We really do take our planet for granted!
It was only just over 40,000 years ago, during what has been called the "Laschamp Event", that the Earth's magnetic field tilted on its axis and diminished to a fraction of its former strength.
It took over 1,000 years for the magnetic field to return to its original strength and tilt, and during that time the auroras strayed to near-equatorial latitudes where they are typically never seen.
https://www.space.com/wandering-aurora-laschamp-event
This event may also have caused changes in the Earth's atmosphere that affected living conditions on parts of the planet. Studies of ancient New Zealand kauri trees, which have been preserved in sediments for over 40,000 years, have allowed scientists to measure, and date, the spike in atmospheric radiocarbon levels caused by the collapse of the Earth’s magnetic field.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/ancient-relic-points-turning-point-earths-history-42000-years-ago
The weakening of the Earth’s magnetic field by around 9% in the past 170 years could indicate an upcoming reversal. If a similar event happened today, the consequences would be huge for modern society. Incoming cosmic radiation would destroy our electric power grids and satellite networks.
It was only just over 40,000 years ago, during what has been called the "Laschamp Event", that the Earth's magnetic field tilted on its axis and diminished to a fraction of its former strength.
It took over 1,000 years for the magnetic field to return to its original strength and tilt, and during that time the auroras strayed to near-equatorial latitudes where they are typically never seen.
https://www.space.com/wandering-aurora-laschamp-event
This event may also have caused changes in the Earth's atmosphere that affected living conditions on parts of the planet. Studies of ancient New Zealand kauri trees, which have been preserved in sediments for over 40,000 years, have allowed scientists to measure, and date, the spike in atmospheric radiocarbon levels caused by the collapse of the Earth’s magnetic field.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/ancient-relic-points-turning-point-earths-history-42000-years-ago
The weakening of the Earth’s magnetic field by around 9% in the past 170 years could indicate an upcoming reversal. If a similar event happened today, the consequences would be huge for modern society. Incoming cosmic radiation would destroy our electric power grids and satellite networks.
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And anybody not wearing 2 million sunblock would have a really bad day, wouldn’t they?
That little hole in the ozone would be nothing compared to what happens if someone turned off the magnet. People aren’t even preparing for one or two degrees of average temperature rise and conditions could conceivably get far worse.
That little hole in the ozone would be nothing compared to what happens if someone turned off the magnet. People aren’t even preparing for one or two degrees of average temperature rise and conditions could conceivably get far worse.
... Or was it le Pint?Brings David LePointe to mind
Apparently there was some Northern lights last night, but we didn't get the best view of it.
Ot:
I'm struggling with getting all the financial numbers to add up here. Today we will see a peak cost of about 1usd per kWH, Christmas is not looking good this year. What's it like for you guys?
Won't be long before we're also struggling. Ontario in defiance of basic common sense has decided to increase present GHG emissions by 375% by 2030 and 600% by 2040 as ng power plants are ramped up to replace nuclear facilities facing retirement or being taken out of service for refurbishment. Maybe not a buck per kwh but a kilo of emissions down each of our throats regularly.
I read that hydroelectricity is the primary source of renewable energy in Canada.
However, the country would appear to have some way to go with wind power.
If a small country like Scotland can generate 9,347 MW (as of June 2020) of wind power, the much larger Canada can surely improve on its 13,417 MW (as of Dec 2019).
P.S. 97% of Scotland's total energy requirements came from renewable sources in 2020.
However, the country would appear to have some way to go with wind power.
If a small country like Scotland can generate 9,347 MW (as of June 2020) of wind power, the much larger Canada can surely improve on its 13,417 MW (as of Dec 2019).
P.S. 97% of Scotland's total energy requirements came from renewable sources in 2020.
The claim is 97% of domestic electricity generation requirement, which is only part of the total energy requirement. And, it's a figure regarded as somewhat exaggerated by the industry, but still a good achievement.
Thanks for the correction gpauk. The word "electrical" was missing from my P.S.!
Renewable electricity generation is now equivalent to approximately 97% of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption*
*Gross electricity consumption refers to total electricity generation minus net exports
https://www.scottishrenewables.com/our-industry/statistics
Renewable electricity generation is now equivalent to approximately 97% of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption*
*Gross electricity consumption refers to total electricity generation minus net exports
https://www.scottishrenewables.com/our-industry/statistics
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Here's a very nice article about some of the Na+ batteries in development, over 98% easily recycleable.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09933-0
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09933-0
Currently, the energy density of sodium-ion batteries is around half that of lithium batteries, making them less attractive for portable electronics and electric vehicles.
However, sodium-ion batteries could give lithium-ions a run for their money in stationary applications like renewable energy storage for homes and the grid or backup power for data centres, where cost is more important than size and energy density.
The biggest thing going for sodium batteries is their use of abundant, cheap, and benign materials. There is over one-thousand times more sodium than lithium in the Earth’s crust. Sodium also costs less to extract and purify.
The above, and more, information is available here in an easily digestible manner: https://spectrum.ieee.org/sodium-ion-battery
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