Even though there has been something of a (temporary?) reduction in the release of carbon dioxide over the Covid-19 lockdown, a recent report suggests, that the more potent 'greenhouse gas', methane, is currently at record levels in the atmosphere (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/14/livestock-farming-and-fossil-fuels-could-drive-4c-global-heat-rise). This gas is largely generated by the burping of cows (it's a product of their complex digestive system, dealing with grasses) but is added to by the burning of certain fossil fuels. The data suggest, that if this continues unchecked, there will be a 4°C rise in the planet's mean temperature. This is, of course, well above the so-called 'safe' value of 1.5-2°C. Pretty obviously, there is an increasingly urgent need to change farming practises and power generation.
This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Wednesday 15 July 2020
The Whiff of Decay
Even though there has been something of a (temporary?) reduction in the release of carbon dioxide over the Covid-19 lockdown, a recent report suggests, that the more potent 'greenhouse gas', methane, is currently at record levels in the atmosphere (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/14/livestock-farming-and-fossil-fuels-could-drive-4c-global-heat-rise). This gas is largely generated by the burping of cows (it's a product of their complex digestive system, dealing with grasses) but is added to by the burning of certain fossil fuels. The data suggest, that if this continues unchecked, there will be a 4°C rise in the planet's mean temperature. This is, of course, well above the so-called 'safe' value of 1.5-2°C. Pretty obviously, there is an increasingly urgent need to change farming practises and power generation.
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