Scientists find a cure for global warming: hydrochloric acid

@anita Gofradump wrote:

Cambridge (MA) and University Park (PA) – Al Gore can rest easy now. Researchers at Harvard University and Penn State University have developed a plan to solve the problem of global warming in a matter of decades, not millennia, well in line with industrial time scales. It involves changing the way Mother Nature naturally reclaims carbon today, through the use of volcanic silicate rocks and weak carbonic acids. Scientists want to strengthen the acid to speed up the natural process.

The team has learned that the oceanic acid levels are a key component in how much carbon they can hold. An alkaline ocean can hold dissolved carbon, while an acidic one will release it into the atmosphere. Our current oceans are undergoing a movement toward increased acidity, which is believed to be responsible for the damage caused to coral reefs. It may also be a naturally occurring explanation for the observed increases in global warming.

Their new process is called “engineered weathering”. It involves taking the natural processes of volcanic silicate dissolving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the presence of fresh water. This chemical reaction forms a weak carbonic acid. That water then winds its way through the soil and rocks, converting the carbonic acid into alkaline carbonate and salts along the way. Eventually it finds its way to the ocean where it increases their alkalinity, allowing them to hold the dissolved carbon. The more this natural process occurs, the more carbon the oceans can hold.

Scientists want to modify this natural process to reverse the trend seen today by turning the oceans alkaline again. This will allow them to rapidly absorb not only man-made carbon dioxide, but also naturally occurring carbon dioxide as well.

Their plan involves replacing the weak carbonic acid with the much stronger hydrochloric acid. This will greatly accelerate the changeover to alkalinity, allowing it to keep the pace with “industrial rates”. The researchers believe the process can be adapted to remote areas whereby geothermal or natural gas is used as the powering fuel.

According to one researcher, Christopher House, “This work shows how we can remove carbon dioxide on relevant timescales, but more work is be needed to bring down the cost and minimize other environmental effects”. He warns that while the team believes their plan is attainable, the actual implementation is quite ambitious. It would be very costly and, of course, carry with it some environmental risks of its own. He says these risks need further study as the process would literally involve building dozens of facilities right alongside volcanic rock coasts. These would be something along the lines of large industrial plants manufacturing, among other things, chlorine gas. In the words of Willy Wonka, “A few more tests.”

Research was carried out by Kurt House, Daniel P. Schrag, Michael J. Aziz, all from Harvard University, as well as Christopher H. House (Kurt House’s brother) at Penn State. Funding has been provided by The Link Energy Foundation, Merck Fund of the New York Community Trust, the United States Department of Energy and NASA.

UPDATE: John Coleman, founder of The Weather Channel, currently employed as a meterologist for KUSI News in San Diego, posted something which relates strongly to this story in his blog yesterday. It reads, “[Global warming] is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM …. In time, a decade or two, the outrageous scam will be obvious. As the temperature rises, polar ice cap melting, coastal flooding and super storm pattern all fail to occur as predicted everyone will come to realize we have been duped. The sky is not falling.

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global warming my arrrrrse its all a con forthe major conglomorates to tax us to the hilt for driving and as the price of oil goes up so do the carbon footprint ideas its all sheite innit.