Re: [asa] Relax, CO2 is Good for You!

Dave:

As I understand it, it is unclear what increased CO2 levels will do for plant
growth. I remember studies some 20 or so years ago of enhanced CO2 and plant
production. Apparently many plants would benefit in increased CO2.

The issue, as we know, more complex since one cannot easily only increase
CO2 in the ecosphere. It will increase surface temperatures, which could
be good for plant growth as long as there is sufficient water. With increasing
surface temperatures more atmospheric water would be available world wide.

Some of these effects have cliffs and can result in fall offs in plant production.

So I'm wondering what is the significance of loss of polar ice caps, aside from rising
sea levels? It will decrease albedo, increasing terrestrial temperatures,
but increasing water levels increases cloud cover, decreasing albedo.

I suspect that there are stabilizing terrestrial effects that tend to offset each other
discouraging run away.

Anyway, that's what I know.

bill

On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:49:37 -0400, Dave Wallace <wmdavid.wallace@gmail.com> wrote:
> This strikes me as immoral.
>
> http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warming/blog/relax-co2-is-good-for-you/
>> The Washington Post reports
>>
> <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/24/AR2009092404797.html?sub=AR>
>> that long-time oil industry executive H. Leighton Steward has teamed
>> with Corbin J. Robertson Jr., chief executive of and leading
>> shareholder in Natural Resource Partners, a Houston-based owner of
>> coal resources, to get out the message that higher CO2 levels will
>> actually help the Earth's ecosystems. They have invested $1 million
>> into two new organizations, one to lobby, one to educate the public.
>> How lucky we are that these fearless oil and coal industry executives
>> are leading this charge for truth.
> I voted yes that this add will influence people, meaning that it will
> increase distrust of the oil industry if the above individuals are
> actually financing the ads.
>
> Even for someone with reservations about the AGW this ad if true sounds
> like a very bad idea as it seems to suggest we should increase CO2
> production.
>
> Dave W
>
> ps I copied Glenn so that we might here a response from him.
>
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Received on Wed Sep 30 08:39:02 2009