage in the central areas?
Cheers, Seeds.
Busy morning, but will post later. Lots of damage, and many areas cut off.
And I just issued a heavy rain watch yesterday for Hawkes Bay, likely to becomes a warning this morning; more shit on the way.
Just watched.. https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2301H027S00
Wow, the silt is crazy, and the damage to infrastructure.
Thoughts with everyone over there including you IB. Yeah looks like some further heavy rain to come eh.
Not sure if anyone caught the flooding in Sao Paulo as well..
683mm in 24 hours.
"Bertioga and São Sebastião received around 400 millimeters of rain in eight hours, according to Metsul. Only between 0h and 1h, São Sebastião received 100 millimeters of rain. The forecast for February in municipalities like Ilhabela and São Sebastião is 303 mm. In Bertioga, the total precipitation in 24 hours was 683mm... - Veja mais em https://noticias.uol.com.br/cotidiano/ultimas-noticias/2023/02/19/chuvas... litoral-norte-de-sao-paulo-veja.htm?cmpid=copiaecola"
Some further notes, Seeds:
We're fine out at Raglan, except all roads were smashed, and you couldn't get in/out for a while. Roads open again now, except for the main SH23, which hopefully reopens in a week. Minor damage otherwise.
Not far up the coast, Auckland beach communities Muriwai and Piha got hit very badly, with loss of life and significant damage to houses and infrastructure. Coromandel got 400mm+ and roads there are a mess and will take years to rebuild.
Gisborne area too has several communities isolated and lots of slips and roads taken out. One big problem is the leftover slash from forestry operations which comes barreling down rivers and takes out bridges. It used to get burnt, but that's no longer allowed due to emissions concerns. A solution must be found.
Hawkes bay is the worst hit region, especially Eskdale/Esk River Valley where my wife grew up. 400-500mm fell over the catchment, and the river rose VERY quickly, trapping people in houses and doing massive damage. Surprised that the death toll is still below 20. This is not an unprecedented event, as an eerily similar event occurred in 1938:
"1938 23-25 April Esk Valley Floods. Severe flooding was widespread after three days of heavy rain, with exceptional falls in some areas. In three days, 610 mm fell at Tutira, and a staggering 1,000 mm at Puketitiri (with 390 mm in one day). " Photos show two-metre deep silt, just like at the moment.
Fortunately these are strong farming communities where people get shit done, so the rebuild will happen. The brother of our good friend found himself isolated in the Hawkes Bay backblocks. He and a mate found a digger with the keys in the ignition, and taught themselves how to operate it. They dug themselves out and built a ford across a river, then drove their tractor into Napier for supplies.
Unfortunately more rain is on the way, and the tropics are active too, with GFS hinting at another TC possibly heading our way. Our family there is on edge, and exhausted.
Heavy situation for so many. Stay safe.
All the best to you and yours IB.
Saul Griffith is a genius and has been working wonders around the world.
Give this a view.. https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2302Q001S00
I agree Craig. Make no mistake he has a big target on his back now. Will be taken through the ringer. YouTube and instakarnts will be lapping it up.
I’m paraphrasing but he made statement about having the realisation somewhat time ago that policy wasnt made by politicians but by interest groups. So he realised that was the pathway to change and followed suit
That’s a pretty risky dangerous thing to say given the times.
He backs himself though by qualifying that statement “….through robust scientific evidence based modelling”.
I was impressed with that.
On Lombok, rising sea levels force fishers into different jobs https://news.mongabay.com/2023/02/on-lombok-rising-sea-levels-force-fish...
https://au.news.yahoo.com/innocent-detail-in-pictures-of-aussie-suburb-r...
Neighbouring streets:
Bulli Road, Toongabie: lots of big trees, 29.3 degrees
Favell Road, Toongabbie, no trees, 50.1 degrees.
urban heat island is real
Several years ago I met a researcher from the Uni of QLD a few years back that had done some research showing a positive correlation between RE values and tree coverage.
Win/Win.
Why aren't we doing it? Great question. Ask your local MP.
Absolutely agree. Leafy suburbs are joy. I particularly favour the big deciduous ones, as less fire risk compared to eucalypts, less liable to conflagrate your house, and when they lose their leaves in winter that actually gives back nutrition into the soil, rather than send leaching acidic oils through it. Allow north facing winter sunlight into built structures. You want a native deciduous? Deciduous beech! Such a beautiful tree.
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2016/...
For all year cover, bunya pines, red cedar. Live in the cold with some water nearby: huon pine, celery top pine. Live on a mountain lake in Tassie? King Billy pine (what a tree) - there are some gem Aussie trees: all hail Gondwana!
all good in principle velocityjohnno, but you might be waiting several lifetimes for those tassie species to give you any shade. And best not to place a Bunya near your house - those basketball sized cones would do a good job on your roof, or your head... Red cedar, yes, but plenty of other better-formed native species options out there. But yes, green infrastructure is the go
Big houses + small blocks = no room for trees. Much easier to clear the lot when building etc. When we bought the first thing I did was plant; WA flowering gums, hakeas, coastal banksias etc. Over 20 years down the track we are finally getting some shade. It’s a long term investment.
yeah, well done and I hear you clearly blackers, but definitely worth it. What's that saying - 'the best time to plant a tree was yesterday, the next best is today'. and 'the right tree in the right place for the right reason'. I lament the loss of the big old habitat trees (typically eucs) throughout suburbia/urban areas/new developments. I know, they are also not really conducive to nearby houses, but they are a massive loss and may never be replaced in many areas. I dont know the answer, it's just sad
It is sad. It is even worse when it is done purely for the sake of the $. Our council has a significant tree register, supposedly meaning these trees are untouchable. Yet a large Norfolk pine quite rare here and also used as a sight guide for pilots using the regional airport in the vicinity was cut down on Christmas day despite being on the register. Just so they could shoe-horn 4 double-story townhouses onto a 16 x 50 m block.
I have a real love/hate relationship with Norfolk Pines. There are two huge ones in town, which when lined up with a dip in the ranges shows me I'm lined up correctly at my fave spot 1.5km offshore.
On the other hand, our neighbours have a big one that sits right in our view, and it stands out like a sore thumb in the landscape, as it's obviously not an NZ native.
Our suburbs and houses are very inefficient and need to be improved. I especially have issues with black roofs in congested new developments. There was a legislation attempt to ban black roofs in NSW (or something like that) that unfortunately failed I believe (does anyone else have more info on this). There is a fantastic article I read a while back on urban heat in Western Sydney. They measured temperatures in kids' playgrounds and they were extreme, to say the least.
Most of the energy is lost on heating/cooling, if we could control this with better materials and tree coverage even inflation wouldn't such a big issue.
And this paragraph nails it, even though I can't see this implemented in Australia.
“What we could do right now to stop creating more hot suburbs,” says Sebastian, “is to build heat-smart density and build upwards. Apartment buildings of five to fifteen storeys arranged in clusters that shade each other, no more free-standing homes. This clustered housing supports two or three thousand people, and then around that you leave the space open: parklands, lakes, recreational facilities, picnicking areas where community can actually happen.”
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/urban-heat-island-effect-western-sydney/
Been tried before by town planners in those big apartment towers of the 1960s - became social decay by 1990s. Seems like more concrete to fix a concrete problem? How about just better trees in existing locations + time to see benefits?
Dad was of the generation of town planners that built those towers, I got to survey what the result was.
Well, there are 2 things in play:
1) How do we fix what is already there (existing, established suburbs)?
2) How do we improve the process so what will be built in the future is better quality than today?
Plating trees in the existing suburbs is fine but we need a better plan for the new developments. Concrete is not the problem, it's actually the lack of it that's the problem. We only build slabs out of concrete (many not even that) but the actual house is built out of cheap, poorly insulated materials that take an enormous amount of energy to heat and cool. Basically, we are wasting electricity in this country.
solutions - maybe make passivehause design the standard for new builds. Green roofs and walls. A good example combo of green roof and solar was shown on the ABC Gardening Aus show recently (in Sydney) with good research being done to measure and prove the benefits of this combo approach for temperature, solar power generation, and cleanliness (chemical residues) of any run-off against a control normal solar set-up on a bare roof. Seems a good climate mitigation and aesthetic solution.
and building up has to be the answer - mass timber mylti-level buildings. More building with timber supports good forest management. Going up will be necessary as we cannot keep up the urban sprawl to accommodate an ever increasing population and demand for housing in popular coastal regions. And accompany that urban densification with good urban forest/urban greening schemes.
Without bringing population growth into the discussion, surely all of the above are just bandaid solutions.
Have you seen rammed earth homes Flollo? They are mint. Very thick walls.
Aussie scientists harvest electricity from air:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/electricity-is-in-the-air-as-scientists-...
When I saw the headline I thought they'd quantified and harvested the aether, but in this case it's a bacterium. Amazing potential!
velocityjohnno wrote:Aussie scientists harvest electricity from air:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/electricity-is-in-the-air-as-scientists-...
When I saw the headline I thought they'd quantified and harvested the aether, but in this case it's a bacterium. Amazing potential!
Cool.
velocityjohnno wrote:Aussie scientists harvest electricity from air:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/electricity-is-in-the-air-as-scientists-...
When I saw the headline I thought they'd quantified and harvested the aether, but in this case it's a bacterium. Amazing potential!
Isn't it thought that Nikola Tesla discovered this source of energy years ago, but it has been suppressed for years due to it being 'free.'
Interesting....
velocityjohnno wrote:Have you seen rammed earth homes Flollo? They are mint. Very thick walls.
Yeah, I know about it but didn't see it in practice. It looks quite legit and is definitely something that improves building efficiency.
GreenJam wrote:solutions - maybe make passivehause design the standard for new builds. Green roofs and walls. A good example combo of green roof and solar was shown on the ABC Gardening Aus show recently (in Sydney) with good research being done to measure and prove the benefits of this combo approach for temperature, solar power generation, and cleanliness (chemical residues) of any run-off against a control normal solar set-up on a bare roof. Seems a good climate mitigation and aesthetic solution.
and building up has to be the answer - mass timber mylti-level buildings. More building with timber supports good forest management. Going up will be necessary as we cannot keep up the urban sprawl to accommodate an ever increasing population and demand for housing in popular coastal regions. And accompany that urban densification with good urban forest/urban greening schemes.
Absolutely. I actually have a green roof. My block is on a slope so we did a cut, built the house, and then backfilled from the top. The temperature inside the house is very consistent the whole year round ~20 degrees. I actually don't use air conditioning at all, it's never too hot. My electricity bills in summer are negligible with long days (no need for lights) and no air con required. I spend way more on coffee than I do on electricity. Winter does require heating and I use underfloor electrical which can cost a bit but I programmed it to only work on off-peak/shoulder and it's not too bad.
andy-mac wrote:velocityjohnno wrote:Aussie scientists harvest electricity from air:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/electricity-is-in-the-air-as-scientists-...
When I saw the headline I thought they'd quantified and harvested the aether, but in this case it's a bacterium. Amazing potential!
Isn't it thought that Nikola Tesla discovered this source of energy years ago, but it has been suppressed for years due to it being 'free.'
Interesting....
Yeah, as I understand it you could call it an early prototype that didn't secure additional funding (in modern language). The problem with that technology is the long-distance transmission. It's not impossible but energy losses with that technology would be massive, making the system very inefficient. That is why we distribute energy through shielded cables. A good comparison is the 5G network - good in some areas - nonexistent in others. Unless you literally place towers (small cells help) 'all over the place' its footprint will always have issues. But maybe there is a future in Tesla's technology, there are startups that come out with similar things all the time. Not sure if anyone had success in modern times?
AndyM wrote:Without bringing population growth into the discussion, surely all of the above are just bandaid solutions.
We are talking about building efficiency and not fixing all the world's issues. Even if population numbers stay the same old buildings will fall apart and new ones will be built. The question I am asking is how do we build them in a better way?
velocityjohnno wrote:Have you seen rammed earth homes Flollo? They are mint. Very thick walls.
@VJ. I built a rammed earth weekend cottage on our 10 acres 20 years ago, the best, yep, they are MINT. The entire build all from waste except the concrete i pumped into the raft slab. $70k build cost us $5,900 using recycled everything.AW.
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