“On the Earth, the IPCC states that “a ‘runaway greenhouse effect’—analogous to Venus—appears to have virtually no chance of being induced by anthropogenic activities.” http://www.ipcc.ch/meetings/session31/inf3.pdf
Hmm, the IPCC asserts this statement without providing any argument to support it.
Some quick thoughts: In the beginning, there were no oceans. The earth was molten and without form. Now, assume venusian-runaway is a possibility for for this planet’s climate. Why has it not already occurred, much, much earlier in the planet’s history?
The planet was very much hotter and more humid in the very distant past. The CO2 in the oceans and the methane in the permafrost was captured from the atmosphere. The O2 in the atmosphere is a biogenic waste product of photosynthesis.
I do think the oceans will boil eventually, not because of global warming, but because of solar warming, after the sun has depleted it’s hydrogen.
My understanding is that all the Carbon which is fixed and stored under the ground in petroleum, coal, natural gas, and other “fossil” fuels was in the air of the earth as CO2 before it was fixed by plants and buried. So it would seem that even with ALL the fossil fuel carbon in the atmosphere, the earth supports life. Considering the adaptability of human life, especially with modern technology, I would be surprised if it was concluded that humanity would be wiped out by this.
Runaway (“Venusian”) climate change is an existential risk, though most consider that a pretty unlikely scenario.
Hmm, the IPCC asserts this statement without providing any argument to support it.
Some quick thoughts: In the beginning, there were no oceans. The earth was molten and without form. Now, assume venusian-runaway is a possibility for for this planet’s climate. Why has it not already occurred, much, much earlier in the planet’s history?
The planet was very much hotter and more humid in the very distant past. The CO2 in the oceans and the methane in the permafrost was captured from the atmosphere. The O2 in the atmosphere is a biogenic waste product of photosynthesis.
I do think the oceans will boil eventually, not because of global warming, but because of solar warming, after the sun has depleted it’s hydrogen.
My understanding is that all the Carbon which is fixed and stored under the ground in petroleum, coal, natural gas, and other “fossil” fuels was in the air of the earth as CO2 before it was fixed by plants and buried. So it would seem that even with ALL the fossil fuel carbon in the atmosphere, the earth supports life. Considering the adaptability of human life, especially with modern technology, I would be surprised if it was concluded that humanity would be wiped out by this.