#NASA Coalition

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #28

July 19-26 2024

The EPA announced the award of $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. The grants support community-driven solutions to fight climate change, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The grants will go to 25 projects across 30 states, and one tribal community. When combined the projects will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by as much as 971 million metric tons of CO2, roughly the output of 5 million American homes over 25 years. Major projects include $396 million for Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection as it tries to curb greenhouse gas emissions from industrial production, and $500 million for transportation and freight decarbonization at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced a plan to phase out the federal government's use of single use plastics. The plan calls for the federal government to stop using single use plastics in food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. The US government is the single largest employer in the country and the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services. Its move away from plastics will redefine the global market.

The White House hosted a summit on super pollutants with the goals of better measuring them and dramatically reducing them. Roughly half of today's climate change is caused by so called super pollutants, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Public-private partnerships between NOAA and United Airlines, The State Department and NASA, and the non-profit Carbon Mapper Coalition will all help collect important data on these pollutants. While private firms announced with the White House plans that by early next year will reduce overall U.S. industrial emissions of nitrous oxide by over 50% from 2020 numbers. The summit also highlighted the EPA's new rule to reduce methane from oil and gas by 80%.

The EPA announced $325 million in grants for climate justice. The Community Change Grants Program, powered by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act will ultimately bring $2 billion dollars to disadvantaged communities and help them combat climate change. Some of the projects funded in this first round of grant were: $20 million for Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association, which will help weatherize and energy efficiency upgrade homes for 35 tribes in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, $14 million to install onsite wastewater treatment systems throughout 17 Black Belt counties in Alabama, and $14 million to urban forestry, expanding tree canopy in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The Department of Interior approved 3 new solar projects on public land. The 3 projects, two in Nevada and one in Arizona, once finished could generate enough to power 2 million homes. This comes on top of DoI already having beaten its goal of 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects by the end of 2025, in April 2024. This is all part of President Biden’s goal of creating a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. 

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pledged $667 million to global Pandemic Fund. The fund set up in 2022 seeks to support Pandemic prevention, and readiness in low income nations who can't do it on their own. At the G20 meeting Yellen pushed other nations of the 20 largest economies to double their pledges to the $2 billion dollar fund. Yellen highlighted the importance of the fund by saying "President Biden and I believe that a fully-resourced Pandemic Fund will enable us to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics – protecting Americans and people around the world from the devastating human and economic costs of infectious disease threats,"

The Departments of the Interior and Commerce today announced a $240 million investment in tribal fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. This is in line with an Executive Order President Biden signed in 2023 during the White House Tribal Nations Summit to mpower Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. An initial $54 million for hatchery maintenance and modernization will be made available for 27 tribes in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The rest will be invested in longer term fishery projects in the coming years.

The IRS announced that thanks to funding from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, it'll be able to digitize much of its operations. This means tax payers will be able to retrieve all their tax related information from one source, including Wage & Income, Account, Record of Account, and Return transcripts, using on-line Individual Online Account.

The IRS also announced that New Jersey will be joining the direct file program in 2025. The direct file program ran as a pilot in 12 states in 2024, allowing tax-payers in those states to file simple tax returns using a free online filing tool directly with the IRS. In 2024 140,000 Americans were able to file this way, they collectively saved $5.6 million in tax preparation fees, claiming $90 million in returns. The average American spends $270 and 13 hours filing their taxes. More than a million people in New Jersey alone will qualify for direct file next year. Oregon opted to join last month. Republicans in Congress lead by Congressmen Adrian Smith of Nebraska and Chuck Edwards of North Carolina have put forward legislation to do away with direct file.

Bonus: American law enforcement arrested co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. El Mayo co-founded the cartel in the 1980s along side Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. Since El Chapo's incarceration in the United States in 2019, El Mayo has been sole head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Authorities also arrested El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez. The Sinaloa Cartel has been a major player in the cross border drug trade, and has often used extreme violence to further their aims.

[mindblowingscience]

There are now 40 nations in the United States' moon-exploration coalition. Lithuania joined the club on Wednesday (May 15), signing NASA's Artemis Accords during a ceremony in Vilnius.  "Welcome to the Artemis Accords family, Lithuania," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.  "Our nations are strong partners — and now we expand this partnership to the cosmos," Nelson added. "In just four years, a remarkable 40 countries have signed the Artemis Accords. Together, as a global coalition, we will explore the stars openly, responsibly and in peace."

Continue Reading.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Yale Environment 360:

Across the world’s oceans, an invisible army of tiny organisms has a supersized impact on the planet. Plankton are at the base of the ocean food chain, feeding fish that feed billions of people. They are responsible for half of the world’s oxygen supply and half of our planet’s annual carbon sink. Miniscule but powerful, their presence can help or hinder ecosystems — by soaking up greenhouse gas, for example, or by spewing toxins. Where plankton live, how many there are, when they bloom and which species dominate each play a huge role in this delicate balance. And our changing climate is spurring a sea change in all of it.

“We’re headed into an ocean and, for that matter, a world that we’re not going to recognize because it’s changing so fundamentally,” says David Hutchins, a marine microbiologist at the University of Southern California, who has charted plankton’s future.

Climate change is hitting our oceans hard, making them warmer and more acidic, while radically altering currents. The outlook for plankton is mixed. Some studies report overall plankton numbers dropping, while others show them rising in some major ocean basins. As the planet warms, the diversity of the menagerie in many spots is increasing, says Clare Ostle, a marine biogeochemist at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth. But certain species are losing out, she adds, including big juicy plankton thought to be important for food webs and carbon sequestration. And, in the long term, plankton numbers may plummet as climate change starves them of nutrients.

Scientists are now struggling to work out what the net effect will be. They have some new technologies at their disposal, including a new NASA satellite called PACE — for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem — launched this February. And some old ones, including a decades-old program that painstakingly trawls the ocean with filters to scoop up tiny creatures and count them by hand. Yet scientists say they are shocked by the size of our knowledge gaps. “I always find it surprising how little is known about plankton,” says Ostle.

The Ocean Stewardship Coalition this month released a “plankton manifesto” at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, highlighting how important plankton are alongside how little we know about them. “The planetary importance of plankton remains largely ignored,” the group writes, alongside a plea for more research, education, and discussion in international treaties about plankton’s plight.

[saddiedotdk]

Kamala Harris accomplishments as VP:

Cast tie-breaking vote for the American Rescue Plan of 2021.

Passed the American Rescue Plan, resulting in $1.9 trillion in economic stimulus.

Extended the Child Tax Credit through the American Rescue Plan.

Extended unemployment benefits through the American Rescue Plan.

Passed the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Secured funding for electric school buses in the infrastructure bill.

Secured funding to combat wildfires and droughts in the infrastructure bill.

Secured funding for replacing lead water service lines.

Engaged with lawmakers at least 150 times for infrastructure investment.

Led diplomatic mission to Guatemala and Mexico to address migration issues.

Launched the "Central America Forward" initiative.

Secured $4.2 billion in private sector commitments for Central America.

Visited Paris to strengthen US-France relations.

Visited Singapore and Vietnam to bolster economic and strategic ties.

Visited Poland to support NATO allies during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Visited Romania to support NATO allies during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Launched the "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour.

Visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota.

Passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.

Promoted racial equity in pandemic response through specific initiatives.

Chaired the National Space Council.

Visited NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to promote space policies.

Passed the Freedom to Vote Act in the House.

Passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the House.

Built coalitions for voting rights protections.

Supported the Affordable Care Act through specific policy measures.

Expanded healthcare coverage through policy initiatives.

Passed initiatives for debt-free college education.

Hosted a STEM event for women and girls at the White House.

Championed criminal justice reform through specific legislation.

Secured passage of the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Expanded background checks for gun purchases through legislation.

Increased the minimum wage through specific policy actions.

Implemented economic justice policies.

Expanded healthcare coverage through policy initiatives.

Secured funding for affordable housing.

Secured funding for affordable education initiatives.

Launched the "Justice is Coming Home" campaign for veterans' mental health.

Proposed legislation for easier legal actions against financial institutions.

Strengthened the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Secured investment in early childhood education.

Launched maternal health initiatives.

Launched the "Call to Action to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity".

Made Black maternal health a national priority through policy actions.

Increased diversity in government appointments.

Passed legislation for renewable energy production.

Secured funding for combating climate change.

Passed infrastructure development initiatives.

Secured transportation funding through the infrastructure bill.

Developed a plan to combat climate change.

Reduced illegal immigration through policy actions.

Equitable vaccine distribution through specific policy measures.

Supported small businesses through pandemic recovery funds.

Secured educational resources during the pandemic.

Promoted international cooperation on climate initiatives.

Secured international agreements on climate change.

Passed economic policies benefiting the middle class.

Criticized policies benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the working class.

Promoted racial equity in healthcare through specific actions.

Promoted racial equity in economic policies.

Reduced racial disparities in education through specific initiatives.

Increased mental health resources for underserved communities.

Secured funding for affordable childcare.

Secured federal funding for community colleges.

Increased funding for HBCUs.

Increased vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secured policies for pandemic preparedness.

Ensured equitable vaccine distribution through policy actions.

Secured international cooperation for COVID-19 responses.

Reduced economic disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.

Passed digital equity initiatives for broadband access.

Expanded rural broadband through specific policies.

Secured cybersecurity policies through legislation.

Protected election integrity through specific actions.

Secured fair and secure elections through policy measures.

Strengthened international alliances through diplomacy.

Supported the Paris Climate Agreement through policy actions.

Led U.S. climate negotiations through international initiatives.

Passed initiatives for clean energy jobs.

Secured policies for energy efficiency.

Reduced carbon emissions through specific legislation.

Secured international climate finance.

Promoted public health policies through specific initiatives.

Passed reproductive health services policies.

Supported LGBTQ+ rights through specific actions.

Secured initiatives to reduce homelessness.

Increased veterans' benefits through legislation.

Secured affordable healthcare for veterans.

Passed policies to support military families.

Secured initiatives for veteran employment.

Increased mental health resources for veterans.

Passed disability rights legislation.

Secured policies for accessible infrastructure.

Increased funding for workforce development.

Implemented economic mobility policies.

Secured consumer protection policies through legislation.

Engaged in community outreach through public events.

Organized public engagement efforts.

Participated in over 720 official events, averaging three per day since taking office.

Supported efforts to modernize public health data systems.

[spyglassrealms]

"We're finally out of the cradle. Of the hundred billion humans who ever lived, we're the first to stand beneath an alien sky."

— CDR Anna Wilson's first words on Mars; Oct. 3, 2018 CE

The Ares program was a crewed spaceflight project led by NASA, in collaboration with other members of the United Nations Aerospace Coalition, that succeeded in its milestone goal of landing humans on the surface of Mars. From its announcement in 2010 it took another eight years of preparation, training, and construction before the first mission was ready to begin.

Ares 1 was launched in mid-2018 and reached the red planet a few months later. At 10:45:33 UTC on October 3rd, 2018, commander Anna Wilson of the United States became the first human being to ever set foot on Mars and the first living thing on the planet in almost four billion years. Ares 1, and the four missions to follow, greatly enriched humanity's understanding of Mars. Ares 5 returned home in early 2028, ending the first crewed Mars exploration phase and opening the door for the next.

The Ares program was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to humankind at the time, and captivated the public imagination for over a decade. Like its predecessors Apollo and Artemis, it is widely recognized across the 30th-century human diaspora as a key reason for humankind's modern status as adept starfarers, best expressed by Commander Wilson in her first words upon touching the Martian surface: "We're finally out of the cradle."

[bigfootbeat]

Bigfoot on Mars

The photo known as "Bigfoot on Mars" is a remarkable illustration of how human sight and imagination can construct exciting narratives from ambiguous visual data. A NASA rover obtained this photograph, which appears to show a humanoid figure on the surface of Mars, attracting significant attention and controversy. The phenomenon sheds light on the dynamic relationship that exists between science and imagination, as well as the human propensity to recognize patterns that are familiar in settings that are foreign to them. The core of the "Bigfoot on Mars" image is the idea of pareidolia, which is a psychological phenomenon in which individuals detect recognized features or patterns, such as faces or figures, in random data. The human brain firmly ingrains this pattern of behavior, assisting us in making sense of our surroundings by recognizing potential adversaries or coalition partners. A mind on Mars, a desolate and foreign setting, is particularly prone to projecting familiar forms onto unfamiliar territory. The image appeared to suggest the existence of life on another planet, which is why it attracted the attention of the public. This innate behavior explains why the image was so captivating.

The frenzy that has surrounded the photograph of "Bigfoot on Mars" is also a reflection of humanity's everlasting obsession with the prospect of life existing beyond our planet. Because Mars is so close to Earth and shares many characteristics with it, it has been the subject of scientific investigation and speculation for many years. The concept of life on Mars has fuelled numerous hypotheses, ranging from highly developed civilizations to microscopic species. The image of "Bigfoot" contributed to these narratives by providing a tantalizing piece of evidence that, despite being false, grabbed the imagination of both the general public and the media. This phenomenon further highlights the significance of modern technology's role in shaping our perceptions of other worlds. NASA operates rovers equipped with high-resolution cameras, offering unparalleled access to distant planets. This access enables scientists and the general public to explore these alien landscapes from a distance of millions of kilometers. On the other hand, the enormous volume of data that is generated also means that certain abnormalities may be misconstrued, resulting in exaggerated statements and misconceptions.

As a means of responding to the "Bigfoot on Mars" image, scientists and skeptics underline the significance of critical thinking and scientific investigation. The researchers are able to provide more credible explanations for the figure by analyzing the image in its context and gaining a grasp of the geological aspects of Mars. Erosion created a rock formation, serving as one example of such an explanation. This scientific approach not only dispels myths, but it also improves our understanding of Mars' surface and the planet's geological history. In the end, the photograph titled "Bigfoot on Mars" serves as a reminder of the power of the human imagination as well as the significance of preserving a balance between wonder and skepticism. It is possible that the photograph may not give evidence of life on other planets; nonetheless, it does illustrate our natural curiosity and our urge to inquire about things that are unknown. These characteristics will serve as the impetus for our pursuit of knowledge and discovery as we continue our exploration of Mars and other celestial bodies. They will challenge our understanding of the universe and ourselves.

[beardedmrbean]

Turkish air strikes in drought-struck north-east Syria have cut off access to electricity and water for more than a million people, in what experts say may be a violation of international law.

Turkey carried out more than 100 attacks between October 2019 and January 2024 on oil fields, gas facilities and power stations in the Kurdish-held Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), according to data collated by the BBC World Service.

The attacks have added to the humanitarian crisis in a region reeling from a years-long civil war and four years of extreme drought exacerbated by climate change.

Water had already been scarce, but attacks on electricity infrastructure in October last year shut off power to the region’s main water station, in Alouk, and it has not been working since. On two visits there, the BBC witnessed people struggling to get water.

Turkey said it had targeted the “sources of income and capabilities” of Kurdish separatist groups it regards as terrorists.

It said that it was well known there was a drought in the area, adding that poor water management and neglected infrastructure had made things worse.

The AANES has previously accused Turkey of seeking to “destroy our people’s existence”.

More than a million people in the Hassakeh province who once got their water from Alouk now rely on deliveries of water pumped from around 12 miles (20km) away.

Hundreds of deliveries are made by tanker each day, with the water board prioritising schools, orphanages, hospitals, and those most in need.

But the deliveries are not enough for everyone.

In Hassakeh city, the BBC saw people waiting for the tankers, pleading for the drivers to give them water. “Water is more precious than gold here,” said Ahmad al-Ahmed, a tanker driver. “People need more water. All they want is for you to give them water.”

Some people admitted they fought over it and one woman threatened: “If he [the tanker driver] doesn’t give me water, I’ll puncture his tyres.”

“Let me tell you frankly, north-east Syria is facing a humanitarian catastrophe,” said Yayha Ahmed, co-director of the city water board.

People living in the region have been caught up not only in Syria’s ongoing civil war but also in Turkey’s conflict with Kurdish-led forces, who established the AANES in 2018 after they - with support from the US-led coalition - drove the Islamic State (IS) group out of the region. Coalition forces are still stationed there to prevent a resurgence of IS.

Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has described the AANES - which is not officially recognised by the international community - as a “terror state” next to its border.

The Turkish government considers the Kurdish militia that dominates the main military force there to be an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) rebel group, which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for decades.

The PKK is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the EU, the UK and the US.

Between October 2023 and January 2024, electricity transfer stations in three areas of the AANES were struck: Amouda, Qamishli, and Darbasiyah, as well as the region’s main power plant, Swadiyah.

The BBC confirmed the damage by using satellite imagery, eyewitness videos, news reports, and visits to the sites.

Satellite imagery of night-time lights from before and after the January 2024 attacks indicated a widespread power outage. “On January 18th.... a significant power outage is evident in the region,” said Ranjay Shrestha, a scientist at Nasa who reviewed the imagery.

The UN says Turkish forces carried out the strikes in Swadiyah, Amuda and Qamishli, while humanitarian groups say Turkey was behind the attack in Darbasiyah.

Turkey said it had been targeting the PKK, the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

The YPG is the biggest militia in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and is the military wing of the PYD, the main political party in the AANES.

“Civilians or civilian infrastructure were not among our targets and have never been,” Turkey said in a statement to the BBC.

But in October last year, the country’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said all “infrastructure, superstructure and energy facilities” that belong to the PKK and the YPG - especially in Iraq and Syria - were “legitimate targets” for its military, security forces and intelligence units.

[horsesarecreatures]

Solar Geoengineering: What is It, Why People Support It, and How to Make It Safer

By the Atlantic States Environmental Coalition

What is Solar Geoengineering?

Have you ever felt hopelessness over global leaders’ failure to stop global warming? There may be a new way to slow global warming that can be implemented easier than you’d expect. Solar Geoengineering (SG) is “solar radiation management which attempts to increase reflection of solar radiation away from the earth in order to slow [global] warming.” The 2 primary types of SG are stratospheric aerosol injection (achieved by releasing reflective particles like sulfate aerosols into the atmosphere) and marine cloud brightening (achieved by “spraying sea water into the lower atmosphere to generate brighter, more reflective clouds”). SG is increasingly mentioned by scientists as a way to combat climate change. SG’s appealing qualities include its low implementation cost, little opposition to it from industries, and the likelihood of it having fast cooling effects on the planet. However, as you might have guessed, SG also comes with significant risks. How and where SG will change climate patterns is unknown, and it could reduce ozone in the atmosphere, which is critical for preventing harmful UV radiation from reaching earth. Additionally, while SG will lower global temperatures, it doesn’t address the root cause of climate change, which is GHG emissions. It won’t reduce other harmful effects of GHGs either, such as air pollution and ocean acidification. But perhaps most scarily, an increased reliance on SG could lead to something called “termination shock.” Termination shock would cause a rapid and extreme rise in global warming if SG were to be deployed, but suddenly terminated, due to failing technologies.

Image by the Union of Concerned Scientists

Why are Some Actors Hoping to Pursue SG as a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy? 

Despite its risks, some governments are looking at SG precisely because of its almost immediate impact on temperature reduction and ease of deployment. It’s probable that present mitigation efforts under the Paris Agreement won’t be enough to hinder catastrophic climate change. On October 24, 2024, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) reported  that collectively, countries have made no progress tackling climate change. Their report said:

"As greenhouse gas emissions rose to a new high of 57.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2023, the cuts required from today are larger; 7.5 per cent must be shaved off emissions every year until 2035 for 1.5°C. Current promises are nowhere near these levels, putting us on track for best-case global warming of 2.6°C this century and necessitating future costly and large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to bring down the overshoot."

(Likelihood of global warming exceeding the temperature increase limits of the Paris Agreement. Source: UNEP Emission Gap Report 2024)

SG is not mentioned among the possible solutions that could reverse this dire trend by UNEP in the report. However, several actors are considering it anyway. In the U.S., the company Make Sunsets has already begun deployment of balloons that release sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. President Biden also released an executive order directing all agencies to research SG, calling it “One of the most promising [climate change mitigation] strategies.” Despite SG having garnered opposition from the international community, it’s looking increasingly likely that some countries will use it in the near future.

What Needs to be Done to Make Solar Geoengineering as Safe as Possible? 

Given the likelihood of the planet warming above what global leaders hoped for, they may need to further explore SG, but not without limitations on how it’s used. There needs to be comprehensive national guidelines on SG to prevent it from causing transboundary harm. Both NASA and the EPA in their proposed rulemakings responding to the executive order stated that they intend to create grant programs for SG research and use the data gathered to shape their future SG policies. Data collection on SG is a good start. Additionally, the agencies responding to President Biden’s executive order on SG should ensure that SG will not be subsidized at the expense of safer GHG mitigation efforts. Both NASA and the EPA should use their grant programs to place contingencies on SG research that will make actors do an equivalent amount of GHG mitigation. It doesn’t matter whether the agencies provide the money for an equivalent amount of GHG mitigation, or require applicants use their own funds. Agencies just need to ensure that SG is a supplementary rather than alternative method to combat climate change. Then agencies will reduce impacts of climate change other than temperature rise, and the severity of termination shock from possible SG cessation. If you agree with ASEC’s suggestions, please comment your support on NASA and the EPA’s proposed rulemakings at www.regulations.gov.

Thank you,

ASEC

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA-Designed Greenhouse Gas-Detection Instrument Launches

Developed by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the imaging spectrometer will provide actionable data to help reduce emissions that contribute to global warming.

Tanager-1, the Carbon Mapper Coalition’s first satellite, which carries a state-of-the-art, NASA-designed greenhouse-gas-tracking instrument, is in Earth orbit after lifting off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 11:56 a.m. PDT Friday, Aug. 16. Ground controllers successfully established communications with Tanager-1 at 2:45 p.m. PDT the same day.

The satellite will use imaging spectrometer technology developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California to measure methane and carbon dioxide point-source emissions, down to the level of individual facilities and equipment, on a global scale. Tanager-1 was developed as part of a philanthropically funded public-private coalition led by the nonprofit Carbon Mapper. Planet Labs PBC, which built Tanager-1, and JPL are both members of the Carbon Mapper Coalition and plan to launch a second Tanager satellite equipped with a JPL-built imaging spectrometer at a later date.

“The imaging spectrometer technology aboard Tanager-1 is the product of four decades of development at NASA JPL and truly in a class of its own,” said JPL Director Laurie Leshin. “The data that this public-private partnership provides on sources of greenhouse gas emissions will be precise and global, making it beneficial to everyone.”

Once in operation, the spacecraft will scan about 50,000 square miles (130,000 square kilometers) of Earth’s surface per day. Carbon Mapper scientists will analyze data from Tanager-1 to identify gas plumes with the unique spectral signatures of methane and carbon dioxide — and pinpoint their sources.

Methane and carbon dioxide are the greenhouse gases that contribute most to climate change. About half of methane emissions worldwide result from human activities — primarily from the fossil fuel, agriculture, and waste management industries. Meanwhile, there is now 50% more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than there was in 1750, an increase largely due to the extraction and burning of coal, oil, and gas.

“The Carbon Mapper Coalition is a prime example of how organizations from different sectors are uniting around a common goal of addressing climate change,” said Riley Duren, Carbon Mapper CEO. “By detecting, pinpointing, and quantifying super-emitters and making this data accessible to decision-makers, we can drive significant action around the world to cut emissions now.”

The imaging spectrometer aboard the satellite measures hundreds of wavelengths of light that are reflected by Earth’s surface. Different compounds in the planet’s atmosphere — including methane and carbon dioxide — absorb different wavelengths of light, leaving spectral “fingerprints” that the imaging spectrometer can identify. These infrared fingerprints can enable researchers to pinpoint and quantify strong greenhouse gas emissions, potentially accelerating mitigation efforts.

Tanager-1 is part of a broader effort to make methane and carbon dioxide data accessible and actionable. That effort includes using measurements provided by NASA’s EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation), an imaging spectrometer developed by JPL and installed on the International Space Station.

More About Carbon Mapper

Carbon Mapper is a nonprofit organization focused on facilitating timely action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Its mission is to fill gaps in the emerging global ecosystem of methane and carbon dioxide monitoring systems by delivering data at facility scale that is precise, timely, and accessible to empower science-based decision making and action. The organization is leading the development of the Carbon Mapper constellation of satellites supported by a public-private partnership composed of Planet Labs PBC, JPL, the California Air Resources Board, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and RMI, with funding from High Tide Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, and other philanthropic donors.

IMAGE: This artist’s concept depicts one of the Carbon Mapper Coalition’s Tanager satellites, the first of which launched on Aug. 16. Tanager-1 will use imaging spectrometer technology developed at JPL to measure greenhouse gas point-source emissions. Credit: Planet Labs PBC

[shi1498912]

Auszug:

Lomborg von Studien-Autor widerlegt: Waldbrände nehmen durch Klimawandel zu | von Philip Kreißel | Aug 3, 2023 | Faktencheck

Der Juli 2023 war wohl der heißeste Monat seit Jahrtausenden, die ersten drei Juli-Wochen waren wahrscheinlich die heißesten, die unser Planet seit 120.000 Jahren gesehen hat. Waldbrände nehmen durch den Klimawandel massiv zu. Das zeigen auch Daten zu Australien, Kalifornien, West-USA, Russland, Amazonas oder Mittelmeerraum. Die Daten zeigen bereits einen starken Anstieg der Feuer durch den Klimawandel. Der bekannte Klimawandel-Verharmloser Lomburg versucht das zu leugnen.

(Durch kalifornische Waldbrände verbrannte Fläche in Tausenden von Quadratkilometern, 1972-2018. Die untersuchten Regionen sind oben links aufgeführt. (Angepasst von Williams et al., 2019), Quelle)

Lomburg leugnet

In den letzten Wochen haben Hunderte von Bränden in Nordamerika und den Mittelmeerländern gebrannt. Der dänische Politikwissenschaftler und Definitiv-Nicht-Klimaforscher Bjørn Lomborg machte sich sofort auf, das zu relativieren. In der Wissenschaft ist er jedoch aufgrund seines Umgangs mit Statistiken und als einseitig kritisierten Bücher umstritten. In wissenschaftlichen Fachzeitschriften hat er bisher fast ausschließlich Kommentare und Meinungsartikel veröffentlicht.

Lomborg steht mit libertären und konservativen Think-Tanks in Verbindung, wie dem Competitive Enterprise Institute, der Hoover Institution, dem Environmental Assessment Institute, der Cooler Heads Coalition, dem Fraser Institute und dem Heartland Institute. Es sind Organisationen, die gezielt den menschengemachten Klimawandel verleugnen und diese Propaganda mit finanziellen und argumentativen Mitteln unterstützen.

„Die Klimaalarmisten machen uns Angst vor immer mehr Feuer. Aber Satelliten zeigen, dass die Welt immer weniger brennt“, schrieb der Desinformationsverbreiter auf der Social-Media-Seite, die früher als Twitter bekannt war. Wie kommt Lomborg auf diese Fake-Grafik und dazu, genau das Gegenteil zu behaupten?

Brandrodung geht massiv zurück, nicht Waldbrände

Erstmal kann man feststellen, dass die Grafik verzerrt ist. Die Y-Achse ist abgeschnitten, wodurch der Rückgang dramatisch aussieht. Guck selbst: Ein Rückgang von 3 % auf 2,2 % wird hier zu einem Abstieg von ganz oben nach ganz unten.

Tatsächlich ist der grundlegende Fehler aber ein anderer. Auch die NASA zeigt tatsächlich einen Rückgang in „Feuer auf Satellitenbildern“. Sie liefern allerdings im Gegensatz zu Klimawandelverharmloser Lomborg die Erklärung gleich mit: Der Rückgang an Feuer liegt vor allem am Rückgang der Brandrodung. Viele der Feuer in der Vergangenheit waren „Savannenfeuer“, wobei Grasflächen entzündet wurden, um Weideflächen freizuhalten. Also „Feuer auf Satellitenbildern“ ist also nicht gleich brennender Wald. 

Eigentlich liegen in den Daten gute Nachrichten, denn die Fläche an Brandrodung in Wäldern geht seit Jahren massiv zurück. Menschen bewirtschaften bestehende Felder und brennen keinen Regenwald für neue Flächen mehr ab. 

Allerdings werden jetzt langsam die Folgen vom Klimawandel immer stärker. So brennt jetzt indirekt dadurch im Amazonas so viel durch Klima-Dürre, dass es die CO₂-Reduktion durch einen Rückgang der Entwaldung ausgleicht. 

Also: Unsere gesamten Bemühungen der letzten Jahrzehnte, die Brandrodung einzudämmen, werden umsonst gewesen sein, wenn wir den Klimawandel nicht aufhalten. Die Daten zeigen bereits einen starken Anstieg der Feuer durch den Klimawandel. [...]

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Artikel von Volksverpetzer: https://www.volksverpetzer.de/faktencheck/lomborg-widerlegt-waldbraende-nehmen-zu/

Datum/Autoren Info: von Philip Kreißel | Aug 3, 2023 | Faktencheck

[conspiracytheoriesposts]

Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories

For the fourth blog post, I am going to discuss one of the most popular outer space conspiracy theories – That the moon landing in 1969 was fake. Americans stepping foot on the moon has been one of America’s greatest achievements to date, however that achievement has been questioned by many. All arguments claiming that NASA faked the moon landing have all been debunked but there are still some people that believe the moon landing was faked. One reason many have come to this theory is due to the USSR taking commanding lead in the space race.

Let’s discuss a brief history of how this theory came to be. Through the years, there have been many wars and competition. After World War II came to an end, another war erupted – the Cold War. This rivalry was between the United States and the communist Soviet Union. Soldiers in the United States and the Soviet Union did not go into battle during the Cold War. However, the two nations antagonized each other through weapon buildup, an espionage – the use of spies, propaganda, and military coalitions. During the Cold War, many events did occur, the Korean War, the creation of NATO, the Berlin Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Another huge event to happen during that time was the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. 

The Space race was essentially just a giant competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, the two nations competed in every arena – including space. It began in October 1957 when the Soviets launched Sputnik I, The World’s first artificial satellite into space. The successful launch created fear and chaos among the American public. The Soviet Union then launched Sputnik II, this one carrying a dog named Laika. Sputnik III and even Lunik III, to photograph the dark side of the moon, were also launched. All of Russia’s success would cause the creation of NASA. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration was created for aerospace research and the space program. Their first objective was to launch a manned vehicle into Earth’s orbit. However, the Soviets took the lead again in the space race when they sent Yuri Gagaruin, and he successfully became the first man to enter the Earth’s orbit. Over a year later in 1962, the Americans were successful in sending John Glenn and he became the first American to enter the Earth’s orbit. 

All this history is what led up to the famous moon landing conspiracy theory. After the successful mission accomplished by John Glenn, The United States President at the time, John F. Kennedy, announced the Apollo Program. This program pledged to put a man on the moon. Now that we have gone over the history that led up to this theory, let’s discuss the facts. The United States and the Soviet Union were in a constant rivalry that lasted almost five decades. The Soviets at the time were “winning” the Cold War when they had success in sending the first artificial satellite into space. They had even more success with sending the first dog into space and sending the first man into Earth’s orbit. The United States was very nervous about all this success. However, with the Soviets taking the lead in the Space Race, the United States still ended up winning when they did the unthinkable – sending men to the moon. Now many were very proud of this achievement, but others were not convinced that it really happened.

A lot of people believe the moon landing was faked so that the United States could “win” the space race by sending men to the moon first. Others claim the moon landing was faked due to their being no stars in any of the Apollo pictures. However, this was due to the manned mission to the moon being during in the sunny daytime. Any stars would not be seen at the time. Another claim that the moon landing was faked was because in the videos from the Apollo mission, the flag planted on the moon was waving. They claim the flag would have not been on the moon since there is no breeze on the moon. However, this was also debunked as it was waving because when the astronauts were planting it, they had to rotate the pole back and forth to plant the flagpole into the lunar soil, causing the flag to ripple back and forth. 

Until we return to the moon again, there will also be theories and claims that the moon landing never actually occurred in 1969. However, from the Apollo missions there are over 8,000 publicly available pictures, hours of videos, and audio recording of the Apollo missions. We even have a moon rock the astronauts brought back to Earth. These rocks brought back have also been verified as lunar by labs around the globe. One final coup de grace in the moon landing being faked conspiracy is when Apollo 11 crew went to the moon, they installed an instrument that allows us to reflect lasers from it to allow us to measure the distance to the moon. If the moon landings were faked, we would not be able to do this.After reading all of this, do you still believe the moon landing was faked and the NASA program created one of the biggest conspiracy theories known to man today? Or do you believe we were successful in sending men to the moon?

[sublimeobservationarcade]

Trump Threatens And Shakes Down Australia

What does a bully or stand over guy do to his victim? He menaces then extracts some form of payment in lieu of not beating him up. This is what Donald Trump is doing on the international trade scene. Trump threatens and shakes down Australia. This is what he has done with Canada and Mexico, other US allies. The media plays right into his hands by creating this melodrama, where the little guy or gal gets put under pressure from Trump and then we are all supposed to feel gratitude when the threat does not eventuate. The tariff stand over tactic will not serve US interests long term, rather it will poison an already dirty well. “The Albanese government is set to mount a major effort to win an exemption from a proposed 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports to the United States foreshadowed by President Donald Trump. Assuming Trump follows through on the move, it will put major pressure on the prime minister to match the success of the Turnbull government in 2018, after Trump put a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminium in his first administration.” - (https://theconversation.com/trump-is-now-flagging-tariffs-on-steel-and-aluminium-can-albanese-win-an-exemption-for-australia-249476)

SpaceX Demo-2 Preflight (NHQ202005270020) by NASA HQ PHOTO is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0 Donald Trump An American Bully The overarching message being taught to our kids is that bullying is alive and well at the very top level of human interrelations. All those bullshit Christians who voted for Trump are hypocrites and morally bankrupt people. The ugly Americans have control of the house. Trump’s behaviour will hasten the demise of US hegemony. Dictators rule via fear and stand over tactics, they do not inspire friendship or loyalty. Trump only won the last election by 1.4 points over Harris – it is not a mandate for Project 2025. The Stand Over Trump Coalition Of Thugs & Extremists The US has long been a bully on the international stage. Previous leaders, however, went by the mantra of ‘speak quietly but carry a big stick’. Donald Trump is a blowhard wanting to project a strongman image domestically to his followers. His coalition of tech billionaires, Christian nationalists, and white supremacist far right nutters are imposing an agenda designed to alienate more than 50% of the population via dehumanising laws and government destruction. The parallels with the rise of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party in Germany in the 1930s  are frightening. If you put extremists in positions of power and strip away the guardrails you are going to get a shit show.

Australian Banks Make Record Profits & The Scamming Of Customers Goes On Australia Gets Shaken Down Trump threatens and shakes down Australia, for what favours in return we are yet to know. Australia already has a negative trade imbalance with the US of 1 to 2. Therefore, we are not part of the problem, economically speaking. In addition, we are signed up to a financially onerous nuclear submarine deal – AUKUS to the tune of $368 billion. We are the patsies in the room to start with. Who needs enemies when you have friends like America. Neocons run the China bogeyman to appeal to the age old Anglo-settler fear of the yellow peril. Conmen and grifters play on these anxieties to run their scams. Macro Corruption? Do you know what macro corruption is? This is the kind of government and corporate corruption we have in the West. Big tickets scams worth millions and billions of dollars. In the developing countries you get a lot of micro corruption with officials wanting kickbacks and bribes. This has been pretty much eradicated in places like Australia but macro corruption thrives. It is too big for the little people, us, to comprehend in many instances. Huge contracts awarded with lucrative jobs offered down the track as part of the revolving door from government to private sector. Companies set up to run refugee processing and incarceration centres costing tax payer’s billions. Billions transferred from the public service to consultancy firms in the private sector. This is the neoliberal sting, where citizens are assured that privatisation is more efficient and, yes, more efficient at lining their own pockets with gold. The empty promises that were made about cheaper power bills through privatising public utilities. The trickledown effect also failed to eventuate, despite this the LNP Coalition are still running the same line to voters. Stupid is as stupid does, I suppose. The culture wars are designed to disguise the economic shake down from prospective voters. While you are getting angry about trans people the Coalition are lining the pockets of billionaires and oligarchs with tax breaks and the greatest transfer of wealth from the middle and working poor to the rich. Peter Dutton represents the Gina Rinehart ‘s and not us. The LNP voted against every ALP government cost of living relief bill over the last 3 years. Robert Sudha Hamilton is the author of America Matters: Pre-apocalyptic Posts & Essays in the Shadow of Trump. ©WordsForWeb

Read the full article

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.25 (after 1940)

1941 – Pope Pius XII elevates the Apostolic Vicariate of the Hawaiian Islands to the dignity of a diocese. It becomes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. 1942 – World War II: Thailand declares war on the United States and United Kingdom. 1945 – World War II: The Battle of the Bulge ends. 1946 – The United Mine Workers rejoins the American Federation of Labor. 1946 – United Nations Security Council Resolution 1 relating to Military Staff Committee is adopted. 1947 – Thomas Goldsmith Jr. files a patent for a "Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device", the first ever electronic game. 1949 – The first Emmy Awards are presented in the United States; the venue is the Hollywood Athletic Club. 1960 – The National Association of Broadcasters in the United States reacts to the "payola" scandal by threatening fines for any disc jockeys who accept money for playing particular records. 1961 – In Washington, D.C., US President John F. Kennedy delivers the first live presidential television news conference. 1964 – Blue Ribbon Sports, which would later become Nike, is founded by University of Oregon track and field athletes. 1967 – South Vietnamese junta leader and Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky fires rival, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Nguyen Huu Co, while the latter is overseas on a diplomatic visit. 1969 – Brazilian Army captain Carlos Lamarca deserts in order to fight against the military dictatorship, taking with him ten machine guns and 63 rifles. 1971 – Charles Manson and four "Family" members (three of them female) are found guilty of the 1969 Tate–LaBianca murders. 1971 – Idi Amin leads a coup deposing Milton Obote and becomes Uganda's president. 1979 – Pope John Paul II starts his first official papal visits outside Italy to The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. 1980 – Mother Teresa is honored with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. 1986 – The National Resistance Movement topples the government of Tito Okello in Uganda. 1990 – Avianca Flight 052 crashes in Cove Neck, New York, killing 73. 1993 – Five people are shot outside the CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Two are killed and three wounded. 1994 – The spacecraft Clementine by BMDO and NASA is launched. 1995 – The Norwegian rocket incident: Russia almost launches a nuclear attack after it mistakes Black Brant XII, a Norwegian research rocket, for a US Trident missile. 1996 – Billy Bailey becomes the last person to be hanged in the United States. 1998 – During a historic visit to Cuba, Pope John Paul II demands political reforms and the release of political prisoners while condemning US attempts to isolate the country. 1998 – A suicide attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Sri Lanka's Temple of the Tooth kills eight and injures 25 others. 1999 – A 6.0 magnitude earthquake hits western Colombia killing at least 1,000. 2003 – Invasion of Iraq: A group of people leave London, England, for Baghdad, Iraq, to serve as human shields, intending to prevent the U.S.-led coalition troops from bombing certain locations. 2005 – A stampede at the Mandhradevi temple in Maharashtra, India kills at least 258. 2006 – Mexican professional wrestler Juana Barraza is arrested in connection with the serial killing of at least ten elderly women. 2010 – Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Na'ameh, Lebanon, killing 90. 2011 – The first wave of the Egyptian revolution begins throughout the country, marked by street demonstrations, rallies, acts of civil disobedience, riots, labour strikes, and violent clashes. 2013 – At least 50 people are killed and 120 people are injured in a prison riot in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. 2015 – A clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in the Philippines kills 44 members of Special Action Force (SAF), at least 18 from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and five from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. 2019 – A mining company's dam collapses in Brumadinho, Brazil, a south-eastern city, killing 270 people.

[nuadox]

Scientists are testing mobile tower-based signals that could help pilots in emergency

- By Nuadox Crew -

Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and Ohio State University are exploring a backup navigation system for aircraft using "signals of opportunity"—non-GPS signals like those from cell towers and communications satellites.

This system aims to address potential GPS disruptions caused by jamming or spoofing, which can lead to dangerous situations for pilots.

Using weather balloons to collect data at altitudes up to 80,000 feet, the team studies how these alternative signals, including the Doppler effect in radio waves, can determine an aircraft’s position and velocity.

While processing the data is labor-intensive, initial findings suggest that signals from cell towers detected at high altitudes could support navigation, offering a new safety tool for aviation in areas or situations where GPS is unreliable.

The research highlights the potential for robust, real-time navigation systems leveraging diverse signal sources, enhancing aviation safety amid increasing GPS vulnerabilities.

Header image credit: Microsoft Copilot (AI-generated).

Read more at Sandia National Laboratories

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[michaelgabrill]

NASA Selects Two Teams to Advance Life Sciences Research in Space

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[monterplant]

NASA-Designed Greenhouse Gas-Detection Instrument Launches

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