Venus is not an example of runaway greenhouse (was Designing SPS to accomod)

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Joel 'Twisty' Nye wrote:
> On 06/24/2013 11:14 AM, hitssquad wrote:
> >> CO2 [...] is heating our planet's surface
> > That would be a net benefit for people.
> "Net benefit," no. It would only be a gross benefit to some people, but
> Comparatively few people die of hypothermia

It isn't just hypothermia. Sea ice kills people both directly and indirectly. Because sea ice interferes with transportation, people would be better off without it (e.g. they would live longer and healthier, etc.). A warmer world would therefore be a better world for people at least as far as it would have less sea ice.

> compared to heat related deaths like heat stroke and dehydration.

Heat stroke and dehydration aren't environmental-heat related. See:
http://www.amazon.com/Waterlogged-Serious-Problem-Overhydration-Endurance/dp/145042497X

> we're already slicing up the countryside with roadways

That isn't CO2 and isn't related to nuclear power.

> that isolate or endanger the migration paths

Install migration tunnels.

> The life web of Earth is imperiled

People don't depend on the life web of Earth.

> Frogs, as an entire phylogenetic ORDER (Anura) are facing extinctions in record number.

People don't depend on Anura, and Anura doesn't seem to be going extinct, regardless.

> Warming oceans are intensifying heavy/damaging weather.

Human deaths from extreme weather are on the decline, and have been since 1900:

"Wealth and Safety: The Amazing Decline in Deaths from Extreme Weather in an Era of Global Warming, 19002010, Reason Foundation, Policy Study No. 393, September 2011."

+++++---+++++
Aggregate mortality attributed to all extreme weather events globally has declined by more than 90% since the 1920s, in spite of a four-fold rise in population and much more complete reporting of such events. The aggregate mortality rate declined by 98%, largely due to decreased mortality in three main areas:

Deaths and death rates from droughts, which were responsible for approximately 60% of cumulative deaths due to extreme weather events from 19002010, are more than 99.9% lower than in the 1920s.

Deaths and death rates for floods, responsible for over 30% of cumulative extreme weather deaths, have declined by over 98% since the 1930s.

Deaths and death rates for storms (i.e. hurricanes, cyclones, tornados, typhoons), responsible for around 7% of extreme weather deaths from 19002008, declined by more than 55% since the 1970s.
+++++---+++++

This is good news for people. Again, whatever changes are taking place seem to be benefitting people, on net.

> killing off aquatic life

People don't depend on wild aquatic life.

> you still drink sodas, don't you?

No.

> Venus is a *splendid* example of GHG

The question was whether Venus is an example of a RUNAWAY greenhouse effect.