Bacteria Linked to Climate Change and Renewable Energy Sources

Steven Petsch, a geoscientist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has been studying natural gas reservoirs in Michigan’s Antrim Shale. His findings have provided scientist with a new insight to global warming and the entire climate history here on earth.

Petsch discovered certain bacteria which fed off of CO² deep below ice sheets. These bacteria are responsible for producing natural gas during the ice age and the progression of glaciers through Michigan. During the Ice Age there were also high levels of methane in the earth’s atmosphere. Throughout the draw back of the ice sheets there was an immense amount of natural gas in the atmosphere, which consists primarily of methane gas.

By using the chemistry of water and rock samples from the shale Petsch is recreating an environment similar to that of the Ice Age. The water melted away from the glaciers and allowed for bacteria to thrive and consume the available carbon, therefore storing the natural gas they produced, underneath the shale.
75% of the gas stored was released into the atmosphere while retreating glaciers during the ice age as well as adding methane from other sources such as tropical wetlands. All of this concludes there were large emissions of methane throughout the atmosphere during this time period.

The bacteria provide us with the opportunity to create natural gas reservoirs, ultimately supplying us with another source of renewable energy.
These studies also are bringing scientist closer to discovering what aspects (particularly how methane) affects melting glaciers and global warming within our own environment.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080126093649.htm

A Great YutTube Find

We came across this great video on YouTube entitled:

Climate Change and Biodiversity: A Public Policy Imperative





Thomas Lovejoy will be our Keynote Speaker during our EarthDay Celebration on Friday, April 18th at the Museum of the Earth. Details to come at a later date!

Conserving Energy in Alberta, Canada

Bow River and Cascade Mountain, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

The Canadian state, Alberta, which produces around 70% of U.S. oil is determined to reduce their greenhouse emissions 50% by the year 2050. The main concentration of this plan uses the process of capturing and storing, preserving energy as well as greening energy production.

Alberta’s government has the goal to conserve their energy while not delaying or impairing economical development. Alberta is hopeful with these plans of reducing CO2 emissions from both the state’s oil and sands industry will result in a 70% overall cuts in greenhouse emissions.

Approximately 12% of gas diminutions are going to be through conservation and energy efficiency. They also plan on advancing their technologies to be environment friendly using clean energy including incentives for expanding renewable energy sources are contributing another 18% to the overall 70%.

On the opposing side, this plan will not initiate until the year 2020. Alberta, who is accountable for ⅓ of the nation’s emissions, cannot afford to wait another 12 years to begin to implement this plan.

Resource: http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=14118&channel=0