Comments on: Human Biology from Early Nuclear Testing http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/08/04/human-biology-from-early-nuclear-testing/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:21:44 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Hadfield http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/08/04/human-biology-from-early-nuclear-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 Mark Hadfield Thu, 04 Aug 2005 23:07:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/08/04/human-biology-from-early-nuclear-testing/#comment-1109 The nuclear testing tracers have been useful for more than that. Observations of the penetration of C14 into the ocean have been used for calibrating and testing ocean models. These models are then used to assess (for example) how much of the CO2 released into the atmosphere by fossil fuel burning has been absorbed by the oceans (about half) and whether this will continue in future (maybe). The other useful class of tracers is the fluorocarbons. Another of mankind's inadvertent global experiments! The nuclear testing tracers have been useful for more than that. Observations of the penetration of C14 into the ocean have been used for calibrating and testing ocean models. These models are then used to assess (for example) how much of the CO2 released into the atmosphere by fossil fuel burning has been absorbed by the oceans (about half) and whether this will continue in future (maybe).

The other useful class of tracers is the fluorocarbons. Another of mankind’s inadvertent global experiments!

]]> By: Suzanne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/08/04/human-biology-from-early-nuclear-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1108 Suzanne Thu, 04 Aug 2005 17:50:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2005/08/04/human-biology-from-early-nuclear-testing/#comment-1108 ... also kind of scary about the nuclear testing. … also kind of scary about the nuclear testing.

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