Climate Change: reflections on Week One

 

The term “Greenhouse Effect” does not properly explain what’s happening; a better term is “Blanket Effect”.  

In a greenhouse, air warms up because the glass walls/windows protect it from outside air movement. The panes of glass in a greenhouse do not stop warm air from radiating back into the atmosphere. So this metaphor isn’t valid.

In reality, the earth is kept warm by gases trapping and re-emitting heat back down, similar to the effect of wrapping a blanket around your body in the cold.

“Greenhouse gases” are: carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide

The terms weather and climate are sometimes confused in everyday conversations.

Weather refers to localised conditions at a point in time, e.g. it rained in London yesterday

Climate refers to weather and other conditions, such as polar ice melting, over a period of time, e.g. 30 years.

The term albedo refers to reflection of radiation.  Surfaces can have a high, medium or low Albedo.

Examples of the albedo of different surfaces:

• High – snow and ice
• Medium – land mass
• Low – water

The earth absorbs approx 70% of the sunlight it receives.  This alone is insufficient to maintain all current life-systems, as on its own would only keep the earth at an average -18 degrees celsius. 

Understanding why the earth’s temperature is 33 C warmer (+15 C) requires an understanding that climate is a system comprising 5 major elements; 

• the atmosphere
• the hydrosphere (bodies of water of all types)
• the biosphere (living things and soils)
• the cryosphere (ice sheets, sea ice, and mountain glaciers)
• the lithosphere (the surface of the Earth’s crust

It is also necessary to understand the interaction between these elements as this impacts directly on the the climate system.

But this is not simple cause and effect. Some interactions cause feedback loops. There are three main types:

• water vapour feedback
• ice albedo feedback
• radiation feedback 

Where this feedback loop increases temperatures it’s called a positive feedback, where it reduces temperature it’s called a negative feedback.

 

Need to find out more on forcings

 

 

 

 

13 May, 2010 14:15

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Week 15 ends, has it all been in vain?

Finished the week 30 miles off target. Intended to go out on Sunday but felt quite tired and my back was hurting. Not sure if the bad back was result of cycling 3 days running (hope not) or falling off my bike twice the day before. Both times this happened because I forgot I was wearing pedal clips; hopefully my brain has now got the message – when stopping, remove feet from clips or you will fall over and bang your hip, cut your elbow and put more scratches on your new bike.

The volcanic cloud news isn’t good.  Seems it will be around at least until the end of the week.  Have no idea yet what this means for the Cycle Challenge. Personally I’ll be up for it even if it’s delayed for a month but would imagine that others may have problems getting time off work or have other commitments. A later start would also mean we’d miss the May Day celebrations which would be a great shame. This volcanic ash thing has thrown up (sorry) a few things; you can never be sure of anything in life, we are all vulnerable to nature’s forces and isn’t it about time we updated the antiquated expression “act of God”

Week 14 (9 more training days left)

Just back from 48 mile ride, mostly road with some rutted bridleways and one big cow-field. Constant cold wind which always seemed to be in my face. Battery packed up on my phone so last 10 miles not recorded. My energy ran out about the same time but wasn’t any other way back except by pedalling.

Must remember not to follow any bridleways, every time  so far have ended up in a field. Nice fields though, beautiful countryside, quiet sandstone villages and lots of water.

So that’s 122 miles this week.  The target was 115.  Need to do the same next week after that it’s just two days before I fly to Cuba

Week 14 of 15 (10 days left to train)

Last night (Friday) did 28 miles, at the fastest average speed so far.  It was also the first time I’ve done two big rides on consecutive days.  Today I don’t seem to have any aches so feels like I’m getting there. Still have to do 43 miles tomorrow if I’m to meet my weekly target. What’s it going to be like to do over 40 miles every day for 6 days, up long steep hills, in the sun?

Training: week 14 of 15 (part 1)

Just back from 36 mile road and off-road ride. The otherwise excellent Cyclemeter somehow missed the first couple of miles, maybe because I received some calls. So, together with Tuesday night’s sado spin class that’s 46 miles this week, which is about right. Need to do another 65 by Sunday!

The great thing about cycling, especially on a beautiful spring day like today, is the feeling that you can go wherever you want.  OK it’s painful going up the hills but overall the rides are great experiences and when you get back, aching and tired, you feel good and you know it’s done you a lot of good.  It’s helped to have the training programme’s weekly targets pushing me. I’m doing distances I wouldn’t previously have considered in my range – proof of how much these things are just in your head.

Training: Week 13 of 15

Only three training sessions this week, two of which in the gym.  Bricklaying at Sean’s on Wednesday took its toll although managed a quick road ride on Friday night.  Map and details here

Am seriously behind the training targets set by Cuba Cycle Challenge.  Although there won’t be time to catch up will try and meet the remaining targets.

Training: Week 13 of 15 (day 1)

Monday evening in the gym with Tasha, Sean and Cass. Did an hour on the bike at the usual hill level 12 – odometer said 35 k. I’d never do 35k in an hour on the road so take this with pinch of salt, even though it’s more intensive on the gym bike. It was one of those sessions when it seems to hurt more than normal.

So nice to have a swim and sauna after, even if I only managed 6 lengths.

Another Big One (but lots of catching up to do)

Finished week 12 with a 32 mile ride but have just calculated that since training week 7 have missed target by 460 k. Finding out how hard it is to follow a training regime when you have family commitments.

Used Cyclemeter for iPhone and it worked perfectly. Got a bit lost in Harleston Firs and had to carry the bike through a bog then over fallen trees before emerging onto a (luckily deserted) golf course. Having changed the tyres to semi-slicks, found the road cycling easier but still tired in the last half hour – mainly because I was cycling much faster than normal, trying to get back before it was too dark.

Back to the gym

So after a 2 week break it was back to the gym yesterday. 29k in 50 minutes, if the odometer is to be believed. Highlight was the golom like lady using the cycle next to me. I have never seen so much water pouring out of a human body. Or such gurning