This could get very bad.

[FluffyMcDeath]

When the tundra melts and the calthrates volatilize!

We can't afford to have the first sign of a failed energy policy be the mass extinction of life on Earth. We have to act now.

Death by a thousand "burps"

[Dandy]

FluffyMcDeath wrote:
When the tundra melts and the calthrates volatilize!

We can't afford to have the first sign of a failed energy policy be the mass extinction of life on Earth. We have to act now.

Death by a thousand "burps"

Scary scenario - really!

But one question arose:
Scientists said that there already have been "heat"-periods on planet Earth, which are said to have been much warmer than the current one.

But how can it be then that they still are afraid of  volatilisation of calthrates - I would expect them to have evaporated during one of the last "heat"-periods, where temperatures have already been much higher than today!

If those calthrates didn't melt in an environment with *MUCH HIGHER* temperatures than we have *TODAY* - what makes them think the calthrates would melt *NOW*
:-?

[T_Bone]

I think everyone should ignore any and all theories untill such a time as a model can be constructed that can actually be proven to be consistant with the way our planet actually works.

All these silly theories remind me of "here be dragons" labels on old maps, and we're being asked to cripple the economy planetwide in an attempt to "not fall off the sides of our flat planet."

[blobrana]

Hum,
The deep sea water Calthrates were probably layed down during the last ice age...within the time scale of less than 50,000 years…
 These small pockets of gases are formed in low temperature, high pressure, environments.
When the temperature is increased as it has done so, these pockets are disrupted and the methane will rise into the atmosphere, causing increased temperatures which further increase the release of methane.



Btw, I sure that those old sea dog stories of falling off the sea were just political and economic propaganda to stop others from exploiting trade routes…

[Karlos]

Methane clathrates are cool. You can actually burn them :-D Interesting watching someone set fire to a chunk of ice ;-)

[KennyR]

T_Bone wrote:
I think everyone should ignore any and all theories untill such a time as a model can be constructed that can actually be proven to be consistant with the way our planet actually works.

All these silly theories remind me of "here be dragons" labels on old maps, and we're being asked to cripple the economy planetwide in an attempt to "not fall off the sides of our flat planet."

Methane hydrates melting and causing runaway warming is not particularly theoritical. Geologists already believe it partly responsible for the Permian extinction, which killed approximately 90% of life on Earth.

Methane hydrates melting and causing runaway warming is not particularly theoritical. Geologists already believe it partly responsible for the Permian extinction, which killed approximately 90% of life on Earth.

Wasn't that God's great flood? ;-)

[T_Bone]

mdma wrote:

Methane hydrates melting and causing runaway warming is not particularly theoritical. Geologists already believe it partly responsible for the Permian extinction, which killed approximately 90% of life on Earth.

Wasn't that God's great flood? ;-)

...and why didn't Noah just swat those two %$#%ing mosquitoes?

[blobrana]

Hum,
because he hadn`t evolved past a Estemmenosuchus
(A large mammal-like reptile) ?

[KennyR]

T_Bone wrote:
...and why didn't Noah just swat those two %$#%ing mosquitoes?

God must have wanted us to suffer for our sins by poisoning ourselves with DDT.

[Karlos]

@T_Bone

I think the answer to that is in your sig...

[T_Bone]

KennyR wrote:

T_Bone wrote:
I think everyone should ignore any and all theories untill such a time as a model can be constructed that can actually be proven to be consistant with the way our planet actually works.

All these silly theories remind me of "here be dragons" labels on old maps, and we're being asked to cripple the economy planetwide in an attempt to "not fall off the sides of our flat planet."

Methane hydrates melting and causing runaway warming is not particularly theoritical. Geologists already believe it partly responsible for the Permian extinction, which killed approximately 90% of life on Earth.

That's ONE of the theories, and not even one of the most popular. It's "the earth is round, but hollow" being thrown in with the other "here be dragons" theories., yet we'll probably soon be asked to change the way we do everything based on it.

[FluffyMcDeath]

T_Bone wrote:
I think everyone should ignore any and all theories untill such a time as a model can be constructed that can actually be proven to be consistant with the way our planet actually works.

You were probably one of those kids who didn't have any faith in that silly "those berries could be poisoness" theory. At least, not until they were proven to be deadly to you.

Thing about stuff like that is that you only get to be wrong once. This is one of those things.

If there is something that looks like it could be dangerous ahead, slow down. It's the only prudent approach.

I know it's hard to drive less, have a smaller vehicle, use more efficient lighting, wear a sweater and insulate your home better. These are all terrible hardships (unlike starvation when agriculture fails, because, hey, we'll all just drive to McDonalds and eat there!!).

Gets to the point it's justifiable self defense to kill anyone who refuses to cut their emissions.

[Dandy]

FluffyMcDeath wrote:
...
Gets to the point it's justifiable self defense to kill anyone who refuses to cut their emissions.

Hey- don't let George UU become aware of that - he might end up with suicide!
:evilgrin:

[Karlos]

@Dandy

Hmmm, do emissions of BS count?