Posted on 5 April 2020 by John Hartz

Story of the Week...

North Atlantic's capacity to absorb CO2 overestimated, study suggests

Research into ocean’s plankton likely to lead to negative revision of global climate calculations

Phytoplankton blooms are visible from space in this 2017 satellite image taken of the Gibraltar strait. Photograph: Suomi/VIIRS and Modis/Nasa

The North Atlantic may be a weaker climate ally than previously believed, according to a study that suggests the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide has been overestimated.

A first-ever winter and spring sampling of plankton in the western North Atlantic showed cell sizes were considerably smaller than scientists assumed, which means the carbon they absorb does not sink as deep or as fast, nor does it stay in the depths for as long.

This discovery is likely to force a negative revision of global climate calculations, say the authors of the Nasa-backed study, though it is unclear by how much.

“We have found a misconception. It will definitely impact the model of carbon flows,” said Oregon State University microbiologist Steve Giovannoni. “It will require more than just a small tweak.” 

Oceans' capacity to absorb CO2 overestimated, study suggests by Jonathan Watts, Environment, Guardian, Apr 3, 2020

Click here to access the entire article.

Editorial of the Week...

Big Oil is using the coronavirus pandemic to push through the Keystone XL pipeline

The oil industry saw its opening and moved with breathtaking speed to take advantage of this moment 

TransCanada’s Keystone pipeline facility. Photograph: Jeff McIntosh/AP

I’m going to tell you the single worst story I’ve heard in these past few horrid months, a story that combines naked greed, political influence peddling, a willingness to endanger innocent human beings, utter blindness to one of the greatest calamities in human history and a complete disregard for the next crisis aiming for our planet. I’m going to try to stay calm enough to tell it properly, but I confess it’s hard.  

Big Oil is using the coronavirus pandemic to push through the Keystone XL pipeline, Opinion by Bill McKibben, Comment is Free, Guardian, Apr 5, 2020

Click here to access the entire Op-ed.

Toon of the Week...

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Coming Soon on SkS...

• Could the Atlantic Overturning Circulation ‘shut down’? (Richard Wood & Laura Jackson)
• The irreversible emissions of a permafrost ‘tipping point' (Christina Schädel)
• SkS New Research for Week #14 (Doug Bostrom)
• How does the way we define methane emissions impact the perception of its effects on global warming? (Justine Wickman)
• 'What's the best kind of car for the climate?' (Sara Peach)
• 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15 (John Hartz)
• 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #15 (John Hartz)

Climate Feedback Claim Review...

Temperature trends in the U.S. are consistent with warming around the world, contrary to Electroverse claim

VERDICT: 

SOURCE: Historical Data Destroys the Global Warming Myth, And People Are Waking to It… by Cap Allon, Electroverse, Jan 18, 2020

KEY TAKEAWAY: Land surface, sea surface, and atmospheric temperature data all show trends of global warming. The warming trend observed over the past century is correlated with increased levels of CO2. 

Temperature trends in the U.S. are consistent with warming around the world, contrary to Electroverse claim, Edited by Nikki Forrester, Claim Review. Climate Feedback, Mar 24, 2020

SkS Week in Review... 

• 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #14 by John Hartz (SkS Original)
• YouTube's Climate Denial Problem byzentouro (YouTube Video)
• Skeptical Science New Research for Week #13, 2020 by Doug Bostrom (SkS Original)
• A history of FLICC: the 5 techniques of science denial by John Cook (Cranky Uncle Repost)
• Scientists share their grief, anger, and hope over climate change by greenman (Peter Sinclair, Yale Climate Connections Repost)
• 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #13 by John Hartz (SkS Original) 

Poster of the Week...