Expert prognosis for the planet

[Irace86.2.0]

[Irace86.2.0]

[Lantanafrs2]

I'm praying that musk's rocket doesn't direct the asteroid towards us.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Lantanafrs2

I'm praying that musk's rocket doesn't direct the asteroid towards us.

Musk's next tweet "Oh well, told you we needed to move to Mars sooner"

[Captain Snooze]

Arctic Report Card: Update for 2021


Highlights

• The average surface air temperature over the Arctic for this past year (October 2020-September 2021) was the 7th warmest on record. This is the 8th consecutive year since 2014 that surface air temperatures were at least 1°C above the long-term average.
• The Arctic continues to warm more than twice as fast as the rest of the globe.

In the oceans

• The substantial decline in Arctic sea ice extent since 1979 is one of the most iconic indicators of climate change. Summer 2021 saw the second-lowest amount of older, multi-year ice since 1985, and the post-winter sea ice volume in April 2021 was the lowest since records began in 2010.
• Although there is considerable interannual variability in spatial sea surface temperature patterns, August mean SSTs show statistically significant warming trends for 1982-2021 in most regions of the Arctic Ocean that are ice-free in August.
• Seven of the nine Arctic regions observed showed higher ocean primary productivity in 2021 than the long-term average (2003-20). All regions continue to exhibit positive trends over the 2003-21 period, with the strongest trends in the Eurasian Arctic and the Barents Sea.
• Recent work on ocean acidification has shown that the Arctic Ocean is acidifying faster than the global ocean, but with high spatial variability. A growing body of research indicates that acidification in the Arctic Ocean could have implications for the Arctic ecosystem, including influences on algae, zooplankton, and fish.

On the land

• Terrestrial snow cover in the Eurasian Arctic in June 2021 was the 3rd lowest since records began in 1967. In the North American Arctic, snow cover has been below average for 15 consecutive years.
• The Greenland Ice Sheet experienced three extreme melt episodes in late July and August. On August 14, 2021, rainfall was directly observed at the 10,500-foot Summit Station for the first time ever.
• Exceptionally high midsummer productivity was observed in 2021 across the tundra. Satellites provide unequivocal evidence of widespread tundra greening, but extreme events and other drivers of local-scale "browning" have also become more frequent, highlighting regional disruption as an increasing component of Arctic change.
• Beavers are colonizing the Arctic tundra of western Alaska, transforming lowland tundra ecosystems and degrading permafrost by increasing the amount of unfrozen surface water on the landscape in winter.
• The long-term observations for Eurasian and North American Arctic river discharges demonstrate an upward trend, providing evidence for the intensification of the Arctic hydrologic cycle. In 2020, the combined discharge of the eight largest Arctic rivers was ~12% greater than the average over the 1981-2010 reference period.
• Retreating glaciers and thawing permafrost are causing local to regional-scale hazards that threaten lives and livelihoods, infrastructure, sustainable development, and national security. There is an urgent need for broad-scale hazard identification and assessment across the Arctic.

[Captain Snooze]

https://climateactiontracker.org/glo...t-thermometer/.

[spacecowboy]

Originally Posted by EAGLE5

Also, I believe the Japanese have a thing or two to say about tsunamis and nuclear power plants.

totally agree

[Spuds]

I think this is the best place to put this. Automated electric freight trains. Definitely more likely than automated electric trucks IMO.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/01...ric-rail-cars/

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Spuds

I think this is the best place to put this. Automated electric freight trains. Definitely more likely than automated electric trucks IMO.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/01...ric-rail-cars/

Trains are already electric, automated, and can carry thousands of containers at a time?

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Trains are already electric, automated, and can carry thousands of containers at a time?

Bur not freight trains.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Bur not freight trains.

Well freight trains are diesel electric for the most part (similar to how the GM Volt worked), but not pure EV type electric.

As far as automated, trains are technically self driving to an extent aren't they? I mean the engineer is just controlling speed and observing for things but the train navigates and stays on course itself. That's at least L2 isn't it?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Well freight trains are diesel electric for the most part (similar to how the GM Volt worked), but not pure EV type electric.

As far as automated, trains are technically self driving to an extent aren't they? I mean the engineer is just controlling speed and observing for things but the train navigates and stays on course itself. That's at least L2 isn't it?

I know two railway "engineers". Trains are currently about 95% automated. There are one or two people aboard just in case something goes wrong but they have almost zero control during regular operation.
Much like the "pilots" on most large commercial airliners for the last 10 or 15 years.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Well freight trains are diesel electric for the most part (similar to how the GM Volt worked), but not pure EV type electric.

As far as automated, trains are technically self driving to an extent aren't they? I mean the engineer is just controlling speed and observing for things but the train navigates and stays on course itself. That's at least L2 isn't it?

Are batteries the right solution here, maybe, maybe not. Probably better of they are powered by the track like a subway or overhead lines. But more efficient and more direct train freight isn't a bad thing. Saves the need for long haul truck drivers at least.

Yes, that's the point. It's far easier to automate a vehicle will one analog degree of freedom. Also, by making each car individually controllable you can have smaller or larger trains and they are easier to maneuver.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Are batteries the right solution here, maybe, maybe not. Probably better of they are powered by the track like a subway or overhead lines. But more efficient and more direct train freight isn't a bad thing. Saves the need for long haul truck drivers at least..

I think the better solution is convert diesel-electric to hydrogen-electric. Wiring the entire railroad system for power and then energizing that grid seems wasteful.