[GWSG] Platform trains; the prospect of panels; renewables growing; isolated by SLR; groundwater up; 0 by 2035 in the EU; deep water slowing

[Tilley, Al]

1. Instead of long, dangerous trains careening into little towns in Ohio, how about autonomous electric platforms which can couple together or run separately, have their own battery of danger sensors and location devices, and don’t need big railyards? Parallel Systems is in the final stages of testing their platforms, and is working with U Texas at Austin to develop optimal routes. Parallel hopes to take some of the cargo now carried by trucks as well as by rail. When the electrical supply is zero emissions, so will be the platforms. If you should be blocked at a crossing by a motionless chain of platforms, they will be able to uncouple and move to let you through.  https://cleantechnica.com/2023/03/24/its-an-electric-train-but-dont-call-it-an-electric-train/

2. Production of solar panels in the US could simplify supply chains, reduce costs, and lead solar to a 40% share of the US electricity demand by 2035, according to a Cornell U study. The shift would also cut emissions by 30% and reduce energy consumption by 13%, compared to 2020. The Inflation Reduction Act provides for the manufacture of 950 million solar panels.  https://electrek.co/2023/03/25/us-made-solar-panels-emissions/

3. Last year, 83% of new energy globally was from renewable sources.  Renewable capacity increased 9.6%; it will need to triple that rate by 2030 if we are to be on track for the 1.5C target. (We can do that.)  https://www.voanews.com/a/renewable-energy-sees-record-increase-in-2022-agency-says-/7015384.html

4. As the sea rises, it will flood roads and rail lines, isolating homes and neighborhoods. 1 ½ feet of rise would isolate half a million people on the US coasts, and 3 feet, over a million. (Our Jacksonville, FL, home will some day in the next century or so be on an island in a long bay which was the St. Johns River.) https://phys.org/news/2023-03-isolation-due-sea-global.html

5. While we have known for several years that in coastal areas groundwater rises with the sea level, and is typically higher than sea level close to the ocean, little public attention has been focused on the growing problem. Buried infrastructure such as sewers, buried gasoline tanks, and septic systems can be compromised. Rising ground water levels can bring problems inland, too, with increased rainfall. Reports on three communities illustrate the rising difficulties.  https://grist.org/article/what-it-means-groundwater-is-rising/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=daily

6. The EU has passed a law that beginning in 2035 all new cars sold must have zero emissions. By 2030, they must have 55% lower CO2 emissions than the 2021 levels. Germany succeed in getting a exception for cars using only e-fuels with zero emissions; the impact of the wiggle is currently uncertain. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65105129?utm_source=cbnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2023-03-29&utm_campaign=Daily+Briefing+29+03+2023

7. Deep ocean circulation around Antarctica is slowing and could be headed for collapse. At current emissions rates the circulation will slow by more than 40% in the next 30 years. "Such profound changes to the ocean's overturning of heat, freshwater, oxygen, carbon and nutrients will have a significant adverse impact on the oceans for centuries to come." https://phys.org/news/2023-03-deep-ocean-currents-antarctica-collapse.html

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.unf.edu/pipermail/gwsg/attachments/20230329/35b67025/attachment.htm>