Summary of James E. Kamis: Geological Impacts on Climate | Tom Nelson Pod #121

This is an AI generated summary. There may be inaccuracies.
Summarize another video · Purchase summarize.tech Premium

00:00:00 - 01:00:00

Geologist James E. Kamis explains in this YouTube video how geological forces play a significant role in climate and climate-related events, shedding light on why these impacts are often overlooked by climate scientists and the media. He discusses the challenges of studying underwater geological features due to the remoteness and inadequate mapping of the oceans, the lack of monitoring resulting in limited understanding of ocean floor features, and the interpretational bias that hinders recognition of geological influences. Kamis emphasizes the importance of increased monitoring and research to better understand the geological impacts on climate. Additionally, he highlights specific regions such as Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Ring of Fire, where geological activity has significant effects on climate. He points out the correlation between volcanic activity, heat flow, and ice melting in these areas. Kamis argues that volcanic activity is a primary contributor to CO2 and underscores the need to include geological forces in climate models. He also raises questions about the commonly accepted theories of dinosaur extinction and the formation of microplastics in deep ocean trenches.

00:00:00 In this section, geologist James Camis explains how geological forces greatly influence and sometimes control climate and climate-related events. He discusses three main reasons why geological impacts are not considered significant by climate scientists and the media. Firstly, the remoteness and inadequate mapping of the oceans make it difficult to study geological features underwater. Secondly, the lack of monitoring has resulted in very few ocean floor geological features being studied, leading to a lack of understanding about the fluids they emit. Lastly, interpretation bias, where theories that were once considered correct are later proven wrong, has also contributed to the hidden nature of geological features. Camis emphasizes the need for more monitoring and research in order to better understand the geological impacts on climate.
00:05:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the geological impacts on climate, starting with the theory proposed by Mr. Zockner in the 1920s. His theory suggested that if you moved Africa to the right, it would fit well with the west coast. At that time, experts ridiculed his theory, but it was eventually proven correct in the 1950s and 60s. The speaker then moves on to discuss examples of areas with significant geological activity, such as Antarctica. They explain that research studies have shown that 100% of glacial ice melting occurs in West Antarctica, while East Antarctica actually gains ice. This is attributed to higher heat flow in West Antarctica and a fault zone known as the West Antarctic Rift. The speaker also mentions the warm oceans along the coastline of West Antarctica, which further supports the idea of geological activity in the region.
00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the geological impacts on climate, focusing on volcanic eruptions and seismic activity in different regions. They mention the presence of volcanic ash in ice cores from Antarctica, indicating that volcanoes have been erupting for millions of years. They also highlight the Sandwich Islands and the Larson volcanic Plateau, which have experienced recent volcanic activity and earthquakes. The speaker notes the melting of sea ice around the volcanic Plateau and explains that the absence of ice on certain areas indicates high heat flow. They also mention the Marie bird mantle plume hot spot and its impact on glaciers like the Pine Island Glacier.
00:15:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the geological impacts on climate by focusing on specific regions such as Antarctica. They mention the melting of glaciers, including the Doomsday glacier, and attribute it to erupting volcanoes beneath the ice. They also point out the presence of geothermal heat flow and bacterial growth, indicating the influence of heat on ice melt. Additionally, they highlight the impact of past volcanic eruptions on the climate and the existence of non-icy areas such as the Myrtle Dry valleys, which they attribute to the heat from Mount Erebus. The speaker concludes by mentioning the Red Dot Blood Falls and the presence of iron in the streams, similar to Yellowstone, as well as showing a scientist collecting samples without wearing Arctic gear, indicating localized heat flow.
00:20:00 In this section, James E. Kamis discusses the geological impacts on climate, specifically focusing on the Ring of Fire and the Arctic region. He explains that the Ring of Fire, which is an earthquake and fault system, is an extremely active feature where 80% of major earthquakes and 50% of major volcanic eruptions occur. He suggests that the Western Arctic Rift is actually a part of the Ring of Fire, as there is evidence of a seamless connection in the faults and geology. Kamis also discusses the volcanic activity in Iceland and its effects, highlighting a 2016 eruption that had significant impacts on air travel and health. He then shifts focus to the Arctic region and discusses the Mid-Arctic Rift and hotspots in the area, explaining how these contribute to melting ice.
00:25:00 In this section, James E. Kamis discusses the geological impacts on climate. He points out the Mid Arctic Rift system in the upper right of an image, explaining that it releases heat and melts a lot of ice in that area. He then highlights the ocean currents in the Bering Sea, which bring warmth from volcanoes in Alaska and Kamchatka Peninsula, melting the ice in the Western portion of the Arctic area. Moving on to Iceland, Kamis talks about the East volcanic Zone and the West volcanic Zone, emphasizing recent volcanic activity in the latter. He also mentions the unusual case of the Ulta volcano, which is completely covered by ice despite being only two miles away from another ice-free volcano. This suggests that global ice melting cannot be solely attributed to uniform temperature, but rather to localized heat flow from volcanic activity. Kamis argues that the measurement of volcanic CO2 emissions is not precise, and there are various factors to consider when comparing it to human-generated CO2.
00:30:00 In this section, James E. Kamis discusses the potential role of volcanic activity in contributing to CO2 levels on the planet. He believes that eventually, scientists will agree that volcanic activity is a primary contributor to CO2. Shifting to Greenland, Kamis explains how NASA's calculation of heat flow beneath the Greenland glacier reveals areas of unusually warm temperatures, which he attributes to the Iceland mantle plume and the heating of rocks due to its proximity. Further evidence includes the discovery of a Thousand Mile Long river system and subglacial lakes and streams. Kamis also mentions NASA's recent finding of an asteroid impact underneath the ice in Greenland and highlights the presence of linear differential areas of elevation that could indicate impact craters.
00:35:00 In this section, geologist James E. Kamis discusses the relationship between faults, volcanoes, and climate. He explains that faults, like the one in Greenland, can indicate the presence of subglacial volcanoes which release heat, carbon dioxide, and methane into the atmosphere. Kamis also highlights the occurrence of methane emissions from fault lines in the Arctic Ocean, suggesting a geological influence on climate. Lastly, he briefly mentions the significance of El Ninos as a major climate phenomenon. Overall, Kamis emphasizes the importance of understanding geological impacts on climate.
00:40:00 In this section, the scientist discusses the geological impacts on climate, particularly focusing on the formation of El Nino and ice cycles. He points out that the boundaries of the temperature changes associated with El Nino are distinct, similar to how a volcano erupts in a cone shape. He also highlights the existence of heat pulses in El Nino formation, which resembles the eruption pattern of volcanoes. Additionally, he presents a graph showing the phases of ice accumulation and melting, noting that the melting phase lasts about 5,000 years while the accumulation phase lasts about 50,000 years.
00:45:00 In this section, James E. Kamis discusses the cycles of CO2 and temperature in the atmosphere, referring to it as the "normal phase." He points out that there are fluctuations in temperature and CO2 levels today, which some attribute to human-induced changes. Kamis then switches topics to ocean floor microplastics, expressing the need to control plastic waste in our rivers and oceans. He questions a research study that suggests deep ocean trenches accumulate microplastics from surface plastics, citing the small size and buoyancy of these microplastics as a problem. Instead, he proposes that the extreme pressure and presence of minerals in these deep trenches contribute to the formation of microplastics. Kamis also challenges the widely known theory of the dinosaur extinction event, suggesting that it may not be true based on his interpretation of Dr. Gerda Keller's work.
00:50:00 In this section, the speaker discusses two geological factors that have had impacts on climate. Firstly, he mentions Dr. Keller's research, which suggests that the extinction of dinosaurs was not solely caused by an asteroid strike, but rather by a series of flood volcanoes in central India. These flood basalts matched the timing of the dinosaur extinction and occurred in pulses rather than instantaneously. Secondly, he discusses the Gulf Stream current and its slowdown in 2015. He presents research that shows the slowdown was not due to human-induced or geological warming, but rather to a cross-cutting fault and the presence of heat flow from Iceland and Greenland. This evidence suggests that geological factors can have a significant influence on climate, beyond solely human activities.
00:55:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the geological impacts on climate, specifically related to volcanic activity. They explain how molten lava from deeper in the earth pushes its way upward through the mantle plume, causing the rocks to be pushed apart and generating volcanoes. They also mention a recent study from the University of Cambridge, which found that volcanism contributes more to changes in the atmosphere, specifically heating and CO2 levels, than previously anticipated. The study suggests that climate models need to be updated to account for this. The speaker then briefly promotes their new book, which delves into these topics in greater detail, and mentions their plate climatology website where more information can be found. They respond to a question about recent temperature spikes in the North Atlantic, attributing it to geological factors such as volcanic activity in the region.

01:00:00 - 01:05:00

James E. Kamis discusses the geological impacts on climate, focusing on the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Bering Sea. He highlights the discovery of large volcanoes and hydrothermal vents emitting methane in the Atlantic, explaining how the movement of the ocean warms the water, contrary to the belief that volcanoes have insufficient strength to do so. Kamis also touches on the idea of acidification, stating that the change in pH levels is not a major concern. He then delves into the connection between continental drift, fault zones, and climate shifts, suggesting localized warming events can occur due to these geological factors. In the case of the Bering Sea, he suggests that the changes in climate are influenced by pulses of heat from the Earth's geology rather than volcanic activity. Kamis highlights the need for more research in this field and mentions his work alongside expert colleagues to gather data and refine his findings. He also discusses positive reception to his public presentations, paving the way for potential future presentations and marketing of his work.