Climatewatch: positive feedback cycles III

It seems that though ozone in the upper layers of the atmosphere (our UV shield) is still being depleted, its concentration in the lower layers in increasing. This contributes to creating yet another positive feedback cycle for global warming by hampering plant growth and their ability to absorb CO2:
Increasing near-surface ozone ups climate change

Though striving to only refer back to reputable sources and studies (and not just hypothesis or seemingly reasonable speculations) it is still difficult to discern how much of an impact many of these factors have. The overall picture painted does however point out that the process is accelerating and, whether we acknowledge them or not, with good data and measurement or not, and publish in reputable journals or not, the system is more complex and crossing new thresholds only brings uncertainty one step closer.
The Chinese have this character (Wei Ji) that means both "crisis" and "opportunity". I am yet to learn how to see these times I live in as an opportunity.

ClimateWatch: Sun vs. CO2 study conclusion

And the winner is... CO2!
A newer study from Britain shows that there is no connection between the solar activity and the current global warming trend, at least not on a significant level:
'No sun link' to climate change
It makes one wonder why the proponents of many of these alternate theories are so vehement in their claims and refutation of the "mainstream" hypothesis, even if now backed by IPCC and the scientific community worldwide. Maybe some underhanded industry/political gagging or counter-propaganda to muddy the waters and sow distrust.
One more reason to study more on one's own and make judgements with enough accurate facts from reliable sources, and after considering all aspects, and not just what we want to believe, be it pro or con. This is one area that I consider critical for everyone to have some level of awareness about, before it is too late and we won't even know what is going on as we are getting bashed.
Otherwise, I am just enjoying this mid-July light shower in the California Foothills, like never before...

Peak Oil peeking around the corner

Slowly but surely it seems that the issue of Peak Oil is creeping up in the news:
International Energy Agency warns of supply squeeze
Some say this does not quite stand for an acknowledgment of Peak Oil, but it comes awfully close no matter what is said. Besides, I too believe that they will only acquiesce it posthumously.
What the report points out is that there is increased power in the hands of the OPEC countries, as the non-OPEC production is dropping. Also, intense economic growth in the Middle and Far East is fueling higher demand (that may continue to accelerate, thus bringing the crunch timeframe closer than what is announced).
This may not show as a spike in oil and gasoline prices, but two years from now we will see this steady upwards trend unlike anything else before on the price charts. By then most likely we will be paying double for gasoline in the US.

One solution proposed is a drop in demand: if any of you have any idea how that can be accomplished, let me know, too.
And no, ethanol, solar and other alternative power sources do not count, as they will not be widespread fast enough to make any difference. Besides their own issues (like ethanol's low energy profit ratio, or EROEI)
Maybe if most of us switch to bikes for commuting...

Climatewatch: the miner's canary

Polar researchers refer to the Arctic as the world's miner's canary that foretells what can/will later happen in other areas of the globe. Recent discoveries point out that the pace of the changes monitored might be much faster than expected, taking place under our very eyes:
Vanishing Arctic ponds
There does not seem to be any doubt that we are at a tipping point. The questions that remain are whether we have passed it and have started to plunge or not and if not, what can be done to change course (if anything can be done) and can we do it in time to avoid the worst.
One of the arguments invoked by those who oppose the various theories of climate change is that the Earth's climate has changed before, even more drastically, without the catastrophic effects forecast in our case. Or that these changes are cyclical and have happened repeatedly, some of them every few thousands years or so, and obviously they do not pose such a risk and are relatively quick to come out of. However, the details usually left out are that some of the changes noticed nowadays (like the increase in the CO2 levels in the atmosphere) are something that has not been seen on Earth in a few HUNDRED THOUSAND years. And that, moreover, the accelerated increase that sends such factors up the scale in a few years would otherwise take THOUSANDS of years to occur as part of Earth's cyclical changes.
In other words, it is not that the pattern is new, it's the speed of change that points to a disruption.
Lastly, as a note of curiosity about some of the alternative theories out there regarding the causes of climate change: Climate change - Sun & the stars vs C02