Policy documents, research peer reviewed and cutting edge
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Titan's Surface Organics Surpass Oil Reserves on Earth
Don't take our word so this statement, check out JPL/NASA {Jet Propulsion Laboratory, since 13th Feb 2008!} LINK HERE
After reading this we have to ask the question: What is a Fossil Fuel? Or should we investigate the Abiotic Generation of Hydro-Carbons {citation below} on Titan and the Earth?
From the JPL 2008 article: "Saturn's moon Titan has hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons than all the known oil and natural gas reserves on Earth", according to new data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
Saturn's orange moon Titan has hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons than all the known oil and natural gas reserves on Earth, according to new data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The hydrocarbons rain from the sky, collecting in vast deposits that form lakes and dunes.
The new findings from the study led by Ralph Lorenz, Cassini radar team member from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md., are reported in the Jan. 29 issue of the Geophysical Research Letters."Titan is just covered in carbon-bearing material -- it's a giant factory of organic chemicals," said Lorenz.
"This vast carbon inventory is an important window into the geology and climate history of Titan.
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At this time of year after 'excessive and continued' rains, several major Rivers are prone to breaching their banks. Especially the Trent around Derby and the upper reaches of the Thames. The accepted flood plain regions. However, this is a result of the river basin in total - and thus we need to look further upstream to see how this 'inundation' has developed.
Many commentators speak of problems with 'dredging and clearing waterways', sure this will {update- probably NOT[1]} help - but a major contributory factor has been overlooked, and something that was so common in the past that these so-called floods rarely occurred. This is the buffering aspects 'upstream' due to woodlands and hedges on our hill sides - to slow down the dumping of water within the water course(s). This is echoed, nicely with the extracts below from Erica Gies - who is advocating for a "Slow Water Movement"
Over the years, due to the partial 'industrialisation' of farming {as a business - rather than as custodians of the land} we have witnessed the removal of hedges, woodland strips, woodlands and other aspects that contributed to keeping water within the land itself. The fields that the farmers are utilising have become appreciably larger - by the removal of hedge-rows and woodland strips.
However research shows that this policy of "enlargement" carries additional risks in terms of rainfall interception: See full Research Here - CLICK
"Hedgerows can intercept a substantial fraction of the rainfall that would have fallen onto their projected ground area without their presence. The interception loss in two hedgerows in southern England was found to be 50–60% of gross rainfall in the summer and 40–50% of PG in the winter if related to projected ground area. In regions with climates characterised by high windspeeds, wind-driven rainfall plays a major role in the hydrology of hedgerows."
"A rainfall shadow of a width similar to the height of the hedgerows is found downwind of them and some rainfall concentration can occur near their upwind edge. The analytical model of rainfall interception (Gash, 1979), which was previously used for extensive forests, can be parameterised for hedgerows and reliably predicts their interception loss on the basis of daily rainfall data."[2]
These intercept number are highly significant - 50% of the rainfall. Therefore without these hedgerows that rainfall is draining from the land and into the water courses - and onto our Rivers. The situation with multiple hedgerow removal has to be considered too.
[1] Slow Water Down - not Speed it up! The slow water movement is about empowering individuals and communities, as well as governments, to help restore earth’s water cycles. Here is Erica Gies website where you can find out more. https://slowwater.world See the Read More Section too;
[2] Measuring and Modelling the Rainfall Interception Loss by Hedgerows in Southern England: Mathias Herbst, John M. Roberts, Paul T.W. Rosier, David J. Gowing: The Open University, Department of Biological Sciences: Received 9 June 2006; received in revised form 22 September 2006; accepted 23 October 2006.
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Further "interviews" with ChatGPT the {claimed} "AI" resource; a series of questions are needed to get to the issues, like any interview.
ZES/SEE Interviewer Questions, commentary and/or reaction to ChatGPT replies
"Lithium and Cobalt are needed for battery technology, but modern slavery issues need to be addresses, can you write a scholarly article on this theme with references to research?"
ChatGPT Answered as follows:
Introduction
Lithium and cobalt are two essential materials used in battery technology, particularly in lithium-ion batteries. These batteries power electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and electric cars. The demand for lithium and cobalt has increased significantly in recent years, and the production of these minerals often involves the exploitation of workers and serious human rights abuses. This article will explore the modern slavery issues surrounding the production of lithium and cobalt and the steps being taken to address these issues.
Lithium and Cobalt Production
- Lithium is primarily extracted from brine pools and hard rock deposits, with the largest producers being Australia, Chile, and Argentina. Cobalt is mainly mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which accounts for approximately 60% of global production.
- In the DRC, much of the cobalt is produced through artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), which is typically carried out by hand and involves dangerous working conditions, including exposure to toxic chemicals and accidents. The majority of ASM in the DRC is unregulated, and workers often do not receive adequate pay or protection.
- In addition to the risks associated with ASM, there are also concerns about child labor in the cobalt mines. According to a 2020 report by Amnesty International, children as young as six are working in cobalt mines in the DRC, often in hazardous conditions.
- Similarly, in lithium production, workers face health and safety risks due to exposure to chemicals and dust. In some cases, workers are not provided with protective equipment or training.
Modern Slavery Issues
The exploitation of workers in the production of lithium and cobalt is a significant concern and can constitute modern slavery. The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines modern slavery as "situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power" (ILO, 2021).
In the DRC, where much of the cobalt is produced, the ILO has identified several indicators of forced labor, including debt bondage, restriction of movement, and withholding of wages. Similarly, in lithium production, there are concerns about forced labor, particularly in countries with weak labor protections.
Addressing Modern Slavery Issues
- The exploitation of workers in the production of lithium and cobalt is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. Companies that use these materials have a responsibility to ensure that their supply chains are free from forced labor and to work with their suppliers to improve labor conditions.
- Several initiatives have been established to address the modern slavery issues in lithium and cobalt production. In 2019, the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) launched a program to address human rights risks in the cobalt supply chain. The program includes due diligence tools, training, and capacity building for suppliers and has been endorsed by several major companies, including Apple and Microsoft.
- Similarly, the Global Battery Alliance (GBA), which was launched in 2017, aims to create a sustainable battery value chain by addressing social and environmental issues. The GBA includes stakeholders from across the battery value chain, including mining companies, battery manufacturers, and automotive companies, and has established a framework for responsible mining.
Conclusion
The production of lithium and cobalt is essential for battery technology, but the exploitation of workers in the production process must be addressed. Modern slavery issues, including forced labor and child labor, are a significant concern and require a multifaceted approach involving companies, governments, and civil society.
Initiatives such as the RMI and GBA are important steps towards improving labor conditions in the lithium and cobalt supply chains, but more needs to be done to ensure that workers are protected from exploitation. Companies that use these materials must take responsibility for their supply chains and work with their suppliers to improve labor
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Plastic packaging, films, and assorted plastic components will need careful attention to best use this waste stream to the greatest effect. Consequently incineration is not considered a viable solution due to problems with dioxins in the pollutant exhaust and poor levels of energy release.
However many plastics are able to be re-formed into useful objects, in the storm water and management of flooding in many situations. One such use is of stable, underground water storage, both as flood control and for retention in hot climates - but suffering from short periods of heavy rains.
These interlocking forms can be stacked underground up to 5m in height - and still allow the land above to be used as playing fields or even for parking with appropriate additional strengthening. Very much ideal for nations where water/rainfall is for limited periodicity but heavy. Example West Coast of the African Continent, with trade winds bringing heavy rains.
Stackable Plastic Crates
Stackable stormwater control crates offer a modular design that give you more flexibility over how the system is installed and set-up in the ground. One of the major benefits of using stackable crates is that the installation can be completed much faster and without the need to use specialist heavy equipment. These types of crates are more suitable for areas that cannot accommodate a long row of crates attached to each other. Instead, they are stacked on top of each other to retain a large storage holding and facilitate the release of rainwater into the surrounding environment when needed.
Light duty crates
Light duty stormwater control crates are best suited for pedestrian loads through to domestic vehicular loads. In most cases, light duty crates are installed in gardens and landscaping areas and have a load limit of around 20 tonnes. The depth of cover, tank depth, top surface cover, ground type (granular or cohesive) and usual loading traffic will all have to be accounted for to ensure this type of crate is suitable for the land.
Heavy duty crates
Heavy duty stormwater control crates are designed to accept large weight loads at ground level, often exceeding a 60-70 tonne load rating. The exact load a capacity is decided by the cover depth, soil type, surface finish and other similar factors, which can be determined by the installation company. A heavy-duty stormwater control crate is typically installed in areas that experience large amounts of traffic on a regular basis, or for car parking areas that accommodate several domestic vehicles.
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With air source and ground source heat pumps what are the key requirement to enable cheap and efficient heating and hot water in the UK?
In order to enable cheap and efficient heating and hot water with air source and ground source heat pumps in the UK, there are several key requirements:
'Adequate' {Extremely High Levels of:} insulation: The building must have adequate insulation to minimize heat loss and improve the efficiency of the heat pump system. By "Adequate" we mean' substantially in excess of current building regulations standards'. Like the German Passivehaus standard. This would also presuppose an efficient {mechanical or passive} ventilation system with heat exchanger technology and "Earth Pipes" to pre-heat [winter] or pre-cool [Summer] incoming fresh air. See Passivehaus article HERE AT THIS WEB LINK.- Proper sizing of the system: The heat pump system must be properly sized to match the heating and hot water demands of the building. Over-sized or undersized systems can result in inefficiencies and higher costs.
- Suitable location: For ground source heat pumps, the site must have suitable geology and hydrology to support the installation of the ground loop. For air source heat pumps, the location must have adequate airflow and temperature differentials to enable efficient operation.
High-efficiency heat pump equipment: Choosing a high-efficiency heat pump with a high coefficient of performance (COP) can significantly improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the system.- Energy-efficient hot water storage: Using an energy-efficient hot water storage tank can reduce the amount of energy required to heat water and improve the overall efficiency of the system. This is because an highly insulated hot water storage tank can act as a 'buffer' or heat-store, between energy supply and demand - particularly relevant at colder period, say night time in winter - so supplement the energy needs from the heat store.
- Climate-appropriate design: The design of the building should take into account the local climate and weather conditions to optimize the performance of the heat pump system. This would also include aspects of the property and its orientation {to the Sun, and prevailing winds}, earthworks and planting to mitigate 'wind chill' effects on walls, windows and roofs. PDF scan of 1981 Research Article {Wind and Building Energy Consumption: an Overview} HERE
By meeting these requirements, air source and ground source heat pumps can provide cost-effective and efficient heating and hot water in the UK. As can be seen in some of the photo's, particularly with Ground-Source Heat Pumps, associated equipment, controllers, buffer tanks and installation, considerable space is needed. Therefore we strongly recommend new properties be build with a basement {in light of the deeper foundations required from Building Control this may not be as expensive as imagined}. Additional benefits of basement include, Rainwater Storage, Computer Sever Room, Distribution to the floor above for Internet, Telephone, Sound Systems etc.