The solutions to Global Warming include. . .

[Turtle]

I noticed a new advert running on television promoting solutions for America to the climate problem. I haven't gone too deep into the site they gave, but it's an Al Gore group and I wondered if others have heard of this effort yet. Here's the link: >> We Can Solve It

[Michaelangelica]

Peridotite

Can any geologist-rock-type-person translate this please?

In situ carbonation of peridotite for CO2 storage

1. Peter B. Kelemen1 and
2. Jürg Matter
Author Affiliations
1. Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964
1.
Edited by David Walker, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY, and approved September 22, 2008 (received for review June 17, 2008)

Abstract

The rate of natural carbonation of tectonically exposed mantle peridotite during weathering and low-temperature alteration can be enhanced to develop a significant sink for atmospheric CO2.
Natural carbonation of peridotite in the Samail ophiolite, an uplifted slice of oceanic crust and upper mantle in the Sultanate of Oman, is surprisingly rapid.
Carbonate veins in mantle peridotite in Oman have an average 14C age of ≈26,000 years, and are not 30–95 million years old as previously believed.
These data and reconnaissance mapping show that ≈104 to 105 tons per year of atmospheric CO2 are converted to solid carbonate minerals via peridotite weathering in Oman.
Peridotite carbonation can be accelerated via drilling, hydraulic fracture, input of purified CO2 at elevated pressure, and, in particular, increased temperature at depth. After an initial heating step, CO2 pumped at 25 or 30 °C can be heated by exothermic carbonation reactions that sustain high temperature and rapid reaction rates at depth with little expenditure of energy.
In situ carbonation of peridotite could consume >1 billion tons of CO2 per year in Oman alone, affording a low-cost, safe, and permanent method to capture and store atmospheric CO2.

In situ carbonation of peridotite for CO2 storage ? PNAS

[Essay]

...without learning all about geology (mafic = high Mg, Fe; low Si.... MAgnesium +FerrIC), this may help....

Serpentinite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

...see reaction 2B....

~ more later?

p.s.
...although 2A is interesting... converting CO2 into methane....

uh oh.... "Reaction 2b is favored in highly magnesian compositions and low partial pressure of carbon dioxide. (Something is missing from Reaction 2b because Fe is oxidized and nothing gets reduced.)" -wiki

definetly need more later....

[modest]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Peridotite

Can any geologist-rock-type-person translate this please?


In situ carbonation of peridotite for CO2 storage ? PNAS

It's explained very well in this news report:

Technology Review: Carbon-Capturing Rock

Basically, when tectonic plates bump into each other they crinkle and wrinkle and separate and otherwise open up the crust of the earth. New rock layers that were underground get exposed to the air. That rock (Peridotite) is pretty good at carbon sequestration as it converts carbon dioxide in the air into calcium and magnesium carbonate.

They think the can speed up the sequestration process by heating up the rock, fracturing it, and drilling it. They could then pump carbon dioxide from power plants directly into the rock.

It sounds interesting. Good find Michaelangelica.

~modest

[Michaelangelica]

Thanks guys & gals
There is a lot of this 'peridotitety' type stuff in Ozz too.

I nearly did geology
Wish I did. (My kids loved rocks, especially the shiny expensive ones.) Being an Ozzie I would be a multi-millionaire by now.

Great links thanks
I will keep my antennae out for it in future.

Chemical reactions that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it in the form of solid rock inside geological formations could offset billions of tons of carbon-dioxide emissions each year, according to researchers at Columbia University, in New York. The scientists say that research done on large rock formations in Oman suggests new ways to sequester carbon-dioxide emissions to help lessen global warming.

The researchers have shown that rock formations called peridotite, which are found in Oman and several other places worldwide, including California and New Guinea, produce calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate rock when they come into contact with carbon dioxide. The scientists found that such formations in Oman naturally sequester hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide a year.

[Turtle]

The solutions include sucking it up & doing with less. Enough already of the Christmas lights and wrapping paper and McDonalds toys, yada, yada, yada. If history is any indication, only the dead will head this advice.

Reducing Consumption Key To A Sustainable Future

The Limits to Growth' modelled scenarios for the future global economy and environment and recommended far reaching changes to the way we live to avoid disaster.

In a paper published in the current edition of the international journal; Global Environmental Change, CSIRO physicist Dr Graham Turner compares forecasts from the book with global data from the past 30 years.

"The real-world data basically supports The Limits to Growth model," he says. "It shows that for the first 30 years of the model, the world has been tracking along the unsustainable trajectory of the book's business-as-usual scenario."

"The original modelling predicts that if we continue down that track and do not substantially reduce our consumption and increase technological progress, the global economy will collapse by the middle of this century.

"The contemporary issues of peak oil, climate change, and food and water security, resonate strongly with the overshoot and collapse displayed in the business-as-usual scenario of The Limits to Growth." ...

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Turtle

The solutions include sucking it up & doing with less. Enough already of the Christmas lights and wrapping paper and McDonalds toys, yada, yada, yada. If history is any indication, only the dead will head this advice.

Reducing Consumption Key To A Sustainable Future

Yep, about right.

Christmas Lights get bigger and bigger here every year. Many streets co-operate and raise thousands for medical and kid's charities. Some are so huge that they have rows of Ice craem vans and fast food vans to cater for the crowds.!

II heard one Christmas Lights kill-joy (Schofield) being berated on the radio last year. One guy rang in and said his Christmas lights would not count for two fireworks at the various New Year and other Fireworks displays (Which Scofield used to organise).
Maybe we can make an exception for lights? Like Christmas Trees are not really plastic (The actual clause excepting them has not been written yet and is still under discussion at "We need a trillion more indoor plants" thread ) Sorry couldn't resist that dumb joke.

While we are at it what about Petrol Heads- car and bike racing of all kinds.

I just read Fiat has a production car (for a few years now-sold mainly in Brazil) that can accept gas (LPG), alcohol, alcohol/petrol mixes or just petrol-whatever is cheaper on the day.
Also that demand for hybid cars is soaring.
I had to wonder if Ford, GM and Chrysler are going broke because they have miss-read the market demand for a more environmentally sensitive car.
The hand out ($6 BIL) our (Oz) government is giving GM comes with a proviso that they will research and develop environmentally more sensitive & economical cars.

Thanks for the links.
There are still many (lots?) that don't see Global Warming as a problem.
That is a problem as it prevents concerted community/national action. Especially some listed on your link
Solutions | We Can Solve It
We only need one major "tipping point" to happen and we are R.S.

Queensland is just cleaning up after a $100 million+ $ storm. Many houses are unliveable.
Insurance premiums go up and up every year- almost all the proof for GW you need. Actuaries aren't dumb.


PS
A final thought on reducing consumption to sustainable levels.
21% of world's resources used by China Pop= c. 1,330,044,605
21% of world's resources used by USA. Pop= c. 305,690,000
Pollution almost the same.
A lot of the stuff produced in china is probably for the US market anyway.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Yep, about right.

Christmas Lights get bigger and bigger here every year. Many streets co-operate and raise thousands for medical and kid's charities. Some are so huge that they have rows of Ice craem vans and fast food vans to cater for the crowds.!

II heard one Christmas Lights kill-joy (Schofield) being berated on the radio last year. One guy rang in and said his Christmas lights would not count for two fireworks at the various New Year and other Fireworks displays (Which Scofield used to organise).
Maybe we can make an exception for lights?

Sorry; no exceptions. Whether home lights, city displays, or corporate, Christmas lights are every bit the kind of excess that we have to put the kabosh on if we mean to get serious about curbing pollution from our primary source coal-fired generating plants.

The locals over the river in Portland Oregon are all atwitter about their thousands of new LED lights for their displays, touting them as 'saving energy'. Good grief!!! They bought them from factories in China, the wires are coated with lead, and any frivoloius waste is never a savings. Who's paying for this? The taxpayers. Meantime, the city is putting off road repairs & light-rail security guards for lack of money.

No more Christmas lights people!!!! Period!! Suck it up & just say NO.

[Michaelangelica]

Well you will need to negotiate the Christmas Tree Clause at The Hypography International Anti-Plastic Plant Convention in the new year.
You may need to get some support from Islamic and African nations.

What about city office lights? In Sydney they. are left on all night and by this photo, it seems Sydney is not alone.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Well you will need to negotiate the Christmas Tree Clause at The Hypography International Anti-Plastic Plant Convention in the new year.
You may need to get some support from Islamic and African nations.

What about city office lights? In Sydney they. are left on all night and by this photo, it seems Sydney is not alone.

Office lights - and street lights - offer a unique problem because in many instances having them on prevents accidents and crime. I agree leaving them on carelessly is another sloppy bit of waste.

Speaking of sloppy bits of waste, let's knock off the seasonal and other greeting cards shall we? If'n you want to let someone know you care, write a letter on plain paper. Greeting cards weigh more than a letter, so more fuel is consumed delivering them and the cost of a card compared to a sheet of paper is magnitudes higher. Come on people...suck it up & knock it off! Let's show Hallmark that we care enough to put them out of business.