Forgot your password?
typodupeerror

Comment Re:Thank the Hunga Tunga Volcano (Score 1) 174

Is there a new publication out there? Last one I read said that the event was unprecedented, and as such they did not know what the effects would be, thus had no idea how it would have to be accounted for in the climate prediction models. Not arguing, just looking for more data... From my understanding if you follow the foundational bit of science as we do with CO2, HO2 is a much more efficient reflector of infra-red light (per my understanding). So it would be natural to apply the same assumption to some sort of effect that the models currently do with CO2. However, given the differences in atmospheric levels, heat exchange to space, etc... I'm not sure they know what to do with it... But I don't see it mentioned much in the incessant beat of doom and gloom click bait...

Comment Questions about how this could alter climate... (Score 3, Interesting) 47

I think I must have seen this as a preprint a month or two ago... My pondering on the paper included: Since H20 is one of the most effective greenhouse molecules, what changes could this have made to the general climate since the first of the year? Since we have never really understood this as an issue, I don't know how climate models could account for it, but an increase this large should have had some effect on the outcomes, or do the models go ahead and forecast without taking another potential variable into account?
Wii

New Wii Menu Update Targets Homebrew Again 258

Nintendo has tried to block homebrew during firmware updates in the past, often unsuccessfully. Now, as it rolls out version 4.3 of the Wii System Menu, stopping homebrew modifications once again seems to be its primary goal. From Nintendo's support site: "Because unauthorized channels or firmware may impair game play or the Wii console, updating to Wii Menu version 4.3 will check for and automatically remove such unauthorized files." Since it's hard to bill that as an upgrade, they vaguely add, "In addition, there are some behind the scenes enhancements that do not affect any prominently-used features or menus but will improve system performance."
Earth

Louisiana Federal Judge Blocks Drilling Moratorium 691

eldavojohn writes "In the ongoing BP debacle, the Obama administration imposed a six-month moratorium on offshore drilling and a halt to 33 exploratory wells going into the Gulf of Mexico. Now a federal judge (in New Orleans, no less) is unsatisfied with the reasons for this and stated, 'An invalid agency decision to suspend drilling of wells in depths of over 500 feet simply cannot justify the immeasurable effect on the plaintiffs, the local economy, the Gulf region, and the critical present-day aspect of the availability of domestic energy in this country.' The state's governor agrees on the grounds that blocking drilling will cost the state thousands of lucrative jobs." The government quickly vowed to appeal, pointing out that a moratorium on 33 wells is unlikely to have a devastating impact in a region hosting 3,600 active wells. And reader thomst adds this insight on the judge involved in the case: "Yahoo's Newsroom is reporting that the judge who overturned the drilling moratorium holds stock in drilling companies. You can view his financial disclosure forms listing his stock holdings online at Judicial Watch (PDF)."

Slashdot Top Deals

"Ahead warp factor 1" - Captain Kirk

Working...