clair031

Summary . Institutions in the private sector are actively implementing renewable energy projects that optimize energy efficiency, install local renewable energy facilities, and/or purchase energy that has been generated by renewable technologies.   Motivations for undertaking these projects include economizing on costs, reducing overall energy usage, and reducing fossil fuel use and emission of greenhouse gases. In order to encourage these private sector activities, the U. S. federal government should maintain and expand subsidy support for renewable energy.   At the present time this support is contracting radically as the result of expiration of several short-term subsidy programs.   Respected authorities suggest expanding subsidy programs by three-fold, together with tailoring of subsidy programs to optimize effectiveness by, for example, stimulating strong competition and enhancing public-private consortia for deployment of renewable energy. Introduction. Carbon ...

Summary .   The New York Times published a report on the effects that clouds exert on long-term average warming of the globe.   Most climate scientists agree that clouds will have a neutral or a positive effect, i.e., one that acts to amplify the warming effect of the greenhouse effect and make it stronger.   The report identifies the work of Dr. Richard Lindzen as expressing the opposite view that cirrus clouds will act to reduce the effect of warming as the temperature rises.   This hypothesis is considered discredited among climate scientists.   To help understand this issue, this post provides background on the processes involving clouds and water vapor in the overall energy balance of the globe.   Introduction.   The role of water vapor and cloud cover in assessing the long-term warming of the earth   is complex, both with respect to observation (data gathering) and modeling.   A   schematic identifying the processes by which w...