Featured Videos:
I'm Alive! .mp4
Challenges / Until the Dawn
Featured Audio:
LYRICS
I’m alive
In pursuit of thrive
So I strive
To help others revive
Drive
To stay alive
Where’s your drive
To stay alive?
Drive
To stay alive
And good fortune will arrive
I’m alive
In pursuit of thrive
So I strive
To help others revive
Drive
To stay alive
Where’s your drive
To stay alive?
Drive
To stay alive
Get ready. Get set. Dive!
I’m alive
In pursuit of thrive
So I strive
To help others revive
Drive
To stay alive
Where’s your drive
To stay alive?
Drive
To stay alive
All ready. We will survive!
Chords: E / A C E / E A / E A C B7 E; Part II @ 128 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Ibanez Acoustic Guitar (AW54CE), Ibanez Electric RG-270 (Vox ToneLab and Boss Digital Delay), Fender Jazz Bass (Boss Digital Delay), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)
Climate Change: The Equation Brouse and Mukherjee (2023)
[Verse]
The world is turning, spinning round and round
Temperature rising, the ice is meltin’ down (down)
We gotta find a solution, before it’s too late
The equation of change, we must calculate (calculate)
[Verse 2]
Carbon emissions, polluting the air
We gotta find a way, to show we care (care)
The clock is ticking, time is running out
We gotta solve this problem, there’s no room for doubt (doubt)
[Chorus]
(x^2 – 4xy + 3y^2) – (2x^2 – 6xy + 4y^2)
Equals the power of change, to save our Earth
We’ll take action and fight, for a better tomorrow
Together we’ll make a difference, and heal the sorrow
(Verse 1)
For decades now, I’ve been pondering,
The global warming formula, inside my mind wandering.
Human-induced change, an exponential part,
In an unordered system, chaos rules the chart.
(Chorus)
Acceleration, tipping points, feedback loops abound,
In this chaotic dance, our fate is found.
From the domino to the snowball’s roll,
In this whirlwind of change, we find our role.
In rock n’ roll
Find our role
Knock and know all
(Verse 2)
Complex equations, too vast to write,
But I’ll jot down a part, in the dimming light.
Tipping points and feedback loops, they steer the course,
Determining the rate, of climate’s force.
Of course,
Climate’s force
(Chorus)
Acceleration, tipping points, feedback loops abound,
In this chaotic dance, our fate is found.
From the domino to the snowball’s roll,
In this whirlwind of change, we find our role…
(Bridge)
Earth spins in a vortex, a cosmic whirl,
As we accelerate, our destiny unfurl.
The motion of time, in a turbulent sea,
Momentum’s impact, on you and me…
To be
Or not to be?
To be
(Verse 3)
Violent weather events, wreaking havoc’s might,
As momentum grows, in the dark of night.
Floods, storms, and hurricanes, they rage and spin,
As the planet’s pulse quickens, under chaos’ din.
(Chorus)
Acceleration, tipping points, feedback loops abound,
In this chaotic dance, our fate is found.
From the domino to the snowball’s roll,
In this whirlwind of change, we find our role.
(Outro)
So let’s ponder the equations, the theories, the fray,
In this spiral of change, let’s find a new way.
To slow down the momentum, without haste or fear,
For in this dance of chaos, our path becomes clear.
Chords: D C G D / C Em Am / D / D Db D / D Am / C Em Am / D / D C Am
Instrumentation: Vocals, Takamine Acoustic Guitar
Recorded at Lake Wynonah, Pennsylvania
THE SCIENCE
ChatGBT co-authored the lyrics utilizing this part of a research paper:
I’ve been thinking about the giant global warming formula that has been formulating in my head for the last few decades.
Human induced climate change is an exponential component of an unordered system (chaos theory). Our climate model uses chaos theory in an attempt to adequately account for humans and forecasts a global average temperature increase of 9 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Though the equation is complex… too complicated to write down….
I’ve lately begun considering trying to write down a small part of it: Tipping points and feedback loops are parts of an equation that determine the rate of acceleration in climate change.
What do you think about this?
t = tipping point
f = feedback loop
or
the domino effect * the snowball effect:
Acceleration, tipping points etc. I know that no simple formula exists for any of these. The reason you can’t write a formula is because they are chaotic systems. Chaos theory is the study of unordered systems; however, trying to write it down helps me quantify what I see in my mind’s eye.
These formulas have similarities to acceleration formulas we imagined in 1995:
Abstract
Earth is in a space-time continuum similar to the vortex of a flushing toilet.
if acceleration = velocity/time
and v = speed of light = 2.9979*10^8 m/s
and for the sake of argument we are accelerating at pi (rounded to 15 decimal places) m/s^2
then time = 95426120.77903860 seconds (rounded to 16 significant digits)
= 1104.468990498130 days
= 3.025942439720910 years = roughly 3 years + 9.5 days as relative to the rotation and revolution of the planet earth.
Important note: this is motion at constant speed in a circle. So the speed of light isn’t changing but the direction of motion is, so there is acceleration (= change in velocity, not speed is the acceleration. Velocity has a direction as well as a magnitude, it is a vector, not a scalar like speed.)
a couple other fundamental physical constants to contemplate:
permitivity of free space = 8.854*10^(-12) C^2/(N*m)
permeability of free space = 4(pi)*10^(-7) Wb/(A*m)
SIDD: The tricky part is… you cannot maintain a constant acceleration like pi m/s^2 on a massive body.
In 2023 Sidd added:
On another note, regarding the permeability mu and permittivity epsilon
… those are deeply related to the speed of light thru maxwell’s equations
c=1/sqrt(mu*epsilon)
As for deep contemplation, let me see, in terms of formal schooling
I deeply contemplated those for two years in undergraduate
and about a year and a half in grad school … made my head very pointy.
Human induced climate change is an exponential component of an unordered system (chaos theory). That means global warming is accelerating at a rapid rate in a complex way — a climate crisis.
I ask Sidd:
… and what does the answer mean?
” 3.025942439720910 years = roughly 3 years + 9.5 days as relative to the rotation and revolution of the planet earth”
Is it the Earth’s rotation in the flow of the vortex?
Sidd replied:
The answer doesn’t mean very much… for example the speed we chose is c,
but nothing except light moves at speed c, and we know that neither earth nor
any material object can move or does move at speed c … so that answer
isn’t too useful
I think we just intended to show a calculation and people can plug in their own, hopefully more realistic numbers
Then, I recalled:
At the time we were working on a couple of concepts. One had to do with the momentum of humankind. The other had to do with the perception of time as environmental conditions deteriorate. (As 500 year floods become 100 year floods, then 100 year floods become 10 year floods, how will we perceive time? Will it be similar to a mass moving toward the center of a vortex?)
So yes… what you did was get me thinking about the rate of acceleration in global warming…
it’s kind-a like we are spiraling out-of-control faster and faster.. as if in a vortex… and…
how climate change is a vector (not a scalar like speed.)
… which got me thinking a lot more about the energy in the whole system moving around… not just as heat.
As an example, in the first 6 months of 2023 there were 15 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect United States. These events included 1 flooding event, 13 severe storm events, and 1 winter storm event.
None of these events were directly related to heat. Almost all of the events were caused by violent weather. Momentum caused the most damage. (Also see: A Hard Rain Is Falling)
Which reminded me of what started us on this study… what we were working on at the time and still are…
*How to change the momentum of the human race and climate change without going any faster.*
…like a big ship heading for a waterfall…
and all the crew and engine working at full steam could not go any faster to reverse direction
So we created one of the first www games… this was/is the final anti-IQ pop quiz question:
“What are at least two (2) ways that you can increase your momentum, without increasing your speed?”
Hint: Momentum is equal to mass x velocity (p=mv).
It’s not the fall that kills you; it’s the sudden stop at the end.
Technically speaking it is the impact from the momentum that causes damage and deaths. Global warming causes an increase in mass and/or velocity (momentum) of things that are mass flow driven by heat, like wind and flood.
The burning of fossil fuels and other human released emissions have impacted momentum’s impact. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. Warmer air allows for the creation of more massive raindrops. Warmer ocean temperatures create stronger hurricanes. Hail and tornadoes form in strong thunderstorm clouds with intense updrafts, high liquid-water content, and large water droplets.
Sidd added: It’s worse than that. Wind and water flow forces scale as the square of velocity, so as flow speeds increase (say due to more intense heating or heavier rain) the damage scales as the square of the velocity.
About “square of the velocity”, I asked Sidd: is this Bernoulli’s Equation?
(Verse 1)
In the whirlwind of change, we find our fate,
Force proportional, contemplate.
Density times velocity, squared in air,
The drag equation, tells us what’s there.
(Chorus)
Velocity squared, a powerful force,
In the wind water’s relentless course.
As climate shifts, and speeds increase,
The damage grows, without release.
(Verse 2)
A ten-mile breeze, seems gentle and mild,
But square that velocity, see it compiled.
Twenty miles an hour, brings four times the might,
And as it doubles, the force takes flight.
(Chorus)
Velocity squared, a powerful force,
In the wind and water’s relentless course.
As climate shifts, and speeds increase,
The damage grows, without release.
(Bridge)
Water denser than air, eight hundredfold,
The force of its flow, a story untold.
As rivers rage and oceans churn,
The drag equation, we must discern.
(Verse 3)
Floods and storms, they testify,
To the power of force, as they amplify.
Sewage systems crumble, hillsides succumb,
As velocity rises, the damage becomes numb…
Damn-age becomes numb
(Chorus)
Velocity squared, a powerful force,
In the wind and water’s relentless course.
As climate shifts, and speeds increase,
The damage grows, without release.
(Outro)
So heed the lesson, the drag equation’s call,
In the face of change, we must stand tall.
For as velocities rise, and forces collide,
The future’s in our hands, where hope resides.
Chords: F# E E D F# / F# D E F# / outro F# D C#7 F#
Instrumentation: Vocals, Takamine Acoustic Guitar, Percussion
Written and recorded at Lake Wynonah, Pennsylvania
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
ChatGBT co-authored the lyrics utilizing this part of a research paper:
You will see that force is proportional to density times square of velocity (v^2)
(Verse 1)
Turbulence, it’s chaos unfurled,
The hardest problem, in this vast world.
The Professor speaks, of skies in turmoil,
As climate shifts, it doubles the coil.
(Chorus)
Turbulence, it’s on the rise,
In wind and water, where chaos lies.
From Lahaina’s flames to Norway’s floods,
Turbulence, it shakes our blood.
(Verse 2)
Maui’s wildfire, a scene of despair,
Fanned by winds, hurricane’s flare.
Streets ablaze, with scorching heat,
As Lahaina’s heart, faced defeat.
(Chorus)
Turbulence, it’s on the rise,
In wind and water, where chaos lies.
From Lahaina’s flames to Norway’s floods,
Turbulence, it shakes our blood.
(Bridge)
Flashpoints ignite, with a fiery blast,
As people flee, into the ocean vast.
But water, too, joins in the fray,
With waves that tear, and claim their way.
(Verse 3)
Norway’s floods, a tale of woe,
As dams burst open, the waters flow.
Homes washed away, in torrents wild,
As nature’s fury, leaves hearts beguiled.
(Chorus)
Turbulence, it’s on the rise,
In wind and water, where chaos lies.
From Lahaina’s flames to Norway’s floods,
Turbulence, it shakes our blood.
(Outro)
In the dance of chaos, we find our plight,
Turbulence grows, with all its might.
But in the face of turmoil, we’ll stand tall,
For together, we’ll weather, through it all.
Chords: A Bb A G F# E / E A C G A / D C A / C E A
Instrumentation: Vocals, Takamine Acoustic Guitar
Unplugged version recorded at Lake Wynonah, Pennsylvania
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
Turbulence
Professor Paul D. Williams of the University of Reading, UK, said, “They are chaotic. Turbulence is known famously as the hardest problem in physics.” In their study Evidence for Large Increases in Clear-Air Turbulence Over the Past Four Decades, Prof. Williams and his team found “Climate change has caused turbulence to double in the last 40 years” and is expected to double or triple again in the next decades.
Update — Climate change’s influence on wind and water flow forces caused more severe damage and deaths. The Maui wildfire of August 2023 is an example. What would have been a fairly routine wildfire was fanned out-of-control by hurricane force winds. One headline read, “Maui fires: Hawaii blazes fanned by Hurricane Dora”. Another headline read, “Hawaii wildfires kill as ‘apocalypse’ hits Maui island”. The New York Times reported, “Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii said on Thursday that the devastating wildfires that swept through western Maui and killed at least 55 people, and possibly many more, were ‘likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history.'”
Both wind and water flow forces contributed to the devastation. Hurricane Dora was at least 500 miles from Hawaii yet the wind forces impacted the fire in Maui. The winds were so strong that before the fire reached Lahaina extremely hot air blew over the town. The streets were so hot they burnt people’s feet trying to flee. The surface of everything became hot. Even after people jumped into the ocean, they said the debris in the water was too hot to float on. Almost all the boats in the harbor burned.
The blast of hot air over Lahaina created the conditions for a flashpoint. A flashpoint is the temperature at which a particular organic compound gives off sufficient vapor to ignite in air. The entire town ignited so quickly that warning sirens could not be activated and people did not have time to escape.
In an unexpected twist, water flow forces also contributed to the chaos. How could water flow add to the fire emergency conditions? When people fled the heat and fire, they jumped into the sea. ABC news reported: Shawn Dougherty, of Lahaina, was among the hundreds of residents forced to flee the resort city when the wildfire began engulfing their homes.
Like others, Dougherty said his only means of survival was to jump into the ocean with his girlfriend, but while some found safety in nearby jetties, the rocks and coral tore up Dougherty’s body.
“At one point, it seemed like I might drown,” he told ABC News. “I’m a good swimmer, but the water was just really rough because of the wind and the turbulence.”
Also in August of 2023, climate change’s influence on water flow forces caused more severe damage and deaths. AccuWeather reported, “Dam bursts open as deadly flooding washes away homes in Norway. Torrents of water gushed through multiple towns across Norway and landslides cascaded down mountainsides after a deluge drenched Norway.”
(Verse 1)
In the realm of nature’s laws, we find our place,
As humans alter the world, at a rapid pace.
Newton’s second law, it rings so true,
As we increase the energy, our actions accrue.
(Chorus)
Force equals mass times acceleration,
In this world of change, our transformation.
From rising seas to violent rain,
The damage grows, with every gain.
(Verse 2)
Acceleration formula, it holds the key,
To understand the changes, that we now see.
As data reveals, a doubling trend,
In climate’s grip, we must contend.
(Chorus)
Force equals mass times acceleration,
In this world of change, our transformation.
From rising seas to violent rain,
The damage grows, with every gain.
(Bridge)
The rate of acceleration, it’s on the rise,
As sea levels climb, under ominous skies.
From 100 years to a mere 10,
The doubling period, shortens again.
(Verse 3)
The reign of violent rain, it sweeps the land,
As we alter the climate, with our human hand.
The damage mounts, with every storm,
As acceleration’s force takes form.
(Chorus)
Force equals mass times acceleration,
In this world of change, our transformation.
From rising seas to violent rain,
The damage grows, with every gain.
(Outro)
So heed the warning, in nature’s call,
For the force we wield, impacts us all.
In the equation of life, let’s find our grace,
And navigate the changes, with wisdom and pace.
Chords: F Bb Db Eb F / F/7 F Bb Eb Ab F F Db Eb F / F C F
Instrumentation: Vocals, Takamine Acoustic Guitar
Unplugged version recorded at Lake Wynonah, Pennsylvania
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
By increasing the energy in the system, humans have increased flow volumes, masses and velocities leading to increased damage (and deaths.)
Newton’s second law: F = m * a
F = force
m = mass of an object
a = acceleration
ALSO SEE
Climate Change: Rate of Acceleration
By 2020, there was enough data to see the “doubling period” of some anthropogenic climate affects had gone from 100 years to 10 years. For instance the rate of sea level rise has gone from about 1.5 millimeters per year to over 3 millimeters. We expect to see the doubling period to continue to shrink raising the possibility of sea levels rising a foot/year by 2050.
Emergency
If they’re here to stay
I’m hear to sway
Today’s the day
(Verse 1)
Autumn whispers of a world unbound,
Where ice sheets crumble, no solace found.
Greenland’s tears, West Antarctica’s cries,
As melting shores meet relentless skies.
(Chorus)
What will become of our habitat’s plight?
As boiling tides rise, eclipsing the night.
Violent rain pounds, carving new streams,
As Earth’s fever rises, in feverish dreams.
(Verse 2)
Copernicus speaks of mind-bending heat,
As nations tremble, beneath nature’s beat.
Assets crumble, harvests fade away,
In the relentless heat of a changing day.
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
A 1.5-degree leap, a world ablaze,
Urgency screams, in a desperate haze. (World ablaze)
As violent rain reigns, across the land, (Understand?)
The future’s cast by an unforgiving hand. (ComprehEND?)
(Verse 3)
Hillsides crumble, shorelines drown in dread,
As violent rain reigns, upon our heads.
Deserts flood, in defiance of sky,
As the world grapples with a climactic goodbye.
(Chorus)
(Outro)
In the wake of chaos, and uncertainty’s stare,
We must unite, in a world laid bare.
As the seas rise, and the storms rage on,
We’ll face the challenges, until the dawn.
ABOUT THE SONG
The above lyrics are a collaboration with ChatGBT. The song was composed using the information under “ABOUT THE SCIENCE” that was written by Daniel Brouse and Sidd Mukherjee.
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
By the Autumn of 2023, it had become evident the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets will completely melt. The process is irreversible and inevitable. What can Earthlings expect to happen to their habitat?
In The Reign of Violent Rain, Sidd said, “Now I am thinking the violent rain will be a bigger problem before we die… still thinking it through. In the long run, yes, sea level rise will hit big. If you look at the history, it is episodic, and in the fast bits it can go up 3 feet every twenty years for five hundred years (See MWP-1A in fig. 3, supplement). But, the rain intensity is increasing faster today, and drainage cannot cope, whether in the city or out, culverts and such put in over the last hundred years cannot handle. So, I am paying a lot of attention to terrain and drainage far inland from the seacoast (like Ohio.)
In the paper, Sea level and global ice volumes from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene, Kurt Lambeck states, “The major cause of sea-level change during ice ages is the exchange of water between ice and ocean and the planet’s dynamic response to the changing surface load.”
On November 20, 2023, the UN’s Emission Gap Report found even if countries carried out their current emissions-reduction pledges, the world would likely continuously exceed +3C degrees of warming this century. Later that day, the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative released State of the Cryosphere Report 2023 saying, “Two degrees is too high. Our message — the message of the Cryosphere — is that this insanity cannot and must not continue. The melting point of ice pays no attention to rhetoric, only to our actions.”
What does this mean about our current human induced climate change?
1) We should expect to see rising sea levels.
2) Approximately half of the current sea level rise is due to thermal expansion. As water gets warmer, it expands. NASA says, “About half of the measured global sea level rise on Earth is from warming waters and thermal expansion.”
3) There is a very complex set of climate systems impacted by sea level rise. The shape of the Earth is changing and speeding up as ice from the poles melts and is drawn toward the equator through centrifugal and gravitational forces, as well as, glacial isostatic adjustment. A study published in Geophysical Research Letters of the American Geophysical Union suggests that global warming has led to significant melting of glaciers due to which our planet’s axis of rotation has been moving faster since the 1990s.
All of this has a great impact on our weather. The rain intensity is increasing faster today than ever known. The cool water from the melting ice at the poles is being drawn toward the center of the Earth and getting warmed to record high temperatures. The warm, moist air is circulating and moving over land. These changes in climate systems will cause other areas to experience unprecedented drought. The Amazon River and the Panama Canal recorded their lowest water levels on record during 2023.
What do we expect to happen?
The Long Run
We expect sea level rise will total about 270 feet over the next several millennia. In 1998, the State of New Jersey published Sea Level Rise in New Jersey with a depiction of the Statue of Liberty with 270 feet in sea level rise.
In the last melting of the glacial maximum, the first 500 years saw a “pulse” of high rate sea level rise of about 500 years duration resulting in about a 66 foot rise in sea levels.
A high rate of sea-level rise starting at ∼14.5 ka BP of ∼500 y duration. The onset occurs at the start of the Bølling−Allerød warm period. Its duration could be <500 y because of uncertainties in chronology, and the globally averaged rise in sea level of ∼20 m occurs at a rate of ∼40 mm⋅y−1 or greater. This pulse, MWP-1A, has been identified separately in the records of Barbados, Sunda , and Tahiti. Spatial variation in its amplitude can be expected because of the planet’s elastic and gravitational response to rapid unloading of ice in either or both of the two hemispheres with, based on the ice−earth models used here, model-predicted values ranging from ∼14 m for Barbados to ∼20 m for Tahiti. This compares with observational values of ∼15–20 m for Barbados and 12–22 m for Tahiti. Observational uncertainties remain large, including differences in the timing of this event as recorded at the different localities, and it is not possible from this evidence to ascertain the relative importance of the contribution of the two hemispheres to MWP-1A.
We expect to see a similar pattern in the long run.
Our estimate of 270 feet is based on “the safe” elevation to live — high-tides, waves, coastal flooding, storm surge, grade of shoreline, etc. would make the lowest elevations for living space to be at least 270 feet above pre-industrial sea levels. This would be the minimum elevation. Personally, I would not want to live that low. As the water submerges sewage treatment plants, landfills, chickens, cows, and all sorts of other bio-hazards, the waters will become toxic. In addition, much of the land will experience salinization making it unfit for plant life. Another concern for elevations under 800 feet is living on an island. Many locations at lower elevations will become isolated. Living on an island has many problems including fresh water, food, shelter, and healthcare. Security from pirates pilfering, raping, and plundering will likely be the overriding concern. Of course, I don’t expect that to happen for millennia, but I hope government planners do plan for it now. If you look at Florida as an example, parts of the coastline have seen sea levels rise over 14-20 feet in the last decade. Although the storm surge was only for hours, you wouldn’t want to live there during those hours. Not to mention, the frequency of these extreme weather events will rise exponentially. Thus, our recommendation to evacuate Florida now (i.e. Managed Retreat). The billions of dollars spent to rebuild after Hurricane Ida will all be for naught. Allowing building there will needlessly endanger property and lives. Parts of the world have already seen storm surges of 40 feet. I expect most North American coastlines will see sea levels rise, if only temporarily, by 20-40 feet this century. As far as long run sea level rise, much will depend on location, gravity, isostatic adjustment, and thermal expansion. If the ocean temperatures get warm enough (thermal expansion), parts of the world may see sea levels rise to 270 feet for long periods of times. Other parts of the world, like Greenland, may actually see sea levels decline. In any event, the Earth crossed tipping points this decade which make extreme sea level rise inevitable and irreversible in our lifetimes. Planners should plan on it.
Sidd reiterated, “That 270 feet will take a long time. I would be more careful about the violent rain than the ice melt.”
INTERPRETATION OF SCIENCE AND SONG
This song paints a vivid picture of the devastating effects of climate change, using powerful imagery and emotive language to convey the urgency of the crisis.
In the opening verse, the imagery of autumn whispers and crumbling ice sheets sets the tone for a world in turmoil. The tears of Greenland and West Antarctica symbolize the profound grief of the natural world as it faces destruction at the hands of humanity.
The chorus poses a haunting question about the fate of our habitat, as boiling tides rise and violent rain carves new streams. The repetition of “Earth’s fever rises” emphasizes the escalating nature of the crisis and the urgent need for action.
Verse 2 introduces the scientific perspective, with references to Copernicus and the mind-bending heat felt around the world. The imagery of crumbling assets and fading harvests highlights the real-world consequences of climate change on communities and economies.
The bridge amplifies the sense of urgency, describing a world ablaze with a 1.5-degree leap in temperature. The imagery of violent rain reigning across the land underscores the destructive power of extreme weather events driven by climate change.
Verse 3 continues the theme of destruction, with hillsides crumbling and shorelines drowning under the onslaught of violent rain. The defiance of deserts flooding speaks to the unpredictability and chaos unleashed by climate change.
The outro leaves listeners with a sense of determination in the face of uncertainty, urging unity in the face of the challenges ahead. The imagery of rising seas and raging storms underscores the magnitude of the crisis, while also hinting at the resilience of humanity in the face of adversity.
Overall, this song serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for action on climate change, drawing on both scientific knowledge and emotive storytelling to convey the gravity of the situation.
(Chorus)
The damn is breaking
The flood is flowing
The Earth is shaking
No one is knowing
[Verse 2]
Today we all sway
To, fro, friend and foe
Some will wash away
Will you stay or go?
(chorus)
[Bridge]
Water and land roll
Nature’s exact toll
Will Man yearn to learn
Or crash and burn?
[Verse 3]
Today they do say
Quasi-biblical
Our rate of decay
Is historical
(chorus)
[Outro]
Soon… the sun is eclipsed by the moon
Flood, mud, earthquake, shake and bake
Soon… the sun is eclipsed by the
Chords: F Bb Ab F / F Bb Db F / Db F Db C7 F / F Ab Bb F; Part II @ 104 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Ibanez Acoustic Guitar (AW54CE), Ibanez Electric RG-270 (Vox ToneLab and Boss Digital Delay), Fender Jazz Bass (Boss Digital Delay), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)
ABOUT THE SONG
Between April 1 and 4, 2024, Southeastern Pennsylvania experienced another severe weather event attributed to atmospheric rivers and strong winds. Rainfall accumulation exceeded 3 inches, accompanied by wind gusts ranging from 35 to 45 mph. Tragically, two individuals lost their lives in unrelated incidents, one in Montgomery County and the other in Delaware County, when trees collapsed onto their vehicles. Today (Friday April 5) Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York experienced a 4.8 magnitude earthquake. Monday is a total eclipse.
This song, “Biblical Baggage,” delves into the tumultuous and uncertain nature of our times, drawing parallels to events of biblical proportions.
[Verse 1] sets the scene with a sense of urgency, describing a day when natural forces wreak havoc, breaking banks and setting new records.
The [Chorus] captures the chaos and devastation unfolding, likening it to a dam breaking, floods flowing, and the Earth shaking, all while humanity remains oblivious to the impending catastrophe.
[Verse 2] portrays the collective uncertainty and vulnerability in the face of such calamities. The imagery of swaying suggests a lack of stability and the looming threat of being swept away by the relentless tide.
The [Bridge] reflects on the toll exacted by nature’s fury, questioning whether humanity will heed the lessons it presents or face dire consequences.
[Verse 3] paints a picture of the magnitude of the events, labeling them quasi-biblical and highlighting the historical significance of our current state of decay.
The [Outro] brings a sense of foreboding, as the sun is eclipsed by the moon, symbolizing an impending darkness amidst the ongoing turmoil of floods, mudslides, earthquakes, and more.
Overall, “Biblical Baggage” serves as a reflection on the precariousness of our existence in the face of natural disasters and the urgent need for awareness and action in the midst of escalating environmental crises.
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
Human-induced climate change is a complex element within a dynamic and interconnected chaotic system. When coupled with other natural phenomena such as earthquakes or solar eclipses, the convergence of factors can create overwhelming compounding effects. Climate change is primarily driven by the escalation of thermal energy affecting biogeophysical and socio-economic systems. While biogeophysical factors can be studied using math, physics, and historical records, socio-economic systems pose greater challenges due to the unpredictable consequences of human behavior and inexplicable consumer choices, exacerbating tipping points and feedback loops.
The Age of Loss and Damage is a new way of thinking about economics by combining economics, climate science, statistics, and physics. Until now, economic models have been unfit to capture the full extent of climate damage. Traditionally, “integrated assessment models” (IAMs) were used to forecast “shock” events. IAMs use “quadratic function” to calculate GDP losses by squaring the temperature change, yet ignore other methods (such as the exponential function) that are better suited for rapid change. “Climate change is fundamentally different to other shocks because once it has hit, it doesn’t go away,” said Thierry Philipponnat, author of a report by Finance Watch, a Brussels-based public interest NGO on financial issues. “And if the fundamental assumption is flawed, all the rest makes little sense — if any.”
Unplugged Version Chords: B E / A B E / B7 A G E
Instrumentation: Vocals, Takamine Acoustic Guitar
Recorded at Lake Wynonah, Pennsylvania
(Verse 1)
As the sea levels rise, the world starts to change,
Inland we wonder, how far does it range?
Could saltwater creep into our lakes so vast?
The Great Lakes’ fate, uncertain to last.
(Chorus)
Rising tides, changing scenes,
Violent rains, and what they mean.
From coastal plains to hillsides high,
The earth’s new face, under the sky.
(Verse 2)
Laden speaks of coastal zones explored,
As the waves crash harder on familiar shores.
Cape Cod, a dead-peninsula, facing its fate,
Maine’s silent debate.
(Chorus)
Rising tides, changing scenes,
Violent rains, and what they mean.
From coastal plains to hillsides high,
The earth’s new face, under the sky.
(Bridge)
Brouse shares tales of Pennsylvania’s plight,
Sinkholes, derailments in the dead of night.
Local substrates, a crucial role they play,
In shaping our world, come what may.
(Verse 3)
Floodplains transform, under the rain’s relentless beat,
New culverts form, as streets turn into creeks.
The Gulf Coast braces, from both sides it’s hit,
As violent rain’s reign, shows no sign to quit.
(Chorus)
Rising tides, changing scenes,
Violent rains, and what they mean.
From coastal plains to hillsides high,
The earth’s new face, under the sky.
(Outro)
From Maine’s rocky coast to Pennsylvania’s plains,
The world is changing, under nature’s reigns.
As sea meets rain in a dance profound,
Our planet’s story, in every sound.
Unplugged Version Chords: A C E A / A C C A A D A E A / E A7 C B7 E
Instrumentation: Vocals, Takamine Acoustic Guitar
Recorded at Lake Wynonah, Pennsylvania
ABOUT THE SCIENCE
As the sea levels rise, how far “inland” might we see salinization of fresh water? Is it possible saltwater could infiltrate the Great Lakes?
Greg Laden (an archaeologist who has worked extensively in coastal zones) replied:
Would not reach the Great lakes, but with a little erosion, the Hudson, Lake Champlain, and the St. Lawrence could become contiguous, so New England becomes an Island.
Daniel Brouse:
I am particularly interested in the Kennebecasis River (a tributary of the Saint John River in southern New Brunswick, Canada.) Do you have any thoughts on this process, in particular, the changing topography caused by extreme rain events? You can kind-of imagine Eastern and Western North America as giant beaches with ever increasing atmospheric waves splashing down on us. The Gulf Coast will be hit from both sides. We to see increasing intensity and/or frequency in a wide variety of violent rain events including: downpours, flooding, hurricanes, cyclones, monsoons, coastal flooding, storm surges, lightning and wildfires, hail, extreme wind, and concurrent extremes. The reign of violent rain has already begun. More hillsides and shorelines are collapsing. Atmospheric rivers are dramatically increasing flash flooding in the Northeastern USA. Worldwide, stormwater systems are becoming overwhelmed. Ironically, the streets of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE, flooded days before the COP28 Climate Conference. Nowhere is safe from violent rain, not even in the desert preparing for a UN meeting on the climate crisis. As a result of increasing violent rain, new drainage culverts are forming. Eventually, the culverts will transform into recurring streams, carving new canyons, creating new landscapes and islands. Increased wildfires and landslides will transform topography. At the same time as the violent rain makes its way to the sea, the sea is rising to meet the violent rain. What do you think will happen to the floodplains in North America?
Greg Laden:
I have many thoughts on this, and this has been part of my research and study for a very long time, having done coastal archaeology in North America, etc. The basic question is what is the substrate? Sea level rise of 1 meter in Maine means the sea goes up to the top line that is currently 1 meter above the sea (we are ignoring tides) and that’s it for thousands of years. That is because Maine is made out of granite. Sea level rise of 1 meter along Cape Cod, which is glacial till, means that the sea will erode horizontally many many meters. In fact, Cape Cod is a dead-peninsula walking, even given pre-AGW sea level rise. It will all wash away eventually, except any rocky bits of bedrock that might be there (but they aren’t there AFIK.) So, given that, yes, storms come in to play. The rate of erosion of Cap Cod, to continue with that example, accelerated in about 1979, due to increased severe coastal storms. What happens to a given floodplain will depend totally on local conditions. Many of our floodplains are not that often flooded, especially in glacial zones where they are filled up, and lower reaches of the giant rivers, and there is a lot of infrastructure in place that will initially control things.
Daniel Brouse:
You might be interested in King of Prussia and Plymouth Meeting, PA. The train derailment in Plymouth Meeting (July 17, 2023) was caused by extreme rainfall and flash flooding that resulted in sinkholes developing in the carbonate rock under the railroad tracks. In July and December of 2023, extreme rainfall resulted in sinkholes being exposed in the carbonate rock under Route 202 in King of Prussia, PA. I guess this is part of the local substrate conditions that vary widely from location to location.