July 31, 2007
Gaia and climate change
Image source: www.el-mundo.es
While out running tonight, I listened to an LNL podcast of an interview with James Lovelock, of Gaia hypothesis fame. An excerpt is included here (11 mins) which provides an insight into Lovelock's rather pessimistic view of the future for the human race. Applying his Gaia theorem, no matter what we do now he believes that by 2040, temperatures will have risen by 5 degrees centigrade and much of the planet will look like central Australia. The good news is that the self-regulating properties of the earth mean that temperatures will probably stabilise at this point. The bad news is that climatic conditions will be such that we will have trouble feeding ourselves. Lovelock estimates that by 2100, world population will be about 20% of its current level, and the few of us that survive will be huddled around the poles.
July 24, 2007
The Weather Makers
Image source: www.international.mq.edu.au
The guy on the left prays to God for rain. The guy on the right explains why rain (or lack thereof) has got nothing to do with God and, using science, lays the blame firmly at the door of homo sapiens. Having recently finished reading his excellent book, The Weather Makers, Tim Flannery has now succeeded in making my 'people I would most like to invite around for a BBQ' list. I'm not sure this is an accolade that will compete with his recent 'Australian of the Year' gong, but listening to him, and reading his books, he seems like the type of bloke who wouldn't turn down a veggieburger and cold one if it were offered at short notice. Apart from the fact he is a good bloke, he is also very clever and The Weather Makers should be compulsory reading for all people who care about the future their children will inherit. Please note deliberate non-reference to grandchildren here ... yes, it's that close ... and yes, we are in deep do-do's unless people like the bloke on the left don't get their heads out of the sand. We are the weather makers and the evidence is on our TV sets right now with record floods in the UK and China, heat waves in Greece, and drought in Australia.