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Natural gas is “a bridge to a world with high CO2 Levels,” climatologist Ken Caldeira told me last year.

A major new study in Geophysical Research Letters by 19 researchers — primarily from NOAA and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) — suggests natural gas may be more of gangplank than a bridge.

Scientists used a research aircraft to measure leakage and found:

The measurements show that on one February day in the Uintah Basin, the natural gas field leaked 6 to 12 percent of the methane produced, on average, on February days.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) called the emissions rates “alarmingly high.” While the researchers conducted 12 flights, “they selected just one as their data source for this paper,” ClimateWire reports. Researchers actually measured higher emissions on other flights, but atmospheric conditions during those flights “gave the data more uncertainty.”

The Uinta Basin is of particular interest because it “produces about 1 percent of total U.S. natural gas” and fracking has increased there over the past decade.

This study confirms earlier findings of high rates of methane leakage from natural gas fields. If these findings continue to be replicated elsewhere, they would utterly vitiate the direct climate benefit of natural gas, even when it is used only to switch off coal.

How much methane leaks during the entire lifecycle of unconventional gas has emerged as a key question in the fracking debate. Natural gas is mostly methane (CH4).  And methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than (CO2), which is released when any hydrocarbon, like natural gas, is burned — 25 times more potent over a century and 80 to 100 times more potent over a 20-year period.

Even without a high-leakage rate for shale gas, we know that “Absent a Serious Price for Global Warming Pollution, Natural Gas Is A Bridge To Nowhere.” That was first demonstrated by the International Energy Agency in its big June 2011 report on gas — see IEA’s “Golden Age of Gas Scenario” Leads to More Than 6°F Warming and Out-of-Control Climate Change.  That study — which had both coal and oil consumption peaking in 2020 — made abundantly clear that if we want to avoid catastrophic warming, we need to start getting off of all fossil fuels.

Still, the leakage rate does matter.  A major 2011 study by Tom Wigley of the Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) concluded:

The most important result, however, in accord with the above authors, is that, unless leakage rates for new methane can be kept below 2%, substituting gas for coal is not an effective means for reducing the magnitude of future climate change.

Wigley, it should be noted, was looking at the combined warming impact from three factors — from the methane leakage, from the gas plant CO2 emissions, and from the drop in sulfate aerosols caused by switching out coal for gas. In a country like the United States, which strongly regulates sulfate aerosols, that third factor is probably much smaller. Of course, in countries like China and India, it would be a big deal.

An April 2012 study found that a big switch from coal to gas would only reduce “technology warming potentials” by about 25% over the first three decades — far different than the typical statement that you get a 50% drop in CO2 emissions from the switch. And that assumed a total methane leakage of 2.4%. The study found that if the total leakage exceeds 3.2% “gas becomes worse for the climate than coal for at least some period of time.”

Leakage of 4%, let alone 9%, would call into question the value of unconventional gas as any sort of bridge fuel. Colm Sweeney, the head of the aircraft program at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory, who led the study’s aerial component, told the journal Nature:

“We were expecting to see high methane levels, but I don’t think anybody really comprehended the true magnitude of what we would see.”

The industry has tended kept most of the data secret while downplaying the leakage issue. EDF is working with the industry to develop credible leakage numbers in a variety of locations.

 

So why, while I was photographing this object

 did I think of this painting?

Thanks to Fluxus, I don’t think I can look at the world the same again. Anything can be art. Anything has the possibility of becoming art. There can be beauty in anything. Even wooden rulers nestled in bubble wrap can conjure up an image of Venus.

Or perhaps, I have been alone with this collection and my thoughts a little too long….

So why, while I was photographing this object

 did I think of this painting?

Thanks to Fluxus, I don’t think I can look at the world the same again. Anything can be art. Anything has the possibility of becoming art. There can be beauty in anything. Even wooden rulers nestled in bubble wrap can conjure up an image of Venus.

Or perhaps, I have been alone with this collection and my thoughts a little too long….

Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vol. Infty.
Gallatin, Tenn., Aug. 7th 1863

My Dear Wife

Your letter commenced July 27th & mailed Aug. 1st came duly to hand by this evening’s mail.¹ I am surprised that so long a time should elapse without your receiving a letter from me, as I have written regularly every other day, with but two exceptions, & very frequently every day. Our mails have been very irregular for two weeks past which accounts for the delay of our letters I presume.

I hoped to hear that your health was improving, &, if a change for the better does not soon commence, I shall feel seriously alarmed. I should be desirous to obtain Leave of Absence, even if you should not be able to make the visit with me, as I have business of grave importance both at Pontiac & Carlisle.

Harrington has expressed a desire to have me pay $15 which he thinks he is due and which I feel sure I could satisfy him was paid if I could gain access to my papers & see him.²

I have not heard from home since Hannah wrote, which letter you have received. You have not acknowledged the receipt of any letter from Mother [Culver] or any of the family, & I fear have not received any. I shall write home again immediately.

How earnestly I wish your health was good. I know Frankie must be a severe trial to you, yet feel very thankful that he enjoys good health. By this time you have weaned him; I hope his health may not be seriously effected. The weather is severe, but I hope much from his good health. I think if his teeth do not trouble him, he will do very well. Mother [Murphy] understands well how to care for him, & I feel satisfied nothing will be wanting. Your necessary absence from him for a short time will also be a severe trial under the existing state of your health, but it is all for the best. I pray God to restore you speedily to the enjoyment of vigorous health.

I have not heard from the petition I sent by Doc. Heermans for Leave of Absence yet, but do not expect it will be successful. I have given up all hope for the present, as the Col. comdg. refuses to sign any more [leaves] until the other officers have had a chance.

Col. Case passed through Utica [N.Y.] yesterday if nothing happened on his way to visit his mother in Connecticut. I thought it barely possible you might be in Town, &, as the train stops there for dinner, he will look around to see you. But your letter precludes the possibility of his seeing you. Your health would prevent your being in the City.

My health is very good. I was prevented from writing last night. I was sent out on a scout shortly after dark & did not get back until 7 o’clock this morning, & was so sleepy that I could not write before mail time.

Mrs. Smith is improving slowly. She is able to sit up a couple of hours at a time. Lieut. McKnight is dangerously ill with chronic diarrhea but hopes are still entertained for his recovery. His wife is still here. Thompson Laycock is very ill with inflammation of the bowels but may recover.

We all received a severe shock from lightning day before yesterday evening. It struck the little tent beside our cook tent in which Tom sleeps & tore it all to pieces.³ We had just finished supper, & I had got into my tent some ten steps distant. [Lt.] Smith & Maples & the two negroes were still in the cook tent. They were thrown some six or eight feet from the tent but not hurt much. Nelson, his wife, & both children were knocked down. I was standing in my tent near the bed. My legs gave way, & I fell on the bed. The shock was very severe all over camp, yet no one was hurt though Lt. Smith & Maples made a very narrow escape.

The report that Mary Snyder had fallen into the hands of Harper & Berryman was untrue. She has thus far kept out of their way though they have been after her several times

Yesterday was “Thanksgiving Day.” We observed it by having chicken & some few other nice things for dinner.⁴

I received a letter from Bro. Johnie yesterday, which I have enclosed thinking you would all like to hear from him.⁵ I recd. a letter from F. H. Bond this evening. He says all are well.⁶ I have no word from Maggie [Utley] yet. I fear she has forgotten me altogether.

We are performing about the same routine of duties. There are no bodies of troops on this side of the Cumberland River. Guerrillas are plenty, however, and give us some long rides. [The] Kings have heard from their son (Francis). He writes that he “is confined in the Ohio Penitentiary with the balance of Morgans horse-thieves.”⁷ They are lamenting his fate very much, yet are as strong REBELS as ever. I have not seen Carrie [Rodamore] for a month or more. I believe she is in Nashville. The family are well.

Give my love to Mother & all our friends. Kiss Frankie for me. Has he learned to say MAMA yet? I long very much to see you all and I hope to hear that you are getting health. May God make you happy & bless you abundantly. Your letters portray the state of your mind much more than you imagine, & I read them closely. I shall be very happy to hear good news from you soon, and, if I do not succeed in my contemplated visit, I shall believe still that our Heavenly Father has some wise end in view. Let us praise him.

Write to me as often as the state of your health will permit.

I presume the letter written to Sarah had not been recd. You have not yet told me the value of the note on the Canada Bank I sent you. Please don’t forget it as the old negro may accuse me of trying to cheat him.

Trusting that God will restore you to health and happiness, I remain, Dear Wife,

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

P.S. Preserve Bro. Johnie’s letter carefully, as it is the only acknowledgement of the money paid him I have.⁸ Put it among my receipts in the desk when you get home.

J.F.C.

1. Mary Culver’s letter of July 27 is missing from the Culver Collection.
2. Robert B. Harrington had defeated J.F.C. in November, 1861 for the office of Livingston County Clerk. He held this office for the next eight years. History of Livingston County, p. 266.
3. Tom, a black, was employed by the officers of the 129th Illinois as a cook.
4. President Lincoln had issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, Aug. 6, as “a day of Thanksgiving for the signal advances made by the Union armies toward the suppression of rebellion and of prayer that they be continued, to the speedy restoration of peace with a once more united country.” O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXIII, pt. II, pp. 592-593.
5. Sergt. John Murphy’s letter was dated Aug. 1, 1863, from a camp near Shelbyville, Tenn. W. J. Murphy to J.F.C, Aug. 1, 1863, Culver Collection.
6. F. H. Bond was clerk of the Pontiac Township. History of Livingston County, p. 308.
7. General Morgan and his officers, following their capture, had been turned over by the military to the warden of the Ohio State Prison at Columbus. Their hair had been trimmed and their beards shaved for cleanliness. They were placed in separate cells, and allowed two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon for exercise and conversation, and were segregated from the convicted felons. O. R., Ser. I, Vol. XXIII, pt. I, p. 815.
8. J.F.C. had loaned his brother-in-law $20. W. J. Murphy to J.F.C, August 1, 1863, Culver Collection.

The University of Iowa Special Collections and University Archives is home to the Charlotte Smith Collection of miniature books with more than 4,000 tiny tomes.  Most perplexing has been this microscopic Bible that remained unidentified, likely because we lacked the tools to adequately magnify the page with the publisher’s information.  Highlighting this tiny book yesterday on our social media pages brought it to the attention of our conservator, Giselle Simon, who suggested that we try the microscope that recently arrived in the conservation lab.

Handling it safely proved to be no easy task!  With some extra sets of hands we were able to read the name of the publisher – Toppan Printing Co.  (You can see the damage on this page from earlier attempts to read it).

Following the trail we were able to identify the item as being a set of two books sold at the 1965 World’s Fair in New York.  In fact, the larger miniature book in the set was already in the collection, unassociated with the ultra microminiature that could not be read.

Now the two have been reunited and they will be cataloged together.

Citation as included in Anne C. Bromer’s excellent reference book, Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures from 2007.

Holy Bible, Tokyo: Toppan Printing Company, 1964.  4x4mm.  Published to coincide with the New York World’s Fair in 1965, this Bible was printed by a new process called “microprinting.”

InfoLink is down.  This was unanticipated and we don’t know when it will be back up.

Electronic journal access via PubMed and other databases via the InfoLink button will not work.  If you have an immediate need, please contact the Hardin Library and we will see if we can access the information another way.

We will post an update when InfoLink is working.

New Hartford New York
August 6th 1863

My Dearest Husband

Day before yesterday, and today, I was made very happy by the reception of two good long letters from the one loved best, dated July 28th & 30th. I did not know I would be so much disappointed when I learned that you had given up all hope of obtaining a leave of absence, but I feel that it is so certainly all for the best. I do not think of repining. My health continues to improve and if nothing happens to prevent I will go to Carlisle week after next. I rec’d a letter from Hanna a few days ago in which se very warmly urged Mother and myself to come and spend the remainder of the summer with them. She offered to meet me in Harrisburg if I traveled alone but I hardly think it necessary to put her to that trouble, as I shall probably travel all the rest of the way without company, and if Father is failing she will be much needed at home. Mother thinks she cannot spend the time to go there this summer she has not finished her visit here yet, and begins to think she ought to be at home.

We shall wean Frankie next week.

You say you think you have received all my letters I know you have not though I do not remember their states. I wrote you two or three before the 10th July which is the earliest one you mentioned. I think it was in the 1st one I wrote after arriving here that I made this remark. “I would not have left so suddenly as I did but Mother absolutely refused to come without us” I thought I told you the reason of my hasty departure in the 1st letter I wrote after I made up my mind to go, but as you did not know that Mother was with me I conclude you could not have received all my letters. Tell Chris Tetter I should be very glad to receive a letter from him. Tell him to write. Say to [?] to prepare Frankie’s bed and be sure and have it long enough. he is growing amazingly, a few feet longer than his own will do. Give my love to all my friends of the 129th. I am glad Russel got home at last. I can imagine just how he acted. I wish I could be in S. School once more and hear your letter read. It seems such a long long time since I was there. I cannot write you a description of my journey and visit to do them justice so conclude to defer it until I see you face to face, & besides I have been so poorly since I have been here I have walked no where, & it does not seem as if I had seen many things that was once familiar, everything is so changed, it does not look like the place I used to know as New Hartford. If the war was only over and we were back together in our little brown house, I feel as though I should never want to leave it again, not even to come to New Hartford. I am very glad you did not have another attack of fever always be prompt in taking preventives in season and there will be less danger of disease. Frankie & Mama are much obliged for the kiss from Papa. It was good. Frankie is making such a racket now with a broken rocking chair that I can barely write. Here is a kiss of your style from us I dare not let Frankie give it for he would spit on it I will write again tomorrow and answer your letter of the 30th May Our Father abundantly bless my dear Husband and keep him in safety amid the dangers which surround him. Good bye

Ever your aff Wife
M.M. Culver

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Pontiac Aug. 5th 1863.

Friend J. [F?]. Culver

Yours [done?] W.J. Russell I received also yesterday I. received a Record of Camp A. of 129th Reg. wich I am very thank full for it I presume you have send it to me from the hand writting.

Mr Russell [?] from Chicago here and the B.C.B. Escend it Russell up [Town?] where Mr Daman give a Supper for the Band oh I only wisht you could bin here Il [bid?] you took sam of the Turkey we had well you askt me why Russell [?] it to come home so bad I dont think I can answere it I think more fer pleasure than any thing else I dont think he interferes with [Bands?] plans, you know Bill can get any thing he [wanths?] as far that is concerns I mean. Ladies well Culver we plaid the first night when Russell was here and the first Tune we plaid was your. Bones. Taylor Jones says he did not need to play it the Eb Alto plaid it almost alone with out any asistance with a player I think you can take a new beginner and let him take Eb Alto and he can play Bones like a Fifr because Bones is in the [horn?] you have plaid it so much that the Tune can play mostly alone and for all we playd it and ruind it [Tip Tip?]. I thought aboud you then the time James was here and you used to play it well Calver you wanth to know if I got up those Resolutions why dont you think I can get them up as good as J. F. Culver got up these aboud 2 years ago well to sedle the madder I did not get them up Mr Russell will tell you who got them up. I am very much oblige to you for the Credit you gave me now Culver wenever you are coming home on a leave of Absence I wanth you to Tellegraph me and the Band will [meat?] you not all alone because you are a member of the Pontiac Band and you have laift your family and home and your Busness and go and fight for your Country. J. F. Culver I am with you as far as Politics are [?] ther is sum of the Demucrats down on me fer not acting with them I wanth you to under stand I dont belong to the Copper head Party I am in fer the Govemend and and the Constitutions fair Land I have taken a Oath when I receved my Papers as a Citizens of this County why should I be against as good a Country as this is well Culver hoping to hear from you soon again Russell will stay here aboud two weeks

from your Friend
Henry Greenebaum

Head Quarters, Co. “A” 129th Ills. Vols.
Gallatin, Tenn., Aug. 4th 1863

My Dear Wife

The mails have been quite irregular of late, & I have recd. no letter since Friday [July 31]. However, I feel assured that if anything serious had happened you would have telegraphed.

I wrote to you night before last informing you that my petition for Leave of Absence had been rejected. I have not yet heard from the one Doc. Heermans took for me, &, in the event it also fails, I have prepared another to go up through the regular military channels again. I am not altogether hopeless as Col. Case & Capt. Lamb both leave for home in the morning having been successful.¹ My former one was missent in some way, &, although I do not feel very confident of Success, I shall have done all that was in my power.

My health is quite good, &, if I had the assurance that your health was improving, I should be happy. While you have not written discouragingly, I am led to believe from the tenor of your letters that you feel much depressed. This is one reason why I have looked so anxiously for a letter for the last few days. I hope most earnestly to hear, my Dear Wife, that your health is improving & that you are happy. I am blessed with excellent health at present for which I hope I am sufficiently thankful.

Mrs. Smith is rapidly improving and will be able to start home next week if she continues to mend. Bill, the oldest of our cooks, died in the hospital this morning.² He has been quite sick for some time. Lt. McKnight is very sick; he has been growing worse for some ten days. I do not think the Drs. consider him very dangerously ill. Uncle Bart. Allen is not well yet, & we have on the sick list Leonard, Chritten & Shellenbarger.³

Christ Yetter was detailed in the Mounted Squad & is acting Orderly for Co. M. We are sorry to lose him, but he can do more in that capacity.

I have recd. no letters since I last wrote. I shall surely expect a letter from you to-morrow. Remember me kindly to all our friends. Give my love to Mother & kiss Frankie for me. I shall trust all in the hands of a kind Providence & hope for your speedy recovery of health. Pray that God may assist me & keep me through Grace Divine. I shall write as soon as I hear from you & report progress every other day as I have done to-night. “May holy angels guard thee”

Good night

Your Affect. Husband
J. F. Culver

1. On July 30 leaves of absence for 15 days, with permission to travel outside the Department of the Cumberland, had been granted to Col. Henry Case and Capt. Albert Lamb. Regimental Papers, 129th Illinois, NA.
2. Bill, a freedman, had been employed as a regimental cook.
3. Christopher C. Leonard, 27-year-old farmer, was mustered into service on September 8, 1862, as a private in Company A, 129th Illinois. He was promoted to corporal on May 9, 1863, and was mustered out on June 8, 1865, at Washington, D.C. James M. Chritten, a 20-year-old farmer,was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a private in Company A, 129th Illinois. Private Chritten was promoted to corporal on May 9, 1863, and on July 4, 1864, he was detailed to the U.S. Sanitary Commission at Kingston, Ga. Joseph Shellenbarger, a 19-year-old horticulturist, was mustered into service on Sept. 8, 1862, as a private in Company A, 129th Illinois Volunteers. Private Shellenbarger died March 31, 1864, in the brigade hospital at Wauhatchie, Tenn., of pneumonia. Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers, NA.