I have 'do what?!' sensors. And when I read something like this they get put on alert: ‘Fertilising’ oceans with iron may combat climate change
Now I like science along with the next fellow. I also really like things that can help. But when I see something that 'may' work being written up so factually, especially when it's about a short-term mitigation 'solution' of dubious merit that impacts the rest of the planet, I do wonder why it's up there.
It's only later you get to find out that there are some down sides. Mind you, lobbing a ton of car in to get back 100,000 tons of C02 seems like a deal... if it works. Maybe we could set up a ramp at Land's End. Furthest out gets a prize. I know, a trip to the Antarctic!
Meanwhile this, which I saw in passing, seemed more of a worry: Rapeseed biofuel ‘produces more greenhouse gas than oil or petrol’ - then you read the comments. What to believe?
Tinkers those journos, eh?
Junkk.com promotes fun, reward-based e-practices, sharing oodles of info in objective, balanced ways. But we do have personal opinions, too! Hence this slightly ‘off of site, top of mind' blog by Junkk Male Peter. Hopefully still more ‘concerned mates’ than 'do this... or else' nannies, with critiques seen as constructive or of a more eyebrow-twitching ‘Oh, really?!' variety. Little that’s green can be viewed only in black and white.
Monday, September 24, 2007
2 comments:
I believe in freedom of speech. But I also don't like bullies on blogs, even verbal ones, as they can drive away those with something valid to say... or offer.
Subjective is fine, but well argued and substantiated is even better. Calm and polite tops. Anything that crosses my personal line will not go up. There may be reasons given, but not guaranteed.
I'm not too keen on 'Anon' as a handle (and the content usually explains why), so if that's what you opt for it may not make it. Sorry.
Regarding the rapeseed bio-diesel producing more nitrous oxides (NOX) than petroleum based diesel.
ReplyDeleteThis is quite possibly true, though I can't believe that the figure of 70% more can be accurate.
What the article does not state though is that any half decent catalytic converter will remove almost all NOX from an exhaust system's gases, so the emissions from a vehicle with a properly set up exhaust surely cannot be worse than petroleum based diesel. It also ought to state somewhere that most NOX gases, by their very nature, have quite a short lifespan as they are chemically unstable and will react with many other things in the atmosphere.
These are the percentage changes in emissions conventional diesel vs. 20% bio-diesel as reported by the EPA in 2003. Full article can be found at www.epa.gov.
ReplyDeleteNOx +2.0%
PM -10.1%
HC -21.1%
CO -11.0%
I think the slight increase in NOx emissions is by far outwieghed by the reductions in particulate matter (linked to cancers), unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.
On 100% bio-diesel the NOx emissions increase is just under 10% whilst the others are even more significant reductions.
I don't know how or where the UK reports scientific measuring was done but it bears no resemblance to the results that the EPA achieved.