Younger, Thinner Arctic Ice Reported

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Toasty

The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center yesterday updated status of Arctic ice coverage (http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2009/040609.html) with the report that at the end of March the extent of ice coverage was similar to recent years, but below the longer-term 1979 – 2000 year average (peak coverage had been reached by February 28).  Most significantly, NSIC also reported that the percentage of younger, thinner and thus more vulnerable ice continued to increase.

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Automobiles IV – The Nano Arrives

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Toasty

After several months delay due to political factors, Tata Motors of India today introduced their “peoples car”, the Nano.  The basic model of the 33hp, 2-cylinder car is being sold at the previously announced target price of 100,000 rupees (approx. $1,980 US), plus taxes and fees.  Two higher priced models add such amenities as heating and air conditioning and power windows.

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President Obama on Climate Change

Posted on November 19, 2008 by Toasty

On November 19, 2008,  then President-Elect Obama delivered a video message to the participants of the Governors Climate Change Summit in Los Angeles, California, which represented a comprehensive overview his position on global climate change.  American citizens should review these comments and strive to ensure that these promises are kept.   A video of  President Obama’s comments can be viewed on AreWeToast.com, while the official transcript  of his remarks follow below.

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System Feedback and Tipping Points

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Toasty

 "Feedback" is a term to describe myriad processes in both the biological and physical components of our ecosystems.  Feedback is not at all a new discovery, or one that is unique to global warming/climate change.  While in the past feedback processes have been cited for contributing to the stability of ecosystems, feedback processes are also critical threats to the stability of global systems in response to global warming.  In this context, feedback processes can be considered a response to an external addition of energy to a system that magnifies, or increases, that energy input.  Some examples may help.

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Too Valuable to Burn

Posted on June 30, 2008 by Toasty

In the typical American house the roofs over our heads, the flakeboard sheathing, the structural beams, the floor underlayment, the carpeting and vinyl flooring, the cupboards, the paints, the pipes that supply our water and carry away our wastes; and even the insulation on our wires are all made from products derived from oil.  The fertilizers that we apply to our lawns and to our agricultural fields are derived from petroleum and natural gas, as are virtually all of the medicines and other pharmaceutical products that we take to preserve our health.   Detergents, the base of all of our cosmetics, and even “baby oil” and mineral oil are all petroleum products.  Our “wash and wear” clothes depend upon polyester fiber made from petroleum, as are many other synthetic fibers used in clothing, an other fabric products.  The tires on our cars and bicycles depend upon petroleum as does the asphalt surfaces that they travel on.

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U.S. Government releases scientific assessment of climate change impacts

Posted on May 30, 2008 by Toasty

 

On November 14, 2006 the Center for Biological Diversity, and other parties, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Bush Administration charging that it had failed to meet the requirement of the Global Change Research Act of 1990 to provide Congress with an revised Research Plan every 3 years and a "Scientific Assessment" every 4 years.

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Automobiles III – A Solution or a Disaster?

Posted on May 9, 2008 by Toasty

Introduced in January 2008, by the mammoth Indian conglomerate Tata, the “Nano” will be the worlds cheapest car and among the smallest when it goes on sale this fall. Meeting the design target of a “1 lakh (100,000 rupees) Peoples Car” the Nano will cost the equivalent of $2,400 USD or 1,554 euros at today’s exchange rates. While a small car, the 4-door Nano is not merely an enlarged motor scooter but rather the result of some outstanding cost-reduction engineering.

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Automobiles II – Future?

Posted on May 7, 2008 by Toasty

On September 29th, 1993, U.S. President Clinton, Vice-President Gore and automotive industry leaders announced a new federal/industry partnership to produce an safe, affordable, recyclable automobile with a mileage goal of 80 miles/gallon.  The federal government would contribute funding and military technology, while industry would design and build the vehicles.  Each of the "Big Three" partners showed hybrid diesel-electric "concept cars" in 2000, and was prepared to deliver working prototypes in 2002.  However in January of 2002,  after a federal investment of more that a billion dollars,  Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced that the Bush administration was canceling the project and initiating a new program "FreedomCAR" to promote pure hydrogen-powered vehicles.

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Automobiles I – Past

Posted on May 6, 2008 by Toasty

Introduced in 1908, the Model T Fords were produced until 1927. The Model T’s were powered by a small (about 20 hp) engine that burned either gasoline or ethanol. Depending upon fuel, driving conditions, and body style (at least 9 body styles, ranging from small roadsters to one-ton trucks were produced) mileage varied from about 13 to 21 mpg. More than 15 million Model T’s were produced before production was stopped in 1927. At that time, 9 out of 10 automobiles world-wide, was a Model T.

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Climate Change and Computer Models

Posted on May 5, 2008 by Toasty

Global Climate Change is probably the most complex challenge ever faced by humans, and in its entirety well beyond the comprehension by the human mind. The tool best suited to gaining a comprehension of the various individual elements, and their interactions, is computer modeling.

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