Posted on 02/06/2006 11:34:58 PM PST by snarks_when_bored
It is ironic that one consequence of global warming is that Europe might plunge into a deep freeze. This possibility stimulated an unusual research project at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Peter Flynn, the Poole Chair in Management for Engineers in the U of A Department of Mechanical Engineering, has studied whether down-welling ocean currents can carry more dissolved carbon into the deep ocean. He learned they can't, but in the course of this research he found some evidence that the ocean currents that bring warm water to the oceans off northern Europe may be weakening.
The results of the research have been published recently in the journal Climatic Change.
"The current is like an ocean conveyor belt," Flynn explained. "It starts in the north Atlantic, where down-welling, cold, arctic water flows south at the bottom of the ocean, and then warm, tropical water flows north to fill in the vacuum created by the cold water, and this warm water helps ensure a mild climate in northern Europe,"
The melting of fresh water ice due to global warming can reduce the flow of the down-welling current, and a study published recently in the journal Nature by researchers at the University of Southhampton in England reported evidence of weakening down-welling currents.
Flynn and a graduate student evaluated seven different methods to enhance down-welling currents. They found one way was far more cost effective than the others: making thicker sea ice by pumping salty ocean water on top of ice sheets.
They envisioned more than 8,000 barges moving into the northern ocean in the fall, speeding the initial formation of sea ice by pumping a spray of water into the air, and then, once the ice is formed, pumping ocean water on top of it, trapping the salt in the ice and reaching a thickness of seven meters.
In the spring, water would continue to be pumped over the ice to melt it, forming a vast amount of cold, salty water that sinks and adds to the down-welling current to re-strengthen it.
The estimated cost is about $50 billion.
"When we first did this study we thought this idea was way too expensive--we were shocked by the numbers," Flynn said. "But let's say conservatively that there are 100 million people in Europe affected by this current. Fifty billion dollars would come to 500 dollars per person, and we don't think that is an unreasonable price if the glaciers are at your backdoor and your way of life is disappearing."
Flynn emphasizes that his group does not propose this scheme as the first or best choice, since all geo-engineering projects have a risk of unforeseen circumstances.
"The best way to deal with global warming is to deal with the causes, fossil carbon in the atmosphere, not the symptoms," he said. "However, if our efforts to control CO2 levels in the atmosphere fail and we reach a crisis, we can contemplate emergency action."
"Barges? We ain't got no barges. We don't need no barges. I don't have to show you any stinking barges!"
Barges ping!
Leave the ice alone. Bring back CFCs and DDT.
Yeah, I love the smell of DDT in the morning. It smells like...barges!
The best way to deal with global warming is to deal with the causes, fossil carbon in the atmosphere, not the symptoms," he said. "However, if our efforts to control CO2 levels in the atmosphere fail and we reach a crisis, we can contemplate emergency action."
With one breath he admits that he can not forsee all of the consequences of tampering with the environment. With the next breath he states that he knows that reducing CO2 levels will have the desired effect.
The environmental models these busybodies work with are no where near capable of modeling the complexities of earth’s thermal engine for a week let alone a millennium.
If global warming exists they can only guess at what are the underlying causes let alone how it may be controlled.
Agree with your points. But it's likely that we're going to have to try something in the way of environmental engineering on a large scale in the near future. The barges are an interesting idea, anyway.
"Thousands of barges could save Europe from deep freeze..."
I'd take my chances with the cold.
But "thousand of barges" could be put to immediate excellent use for shipping the muslims back to their homelands of origin.
Then mothball the barges, in case it gets colder.
Heck, they can't even get forcast right 72 hours out much less years.
Barges? We don't have no barges! We don't have no stinking barges!
I'm losing it at this hour..
(laugh) Yeah, me, too...obviously!
Kevin Costner will save us! C'est la vie!
I also think his cost projection is low balled in the extreme.
Remember this project would be an on going possibly centuries in duration.
The biggest thing I see in this project is that the only logical power supply for these pumps is nuclear. Any other power source would require further burning of fossil fuels and an endless train of fuel tankers in to the Arctic Circle.
Most likely these nuclear power plants would have to be on submarines so that they could set below the ocean’s surface to avoid the violent storms that frequent the Arctic seas.
Manning these submarines will be difficult as the job will be boring in the extreme. And the technology to transfer the power to the barges does not exist and will need to be developed.
Or, uh, perhaps not...I seem to have misplaced my slide rule so I can't check this stuff...
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
As Shemp was to the Stooges, so was Al Gore to the Clinton Administration.
Of course these barges are low emission or hybrids. Otherwise, what kind of impact would they make on the greenies being concentrated in a small area and using big engines to blast water around. Ok, I admit I am ignorant about the engine thing.
I am contributing to GWarming this year because heating oil is expensive. Needing tips on maximizing CFC's.
Come on folks...this is very series stuff. If we let Europe freeze the mussies will be too cold to burn, rape and murder. We must be compassionate and understand their needs.
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.