LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
model is to think of the bucket having baffles within it separating the different short term reservoirs. It doesn’t matter how much water sloshes through the different baffles: the amount of water in the bucket stays constant. But if you increase the amount of water flowing from the faucet into the uppermost compartment, without opening up the hole in the bottom, the water level will rise. If the bucket is large and the inflow and outflow small, it will be a long time before it equilibrates at a higher overall water level, no matter how much rapid sloshing around there is between the compartments inside the bucket.
I therefore recommend the Mauna Loa data (Fig.2), as it actually shows the
annual “Saw tooth” plots where CO2 in the atmosphere accumulates in the win-
ter and diminishes in summer as the CO2 is absorbed in the forests and seas (part of the Fast Carbon Cycle). But the overall trend is upward, even though some of the added CO2 is quickly removed from
the atmosphere. But the excess CO2 still has to work its way through the ocean and deep ocean to the sediment burial compartment before a new overall equi- librium can be achieved.
My purpose in writing up the Norfolk case was to acquaint geologists with the type of work that goes on for clients like the Navy, so that they may prepare appropriately. I have never published on climate change before. Nonetheless, I have learned that very predictable Ice Ages occur according to a cycle first iden- tified by a Serbian scientist, Milankovic (Buis, 2020) and it is the departure from our normal climate cycle that supplies much of the excitement and is giving rise to a determined effort to understand the reasons behind it.
Some say CO2 is not a potent cli- mate change molecule compared to H2O. Shepherd (2016) laid out in an article in Forbes the chemistry necessary for
water to warm the climate. CO2 is in a positive feedback loop with water
(Shepherd, 2016). The Future of Geology
is on the CO2 Frontier. I appeal to you dear reader, to move Congress to support
the CO2/Basalt disposal opportunity immediately. Industrial facilities should now apply “due diligence” to find the most efficient carbon revision program for their emissions. The safe disposal of
mass volumes of CO2 requires our atten- tion. A qualified geologist should lead the mission to test, explore and advise on Carbon sequestration.
According to the Internet, Pericles, the Greek General, and the founder of democracy said: “You may not take an interest in politics but politics will take an interest in you.”
A modern corollary might be “You may
not take an interest in CO2 but CO2 will take an interest in you.”
References Buis, Alan. Milankovic (Orbital) Cycles and Their Role in Earth’s Climate. NASA Global Climate Change. February 27, 2020 Caution-
https://climate.nasa. gov/news/2948/milankovitch-orbit- al-cycles-and-their-role-in-earths- climate/ < Caution-https://climate.
nasa.gov/news/2948/milankovitch- orbital-cycles-and-their-role-in- earths-climate/ > 21, 2020.
Retrieved May
Jevrejeva S., A. Grinsted, J. C. Moore, and S. Holgate, 2006. Nonlinear trends and multiyear cycles in sea level records. Journal of Geophysical Research, v.111, C09012, Doi:10.1029/2005jc003229
Mauna Loa, Global Monitoring Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories
ESRL.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends. Retrieved May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
Fig. 2 - Increase of CO2 at Mauna Loa, HI, from 1960-2020. Note the regular seasonal vari- ation caused by uptake and release of CO2 by plants, mostly in the northern hemisphere. This is superimposed on an steadily exponentially rising trend. Courtesy NRSL/NOAA.
ERRATUM
The Editor wishes to apologize to Keith Torrance, author of an article on p.28 of the
Jan.Feb.Mar 2020 issue of TPG, for the misspelling of his name in the title of the article and in the Table of Contents.
Shepherd, Marshall. “Water Vapor Vs Carbon Dioxide: Which ‘Wins’ In Climate Warming?” Forbes. Published Jun 20, 2016, 11:20am EDT. Retrieved May 21, 2020 -https://
www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshep- herd/2016/06/20/water-vapor-vs-car- bon-dioxide-which-wins-in-climate- warming/#45b14ba43238
Mark Your Calendars!
The Michigan Section will be hosting the Annual Meeting in August 2022. Be sure to plan to join us in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula. This is a perfect time to explore Michigan’s beauty, learn about the rich mining industries and see geologic features unique to Michigan.
8 TPG •
Jul.Aug.Sep 2020
www.aipg.org
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