2024-02-12

Fwd: Methane Causing the End of the Ice Age

---------- Forwarded message ---------

On Mon, Feb 12, 2024 at 1:04 AM al wrote:
John,
I think this video came after the one you sent. It talks extensively about a dramatic peak in methane in the atmosphere, which has much more to do with global warming than CO2. I found it interesting.

 

Al, 

This video is three months old and I already saw it.  

I think that his claims are speculative.  We have been in the Pleistocene ice age for 2.6 million years.  It was caused by the huge decline of CO2 over the last 40 million years.  To say that the ice age would suddenly end because there is a spike in methane is speculative.

Although methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2, it exists in the atmosphere at a much lower quantity, like 200 times less.  We measure it in parts per billion.


There is some concern that natural bodies of water, like large lakes, that contain greenhouse gasses could release those gasses if disturbed.

Water vapor is the most influential greenhouse gas.  Minor changes in CO2 level can change how much water vapor is in the atmosphere creating positive feedback.  

There is disagreement on whether clouds produce positive or negative feedback, but I think that common sense would say that it is negative.  If it is positive as the IPCC claims, then this would imply that there would be a runaway greenhouse effect.  However, past spikes in warming did not see this.  Actual climate is complicated involving many factors.

By definition, the amount of radiation hitting the earth and radiating from it is balanced.  Greenhouse gases cause a change in the equilibrium producing a slightly higher temperature.

--


No comments:

Post a Comment