A new study concludes that our planet is dimming, a response likely due to rising temperatures. Warmer oceans seem to be generating fewer bright clouds, in turn less sunlight is reflected back into space – a feedback. Measurements of data spanning two decades, of the reflectance or albedo of Earth based on the earthshine that illuminates the Moon…
Details
While for many wind turbine components such as tower or machine house recyclable solution exist, the introduction of recyclable wind turbine blades is new. A new resin makes the difference and paves the way for fully recyclable wind turbines, and possibly a new standard for the entire industry. Siemens Gamesa has produced six such blades…
Details
Ice shelves buttress glaciers – a new mechanism involving rift dynamics suggests ice shelfs could retreat faster than previously modeled. SciTechDaily: “The thinning of the ice melange that glues together large segments of floating ice shelves is another way climate change can cause rapid retreat of Antarctica’s ice shelves,” said co-author Eric Rignot, UCI professor…
Details
Poland announced in 2020 a long term plan for phasing out coal by 2049. Coal has become increasingly expensive to mine in Poland, the industry now relies on government subsidies, taking nearly all of the annual €1.6 billion government energy sector support. Poland accounts for 30% of the European Union’s annual consumption of coal As…
Details
This post covers the landfall of Hurricane Ida, and effects on the region. This post will be frequently updated as Hurricane Ida moves over land. On the eve of the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in southeast Louisiana, Hurricane Ida is about to make landfall in the region today. Intensifying Hurricane Ida a significant…
Details
Heavy rains caused flooding in regions of West Germany, affecting the region of Ahrweiler (Rheinland-Pfalz). In the town Schuld (Nordrhein-Westfalen), several buildings collapsed with others prone to collapse. The town of Hagen is also affected, near Wuppertal a dam overflow – subsequently towns around Steinbachtalsperre in Euskirchen were evacuated. Dozens of people are missing, 33…
Details
Keynote speech at gridXdays – the conference on energy, sustainability and technology presented by gridX – from climate scientist and communicator, Stefan Rahmstorf. At the current rate we will pass 1.5 °C warming before 2040, but with decisive action we can still prevent this.
These results indicate that climate tipping is an imminent risk in the Earth System. Even the safe operating space of 1.5 or 2.0 degrees above present generally assumed by the IPCC might not be all that safe. According to the precautionary principle, we must consider abrupt and irreversible changes to the climate system as a real risk – at least until we understand these phenomena better.
Details
In recent months scientists noticed that many climate models were not prepared for the real world developments manifesting now as the climate changes.
Details