SOS from the Copenhagen, Sir

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Posted December 18, 2009 with 54 reads

Keywords: black carbon, Carbon and De-carbonization, climate, cop15, copenhagen, mark jacobson, soot, Environmental Policy, Politics & Legislation

Subtitle: Save Our Soot… Why, what did you think it meant?

This blog previously noted a concise explanation of global and regional climate changes due to black carbon:

40% of soot comes from power sources, mainly coal and oil. Quickly reducing soot could have substantial short-term effects on the rate of climate change. Such reduction is evidenced by a decline in ABCs (Atmospheric Brown Clouds).

Black carbon in soot is the dominant absorber of visible solar radiation in the atmosphere. Anthropogenic sources of black carbon, although distributed globally, are most concentrated in the tropics where solar irradiance is highest. Black carbon is often transported over long distances, mixing with other aerosols along the way. The aerosol mix can form transcontinental plumes of atmospheric brown clouds, with vertical extents of 3 to 5 km. Because of the combination of high absorption, a regional distribution roughly aligned with solar irradiance, and the capacity to form widespread atmospheric brown clouds in a mixture with other aerosols, emissions of black carbon are the second strongest contribution to current global warming, after carbon dioxide emissions. In the Himalayan region, solar heating from black carbon at high elevations may be just as important as carbon dioxide in the melting of snowpacks and glaciers. The interception of solar radiation by atmospheric brown clouds leads to dimming at the Earth’s surface with important implications for the hydrological cycle, and the deposition of black carbon darkens snow and ice surfaces, which can contribute to melting, in particular of Arctic sea ice.

Dr. Mark Jacobson, Co-founder and Director of the Atmospheric Energy Program at Stanford University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

As if we needed a further reminder that we desperately need implementation of carbon free technologies for power generation and transportation, that is, if we want somehow to mitigate destruction of life on the planet as we know it, then Jamais at Open The Future, via the ever popular, Peak (mind the Red Cloud) Energy, has a post on “black carbon” – None More Black.

Compression ignition engines burning diesel fuel emit soot. Particulate matter from ocean-going and land-based transportation, plus the massive amounts from fossil fuel burning electric power plants, plus that from worldwide biomass combustion, results in the second biggest contributor to global warming.

As to the Copenhagen reference in the title, in terms of air pollution, the global shipping sector has gone largely unregulated. Yet, word from Copenhagen is that pollution from diesel engines on oceangoing vessels such as container ships, tankers, bulk carriers, and cruise ships went unaddressed.

“So, you mention Copenhagen because it is a port city where there has been a great amount of focus recently and, in addition to contributing to destruction of the ozone layer and ocean acidification, SOx emissions are a main component of unhealthy smog in port cities like Copenhagen?”

Well, yes and no. Yes, because SOx emissions are significant contributors to air pollution in many ports around the world. And. SOx emissions combine with particulate matter and aerosols to make those nasty ABCs that reduce albedo and negatively effect the health of people in port cities and those inland.

OTOH, No, and you haven’t been keeping up with the comments, have you? Reddit commentator spuur observed that “Danish companies such as MAERSK are responsible for at least 10% of the World’s pollution from shipping.” COP15 took place in Copenhagen at the Bella Center, which was constructed from shipping containers.

Fred with clothes

Q.E.D…. Ah, but I see your bags are packed and it’s time to go, probably not a good time to mention pollution from jet planes also went unaddressed. Anyway, a key question to ponder on making your way back home from COP15: How come his Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark gets to ride around in a Fisker Karma with no clothes?

Well, bye-bye, are you sure you don’t want to take a few ham sandwiches with you to eat on the plane?