Tag Archives: carbon dioxide
When Trisha Atwood of the University of British Columbia studied the effect of removing predator fish from ponds and rivers in Canada and Costa Rica, she found a consistent pattern – carbon dioxide emissions increased more than tenfold after the predators were removed. Wiping out the top predator results in a "trophic cascade" in which the top predator's prey proliferate, which puts pressure on the species that the prey eats and so on down the food chain. Changes to species at the bottom of the food chain, in this case photosynthesising algae, can dramatically increase the amount of CO2 that … Continue Reading
A team of University of Oregon physicists has published a paper recommending the treatment of flue gases from coal-fired power plants by cooling it sufficiently for pollutants to be deposited as "ices". The researchers believe that this cryogenic system would capture at least 98% of sulfur dioxide, virtually 100% of mercury and 90% of carbon dioxide.The CO2 would be captured as a solid (dry ice) which would be warmed and compressed for piping to a storage facility. They estimate that the process would add about 25% to the cost of coal-fired electricity but would reduce the overall costs to society … Continue Reading
The Japanese electronics manufacturer, Panasonic, has announced that it has developed an artificial photosynthesis process which converts carbon dioxide to organic materials by illuminating them with sunlight at an efficiency which is comparable with plants used for biomass energy. The discovery has the potential to allow the development of simple and cheap systems for capturing waste CO2 from incinerators and electricity generation plants and converting it into useful organic products. Panasonic researchers found that a nitride semiconductor has the ability to excite electrons with high enough energy for a CO2 reduction reaction. The CO2 reduction takes place on a metal … Continue Reading
Scientists, led by Helen M. Worden from the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, have published a report which quantifies the extent to which the Beijing government’s temporary controls on urban traffic reduced carbon dioxide levels during the 2008 Olympics. Their study shows that, if made permanent in all large metropolitan areas, the Beijing restrictions could play a very significant role in avoiding concentrations of CO2 leading to dangerous warming. During the Olympics, Beijing banned half of all privately owned cars form the city, halted much construction and temporarily closed some factories The scientists used satellite observations and regional modeling … Continue Reading
Scientists at Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University in Chicago have reported the development of a strong and reversible sponge-like material to capture and store gaseous carbon dioxide. The main component, gamma-cyclodextrin, is a naturally occurring biorenewable sugar molecule that is derived from cornstarch. These sugar molecules are held in place by metals taken from salts such as potassium benzoate or rubidium hydroxide. It is the precise arrangement of the sugars in the crystals that causes them to capture of carbon dioxide. Dr Jeremiah J. Gassensmith, lead author of the paper said that “It turns out that … Continue Reading
For his fans, he’s more of the all-dancing, all-singing Richard Alley:
Take a look at our new video about the amazing amount of coal and water that it takes to run a coal-fired power station – and the huge volume of carbon dioxide emitted, as well as all of the other pollutants.
Research scientists from the University of Exeter in the UK have provided the first evidence that that reducing levels of fishing is a viable way of protecting coral reefs from some of the damage caused by climate change. Increases in ocean surface water temperatures subject coral reefs to stresses that lead quickly to mass bleaching. The problem is intensified by ocean acidification, which is also caused by increased carbon dioxide. This decreases the ability of corals to produce calcium carbonate, which is the material that reefs are made of. Coral bleaching in the Maldives Approximately 2% of the world’s coral … Continue Reading
A new type of natural-gas electric power plant, which has been proposed by MIT researchers, could provide electricity with zero carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, at costs comparable to or less than conventional natural-gas plants, and even to coal-burning plants. Postdoctoral Associate Thomas Adams and Paul I. Barton, the Lammot du Pont Professor of Chemical Engineering, have proposed a system that uses solid-oxide fuel cells, which produce power from fuel without burning it. The system does not require any new technology but combines existing components or ones that are already well under development, in a novel configuration. According to … Continue Reading
Closing the hole in the ozone is seen as the world’s greatest environmantal restoration achievement but there’s a hitch … Under the Montreal Protocol, chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) were phased out and replaced with the less damaging hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as an interim measure. HCFCs have now become the standard working coolant in refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosol cans. But HCFCs are still damaging to the ozone layers and, in the longer term, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were promoted as the best alternative. From January 1, 2010, the world’s developed nations must cut HCFC consumption and production by 75 percent. It will then become illegal … Continue Reading
Videos
Renewables News- Vic Council Approves Wind Farm with Community SharesBuloke Shire has approved a planning permit for a five-turbine wind farm spanning 5.t hectares at Coonooer Bridge, west of Bendigo..It is the first wind farm planning permit approved since 2011 when the Victorian Government introduced tough planning laws that … Continue Reading → […]
- NZ Electricity Co Offers Solar PV with BatteryVector Limited, the largest electricity and gas distribution company in New Zealand, is offerring a "home solar power solution", incorporating intelligent battery storage into a traditional solar PV system. In the introductory phase of the programme, a limited number of … Continue Reading → […]
- Sydney City Revises Trigen Power PlanThe City of Sydney has decided not to pursue its plan for a trigeneation power precinct at Green Square at this time but has re-affirmed its commitment to cutting carbon emissions using trigeneration, among other technologies, The decision to halt … Continue Reading → […]
- Vic Council Approves Wind Farm with Community Shares
