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Last broadcast on Tue, 15 Sep 2009, 15:00 on BBC Radio 4 (FM only).
Synopsis
Wood is, according to many, one of the greenest fuels available. If more trees are planted to replace those burnt for heat then it has a very small carbon footprint. Yet burning wood can also produce large amounts of noxious smoke, some elements of which can cause major health problems. So how can these two observations be reconciled? Are we swapping low carbon for high pollution?
And what about aircraft contrails? They are visible from almost all parts of the planet, so are they blocking out sunlight and having an effect on global temperatures? Then there's the story of acid rain: did it really go away? Plus concerns over carbon capture and storage, and what causes the mysterious lights reported during earthquakes?
On the panel are Dr Lynn Dicks, Ehsan Masood and Pro Philip Stott, an environmental scientist from the University of London. As always we want to hear your comments on the topics discussed and any questions you might want to put to future programmes.
Don't forget we want to hear your observations of House Martins. Have they returned this year and when, and have they bred successfully?
Guest: Dr Lynn Dicks
Dr Lynn Dicks has worked as a freelance science writer and editor since 1998. Her specialist knowledge is in environmental science (especially climate change), evolution, ecology, agriculture and genetics.
Guest: Ehsan Masood
Ehsan Masood is a writer and journalist based in London. He writes for New Scientist and Prospect magazines, and teaches international science policy at Imperial College London.
Guest: Professor Philip Stott
Philip Stott is Emeritus Professor of Biogeography in the University of London, where he taught at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
A Parliament of Things - a collection of essays on nature and society
British Trust for Ornithology House Martins Survey
The British Trust for Ornithology has existed since 1933 as an independent, scientific research trust, investigating the populations, movements and ecology of wild birds in the British Isles.
What is the impact of airplane contrails on the sunlight reaching the Earth?
Useful Links
A short article describing contrails and how they are formed.
What is a contrail and how does it form? US National Weather Services
Useful Links
A web page containing examples of different types of contrail.
Useful Links
A brief introduction to contrails and climate change.
Useful Links
A news report on a study contesting the idea that contrails do not produce a warming effect.
9/11 research challenged: contrails aren't turning up the heat
What will happen to stored CO2 if it leaks at some time in the distant future?
Useful Links
An introduction to the principle of carbon capture and storage.
Useful Links
A slide show illustrating some of the principles of carbon capture and storage.
Useful Links
Information on carbon capture and storage from the UK Government Department of Energy and Climate Change including discussion of UK Government policy.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) (from Department of Energy)
Does burning wood produce an increase in noxious air pollutants?
Useful Links
A review of the potential impact of an increase in wood burning in London.
Review of the Potential Impact on Air Quality from Increased Wood Fuelled Biomass Use in London
Useful Links
Information on wood burning and the problems of poor burning from the US Government Environmental Protection Agency.
Healthier Home, Cleaner Environment (from the US Environmental Protection Agency)
Useful Links
UK buildings regulations that apply to the installation of wood burning stoves.
What happened to the concerns about acid rain?
Useful Links
Information on acid rain from the UK Government Environment Agency.
Useful Links
A brief news report describing research that suggests the recovery from acid rain is slower than expected in the UK.
Acid rain recovery ‘slower than expected’ (from Cardiff University News Centre)
Useful Links
A brief description of the various international agreements to reduce acid rain.
Acid rain: International Agreements (from Manchester Metropolitan University)
What are “Earthquake Lights”?
Useful Links
A question and answer page on earthquake lights.
Useful Links
A news report that earthquake lights were seen before the UK earthquake, epicentre Market Rasen, on 27 Feb 2008.
Glowing lights around an earthquake's epicentre (from The Times)
Useful Links
A description of a new theory on the source of earthquake lights.
Produced by
Home Planet is produced by Toby Murcott and is a Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.
Broadcast
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Tue 15 Sep 200915:00
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