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RKP5637

(67,111 posts) Thu Jul 3, 2014, 12:49 PM Jul 2014

NASA: Satellite which will END man-made CO2 debate in orbit at last

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/02/oco_2_nasa_carbon_co2_global_warming/

The satellite – which will study the absorption of sunlight by carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere – is the third attempt to get a CO2-measuring craft into space by the American space agency. The OCO-1 in 2009 and follow-up Glory in 2011 both failed when they weren’t able to complete their first stage separation.

NASA had to abandon the scheduled launch of the OCO-2 yesterday, when there were problems with the launchpad water flow.

The blast-off was particularly difficult to get right because US rocket boffins only had a 30-second window to get the sat into orbit to join the A-Train, a constellation of five international Earth-observing crafts that fly in close formation, constantly monitoring the planet.

OCO-2 is now the best carbon dioxide monitoring satellite in orbit by a long way, capable of taking up to 100,000 useful readings per day. The next best only returns around 500 measurements a day that are totally unimpeded by cloud cover.

Boffins hope that OCO-2’s data can offer clarity on just how much impact human activity has on carbon dioxide production and the processes the gas undergoes in the atmosphere, which will hopefully help lead to some answers on if and how we can do something about climate change.

10 replies

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NASA: Satellite which will END man-made CO2 debate in orbit at last (Original Post) RKP5637 Jul 2014 OP

Right wingers won't give a shit about the scientific findings LondonReign2 Jul 2014 #1

Sadly, that is quite true. Idiocracy in the US has a strong foothold. n/t RKP5637 Jul 2014 #4

I have a feeling this satellite may as well be revealing that a 10-mile wide ChisolmTrailDem Jul 2014 #2

My fear too, we are way over the tipping point. n/t RKP5637 Jul 2014 #3

I've had a keen interest in the pumping of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere ever ChisolmTrailDem Jul 2014 #7

I think similar ... I don't think we're hysterical, earth is being turned into a wasteland. n/t RKP5637 Jul 2014 #8

It's an exponential advance that will, now that we're past the tipping point, gather momentum. What ChisolmTrailDem Jul 2014 #9

My gut feeling is the human species well might be one faint glimmer in the history of earth. RKP5637 Jul 2014 #10

I agree unfortunately LondonReign2 Jul 2014 #5

Maybe the asteroid will skim the atmosphere and take a lot of CO2 with it. Orrex Jul 2014 #6

LondonReign2

(5,213 posts)

1. Right wingers won't give a shit about the scientific findings

Reply to RKP5637 (Original post)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 12:53 PM

Jul 2014

Facts mean absolutely zero to them.

Global warming and humans' part in that are settled scientific facts. More facts will just roll off their backs like the previous facts.

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)

4. Sadly, that is quite true. Idiocracy in the US has a strong foothold. n/t

Reply to LondonReign2 (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 12:56 PM

Jul 2014

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts)

2. I have a feeling this satellite may as well be revealing that a 10-mile wide

Reply to RKP5637 (Original post)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 12:54 PM

Jul 2014

asteroid rounding the corner at Mars and is heading straight for us at 70,000mph.

I think what this satellite reveals is going to be very alarming and make it clear there's nothing we can do to stop it.

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)

3. My fear too, we are way over the tipping point. n/t

Reply to ChisolmTrailDem (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 12:56 PM

Jul 2014

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts)

7. I've had a keen interest in the pumping of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere ever

Reply to RKP5637 (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 01:52 PM

Jul 2014

since the first time I came out of rural America into a major metropolis, that being the DFW Metroplex and the pall of brown air that hung over the entire region on a windless day. I imagine the million times that same pall hangs over a million places on the planet. I imagine the accumulative effect of day after day of millions of tons of this stuff entering the atmosphere and the oceans. And I've come to my own conclusion that, if I live to be 90 years old, I will be witness to a major extinction event that will have humanity struggling to survive on the back of climate change and resource depletion, primarily crude oil and potable water. I'm about to turn 50. I hope I'm just being hysterical.

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)

8. I think similar ... I don't think we're hysterical, earth is being turned into a wasteland. n/t

Reply to ChisolmTrailDem (Reply #7)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 02:29 PM

Jul 2014

ChisolmTrailDem

(9,463 posts)

9. It's an exponential advance that will, now that we're past the tipping point, gather momentum. What

Reply to RKP5637 (Reply #8)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 04:04 PM

Jul 2014

was once predictions of hundreds of years is now measured in decades or less. I think things are going to look a lot different in 20 years than they look now. And it's not going to be gleaming glass cities of the future so often envisioned by optimists.

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)

10. My gut feeling is the human species well might be one faint glimmer in the history of earth.

Reply to ChisolmTrailDem (Reply #9)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 06:10 PM

Jul 2014

There are vast numbers of people on earth that just don't get it. Some of TPTD do, many technologists do, but many others will sacrifice the earth and the human species for their personal greed and profit. I've often said, and some think I'm a crackpot, so be it ... that probably only extraterrestrial intervention will save the human species.

LondonReign2

(5,213 posts)

5. I agree unfortunately

Reply to ChisolmTrailDem (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 01:01 PM

Jul 2014

It seems like the only hope at this point is a scientific breakthrough that allows us to recapture and sequester the greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere. Simply trying to slow the growth rate of spewing them into the air and hoping the earth cleanses itself is hopeless. Well, at least until the point that we pollute ourselves into oblivion and the earth carries on without us.

Orrex

(63,215 posts)

6. Maybe the asteroid will skim the atmosphere and take a lot of CO2 with it.

Reply to ChisolmTrailDem (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 3, 2014, 01:07 PM

Jul 2014

Science!

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