Posted on 12/24/2003 1:24:22 PM PST by neverdem
NASA scientists say that soot, mostly from diesel engines, is causing as much as a quarter of all observed global warming by reducing the ability of snow and ice to reflect sunlight.
Their findings on how soot affects reflective ability, known as albedo, raise new questions about human-caused climate change from the Arctic to the Alps. Levels of airborne soot as high as about 100 parts per billion were found in the Alps, enough to significantly reduce the snow's ability to reflect sunlight rather than absorb it.
"We suggest that soot contributes to near worldwide melting of ice that is usually attributed solely to global warming," NASA scientists James Hansen and Larissa Nazarenko wrote this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Soot is a more all-around 'bad actor' than has been appreciated."
The diesel engine industry yesterday disputed the study, noting that, worldwide, diesel emissions account for 0.7 percent of all black carbon emissions. "It is hard to understand the NASA study theories and conclusions when the actual inventories of diesel particulate emissions in the U.S. have a 10-year downward trend and today account for less than 3 percent of all fine particles," said Allen Schaeffer of the Diesel Technology Forum, an industry group.
NASA scientists say that soot, mostly from diesel engines, is causing as much as a quarter of all observed global warming by reducing the ability of snow and ice to reflect sunlight.
Their findings on how soot affects reflective ability, known as albedo, raise new questions about human-caused climate change from the Arctic to the Alps. Levels of airborne soot as high as about 100 parts per billion were found in the Alps, enough to significantly reduce the snow's ability to reflect sunlight rather than absorb it.
"We suggest that soot contributes to near worldwide melting of ice that is usually attributed solely to global warming," NASA scientists James Hansen and Larissa Nazarenko wrote this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Soot is a more all-around 'bad actor' than has been appreciated."
The diesel engine industry yesterday disputed the study, noting that, worldwide, diesel emissions account for 0.7 percent of all black carbon emissions. "It is hard to understand the NASA study theories and conclusions when the actual inventories of diesel particulate emissions in the U.S. have a 10-year downward trend and today account for less than 3 percent of all fine particles," said Allen Schaeffer of the Diesel Technology Forum, an industry group.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.
Fine. I'll convert my truck to burn solid rocket fuel.
Maybe I'll find some Viagra in my stocking tomorrow!
I have a friend who created an environmentally friendly rocket fuel.
No, I'm calling one of my best friends who has a bald head, upper arms the size of most folks thighs, 3 or 4 used diesel pick-up trucks from the Port Authority of NY, and paints the George Washington Bridge.
Well he couldn't get the government to use it. BTW, he also created the fuel for most of our rockets used in the space program and ones like the minuteman. He did know what he was doing and the government still refused to use it. Never did know why.
It's not just the US. We try, but we aren't doing it by ourselves. Got lots of help. Seems like just a few years ago Soviet Russian technicians were spreading soot on snowcovered wheatfields in an attempt to get a longer growing season. Looks like everybody has joined in and it is working. The snow gets kind of gray and disgusting by spring.
Frankly, NASA has been funfed for several years.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.