It really must be getting comfortably warm down there

Number of tourists in Antartica:
1990: 5.000
2003: 15.000
2007: 37.000
2010: 80.000 expected

No wonder they are building a highway across the continent.

Antartica [wiki]

Drak Roasted Blend just posted a compilation of photos of unbelievable cloud formations, good/bad wather thresholds and generally beautiful things that happen in the sky when you’re not there.

Antes de “An Inconvenient Truth” y su oposición The Great Global Warming Swindle (tampoco cierto del todo), estaba el oscurecimiento global [wiki], un fenómeno relativamente desconocido que cambiará la perspectiva sobre las causas del cambio climático. Aquí está EL documental:

Hay decenas de teorías sobre el cambio climático basadas en modelos que, por definición, se crean en la búsqueda de un patrón en particular, desde un interés en particular. Éste documental de BBC Horizon de 2005, sin embargo, parece más realista, honesto y neutral sobre un problema —la reducción de la cantidad de luz solar que llega a la superficie de la Tierra— que es tan verdad como es sentido común, y cuya solución (la reducción de la contaminación que ya se está llevando a cabo globalmente), paradójicamente contribuye al calentamiento global. Sí, el oscurecimiento global enfría la Tierra y contrarresta el calentamiento global, de ahí la creciente inestabilidad del clima causada por ambas fuerzas luchando entre sí. Aunque está brillantemente presentado, narrado y respaldado, cuidado con a quién se lo pasáis, que puede dar cierto miedo.

ACTUALIZADO: A continuación, y a la espera de su disponibilidad íntegra, los primeros 12 minutos del documental, en español: (more…)

De título original “The Green Machine”, éste documental de Odisea (2006) expone ejemplos privados y públicos, empresariales y nacionales, relacionados con energías renovables, construcción ecológica, sostenibilidad, etc. Ésta parte en concreto trata de cómo Chicago es una de las ciudades con mejores intenciones al respecto. Un parque verde en el tejado de cada rascacielos es uno de sus objetivo, y el ayuntamiento ya tiene uno.

[Upload de VSG71]

I have watched several documentaries and presentations about Peak Oil and the following is in my opinion the most informative, complete and comprehensive, if only a bit shocking for some people (with spanish subtitles btw):

The End of Suburbia

Crude Impact: The most boring due to slow talking, long static scenes and general lack of moving statements or facts. Still recommendable.

Oil, Smoke and Mirrors: Its first part is a really good summary of the Peak Oil phenomena and its implications, straight to the point and even more mind-opening than The End of Suburbia. It switches to 9/11 conspiracy theory mode, however, and only wraps around Peak Oil a little bit at the end. Highly Recommendable if you can take that with a grain of salt.

Let me introduce you to Peak Oil. That we are running out of oil, we all have known for years. But with how’s, why’s and especially when’s are answered, it starts to get… “interesting”. Watch the clip below and if you’re fact-hungry, he (Jeremy Leggett) explains it all in all detail in the presentation after the jump (here).

NOTE: The only thing Jeremy is forgetting to take into account is that with the end of fossil fuel burning (which indeed reduces CO2 emmissions) comes the solution of Global Dimming. And for those of you who still don’t know what this means, the dissappearance of CO2 in the atmosphere (in the form of sunlight-dimming particles) will actually let more sunlight onto the Earth’s surface causing Global Warming not only to continue, but to grow at a higher rate. It is already happening in hotter and hotter Europe, where the emissions are being lowered. Scientific community and BBC, I think we’re ready to hear about Global Re-enlightening.

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[Via Techeblog]

Before “An Inconvenient Truth” and its also must-see opposition The Great Global Warming Swindle, there was global dimming [wiki], a relatively unknown phenomenon that will change the perspective on the causes of climate change. Here’s THE documentay:

There are dozens of climate change theories based on models that, by definition, are created in search for a particular pattern, from a particular interest. This 2005 BBC Documentary however feels very neutral, honest and realistic about a problem —the reduction of sun light reaching the Earth’s surface— that is as fact as it is common sense, and whose solution (the reduction of pollution already taking place globally), paradoxcally contributes to global warming. Yes, global dimming cools down the Earth and counteracts global warming, hence the growing inestabilty of the climate caused by the two forces fighting each other. Although it’s brilliantly presented, narrated and backed up, watch out for who do you pass it on to, as it can be pretty scary.