Nitrous Oxide and Global Warming

Scientists at Cornell have been looking at the net effect of growing various biofuels on climate change and found that some crops, especially shallow-rooted corn, produce large amounts of nitrous oxide when fertilized heavily. Nitrous oxide, by weight, has 300 times the ability to warm the planet as that of an equivalent mass of CO2. They are saying, without grinning, that nitrous oxide is no laughing matter. From a geochemical standpoint, not only do we not understand the carbon cycle well enough to guide public policy, we don't understand the nitrogen cycle. As for the oceans, good luck modelling them in a computer.

The Economist reviewed the Cornell work recently. The reader comments are all over the block, most of them simply advocating one point of view or another, but one struck me as worth repeating:

"It is apparent that we do not understand how climate works, and thus don't know either what problems we have, or what the results of our actions will be. I suggest that those who trust computer models of climate consider the results of having trusted computer models in finance."

But politicians are determined to take action, even though they don't know what action(s) will work, if any. Nor have they looked at the potential for unintended consequences.

Cap and Trade is doomed to failure - except for the lucky recipients of government largesse.