FAQs

These are questions that were asked during sessions of SOCAN’s MCP.

Session 1 Introduction and Basic Science

How can methane be be less concentrated but more harmful?

Why is natural gas as bad as (or worse than) coal?

Session 2 Competing Hypotheses and Science Denier Claims

Clarify what RCP means

What is the proportion of carbon in flux with vegetation compared to the percentage in other locations or generally flowing?

Is there and interactive site to demonstrate the impact of rising sea levels?

Does it make sense to release greenhouse gases to counter the cooling that Milankovitch is imposing on us?

If the Cowtan and Way adjustment correcting for a shortage of Arctic Weather Stations is performed on recent data, why is it not required for long term historical correction?

IPCC AR4 Scenarios (2007)

Session 3 Energy & Construction

2019

On the Drawdown chart slide, why does ‘walkable cities’ show a large benefit in GHG reductions but no projected increase in the adoption growth?

Have you considered hemp as an alternative construction material?

How does the construction of renewable energy sources affect their overall contribution to GHGs?

Newer housing energy consumption is differently distributed, but is there an overall increase in the energy used?

What are the prospects for wave power and algae as renewable energy sources?

What is the impact of asphalt roads on GHG emissions?

When China is accused of polluting more than the US is their amount of pollution a function of population?

2018

What is the trend for nuclear energy?

Does burning wood for home heating cause GHG emissions?  If so, what is the impact?

Where does Oregon’s 3% of nuclear energy come from?

There was confusion about the source of electricity in Oregon, from 50% imported, to 35%.  What was the correct number?

What are the US federal subsidies for Oil production?

What are the US Federal subsidies for Wind and Solar?

Are Solar panels still effective in places like China with very bad ‘brown’ air pollution?

Why aren’t there flashing lights or special paint on wind tower rotors to protect birds and bats?

 

Session 4 Transportation

2019

Are biofuels coming from waste such as cooking oils a bad emitter of ghg? Aren’t they a good choice if the cooking oil would be trashed otherwise?

What is one to do when locked into employment that doesn’t lend itself to video conferencing and you must drive to an office?

2018

How much CO2 equivalent comes from a gallon of gas?

When is it better to let your car engine idle rather than turning the car off and starting it again?

Is CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) a liquid or a gas?

How long can a gasoline car idle before it uses the same amount of gas that is required to start it?

Are HCFC’s (Hydrochlorofluorocarbons) currently allowed for air conditioning?

Is the GHG reduction from operating an electric vehicle (EV) offset by the production of electricity used to charge it?

Are the GHG emissions different between regular (E87) and premium (E92) gasoline blends?

How does the Ashland North Main Street ‘Road Diet’ affect transportation emissions?

What about carbon monoxide as a tailpipe emission? Is this not a GHG? 

What about fry grease for biodiesel?

Does Diesel emit more carbon dioxide than gasoline?

What contribution do each of the fuels (slide 31) make?

Who is Katharine Hayhoe? 

Session 5 Weather & Water

2019

Why are parts of Antarctica melting and other parts freezing?

I want to grill vegetables outdoors, does charcoal or natural gas have more GHG emissions?

2018

Are there US maps available to view future Sea Level Rise?

What is Greywater?

What causes the high-speed winds, or “jet stream,” in the stratosphere? And why does the path of the jet stream wander?

Medford Water Quality – “What about pigtails?”

Pacific Power charges for Klamath River dam removal. It’s not happening.

Status of the Wise Project funding?

Explain Cap and Trade

Can Carbon dioxide benefit plant growth?

What is the original source of the glaciers?

Why do the poles warm faster than the rest of the planet?

What are the data showing that Natural Gas is worse than coal in terms of greenhouse gas emissions?

Rogue Disposal converts methane to NG for their trash trucks.  They tout this as an advantage or positive….Is it?

How does 113 gallons of gasoline become a metric ton of carbon dioxide?

What is the average annual energy consumption per person?

Here is a reference to a question asked in class about the GHG emissions from Cement

Session 6 Terrestrial Natural Systems

2019

How about the claim that younger trees have more carbon than old growth trees?

We used to cut more old growth, now not so much.  How does that affect CO₂ sequestration?

Why did we have more acreage burning in the 1930s?

Drawdown emphasizes Tropical Forests rather than Boreal Forests in the discussion of carbon sequestration. Why is this?

More and more Canadian Geese seem to be spending the full year at the southern end of their migratory pathway. Scientists suggest it’s because of domestication.  This doesn’t sound right.

2018

How should we manage our forests?

What is the prospect for forests in our future?

Do Incense cedars have a future here?

What is a Chaparral Biome? 

Are the retardants used to fight wildfires a problem?

Is the amount of CO2 removed by trees a function of the size of the trees?

Do ectotherms exhibit a shortened life expectancy as they grow faster with higher temperatures?

In the Rogue Valley, what is the best type of tree to plant to reduce CO₂?

Session 7 Agriculture

2019

Why is Eastern Oregon projected to receive higher% of soil moisture in projections?1

Does a grass fed cow produce less methane than a grain fed cow?

The consumption of water and corn mostly goes to animal agriculture. I’m disappointed to see this was hardly mentioned. According to the World Health Organization, animal agriculture causes almost half of our Earth’s carbon outputs. Is there a political or cultural reason this hasn’t been addressed in class?

At what ppm CO2 does plant physiology change?

Since photosynthesis only happens with chlorophyll and sunlight, when trees lose their leaves they are not sequestering CO2 for several months per year. Are evergreen forests better?

2018

What is carbon sequestration?

Clarify plant respiration bi-products and net carbon effects

What is a “Snowmelt Date”? 

Session 8 Human Responses (Consumption, Health, & Psychological)