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| Science & Technology |
| EPA to use Clean Water Act to Stop Climate Change |
| 2010-04-05 |
| Methane? Water vapor? Cow burps? Methane hydrate? Estimates of methane hydrate range from 500 to 2500 gigatonnes carbon, ... These are large amounts. For comparison the total carbon in the atmosphere is around 700 gigatons. With climate change legislation stalled in Congress, the Clean Water Act would serve as a second front, as the Obama administration has sought to use the Clean Air Act to rein in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases administratively. Since the dawn of the industrial age, acid levels in the oceans have increased 30 percent. Currently, the oceans are absorbing 22 million tons of carbon dioxide a day. Among other things, The water in the deep Pacific Ocean is already more acidic than shallower water is because it's absorbed the carbon dioxide that's produced as animals and plants decompose. Some of the deep water in the Pacific hasn't been to the surface for 1,000 or more years. By the end of the century, that deep water is expected to be 150 percent more acidic than it is now, and as it's brought to the surface by upwelling, it's exposed to even more carbon dioxide. So explain it again, please - how did the 1,000 year old water get to be so acidic?I mean, without SUVs and republicans? |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #2 the Obama administration has sought to use the Clean Air Act to rein in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases administratively. Next, he will want to regulate and tax our breathing. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-05 14:50 |
| #1 Sorry, the first three lines should be highlighted. And the link for methane hydrate went away, too - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane_clathrate Fixed, AoS. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2010-04-05 13:33 |