tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post6207389962366619901..comments2023-12-23T05:14:34.273-05:00Comments on Wit's End: Tilting at WindmillsGail Zawackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-810119521496133832014-12-05T01:02:05.237-05:002014-12-05T01:02:05.237-05:00Those are some of the "great(?)" cosmolo...Those are some of the "great(?)" cosmological questions in certain philosophical venues. However, if an "open-minded person" (good luck finding more than a few) considers just the vast array of anecdotal "evidence," such as the myriad UFO sightings from around the world (not ALL being "equal") as well as <i>some</i> other issues presented by von Daniken and others, I think one would be <i>hard-pressed</i> to presume that "humans" are "unique," alone, or even "special" in the vast expanse that is deemed "The Universe." It is a <i>sad fact</i> that most of the allegedly "intelligent" lifeforms on Earth cannot even <i>imagine</i>, let alone "comprehend," other similar beings and their manners of living beyond what they, themselves manifest or have been "programmed" to exhibit. I think you would agree that therein exists one of the fundamental roots of conflict, not to mention anthropomorphism. Too many inhabitants of this rock still, at least subconsciously, BELIEVE that Earth <i>IS</i> the "center" of the aforementioned "Universe" even if they accept that this rock orbits its Sun rather than vice-versa. Even too many "smart people," with more than a few "academic titles," are overly convinced of their own perspectives which remain anomalous in many, if not most, other "social circles" around even this world. It <i>IS</i> difficult, i.e. requires sincere "effort," to imagine what "living" is like "in someone else's shoes." Too many are unwilling to even consider such effort, let alone endeavor to undertake the challenge. Personally, having been "dirt poor" (not sure when or where my next meal would occur) as well as having a "comfortable" income ($50+K/yr) and "everywhere" in between, I think it is highly likely that "we" are in a sort-of "Day the Earth Stood Still" situation in which any potential "non-terrestrials" are observing Earthly events and wondering if "we" are "worthy," or merely a nuisance that should be allowed to self-destruct, saving them the trouble. "Enlightenment" has been manifest in far too few and even many of "them" still cling obsessively to too many age-old and deep-seated "superstitions" (so much so that those "beliefs" are inadmissible). One thing is certain though, a hundred years from now (perhaps less) neither you nor I will know the difference! :)colinchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16925142870563262957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-10950569719697438192014-12-04T20:56:11.326-05:002014-12-04T20:56:11.326-05:00Thanks Gail, I'll have a close look at these.Thanks Gail, I'll have a close look at these.Charleshttp://c.d.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-13772065945453386562014-12-04T20:24:16.064-05:002014-12-04T20:24:16.064-05:00I have been wondering today, ColinC - are we one o...I have been wondering today, ColinC - are we one of many living planets in the universe? If so, do they all end in ignominious overshoot? If not, where are they? OR, are we utterly unique - the one experiment that is lurching, willy-nilly, towards oblivion?Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-32998101775874769272014-12-04T17:04:26.249-05:002014-12-04T17:04:26.249-05:00That presentation by Dr. Jackson was VERY, exceedi...That presentation by Dr. Jackson was <i>VERY, exceedingly, extremely</i> interesting!!! Pretty much elucidates that Walt Kelly was prescient so many years ago. (Not to mention the Club of Rome's work, with which many jackasses still take umbrage.) "<i>We</i>" are death and destruction incarnate... well, except for a vanishingly few of us.The "slate" of the Earth will, and should be, wiped clean to allow "nature" another chance to engender an "intelligent" species. The "problem" is NOT "<i>too many people</i>," it's too many GDF* "believers," too many "stupid" people. For clarity's sake, by "stupid" I mean "<i>ignorant, ill-informed and irrational</i> BELIEVERS!" Alas and of course, all of those moronic miscreants BELIEVE they "<i>have a REAL GOOD bead on things</i>."<br /><br />*GDF - goddamnedfucking, i.e. useless to the point of not even serving well as a "bad" example, e.g. 80+% of "humans."colinchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16925142870563262957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-44629991269577932782014-12-04T09:31:05.534-05:002014-12-04T09:31:05.534-05:00In their quest to enact stricter regulations for o...In their quest to enact stricter regulations for ozone, EPA recognizes that the background level from transboundary pollution is a problem so they are prepared to make exemptions for areas that cannot maintain compliance, see their recent publication http://www.epa.gov/groundlevelozone/pdfs/20141125fs-tools.pdf and http://www.epa.gov/groundlevelozone/pdfs/20141203-background-ozone-states.pdf<br /><br />take a look at the 3-year average by county in the US - http://www.epa.gov/groundlevelozone/pdfs/20141126-20112013datatable.pdfGail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-13160032252424038692014-12-04T09:22:02.655-05:002014-12-04T09:22:02.655-05:00Transcribed portions of Jack Fishman’s book “Globa...Transcribed portions of Jack Fishman’s book “Global Alert” with a video of his talk titled “Are We Creating a Toxic Atmosphere” from Dec. 2013: http://witsendnj.blogspot.com/2014/07/there-goes-neighborhood.html direct link to his talk here (at 20 minutes in the answer is “yes” - the slide says “for certain plants and crops, evidence shows that these species cannot live as robustly in the atmosphere of the 21st century as they did before the onset of the Anthropocene because of the INCREASE OF BACKGROUND LEVELS OF TROPOSPHERIC OZONE”.): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_gw5gKJtGM<br /><br />Background levels in Asia:<br />http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/6217/2009/acp-9-6217-2009.pdf<br /><br />And then, there is PAN, it’s relationship to ozone and detrimental effect on vegetation - http://storm.colorado.edu//~toohey/PAN.pdf<br /><br />Notice that the government mandated the addition of ethanol to gasoline shortly before the truly dramatic decline in trees commenced, and the slide presentation says: “Studies suggest that using blended gasoline with ethanol increases PAN; NOx increases with 10% ethanol.” - and also, it is transported from Asia to the US…and also the difficulties in measuring it.<br /><br />More on PAN formation: http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/2679/2014/acp-14-2679-2014.html<br />Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-47941401017826847662014-12-04T09:21:00.943-05:002014-12-04T09:21:00.943-05:00http://books.google.com/books?id=in38EIgiWH8C&...http://books.google.com/books?id=in38EIgiWH8C&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97&dq=New+Directions:+Implications+of+increasing+tropospheric+background+ozone+concentrations+for+vegetation&source=bl&ots=eppNX7y1y9&sig=QNBpQzuep4NauCmiCLPVCA7I97I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5lWAVMKjIMGdNv7IgsAI&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=New%20Directions%3A%20Implications%20of%20increasing%20tropospheric%20background%20ozone%20concentrations%20for%20vegetation&f=false<br /><br />page 96.<br /><br />The projected levels of o3 are critically alarming, and have become a major issue of concern for food security.<br /><br />Interview with John Reilly of MIT about the threshold for ozone damage to plants (40 ppb):<br />http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=08-P13-00011&segmentID=2<br /><br />http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalTraveler/<br />The lifetime of ozone’s precursors in the troposphere is sufficiently long that they can produce ozone hundreds or even thousands of miles away before further chemical reactions transform ozone into oxygen and other chemicals...<br /><br />Other major air circulation patterns appear to carry ozone from one continent to another. Although a complete, detailed, global picture of how natural and human activities on one continent influence the air quality over other continents and oceans requires more research, some trends are becoming clearer. According to modeling studies at Harvard University, background concentrations (amounts that are usually there) of ozone in surface air over the United States range from 25 to 55 parts of ozone per billion parts of air (ppb) and can be largely attributed to transport from outside the United States. This amount of ozone is significant for a country where the national air quality standard is 80 ppb over 8 hours, not to be exceeded more than three times per year. The same Harvard study had implications particularly for the western part of North America, which receives more pollution from Asia than the eastern part does. In fact, if people in North America succeeded in reducing their emissions of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons (ozone precursors) by 25 percent, the expected tripling of Asian emissions by 2010 could more than offset that North American effort."<br />Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-88286722875333431272014-12-04T09:19:52.615-05:002014-12-04T09:19:52.615-05:00Royal Society Report “Ground-level ozone in the 21...Royal Society Report “Ground-level ozone in the 21st Century (has many graphs)<br /><br />https://royalsociety.org/~/media/Royal_Society_Content/policy/publications/2008/7925.pdf<br /><br />Ozone has been recognised as a significant local and regional<br />air quality issue for many years due to the impacts of high O3<br />episodes on human health and crops. These episodes, during<br />which O3 concentrations may peak at 200 parts per billion by<br />volume1 (ppb) or more, occur in polluted regions under<br />hot and sunny conditions. O3 is also present at background<br />concentrations (refer Box 1.1) which vary geographically,<br />and throughout the year. Between the late 19th century and<br />1980, concentrations of background O3 in the Northern<br />Hemisphere mid-latitudes doubled to about 30–35 ppb and<br />have since increased by another 5 ppb to 35–40 ppb. Impacts<br />on human health and vegetation during high O3 episodes are<br />well established; however there is increasing evidence of effects<br />at background concentrations leading to concerns about the<br />implications of further increases in background O3. The cause<br />of the increase in background O3 is not fully understood but is<br />thought to be due mainly to be due mainly to increases in emissions in Northern Hemisphere countries, from poorly regulated sectors such as<br />international shipping and aviation, and possibly also due to<br />an increase in O3 from the stratosphere. Ozone can no longer<br />be considered a local air quality issue – it is a global problem,<br />requiring a global solution.<br />The focus of this study is on tropospheric O3 (refer Box 1.1).<br />Ozone was selected because it remains one of the most<br />important of the global air pollutants in terms of impacts to<br />human health, croplands and natural plant communities, and<br />may become more important in the future. Despite efforts to<br />control O3, background concentrations in the northern<br />hemisphere have more than doubled to 35–40 ppb since the<br />industrial revolution, and peak values continue to exceed the<br />WHO guideline values of 50 ppb in many countries, including<br />Latin America, North America, Europe and Africa (WHO<br />2006).<br />Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-28252144743217415882014-12-04T09:19:05.759-05:002014-12-04T09:19:05.759-05:00http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~reh/papers/pubs/non_Honrat...http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~reh/papers/pubs/non_Honrath/vingarzan04.pdf<br /><br />Comparisons of ozone levels with those measured over a century ago indicate that current levels have increased by approximately two times. Although current trends are not uniform, there is some indication that background ozone levels over the midlatitudes of the Northern<br />Hemisphere have continued to rise over the past three decades, and that this rise has been in the range of approximately 0.5–2% per year. Rising trends were steeper in the 1970s and 1980s compared to the 1990s, which have seen either a leveling off or a decline in the magnitude of these trends. Model sensitivity studies indicate that the rise in NOx emissions account for the greatest increase in background ozone levels over the past three decades. A substantial<br />component of the background ozone concentration in western North America may be due to long-range transport of Asian pollution, especially during the spring months. Model projections using IPCC emission scenarios for the 21st century indicate that background ozone may rise to levels that would exceed internationally accepted environmental criteria for human health and the environment.<br />Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-58314110881850742642014-12-04T09:18:22.669-05:002014-12-04T09:18:22.669-05:00Hi Charles. I am packing for a trip so I don’t ha...Hi Charles. I am packing for a trip so I don’t have a lot of time, but here are some links you might find useful - I will post them separately as blogger has limits to comment size…there is a chart here:<br />http://libra.msra.cn/Publication/40722235/new-directions-implications-of-increasing-tropospheric-background-ozone-concentrations-for<br />Typically, you can write to the lead author and ask for a pdf of their paper when it is behind a paywall and they usually are happy to send it. In fact, I may write them myself it looks very good.<br /><br />http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7279/full/nature08708.html<br /><br />In the lowermost layer of the atmosphere—the troposphere—ozone is an important source of the hydroxyl radical, an oxidant that breaks down most pollutants and some greenhouse gases1. High concentrations of tropospheric ozone are toxic, however, and have a detrimental effect on human health and ecosystem productivity1. Moreover, tropospheric ozone itself acts as an effective greenhouse gas2. Much of the present tropospheric ozone burden is a consequence of anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors3 resulting in widespread increases in ozone concentrations since the late 1800s3, 4, 5, 6, 7. At present, east Asia has the fastest-growing ozone precursor emissions8. Much of the springtime east Asian pollution is exported eastwards towards western North America9. Despite evidence that the exported Asian pollution produces ozone10, no previous study has found a significant increase in free tropospheric ozone concentrations above the western USA since measurements began in the late 1970s5, 11, 12. Here we compile springtime ozone measurements from many different platforms across western North America. We show a strong increase in springtime ozone mixing ratios during 1995–2008 and we have some additional evidence that a similar rate of increase in ozone mixing ratio has occurred since 1984. We find that the rate of increase in ozone mixing ratio is greatest when measurements are more heavily influenced by direct transport from Asia. Our result agrees with previous modelling studies, which indicate that global ozone concentrations should be increasing during the early part of the twenty-first century as a result of increasing precursor emissions, especially at northern mid-latitudes13, with western North America being particularly sensitive to rising Asian emissions14. We suggest that the observed increase in springtime background ozone mixing ratio may hinder the USA’s compliance with its ozone air quality standard.<br />Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-58639252472392724592014-12-04T03:09:29.931-05:002014-12-04T03:09:29.931-05:00Hi Gail, I've had trouble finding good charts ...Hi Gail, I've had trouble finding good charts or data that focus on the ambient/average/background levels of Ozone and how they have changed over time in the US. There is lots of data for peak ozone levels, but that's not the main concern, right? These charts from Canada are ok. http://www.ec.gc.ca/indicateurs-indicators/default.asp?lang=en&n=9EBBCA88-1 They show annual average concentrations as well as peak concentrations. Note the annual averages stay constant, even as peak concentrations go down. The last two charts feature trendlines showing average concentrations rising (.8% per year in British Columbia, not surprising) as peak concentrations stay constant. Can you point me to any charts or data for the US? Just data is fine - I'm pretty handy with charting software if there is a need to visualize the data clearly. <br />Charleshttp://dmckeeve.at.cisco.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-61643764529708359792014-12-03T18:48:59.143-05:002014-12-03T18:48:59.143-05:00What a perfect example. There will be so many, ma...What a perfect example. There will be so many, many more. I will probably post this eventually but in case I don't, check it out - What he says about climate change being the wrong focus, and an excuse for inaction on saving coral reefs is such an exact parallel with the destruction of forests, which are being killed by logging and pollution, just as the reefs are being killed by overfishing and pollution. It is so sad in both instances, because much could be done to save both reefs and forests, at least for a while - if people correctly diagnosed the sources of the threats...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0veoSBG3os<br />Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-26918115202596934852014-12-03T18:43:53.502-05:002014-12-03T18:43:53.502-05:00I am heading to Palm Beach on Friday. I like to i...I am heading to Palm Beach on Friday. I like to immerse myself in pure insanity, it helps me reflect jovially on the absurdity of it all!Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-7681365383607047442014-12-03T12:13:31.047-05:002014-12-03T12:13:31.047-05:00"people" just don't/can't unders..."people" just don't/can't understand that it is totally abnormal for trees to fall, even in strong winds. because they do not and will not know how sick all the trees are, they think that they always fell in bad weather, which of course is completely false. baseline seems to be so highly fluid! http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/falling-trees-damage-homes-at-glacier-national-park/29994328michele/montrealnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-68107535658230496702014-12-02T19:39:16.420-05:002014-12-02T19:39:16.420-05:00Gail, I think you are sorely in need of a LONG, an...Gail, I think you are sorely in need of a <i>LONG</i>, and perhaps long overdue, period of <i>R&R</i>!! When I was young, at appropriate times my parents would admonish me with "<i>We expect you to KNOW better!</i>" Subsequently, they would prescribe a mandatory period of hours, sometimes days, deemed a <i>time for reflection</i>. While I sincerely doubt you <i>require</i> much, if any, <i>reflection</i>, I have no doubt that a period of <i>joyful exuberance</i> would refine your perspective. colinchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16925142870563262957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-89688779754937415472014-12-01T16:59:43.310-05:002014-12-01T16:59:43.310-05:00I love your writing Gail, it is always so thoroug...I love your writing Gail, it is always so thorough. Very good article I am going to send some of my more optimistic liberal friends to read it.<br />kathy Dewighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01441670481177382935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-76385357824339392312014-12-01T13:39:42.114-05:002014-12-01T13:39:42.114-05:00thanks!
http://syntheticzero.net/2014/12/01/tiltin...thanks!<br />http://syntheticzero.net/2014/12/01/tilting-at-windmills-gail-zawacki/<br />-dmfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-44268121753191947292014-12-01T09:30:47.235-05:002014-12-01T09:30:47.235-05:00Thanks Tom! For a fantastic, deep perspective on ...Thanks Tom! For a fantastic, deep perspective on human impacts to the environment, check out this article on soil erosion, which has terrific links to free book downloads on the topic - http://www.resilience.org/stories/2014-12-01/soil-erosion-may-get-us-before-climate-change-doesGail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-70035710837536273652014-12-01T09:26:07.364-05:002014-12-01T09:26:07.364-05:00Wow Gail - this was a great read. There are so ma...Wow Gail - this was a great read. There are so many facts that point to the conclusion that fossil fuel use is directly leading to our short-term demise (naming a few: the pollution from its continued use is what's driving climate change and therefore killing the very ecosystems we depend on for survival; it's a finite resource which has peaked like so many others and the economics of not only it, but also civilization as a whole is rapidly falling apart - it's unsustainable) that we're all going to "get it" very soon. Another point to be made is that none of this makes any difference to our continuing species survival once our habitat is gone (past a certain, rapidly approaching point of no return). When there's no food or water, money, fuel, electricity, computing power, solar energy, all of our history, all of our so-called "knowledge" vanishes as quickly as any bad idea. <br /><br />At this point we're waiting for the thud of hitting the wall (or the bottom of the cliff). We're analogously running around on the Titanic as it's sinking, doing our little meaningless activities (wasting energy) until we can't.<br /><br />Tom<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com