Climate Change/Mass Extinction Megathread

[Jacob]

Research from China indicates that large scale solar farms in deserts has positive effects on the local ecosystem: https://glassalmanac.com/china-confirms-that-installing-solar-panels-in-deserts-irreversibly-transforms-the-ecosystem/

More research is needed to confirm, but potentially positive.

[Josquius]

Research from China indicates that large scale solar farms in deserts has positive effects on the local ecosystem: https://glassalmanac.com/china-confirms-that-installing-solar-panels-in-deserts-irreversibly-transforms-the-ecosystem/

More research is needed to confirm, but potentially positive.
..

Not surprising for the desert, I've heard similar from more temperate fields in the UK too.
https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/solar-farms-biodiversity-pv/

Yeah, hope was nice while it lasted.

To a point - I know I bang on about it but US emissions are about a third of China's. Hope or not is basically not about what happens in the US (or Europe) but Beijing and Delhi.

I think we're still stuck in a 1990s understanding and analysis and reporting on climate where the West are still history's main characters.

At a government/policy level Trump I didn't make much of a difference on the pace of decarbonisation in the US. I don't think it'll have much of an impact this time - not least because I think, having run against it to an extent, Republicans' districts (and Red States) will benefit a fair bit from the IRA money:

A big part of Trump's impact isn't just on the crappy domestic climate change policies though but in encouraging a global rearmament and closing up. This will damage spending on climate.

[Legbiter]

So... The world is fucked isn't it?

Things were looking hopeful. Slowly inching towards progress. Maybe we would avoid the worst outcomes and keep damage under control...

But then, bam, in comes fascist America with a policy which is just short of being actively pro climate change itself, and completely upending the world such that nobody can spend on "luxuries" like tackling climate change.

Yeah the "dissolution of the monasteries" is now in progress. Please subscribe to either AI doom or Children of Men eschatologies, either is acceptable to the public purse.

[Valmy]

Yeah the "dissolution of the monasteries" is now in progress. Please subscribe to either AI doom or Children of Men eschatologies, either is acceptable to the public purse.

You say the weirdest shit man.

[mongers]

Yeah the "dissolution of the monasteries" is now in progress. Please subscribe to either AI doom or Children of Men eschatologies, either is acceptable to the public purse.

You say the weirdest shit man.

But anyone who uses eschatology, can be too bad.

[mongers]

Why the mighty Himalayas are getting harder and harder to see

Why the mighty Himalayas are getting harder and harder to see

Trekking in Nepal's Annapurna region, where haze obscures visibility of the epic mountains even at close range
Navin Singh Khadka

I grew up in Nepal's capital watching the Himalayas. Ever since I left, I've missed sweeping, panoramic views of some of the highest mountain peaks on Earth.

Each time I visit Kathmandu, I hope to catch a glimpse of the dramatic mountain range. But these days, there's usually no luck.

The main culprit is severe air pollution that hangs as haze above the region.

And it's happening even during the spring and autumn months, which once offered clear skies.

Just last April, the international flight I was in had to circle in the sky nearly 20 times before landing in Kathmandu, because of the hazy weather impacting visibility at the airport.

The hotel I checked in at was at a reasonable height from which mountains are visible on a clear day – but there was no such day during my two-week stay.
....

An Australian tourist who has visited Nepal more than a dozen times since 1986 described not seeing the mountains as a "major let-down".

"It wasn't like this 10 years ago but now the haze seems to have taken over and it is extraordinarily disappointing for visitors like me," said John Carrol.


.....

[Zanza]

Interesting trend for solar versus stable nuclear output. The 'nuclear renaissance'  is not yet noticeable.

[Iormlund]

We've experienced an unusual amount of rain this spring.

I've been traveling on business to Barcelona lately, and was really surprised to find that even the Monegros Desert is green. It's the first time I've seen that in my life.

[Josquius]

We've experienced an unusual amount of rain this spring.

I've been traveling on business to Barcelona lately, and was really surprised to find that even the Monegros Desert is green. It's the first time I've seen that in my life.

How odd. You must have ours. We've had one of the driest springs for many many years.

[Iormlund]

We've experienced an unusual amount of rain this spring.

I've been traveling on business to Barcelona lately, and was really surprised to find that even the Monegros Desert is green. It's the first time I've seen that in my life.

How odd. You must have ours. We've had one of the driest springs for many many years.

The guys from Germany said the same thing. Apparently it is also unusually dry over there.

[Legbiter]

This May we had 7 days of warm sunshine... 18 degrees and a lot of fun. It was the hottest May in Iceland since 1960!

I got tanned and my sons picked up some freckles.

My oldest one introduced me to his girlfriend...  

I played it stone cold...

[Josquius]

This May we had 7 days of warm sunshine... 18 degrees and a lot of fun. It was the hottest May in Iceland since 1960!

I got tanned and my sons picked up some freckles.

My oldest one introduced me to his girlfriend...  

I played it stone cold...

How does that go in Iceland?
"Dad this is my girlfriend Anna"
"Anna... Anna.... Ragnarsdottir or Magnusdottir?"
"Ragnars."
"Oh good. That's only your third cousin then. Great match that."
Or it sounds like in this case...
"Ah yes. I had a thing with her mother about a year before she was born. Lovely lady"

[Legbiter]

How does that go in Iceland?
"Dad this is my girlfriend Anna"
"Anna... Anna.... Ragnarsdottir or Magnusdottir?"
"Ragnars."
"Oh good. That's only your third cousin then. Great match that."
Or it sounds like in this case...
"Ah yes. I had a thing with her mother about a year before she was born. Lovely lady"

Much more significant silences. Also no "girlfriend". He once brought back a girl who never showed up again. I never pried why but I can guess...

This one was lively, behaved impeccable, came from good people and laughed at my sons minor utterances. They looked quite smitten.

And now I feel ancient...

[Legbiter]

To put this into the Languish timeline Sheilbh gave me a kiss on both cheeks and a hug when I gravely intoned the birth of my firstborn back in the..2006 London meetup  

[Crazy_Ivan80]

it's finally raining here, not that I like rain but the garden does so there we are.

(still have a few more years before I expect our oldest might get in the whole girlfriend business... Though his younger brother may overtake him in that regard. We'll see... At least there's no chance of the cousin thing here.)