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Sharp rise in methane levels threatens world climate targets
The Guardian ^ | February 17, 2019 | by Robin McKie

Posted on 02/18/2019 11:48:58 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Dramatic rises in atmospheric methane are threatening to derail plans to hold global temperature rises to 2C, scientists have warned.

In a paper published by the American Geophysical Union, researchers say sharp rises in levels of methane - which is a powerful greenhouse gas - have strengthened over the past four years. Urgent action is now required to halt further increases in methane in the atmosphere, to avoid triggering enhanced global warming and temperature rises well beyond 2C.

“What we are now witnessing is extremely worrying,” said one of the paper’s lead authors, Professor Euan Nisbet of Royal Holloway, University of London.

Methane is produced by cattle, and also comes from decaying vegetation, fires, coal mines and natural gas plants. It is many times more potent as a cause of atmospheric warming than carbon dioxide (CO2).

Some researchers believe the spread of intense farming in Africa may be involved, in particular in tropical regions where conditions are becoming warmer and wetter because of climate change. Rising numbers of cattle - as well as wetter and warmer swamps - are producing more and more methane, it is argued.

“We have only just started analysing our data but have already found evidence that a great plume of methane now rises above the wetland swamps of Lake Bangweul in Zambia,” added Nisbet.

Scientists warn that there could be a more sinister factor at work. Natural chemicals in the atmosphere - which help to break down methane - may be changing because of temperature rises, causing it to lose its ability to deal with the gas.

Our world could therefore be losing its power to cleanse pollutants because it is heating up, a climate feedback in which warming allows more greenhouse gases to linger in the atmosphere and so trigger even more warming.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: algore; algorefart; cowfarts; globalwarming; hoax; mockingbird; propaganda; socialism
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Not one mention that the vast majority of the methane seeps through cracks in the ocean floors.

Goebbles would be proud.

5.56mm


61 posted on 02/18/2019 12:50:19 PM PST by M Kehoe (DRAIN THE SWAMP! BUILD THE WALL!)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Trump has been feeding beans to the cows.


62 posted on 02/18/2019 12:56:27 PM PST by Fresh Wind (Trump: "America will never be a socialist country!")
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To: I want the USA back

I think most sensible citizens realize by now that there has always been climate change. There is little perhaps that can change that, except the ONE who created it. The idea of blaming people for it & taxing them to death in a futile effort to change things is pure horse hockey. To my knowledge, there is absolutely no proof to support this effort to try changing the climate. Except, of course, to see money going into the right pockets. That seems to have been the real reason behind this all along.


63 posted on 02/18/2019 1:02:44 PM PST by oldtech
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Good job we killed all of the naturally existing bison. We saved the planet!!!!


64 posted on 02/18/2019 1:07:08 PM PST by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: ETL

A flatulent capybara - in a bathtub with ducklings.

Just when you thought you’d seen everything.

This might be the long-awaited replacement for: “a moose bit my sister...”


65 posted on 02/18/2019 1:11:04 PM PST by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: LOC1

All Consumers will be required to be “fart neutral” by a “Cap and Trade”


You spelled crap wrong.


66 posted on 02/18/2019 1:28:17 PM PST by o-n-money (We should rename California to Newer Mexico.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

67 posted on 02/18/2019 1:34:22 PM PST by RightGeek (FUBO and the donkey you rode in on)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“...where conditions are becoming warmer and wetter because of climate change....”

Oh blow me.


68 posted on 02/18/2019 1:37:19 PM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Methane is produced by cattle, and also comes from decaying vegetation, fires, coal mines and natural gas plants. It is many times more potent as a cause of atmospheric warming than carbon dioxide (CO2).

No numbers provided, as usual. Math is hard to liberals anyway. Science too.

69 posted on 02/18/2019 1:37:36 PM PST by DungeonMaster (Vote your bible.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

They never said exactly what they planned to do about this problem.

Bovine Beano?


70 posted on 02/18/2019 1:42:27 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Bonemaker

You notice, they never give helpful hints on how to
deal with the situation, only suggestions on how to
stop the clock.

I guess farmers in Africa will just have to starve
if the Warmists have their way.


71 posted on 02/18/2019 1:45:06 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: tet68

——Bovine Beano?——

Actually, garbage dumps are the likely source of most wild methane.

Some dumps collect the methane and it is used as fuel


72 posted on 02/18/2019 1:46:08 PM PST by bert ( (KE. N.P. N.C. +12) Honduras must be invaded to protect America from invasion)
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To: bert

wild methane?

It’s organic!

Not our fault!


73 posted on 02/18/2019 1:49:55 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: BBQToadRibs

I Blame the increase in Geothermal output around the globe .... Or if your a Flat Earther .... Around the Plate.


74 posted on 02/18/2019 1:51:07 PM PST by R_Kangel ("A nation of sheep will beget a nation ruled by wolves")
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To: rktman

I had some sauerkraut today. I think I probably destroyed the world.


75 posted on 02/18/2019 1:58:06 PM PST by Starstruck (I'm usually sarcastic. Deal with it.)
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To: Rebelbase

“Gas always finds a way...”

yeah, tell me about it ...


76 posted on 02/18/2019 2:06:23 PM PST by catnipman ((Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!))
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To: Jackson Brown

That was my first thought. They’re just working up to part where they tell us the world’s population must not exceed 250 million.


77 posted on 02/18/2019 2:28:45 PM PST by Bulwyf
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To: oldtech

Amen out to infinity.


78 posted on 02/18/2019 2:45:15 PM PST by wita (Always and forever, under oath in defense of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.)
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To: Bonemaker

Well, what about this:

“to avoid triggering enhanced global warming and temperature rises well beyond 2C.”


79 posted on 02/18/2019 2:48:30 PM PST by wita (Always and forever, under oath in defense of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Paging Alexandria Ocasio McStrangez!


80 posted on 02/18/2019 2:50:00 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Modern feminism: ALL MEN BAD!!!)
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