BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Costing the Earth, The Real Avatar

8 mins 10secs

Of course! Dams built to create water-head to run turbines to create electricity to save carbon emissions. Clever. But dams cause siltation, which causes methane, which is a fierce greenhouse gass and far worse than carbon (x25). Pergau?

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While I agree that dams have their problems like siltation, and habitat loss, methane is not one of the considerations. Firstly, the global warming potential of Methane is roughly 4x on carbon, not 25x. Second, the amount of methane produced in siltation is far less than 1/4 the CO2 produced from the equivalent power generation. From a global warming perspective, hydro power from dams is far better than coal or other fossil fuel equivalents.

Now downstream siltation and the resultant loss of water quality is another story. Also fish migration upstream (pacific northwest being a prime example) is another consideration.

Thanks,
Rick

Rick be right.

We've pulled out three dams here on the upper Rogue River (and breeched a fourth) over the past two years. 'Siltation' was a common thread of OH DEAR GOD! the river will be ruined for years.

Years turned out to be days; end game was another 30'ish miles of free flowing river.

fae

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by years turned to days, you mean the silt was cleared in a few days?

That's what I'd expect. The first spring melt should clear most of the light silt seeing as how it will often move car sized boulders on even small streams.

Thanks
Rick