Using Chat GPT to make sense of CO2
Posted by CaptainKirk 1 year, 10 months ago to Science
I am going to paste in some of my questions and answers. My thought behind this was that the AI has access to the data.
But it is also heavily influenced by what it has read.
But what fun? Honestly, it clearly states that the temperature on the earth has lots of variables (the sun... the sun!) and such.
But these are great questions to see it answer...
### Relative to CO2 over the lifetime of our planet what was the highest, lowest and current levels of CO2 in our atmosphere:
The levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere have varied over time, depending on a number of factors such as the levels of volcanic activity, the extent of forests and other vegetation, and the levels of atmospheric dust.
According to scientific studies, the highest levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere occurred during the Cambrian period, which began about 541 million years ago and lasted for about 54 million years. During this period, CO2 levels were estimated to be as high as 7,000 parts per million (ppm), which is about 20 times higher than the current levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.
The lowest levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere occurred during the Quaternary period, which began about 2.6 million years ago and is ongoing. During this period, which includes the present day, CO2 levels have been estimated to be as low as 180 ppm.
The current levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere are about 410 ppm, which is significantly higher than the pre-industrial levels of about 280 ppm. This increase in CO2 levels is largely due to human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of forests.
It is important to note that the levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere have a significant impact on the Earth's climate, and the current high levels of CO2 are contributing to global warming and other climate-related changes.
### Has there been an ice age with CO2 at much higher levels than we have today? If so, why did the CO2 not increase warming and stop the ice age?
There have been several ice ages throughout the Earth's history, during which large portions of the Earth's surface were covered by ice sheets and glaciers. During these ice ages, the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere were generally higher than they are today.
For example, during the last ice age, which ended about 11,000 years ago, the levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere were estimated to be about 180-190 ppm, which is significantly lower than the current levels of about 410 ppm.
The fact that the Earth experienced ice ages despite high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere is due to a number of factors, including changes in the Earth's orbit, the levels of other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the presence of feedback mechanisms that can amplify or dampen the warming effect of greenhouse gases.
One example of a feedback mechanism that can amplify the warming effect of greenhouse gases is the release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from melting permafrost or from wetlands. Methane is about 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2, and the release of methane can amplify the warming effect of CO2.
Overall, the relationship between CO2 levels and the Earth's climate is complex and depends on a variety of factors. It is important to continue to study the Earth's climate and the role that CO2 and other greenhouse gases play in order to better understand these complex interactions and to develop effective strategies to address climate change.
But it is also heavily influenced by what it has read.
But what fun? Honestly, it clearly states that the temperature on the earth has lots of variables (the sun... the sun!) and such.
But these are great questions to see it answer...
### Relative to CO2 over the lifetime of our planet what was the highest, lowest and current levels of CO2 in our atmosphere:
The levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere have varied over time, depending on a number of factors such as the levels of volcanic activity, the extent of forests and other vegetation, and the levels of atmospheric dust.
According to scientific studies, the highest levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere occurred during the Cambrian period, which began about 541 million years ago and lasted for about 54 million years. During this period, CO2 levels were estimated to be as high as 7,000 parts per million (ppm), which is about 20 times higher than the current levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.
The lowest levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere occurred during the Quaternary period, which began about 2.6 million years ago and is ongoing. During this period, which includes the present day, CO2 levels have been estimated to be as low as 180 ppm.
The current levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere are about 410 ppm, which is significantly higher than the pre-industrial levels of about 280 ppm. This increase in CO2 levels is largely due to human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of forests.
It is important to note that the levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere have a significant impact on the Earth's climate, and the current high levels of CO2 are contributing to global warming and other climate-related changes.
### Has there been an ice age with CO2 at much higher levels than we have today? If so, why did the CO2 not increase warming and stop the ice age?
There have been several ice ages throughout the Earth's history, during which large portions of the Earth's surface were covered by ice sheets and glaciers. During these ice ages, the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere were generally higher than they are today.
For example, during the last ice age, which ended about 11,000 years ago, the levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere were estimated to be about 180-190 ppm, which is significantly lower than the current levels of about 410 ppm.
The fact that the Earth experienced ice ages despite high levels of CO2 in the atmosphere is due to a number of factors, including changes in the Earth's orbit, the levels of other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the presence of feedback mechanisms that can amplify or dampen the warming effect of greenhouse gases.
One example of a feedback mechanism that can amplify the warming effect of greenhouse gases is the release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from melting permafrost or from wetlands. Methane is about 25 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2, and the release of methane can amplify the warming effect of CO2.
Overall, the relationship between CO2 levels and the Earth's climate is complex and depends on a variety of factors. It is important to continue to study the Earth's climate and the role that CO2 and other greenhouse gases play in order to better understand these complex interactions and to develop effective strategies to address climate change.
SOURCE URL: https://chat.openai.com/chat
Professor Ian Plimer could not have said it better!
If you've read his book, you will agree this is a good summary.
PLIMER: "Okay, here's the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland. Since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet - all of you.
Of course, you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress - it’s that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow, and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans and all animal life.
I know.... it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kids "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cent light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs..... well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days.
The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days - yes, FOUR DAYS - by that volcano in Iceland has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud at any one time - EVERY DAY.
I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in all its years on earth.
Yes, folks, Mt. Pinatubo was active for over one year - think about it.
Of course, I shouldn't spoil this 'touchy-feely tree-hugging' moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keeps happening despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.
And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud, but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year. Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you, on the basis of the bogus 'human-caused' climate-change scenario.
Hey, isn't it interesting how they don't mention 'Global Warming' anymore, but just "Climate Change" - you know why?
It's because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century, and these global warming bull**** artists got caught with their pants down. And, just keep in mind that you might yet be stuck with an Emissions Trading Scheme - that whopping new tax - imposed on you that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer.
I can't argue with liberals... They are unarmed opponents, and ill-equipped for handling facts!
But I will keep this in my toolbox!
Would it be dangerous for a society if all of the editors of major newspapers/media companies were under the influence of a single organization? What could happen to the news and reporting if this were the case?
Having all of the editors of major newspapers and media companies under the influence of a single organization could potentially be dangerous for a society, as it could lead to a lack of diversity in the viewpoints and perspectives represented in the news and could result in the suppression of certain viewpoints or the promotion of a particular agenda.
In such a situation, it is likely that the news and reporting would be more heavily biased and less objective, and there could be a lack of critical analysis or scrutiny of certain issues. This could lead to the dissemination of misinformation or propaganda, rather than accurate and balanced reporting.
In addition, the lack of diversity in the news and media could have a negative impact on public discourse and could undermine the public's trust in the media. It could also make it more difficult for the public to make informed decisions about important issues, as they may not have access to a full range of perspectives and information.
Overall, it is important for a society to have a diverse and independent media landscape, with a variety of perspectives and viewpoints represented, in order to promote informed public discourse and to ensure that the public has access to accurate and unbiased information.