Painting rocks on Chalon Sombrero (Image: BBC)
File this in unrealized parody. The BBC beats the Onion.
The World Bank has awarded a Peruvian inventor $200,000 to paint rocks white. They hope if they make them the right colour the glacier will come back…
Can painting a mountain restore a glacier?
It is the first experimental step in an innovative plan to recuperate Peru’s disappearing Andean glaciers.
The World Bank clearly believes the idea – the brainchild of 55-year-old Peruvian inventor, Eduardo Gold – has merit as it was one of the 26 winners from around 1,700 submissions in the “100 Ideas to Save the Planet” competition at the end of 2009.Although he is yet to receive the $200,000 (£135,000) awarded by the World Bank, his pilot project is already underway on the Chalon Sombrero peak, 4,756 metres above sea level, in an area some 100km west of the regional capital of Ayacucho.
There are no paint brushes, the workers use jugs to splash the whitewash onto the loose rocks around the summit.
It is a laborious process but they have whitewashed two hectares in two weeks.
“Cold generates more cold, just as heat generates more heat,” says Mr Gold.
“I am hopeful that we could re-grow a glacier here because we would be recreating all the climatic conditions necessary for a glacier to form.”
If you had $200,000 to gift to Peru, a place where the GDP per capita is less than $5,000, would you spend it on a program to paint black rocks white in the hope of storing water and changing the local weather?
Reader John P points out that if you check the World Glacier Monitoring Service you will see that the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of glaciers in the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca is above 4900 m, that means that snow falling below that altitude does not remain over the whole year and melts. Even if it falls on the glacier ice, much less on whitewashed rocks. Besides, the impact of a few hectares of rock is minimal when compared with the atmospheric circulation or the impact of surrounding terrain.
Original photo: Robert B. Hass and National Geographic. (Improv – John P.)
You might wonder who in their right mind would spend that kind of money, and the answer is no one — at least no one would spend their own money — but your money, my money, paper money — sure. It’s good advertising for the World Bank, it creates news stories for the cause, and generates another set of vested servants agitating for a carbon credit currency.
The project description hints that as cold begets cold, so money begets money:
The project also will attempt to have the change in albedo over a “unit” surface area equated with carbon credits in order to generate a sustainable source of revenue generation for future project applications. (emphasis added).
Yet another kind of whitewash that generates revenue. Think about the possibilities? If painting things white “generates” money in carbon credits, then white cars ought to get a pump discount…
The list of Global Winning projects for 2009 refers to the act of pouring buckets of whitewash on rocks as an “Artisanal Industry”. I think the real craftmanship comes in writing grant applications. What will we see in 2010? Here’s a thought: white paint isn’t that marvellous at reflecting light. It has an emissivity of something like 0.9, but polished aluminium has an emissivity of 0.04, (reflecting lots more!). Suggestions for 2010? How about gift wrapping Mt Kilamajaro rocks in Al-Foil?
Thanks to John P for not just sending the initial link, but for extra information.
Thanks to National Geographic for the spectacular image of the Cordillera Blanca Range.
The Andy region has a long tradition in such ritual activities. Ancient Incas had a prophesy saying when their gods star touches the peak of the mountain due to star sky rotation their world would scramble destroyed by conquerors. Thus they tried to stop rotation of the stars in the sky with every year human sacrifices. They hadn’t succeeded the stars continued their courses and eventually Cortes’s conquiscadores came and destroyed their empire. If they adapted on the unavoidably forthcoming they could succeed but preventing of natural course of things cannot work. The described shamanic practice against the natural evolution of the mountains instead of adaptation won’t work too.
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Good point, Adolph – I hope the World Bank doesn’t catch on that Snow Cloud gods prefer human sacrifice to white painted rocks
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It won’t help on the glacier growing, but… what about the albedo? sure that will make a difference…
“Cold generates more cold, just as heat generates more heat,” says Mr Gold.
Dear Mr. Gold: In this world, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!
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I must say that at least Eduardo Gold is walking the walk instead of trying to push his views on everyone else, so I say good on him.
So here’s an open challenge to any AGW fanatics. Stop whining about it and head over to peru and give this guy a hand. In fact head over to all the areas of the world with Glaciers and get painting. Let the rest of the world get on with doing something productive.
I say 200k to get the AGW fanatics outside and to stop their whining, bluster and misinformation is cheap. I would easily add a few more 0s to that figure.
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They should have hired the IPCC for the job – they are internationally recognized for their whitewashing!
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I see definite Race issues here. The white supremacists must be out in force down there. However we should not paint this situation with too broad a brush. I do see the idea was bound to make a splash, has probably been on somebody’s bucket list for some time. Hey, they mention jugs, are there a lot of females involved in this? It’s a small Gaia after all…
I’d reflect on this some more, but who the hec tares?
(Gah. Waaay off my game tonight. Sorry for the jugs joke. These things can be difficult to keep bottled up. )
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Whooo!!.
This is going to make it tough for any dark skinned humans. Watch out Dr Pachauri!
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Malo:
June 21st, 2010 at 7:43 am
Add the above to Adolfs human sacrifice at comment #1 and I’m sure there will be lots of environmentally concerned ultra right wingers making the next suggestion.
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Soldiers have been painting rocks white for years, usually as punishment though. Could this be how we’ll get our ‘green’ jobs though?
“There are no paint brushes, the workers use jugs to splash the whitewash onto the loose rocks around the summit.”
Presumably the inventor couldn’t think of a faster and more effective way, like a few water bombers. If they’re using genuine whitewash, may even be able to sell CO2 offsets.
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This is abit off topic but how are ever meant to take the Obama administration seriously on any environment issue if the following is correct.
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-climate
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Does this fall into the same category as painting rocks white ??
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/7840035/Firms-paid-to-shut-down-wind-farms-when-the-wind-is-blowing.html
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Jo – are you sure this isn’t a hoax? You have pointed out that washing the rocks won’t make any difference to the snowline, but there’s also the CO2 generated in calcining the limestone (CaCO3)to lime (CaO). That consistes of CO2 released by the fuel used to “burn” the lime plus the CO2 released from the limestone itself. We would also need to consider the energy required to transport the “artisans” and their jugs of water to that level.
In summary, it is a perfect example of an alarmist project:
It makes the alarmists feel they are doing “something”
It has minimal scientific or logical basis.
It is done by spending other people’s money.
It purports to achieve “sustainable” gains but only generates ongoing welfare applications.
It actually achieves nothing besides some good publicity.
It must be a hoax. Either that, or the warmists DO have a sense of humour!
Cheers,
Speedy
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We could do our bit- perhaps paint Ayers Rock with aluminium paint? Or float a sheet of alfoil on the Barrier Reef? All our highways could be painted white with black lines up the middle? Hey, it can’t hurt, especially if there’s a grant in it.
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This just seems like “cargo cult” science, which seems to be increasingly popular within supposedly educated cultures.
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GREEN JOBS AHOY! Move to Peru and get in while the gettin’s good!
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Ross @ 11 ,
Great article and confirmation if it were needed that wind power is extremely expensive when it is generating and dearer still when it’s not.
According to David Archibald, a solar scientist, we are due for a twenty year period of substantial cooling to the extent that Canadas wheat belt will be shifted several hundred kilometres to the South. We may be asked to generate more CO2 to help grow crops in cooler climes.
Yesterday on talkback a number of callers were describing how to beat rising electricity costs they had moved back to wood fuelled stoves, heaters and hot water systems. These units were popular in the fifties and sixties. So in order to reduce CO2 the government raises electricity costs but the clever consumer reverts to wood and or coal. $200 worth of wood could save some $1000 worth of electricity. A real no brainer.
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I think he should go for it, paint away. As another commenter said – at least he is willing to walk the walk even though it’s pretty misguided.
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Ahhh Speedy you beat me to it. I was wondering when someone was going to talk about the chemical processing required to produce whitewash. First you remove the CO2 from limestaone (CaCO3) by running it through a kiln (i.e. need a lot of heat energy):
CaCO3 + metric shipload of energy –> CaO + CO2 (to atmosphere)
Then you add some water:
CaO + H2O –> Ca(OH)2 (salked lime or Calcium Hydroxide)
This is what is used in whitewash along with some more chalk for good measure. Now admittedly the whitewash extracts some CO2 from the atmosphere as it cures after application, in essence reversing the first reaction, but there was quite a bit of energy spent producing the whitewash and getting it up to the Andes in the first place.
Maybe they can increase tourism by preteneding this is a major art installation.
PS> I thought there would have been a whitewash shortage given the amount used for the IPCC, Mann, and CRU “investigations.”
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WTF!!!
These cretins must be taking drugs!!!
I am utterly speechless!!
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Reminder to Peru and the World Bank: Don’t invest in anything sensible like coal electricity generation, whitewash rocks instead. (Peru has a number of coal basins.)
Don’t forget to put up a few windmills and solar panels while you’re up in the mountains!
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What an incredible waste, the IPCC could have put that whitewash to much better use.
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Save the planet! Paint a mountain white
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/save_the_planet_paint_a_mountain_white/
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Bulldust
But you beat me to the rejoiner – that the slaked lime will absorb CO2 to revert to limestone. Unfortunately, it will erode pretty soon I’d say, so they’ll need a fresh coat in a year or so…
Whether they decide to do it again or not, it won’t affect the climate. Dumb greenies – it’s almost a tautology, isn’t it?
Cheers,
Speedy
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And this was one of the GOOD ideas! Ye gods! (Reading Jo’s post, there were about 1700 entries – this one was one of the top 2%.)
I wonder what a bad idea looks like?
Cheers,
Speedy
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How nice of the UN to yet again be so thoughtful and frugal with OUR MONEY. Are there no lengths these selfless worldly beurocrats will go to save us?
They could be spending all their time and energy to line their own nest eggs, instead, they’re toiling in low paid, unappreciated worldly ventures. God bless their kindly souls.
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Chemtrail Sunscreen Taught In Us Schools
http://www.willthomas.net/Chemtrails/Articles/Chemtrails_In_US_Schools.htm
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You made that up didn’t you???!!!
Amr
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They should have considered the total environmental impact of this publicity stunt. Pouring alkaline whitewash over the stones and onto the soil isn’t good for the local flora (lichens and cyanobacteria, if nothing else at that altitude).
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I see more glacial voodoo science at work, here.
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Methinks Mr. Gold is guilty of plagiarism. Obviously, he stole that idea from Mr. Maxwell’s Demon. 🙂
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When you make whitewash you used a 44 gallon drum with water in it. Put in the rock lime. The water then boils and is very hot. Whilst it is boiling put in an amount of lard if it is to be used exteriorally. Normal pig bristle brushes are unsuitable as it corrodes the bristles. Special fibre brushes are used. When it goes on it is transparent but dries white. It needs several coats. It will need white washing next year again. Sounds like AGW grant applications
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Len
I’m pretty sure that if you consulted the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for lime, the handling instructions would recommend rubber nitrile gloves, goggles and waterproof apron to be worn when working with this stuff. As you mention, this stuff is corrosive! Pity the guys sloshing this around on the Andes rocks have none of this – not even brushes!
Apparently, saftey rules don’t count if you’re saving the planet – just ask the Peter Garrett home insulation team…
Cheers,
Speedy
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How is whitewashing a mountain going to make it snow? Where’s their environmental impact statement for slopping caustic solution all over the mountains?
Whitewash won’t change the ocean circulation currents that respond largely to cloud albedo, dragging the moist air currents closer to or further from the Andes.
They’d do better by urinating in the snow, making it wet and packing it so that the dry winds don’t sublimate the remaining snow back to water. And they could enjoy an immediate sense of relief.
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Eduardo Gold looks old enough to have watched Monty Python. At $5000 per capita there would be plenty of takers for a slice of the World Bank booty. Good luck to ’em.
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You couldn’t make it up!
I’m still double checking that it’s not April Fools Day.
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Anesthesia machines have a cannister which removes CO2 from your breath,
http://www.orsupply.com/product/Carbolime+3+lb.+Bag+for+Canister+Refill/1246/category/Anesthesia+Machine+Accessories/769/category/CO2+Absorbents/86
You can buy soda lime to take out CO2. The machines also have a CO2 cannister to make sure you don’t intake pure O2. You will die if you have no CO2 in your bloodstream.
Supersticious people have long claimed influence to weather by calling on spirits and gods as part of their religious practice. That is one way to have power over people.
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Black people, consider this fair warning not to go to Peru. You and your heat trapping skin color will not be tolerated. Institutionalized racism is OK if it “saves the world”.
Is it a coincidence that this same agenda is also cutting off any chance that developing cultures in Africa will never be allowed to realize cheap affordable electricity?
Is it a coincidence that Bono wins humanitarian awards for his efforts to promote AIDS (junkscience) awareness from which Africans are sterilized by powerful antiretrovirals as a result?
I think I see a pattern here. Before any more of you take up these “bleeding heart” causes, keep in mind that it’s mostly black peoples’ hearts doing the bleeding.
Words do not convey the stupidity, arrogance, and ignorance behind this story. How unjust that innocent mountains, ecosystems and blacks always end up suffering the consequences of these absurd excercises in white guilt. Note that efforts to clean up the Gulf oil spill were delayed by over a week due to EPA bureaucracy. The same bureaucracy that just usurped the power to regulate the air coming out of your lungs. This is what elitists and bureaucrats call Environmental Protection. People not versed in Doublespeak might call these things vandalism, negligence and genocide…
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We can make them promise to wear white hats. Should be OK. Keeps the Mexicans nice and cool.
Seriously though, this exercise is not the big waste of money that you all think it is. This is an attention-grabbing exercise designed to get some photographs into magazines and eventually move some extra foreign aid dollars. Think of it as budget allocated to advertising helplessness.
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Have your fun guys (some are pretty funny!), but whitewash could solve global warming — it’s just a matter of applying it where it matters. As Anthony Watts has shown, if the weather service would go back to whitewashed Stevenson screens for its weather stations, all of the last century’s warming would disappear.
And it wouldn’t take near as much whitewash as painting the Andes.
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The World Bank recently lent South Africa $3.8 bn to build the 4th largest coal station in the world. Now that is spending which is truly misguided.
The claim that the snowline is 4,900 m is nonsense, that is only a regional average. Local conditions like albedo influence that elevation. And a glacier existed on that spot in times past. It fed streams the local people relied on for irrigation, drinking and livestock for many generations.
The project doesn’t have to completely restore the glacier to be successful. If they can expand the snowfield and/or slow the melt rate by 1-2 months, that would restore a longer irrigation season. The people might be able to stay on their lands and in their homes, instead of being impoverished and forced to move into Lima’s slums.
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Glaciers neither create nor destroy water. They are long term water storage, but not in a form that is useful to humans. Snowfall higher up the mountain is what provides water for communities.
Seasonal snow melt is quite a different issue to glaciers. Seasonal snow does provide water in a form that is useful to humans, but you might have noticed that seasonal snow is in fact white already, after the snow has melted away to expose the white rocks it doesn’t matter much anymore. Maybe the white rocks could encourage it to snow more in that area, but this would only be important if the existing moist air was likely to blow away from the mountains and fall over the ocean — seems highly unlikely.
Ignorance and whacky off-beat projects are not going to help those people. They have had enough water mismanagement already. The best way to have water storage is to build dams. Works everywhere else in the world.
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So, “Eduardo Gold” is the Spanish transliteration of “Tom Sawyer”…?
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A few months from now I wonder if they’ll get problems from all this lime leaching into rivers and lakes. More insane eco-engineering.
True story I heard from a US Navy ship’s commander was that he would engage the sailors by having them strip down the ship and repaint it in the usual Navy gray. And when that was done? The whole process was repeated just to keep them busy!
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I just want to call to your attention that according to a Harvard University physicist a typical web search on a desktop computer generates about 7 grams of carbon dioxide. Thus, performing two searches is comparable to bringing a kettle to boil, according to a report Sunday in The Times of London. While that may not sound like a lot, the report notes that Google handles about 200 million searches daily.
“Google operates huge data centers around the world that consume a great deal of power,” Alex Wissner-Gross told the newspaper. “A Google search has a definite environmental impact.”
The global IT industry generates about 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, or about as much greenhouse gas as the world’s airlines, according to a recent Gartner study cited by the newspaper.
Tell no to Google. Use green search engines such as queuSearch or Ecosia which provide a much faster and cleaner alternative to using Google. Please take a look at green search engines and start reducing the carbon footprint of your web searches.
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