Summary of James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207

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00:00:00 - 01:00:00

In this YouTube video segment from the Nelson Pod #207, geologist James Kamis discusses the significant carbon footprint associated with electric vehicles (EVs) due to the extraction processes required for materials like lithium and manganese from open pit mines. Kamis details the complex mining operations and environmental risks involved, such as leaks of uranium, mercury, and phosphate, emphasizing the challenges of mitigating pollution once it begins. Moreover, he delves into the production of electricity for EVs, pointing out the misleading nature of "natural gas" and its methane composition's greenhouse gas emissions when burned. Kamis further touches on the controversy surrounding ocean microplastics, arguing that most are naturally occurring and have been present for long periods, challenging the idea that human contribution significantly impacts this issue.

00:00:00 In this section of the Nelson Pod #207 YouTube video, geologist James Kamis discusses the carbon footprint of electric cars and the mining process required to extract the necessary materials for their production. Kamis explains that while the carbon footprint of electric cars is often measured by the CO2 emissions from their tailpipes, the entire process of mining and generating the materials for electric cars results in a much larger carbon footprint. He mentions the extraction of various minerals such as lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, graphite, zinc, uranium, and mercury, which require separate mines and result in significant environmental impact. Kamis uses the example of an open pit mine in Utah to illustrate the scale of mining operations and the potential risks associated with positioning mines along fault lines, using the proposed Kleinfield mine in Greenland as an example. The mine, which was initially planned for uranium extraction, is now upgraded to a rare mineral mine, but its positioning along fault lines increases the risk of materials being released into the ocean if the lining underneath the mine breaks loose.
00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", James Kamis discusses the carbon footprint of producing materials for electric vehicles, specifically lithium and manganese, which are extracted from open pit mines. The process involves grounding up rocks using heavy machinery, transporting the sand material to refining plants via pipelines, and restoring the mines. The restoration process requires trucking in large amounts of sand and soil. Kamis also mentions the environmental risks of these mines, such as leaks of uranium, mercury, and phosphate, and the difficulty of stopping the pollution once it has started. The production of electricity used to charge electric cars is also addressed, with Kamis pointing out that the term "natural gas" is misleading as it is primarily composed of methane, which is not natural and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions when burned.
00:10:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", the speaker discusses the production processes and carbon footprint of generating electricity for electric vehicles (EVs) and the materials used to build EVs, specifically focusing on methane gas extraction through fracking, coal mining, rubber tire production, and the manufacturing of batteries. The speaker notes that while EVs may appear cleaner than gasoline engine cars, their production requires significant resources, including methane gas for electricity generation, rubber tires derived from oil, and lithium batteries, which are difficult to acquire and require large amounts of water for processing. The construction of more electricity infrastructure and the disposal of EV batteries also contribute to carbon emissions.
00:15:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", Kamis discusses the challenges associated with transitioning from gasoline stations to electrical charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). He points out that converting existing gas stations or building new charging stations is a complex and time-consuming process, requiring significant resources and infrastructure. Additionally, the lack of charging stations results in long wait times for EV owners, leading to inconvenience and frustration. Furthermore, Kamis touches upon the controversy surrounding microplastics in the ocean. Contrary to popular belief, he argues that most microplastics found in the ocean are natural and have been there for a long time. To put things into perspective, he explains that the volume of microplastics in the ocean is only 1% of the total ocean water and weighs less than 8% of the ocean's total weight. Therefore, the idea that humans are significantly contributing to the microplastics problem in the ocean may not be entirely accurate.
00:20:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", James Kamis presents a hypothesis suggesting that natural microplastics are generated by geological features on the ocean floor. He argues that the process of creating geological microplastics is similar to the man-made production of plastic from natural gas. The geological features emit methane, ethane, and propane gases, which are then transformed into plastic substances through extreme pressure and temperature. Kamis believes that these geological features are generated by major faults on the ocean floor, which push molten lava up and cause continents to move, releasing a large amount of energy. He also mentions the Mariana Trench, the deepest area on Earth, as an example of a geological feature that could be responsible for generating microplastics.
00:25:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", James Kamis discusses the discovery of over a million geological features on the ocean floor, including volcanoes and hydrothermal vents, through the GBCO project. He explains that the size of microplastics makes it unlikely for them to reach the deep ocean floors due to buoyancy and the various layers in the ocean. Instead, geological features are a more effective way to infuse the ocean with various substances. The video then shifts to the topic of ocean surface temperature, with Kamis expressing surprise at the extreme warming of the North Atlantic and Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of the United States in the last 12 months.
00:30:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207," the speaker discusses unusual heating patterns in the Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. He mentions a cone-shaped area in the western central Pacific Ocean called an El Nino warm phase, which sets immense heat across the ocean and eventually ends up on the Northwest coastal side. The speaker also points out that Alaska, with its numerous active volcanoes, experiences heating, and the North Atlantic Ocean has seen a significant temperature increase from 71 degrees to 73 degrees on average between 2023 and November 2024. This change is unusual as the oceans have been warming at a rate of 0.11 degrees Fahrenheit per year since 1880. The speaker suggests that this geological evidence indicates that there are immense amounts of heat in the ocean that cannot be monitored, and mentions hot geysers, hydrothermal vents, and land eruptions as areas where heat can be observed.
00:35:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", the speaker discusses the warming of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the geological causes behind these temperature changes. The North Atlantic Ocean warmed rapidly in 2010, causing a disruption to the Gulf Stream current. The Pacific Ocean also experiences warming periods, known as El Niños, which are caused by geological activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The speaker explains that scientists do not fully understand what generates El Niños, but they do know that the area is geologically active and emits heat. During the cool phase, the same area emits cold water. The speaker argues that the quick change from El Niño to La Niña, which occurred in 2021, is evidence of the extreme geological activity in the Pacific Ocean and cannot be explained by human-caused warming. The speaker also mentions that scientists have long believed that the atmosphere is heating, but the processes discussed in the video cannot account for this warming.
00:40:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", James Kamis discusses the geological climate impacts and the potential dangers of geoengineering projects aimed at cooling the Earth's atmosphere by introducing particles into it. He explains that while some scientists believe that these projects could make a significant difference, others argue that natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions and sulfur emissions from volcanoes, both large and small, could counteract the cooling effect and even lead to irreversible cooling of the atmosphere. The Cambridge study mentioned in the video found that many smaller, supposedly extinct or dormant volcanoes emit a tremendous amount of sulfur into the atmosphere continuously, and climate models need to be updated to account for this. If geoengineering projects were to be implemented while these volcanoes become more active, the sulfur emissions could lead to a double whammy effect, cooling the atmosphere even further, with potential impacts on food production and human health. The video also mentions that scientists are divided on this issue, with some backing research to cool the atmosphere and others opposing it.
00:45:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", James Kamis discusses the geological features beneath the ice in Antarctica and their impact on melting ice. Contrary to popular belief, the bedrock beneath the ice is not flat but contains dramatic features such as canyons and faults. These geological features contribute to the melting of ice by allowing heat to be emitted and reaching the ice. One notable example is the Pine Island Glacier, which has been thinning and dumping ice into the ocean at a higher rate than surrounding glaciers. Research by Rhode Island University and Texas University has shown that there are chemicals, including helium, being emitted from these features into the ocean. Additionally, the University of Edinburgh has discovered 99 new subglacial volcanoes in the area. Overall, these geological features play a significant role in the melting of ice in Antarctica.
00:50:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", James Kamis discusses the geological causes of melting glaciers in West Antarctica, specifically the presence of volcanoes and mantle plumes beneath the glaciers. He argues against the idea of covering these areas with reflective materials to reduce melting, stating that it is unlikely to help and could have negative impacts on physical and biological environments. Kamis also draws a parallel to natural forest fires and their role in promoting regrowth, suggesting that similar natural processes may be at play in the melting of the glaciers.
00:55:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207", James Kamis discusses geological impacts on climate, specifically focusing on Greenland. He mentions a large area of heat beneath the ice, which is causing a river system with lakes and streams to form. This discovery is significant because it could explain the melting of Greenland's ice. Kamis also mentions his book for further details on geology's impact on climate. He acknowledges the value of the climate change theory but suggests that geology could provide alternative explanations for certain aspects. The conversation then shifts to microplastics in the ocean, and Kamis mentions a study that captured shrimp-like features from deep ocean trenches, which contained microplastics. He also discusses the challenges of capturing and testing microplastics across the entire ocean and the ongoing efforts to remove floating patches of plastics. Kamis also reflects on the existence of microplastics in the ocean thousands of years ago.

01:00:00 - 01:05:00

In the "James Kamis: EV CO2 footprint; natural microplastics; geological climate impacts | Nelson Pod #207" YouTube video, James Kamis discusses the limitations of current scientific models in predicting El Ninos and La Ninios, noting that these models are not reliable in determining their start or duration. He also mentions that geological indicators, such as volcanic activity and earthquakes, have been overlooked as potential triggers for these climate phenomena. Kamis has been researching this topic since 2014 and has not seen other scientists focusing on the geological source point of these climate events. In a separate part of the podcast, Kamis shares his plans to conduct research on geological features contributing to elevated carbon dioxide levels, emphasizing his intention to fund the research and use advertising and internet marketing to increase awareness.