How Carbon Capture Should be Split Between the Western and Eastern United States
06/25/19
“Why should we deploy carbon capture devices in the Western US and plant trees instead in the Eastern US?”
As of right now, there is a fierce debate in the negative emissions technology space. Some believe that mechanical negative emissions technologies are too expensive and electricity dependent and that we should plant trees instead Others believe that trees take up too much water and land resources as well as provide fuel for fires. However, these solutions are not mutually exclusive, and should be deployed according to an area’s needs. In the Western US, water is scarce and is being more so while there is plenty of sunlight for cheap solar energy, making mechanical carbon capture devices quite practical. In the Eastern US, rain and water is plentiful and floods are happening more frequently, so planting a large amount of trees would be logical. This is How Carbon Capture Should be Split Between the Western and Eastern United States.
“How can we use technology to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?”
Humanity is reaching a crisis point. We are adding so much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each second that we will soon reach irreversible climate damage. To solve this, we’re going to need to use every technology we have at our arsenal, whether it be wide arrays of solar panels or intense energy efficiency measures. But the true kingmaker of solutions comes from a group of technology that is still quite ominous and undeveloped. These Negative Carbon Emission Technologies work by using a series of processes to store more carbon dioxide than they produce. This can be done in a multitude of ways, whether it be through planting more trees or capturing carbon from the atmosphere and shoving it down into the ground. With these solutions, we can tip the odds in our favor in our fight for decarbonization.
Whether it be from cooking on a grill or forest fires in California, the air quality seems to get much worse when wood is being burned. This is because the smoke from wood creates toxic carbon monoxide, smog-causing carbon monoxide, and other pollutants that pose serious harm to human health. This is Why Burning Wood is So Polluting.
Wildfires and resilience are hot topics right now in California. These usually occur during drier and hotter times of the year, when foliage conditions are more ripe for an outburst. That is why during Fire Season California needs to be much more prepared to take action.
In the wake of the recent California fires, more and more focus is going into preventing more fires. One of the root causes of all of this is the fact that when foliage dries up, it loses moisture, which prevent fires. This is Why Dry Foliage Is More Susceptible to Fires.
“What are some of the most fertile soils in the world?”
Soil is quite literally one of the bedrocks of human society. And just as Earth’s geography is greatly diverse, so are its soils. Some of the most fertile soils have a high percentage (upwards of 16%) of humus and other nutritious substances. This Chernozem is commonly found in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and parts of the upper North American Midwest. Because of its recognizable dark color, the word Chernozem comes from the Russian words for black soil (chorny + zemlya).
“Why is broken down organic matter so important to soil quality?”
Organic matter can be found everywhere in the soil. This is typically broken down by plants over time, and when it becomes decomposed enough it will take on very important properties. This structure will be able to hold on to a large amount of nutrients, water, air, and microbes. These give humus great potential to supply plant matter the essentials for life.
Every second of every minute of every hour more and more carbon dioxide is being pumped into our atmosphere. Since the carbon intensity in the air will increase, the ocean will absorb more CO2. This larger amounts of this element will react with the H2O in water to form Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) and Hydrogen ions (H+). With a higher volumetric makeup of the latter elements, the oceans will become more acidic, threatening the stability of sea-life. This is Why the Oceans Becoming More Acidic.
Why Undergrounding Power Lines Makes Them More Vulnerable to Flood Damage
04/12/19
“Why is undergrounding power lines not recommended for flood-prone areas?”
Undergrounding power lines is a recommended course of action to build resilience against forest fires, storms, and heavy winds. However, this also makes them more prone to flood damage, as they will become submerged in water in the event of one. This is Why Undergrounding Transmission Lines Makes Them More Vulnerable to Flood Damage.
