quote:Originally posted by Howard Long
Interesting arithmetic, foiled only by schoolboy error on their dimensions.
I don't see how a 400kg polar bear = 400kg CO2?
Anyway, rather than using patronising illustrations like this, they would be better placed by giving cold hard facts, and put them into perspective, like:
A single passenger taking a return transatlantic flight produces about 1/3 of the average person's entire annual CO2 emissions. [Source
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/withouthotair/c1/page_16.shtml]
Cheers, Howard
CO2 emission calculations for air travel can be quite interesting.
One on the most complex models, trx, is described
here.It allows calculation based on figures for specific airlines including VS.
For example LHR-JFK-LHR by VS in Y produces 1494lbs (calculate
here)
For the same flight by BA you produce 1996lbs!
Both are very different from the figures suggested in Howard's reference above of 2 tonnes - 4480lbs!!!
In addition, the Trx calculation above includes radiative forcing, a controversial issue, which has multiplied the emissions by a factor of 2.7
Trx allow this to be switched off bringing the VS return transatlantic emission down to only 554lbs, less than 1/4 tonne.
Now lets consider Polar Bears!
Say their breath contains around 4.5% CO2 - same as us......
a few more calculations ....(which I won't bore you with unless someone wishes to PM me!)
A Polar Bear emits up to 2000lb CO2 per year.
So Plane Stupid is probably right in suggesting we should kill off numerous Polar Bears!