For all you Carbon Counters...

[TimBikes]

You might like this. Tripp - I'm wagering that you will love this... <_<

Link.

[tripp]

Why the frown? It's pretty cool, but seems to be lacking in real information. Furthermore, quite a few of the "green" power plants are hydroelectric. While they may not create CO2, they do produce CH4. The tropical ones can produce a lot of methane, which we all know ain't so good. China has a lotta red, that's for sure.

[TimBikes]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Nov 15 2007, 03:12 PM) [snapback]540245[/snapback]</div>

Why the frown? It's pretty cool, but seems to be lacking in real information. Furthermore, quite a few of the "green" power plants are hydroelectric. While they may not create CO2, they do produce CH4. The tropical ones can produce a lot of methane, which we all know ain't so good. China has a lotta red, that's for sure.
[/b]

Oh - it wasn't supposed to be a frown - but a wink. Have I been using my emoticons wrong all this time?!

I only spent 5 minutes on the site but it seemed like there was a lot of info to me.

Cheers!
(i.e., smile) (laughing out loud)

[tripp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimBikes @ Nov 16 2007, 01:40 AM) [snapback]540445[/snapback]</div>

Oh - it wasn't supposed to be a frown - but a wink. Have I been using my emoticons wrong all this time?!

I only spent 5 minutes on the site but it seemed like there was a lot of info to me.

Cheers!
(i.e., smile) (laughing out loud)
[/b]

Gotcha.

The thing that I didn't like was when I clicked on a particular power plant, I didn't get any real detail about the plant (perhaps I should have clicked on the plant's owner link). Also, they really should take methane emissions into account, though I'll admit that those are harder to measure (in the case of hydro).

[a priori]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Nov 15 2007, 06:12 PM) [snapback]540245[/snapback]</div>

. . . quite a few of the "green" power plants are hydroelectric. While they may not create CO2, they do produce CH4. The tropical ones can produce a lot of methane, which we all know ain't so good. . .
[/b]

Just curious: What is the source of methane from a hydroelectric power source? Is it simply aeration of waters containing decomposing organic material? Is it related to high BOD?

[tripp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(a priori @ Nov 16 2007, 10:16 AM) [snapback]540616[/snapback]</div>

Just curious: What is the source of methane from a hydroelectric power source? Is it simply aeration of waters containing decomposing organic material? Is it related to high BOD?
[/b]

You nailed it. The turbines cause degasing of the methane. Reservoirs in tropical areas are, not surprisingly, the worst. Places like Lake Powell, while an abomination in one respect, must be at the opposite end of the spectrum.

[a priori]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Nov 16 2007, 10:30 PM) [snapback]540787[/snapback]</div>

You nailed it. The turbines cause degasing of the methane. Reservoirs in tropical areas are, not surprisingly, the worst. Places like Lake Powell, while an abomination in one respect, must be at the opposite end of the spectrum.
[/b]

Thanks, Tripp, for the info.

By the way -- I like the Jack Aubrey reference (or what I've been amused to assume is a Jack Aubrey-like "Which I'm driving a Prius, ain't I?" statement).

[oxnardprof]

Very interesting site, and seems well done. However, it focuses on CO2 emissions, and does not consider the impact of other electricity generators. The NY Times has an interesting article on the Three Gorges Dam today (November 19, 2007). Also the green plants will include nuclear power plants.

Despite the methane emissions, both hydroelectric and nuclear power plants will emit lower amounts of carbon dioxide than coal or natural gas plants, but there are other considerations. I think a crucial aspect in 'going green' is trying to reduce power consumption - conservation. The power consumption of ALL products should be a consideration in purchasing.

For example, do you ever see in reviews of large screen TV's discussion of power consumption?

[tochatihu]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Nov 16 2007, 07:30 PM) [snapback]540787[/snapback]</div>

You nailed it. The turbines cause degasing of the methane. Reservoirs in tropical areas are, not surprisingly, the worst. Places like Lake Powell, while an abomination in one respect, must be at the opposite end of the spectrum.
[/b]

This is not the entire story however. Flooded soils become anaerobic and some of their organic C and N become CH4 and N2O. The process has a lot to do with the acreage that gets flooded, and what the soils were originally like.

Once these gases get into the water it is about certain that they will be released into the atmosphere. Churning from power trubines can certainly speed the process.

[tripp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(a priori @ Nov 19 2007, 08:31 AM) [snapback]541530[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, Tripp, for the info.

By the way -- I like the Jack Aubrey reference (or what I've been amused to assume is a Jack Aubrey-like "Which I'm driving a Prius, ain't I?" statement).
[/b]

Which that would be the kind of thing Preserved Killick might say.

The Aubreyad is the greatest work of literature... ever.

This is not the entire story however. Flooded soils become anaerobic and some of their organic C and N become CH4 and N2O. The process has a lot to do with the acreage that gets flooded, and what the soils were originally like.[/b]

Thanks, tochatihu. That makes sense. BTW, I see you're in China now. Didn't you have Ohio listed at one point?