Tuesday, December 29, 2015

THAR SHE BLOWS ! CALIFORNIA'S INFRARED  INK PLUME

THIS IS NEITHER A GUSHING OIL WELL
 NOR BLACK SOOT FROM A FIRE :
IT'S A TON A MINUTE FLOW OF METHANE FROM A RUPTURED RESERVOIR 

THOUGH IT IS  NEARLY INVISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE,  THIS  THERMAL BAND INFRARED IMAGE  REVEALS  HOW PEFECTLY OPAQUE  METHANE IS TO THE WARMTH THE CAMERA RECORDS,  STARK PROOF OF THE CUTTING EDGE 19TH CENTURY SCIENCE JOHN TYNDALL FRS  DESCRIBED IN 
The Philosophical Magazine:           

"Now if as the above experiments indicate , the chief influence be exercised by the aqueous vapour, 
every variation... must produce a
change of climate.
Similar remarks would apply to the carbonic acid diffused through the air, while an almost inappreciable admixture of any of the hydrocarbon vapours would produce great effects on the terrestrial rays and produce corresponding changes of climate."
 
                       John Tyndall  'On the absorption and radiation of heat by gases and vapours'