TapeCutter - Slashdot User

Submission + - The time of anthropogenic emergence.

Submitted by TapeCutter on Thursday September 24, 2015 @06:13AM

TapeCutter writes: In 1958 the US National Academies of Science (NAS) warned the US government that they had detected a robust AGW signal, they have not change their mind on that claim for 57yrs. Like the modern day Al Gore, Frank Capra publicized the possible effects in a popular documentary. Today we have news of a study from Melbourne University claiming the effects of AGW first became evident in the mid 20th century.
In other words the NAS could not have picked up the signal much earlier than they actually did. The fact that the last serious scientific objection to AGW (as a theory) was overcome in the mid 20th century by improving spectrometers in heat seeking missile was a remarkable coincidence, NAS took full advantage of that opportunity.

Submission + - Universe closer to heat death than once thought? (arxiv.org)

Submitted by TapeCutter on Monday January 25, 2010 @11:30PM

TapeCutter writes: In a paper soon to be published in the Astrophisical journal Australian researchers have estimated the entrophy of the universe is about 30 times higher than current estimates. For those of us who like their science in the form of a car analogy Dr. Lineweaver compared their results to a car's gas tank. He states, "It's a bit like looking at your gas gauge and saying `I thought I had half a gas tank, but I only have a quarter of a tank."

Submission + - Does climate change affect bushfires? 1

Submitted by TapeCutter on Saturday February 28, 2009 @02:05AM

TapeCutter writes: After the devastating firestorm in Australia, there has been a lot of speculation in the press about the role of climate change. For the 'pro' argument the BBC article points to reaseach by the CSIRO. For the 'con' argument they quote David Packham of Monash university who is not alone in thinking "...excluding prescribed burning and fuel management has led to the highest fuel concentrations we have ever had...". However the DSE's 2008 annual report states; "[The DSE] achieved a planned burning program of more than 156,000 hectares, the best result for more than a decade. The planned burning of forest undergrowth is by far the most powerful management tool available... ".

I drove through Kilmore on the evening of the firestorm and in my 50yrs of living with fire have never seen a smoke plume anything like it. It was reported to be 15km high and creating it's own lightning, there were also reports of car windscreens and engine blocks melting. So what was it that made such an unusual firestorm possible and will it happen again?

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