An End to Global Warming [Hardcover]

L.O. Williams (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0080440452 | ISBN-13: 978-0080440453 | Publication Date: September 16, 2002 | Edition: 1st

The 6+ billion inhabitants of earth aspire to higher standards of living. This takes energy. If fossil fuels continue to be the key source of energy their waste product, carbon dioxide, will produce disagreeable changes in the climate. Depletion of fossil fuels will cause the cost of energy and fuel based chemicals to spiral. Climate change and high fuel prices will thwart these aspirations and will increase the probability of lethal international conflicts over energy supplies. We must stop using fossil fuels.

Optimistically, we could switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, etc.). Regrettably these sources are difficult to harvest and unreliable. They cannot, alone, serve as a base load energy supply for humanity. Fission nuclear power yields extremely hazardous waste for which no fully agreeable disposal method has been developed.

Laurence Williams applied aerospace systems analysis techniques to seek a new energy system. An End to Global Warming presents his results. He shows why we must stop using fossil fuels and evaluates a host of alternatives to arrive at a robust energy system that will modernize world energy production and protect the environment. A by-product of this system will ameliorate problems associated with supplying potable water and in processing waste. The nations that develop the system described in An End to Global Warming will be gifted with huge financial reward and the pride in knowing that they have preserved the earth for all mankind.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Prof. T.N. Veziroglu, President, International Assoc. for Hydrogen Energy, USA
In An End to Global Warming, Laurence O. Williams expounds on the benefits and advantages of the Fusion Hydrogen Energy System in a most convincing manner. I strongly recommend this book to all those interested in the establishment of a clean and sustainable energy system for the planet earth - the only one known to be hospitable to life.

Dr J.C. Denton, President, Energy Associates, Belton, Texas, USA
It is my strong belief that fusion power lies in our future and that the hydrogen economy is the way to proceed to use fusion energy. It is feasible to develop the infrastructure of the hydrogen economy while waiting for fusion energy to come online.

Prof. J. Patrick, Professor of Chemical Eng., University of Nottingham, UK
The topic of this proposed book is so hot that I have little doubt that it would sell well, especially as there are also some controversial issues involved.

P.Warneck

This is a well-balanced book, which assembles the many-faceted arguments in favor of abandoning the present energy system based on fosil fuels. The text is written in a straight-forward matter-of-fact style easy to digest by the educated layman. This book will be of interest to many audiences and is highly recommended reading for all persons concerned about our future.
JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY

About the Author

Laurence O. Williams Education: BS Chemistry, Purdue University, 1961

Employment History 2002 - Chemistry Tutor, Mount Union College, Alliance Ohio Technical Consultant (Energetic Materials) to Atlantic Research Corporation, Gainesville, Virginia and Lockheed Martin Corporation, Orlando, Florida

1999 January 1 Retired from Lockheed Martin, Orlando Florida

1996- 1998 Lockheed Martin, Orlando; Staff Scientist I was an internal consultation on energetic materials and principal investigator for Independent Research and Development tasks covering new missile warheads and methods of detecting and neutralizing chemical and biological agents.

1994- 1996 Lockheed Martin Ordnance Systems Co., Burlington VT; Chief Scientist I directed Research and Development to improve Ordnance items to include gun propellants, 120mm mortar ammunition, 40mm machine gun ammunition, and Reactive Armor to protect armored personnel carriers.

1982- 1994 Martin Marietta, Orlando; Manager, Research Ordnance Department I managed a 20 man staff performing independent research and development and contract research and development concerning Reactive Materials (classified) peak contract values booked approximately $40 million.

1979- 1981 The Aerospace Corporation, Washington D. C.; Program Manager I managed the hydrogen energy program at The Aerospace Corporation. Provided consulting services to the United States Department of Energy. Supported activities in Solar Energy collection, Ocean Thermal Gradients energy sources and the production and storage of hydrogen as a method of load matching in energy systems.

1970- 1979 Martin Marietta, Denver CO; Manager, Hazardous Materials Laboratory I managed a 10 person staff performing research, development and properties testing for propellant and explosives. I developed a method to purify hydrazine for the VIKING MARS LANDER mission. The pure hydrazine became a profitable product to fuel ca

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Pergamon; 1st edition (September 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0080440452
• ISBN-13: 978-0080440453
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,755,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Review of: An End to Global Warming, May 16, 2003

By 

David W. Neiswander (Knoxville TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An End to Global Warming (Hardcover)

Book Review - "An End to Global Warming" by Laurence O. Williams

Laurence O. Williams' book, "An End to Global Warming" foretells of a not-to-distant future in which global warming and melting of ice caps due to fossil fuel consumption will submerge most of the worlds coastal cities. We have all heard predictions of Armageddon from impending environmental disasters and in some cases, have learned to take these predictions with a grain of salt. However if one proceeds through this book with this superficial approach a feeling of uneasiness soon begins to take over.
Williams has laid out his premise in a very logical systems analysis approach starting at the component parts, taking time to define scientific terms and concepts, construct relationships based on tables of relevant data, and extensively referencing pertinent results and extrapolations.
Societies increasing output of carbon dioxide and the correlation's of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere and global temperature changes are frightening. This data, along with observations of recent climactic changes and ice shelf effects, provide support to the seriousness and urgency of this global problem. Although one could possibly argue with the author's timelines as to future environmental disasters, the inevitability of these occurrences if we proceed down our current energy usage pathway is well foretold. As the real and projected effects of this warming on the earth are described and supported one is caught up in an appreciation of the magnitude of this problem could have on our future generations. The comprehensive analyses given to the many elements considered in this book may slow the reader slightly, but the author does an excellent job of putting concepts and terms in simple understandable descriptions. Time is taken, to the author's credit, to point out the colossal waste in burning our limited petroleum products which could be used for the production of needed medicines, polymers and other valuable organic industrial materials.
However, the pivotal concept that makes this book important is that Williams does more than bemoan a bleak, energy restrictive future, he offers us a well thought out solution. This solution, which is based on a clean primary energy source, and a clean transportable fuel, is based on technologies that are themselves not completely new, but on the coalescing of concepts to accomplish this unique energy revolution.
Williams gives a detailed approach for implementation of this concept and it is persuasive and elegantly constructed. The case is made for the need of a transportable fuel, and alternate fuels are compared. However, the choice of the primary transportable fuel is well supported. As a mater of fact, it is not only the optimum fuel it is probably the only choice for a transportable clean fuel. The considerations for the practical utilization of this fuel in domestic and industrial uses are studied in detail.
A new energy source is boldly presented by the author as the primary energy source for the production of electrical energy and transportable fuel. Seawater would provide all of our clean envirinmental needs. It would be utilized in this new low pollution society to more efficiently clean up polluted water and more completely destroy organic wastes. The development of a new power system is the cornerstone of this clean energy concept, and the one that makes to conversion to a pollution-free environment a possibility. More available alternate energy systems, such as solar and fission, may still allow the transition to a clean energy society and afford an interim approach to phase out carbon dioxide producing systems. However, I believe Williams is correct in emphasizing the urgency for an all out Manhattan-type project to develop this new clean power system.
The logic of the overall approach is undeniable and the insight into why, how, and when is sobering, but also interesting and exciting. Larry Williams' enthusiasm and urgency to implement an immediate change in how we look at our energy future and our environment is apparent. This book is worthy of our time to read and our commitment to do some deep thinking on the implication of these concepts on society. Hopefully this concept will motivate us all to become personally involved in the implementation of change to a more pollution-free, energy-rich, future environment.
David W. Neiswander Ph.D. - Environmental Consultant - Knoxville, TN.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read, April 7, 2003

By 

john baxter (Columbia , South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An End to Global Warming (Hardcover)

Mr Williams has produced here a thoughtful study of what is perhaps the most important scio economic and environmental problem of our age. This is not an overstatement and this work deserves to be read and pondered.

The problem is energy. In this age a large reliable and safe source of energy is a necessity. It is not a luxury that can be forgone and the demand for energy will increase as more of the worlds populations come to demand the fruits of civilization--all of which, from agriculture to cell phones, require energy.

What is urgently needed is a comprehensive scenerio by which this can be accomplished. This Herculean task is what Mr. Williams has attempted--with considerable success.

It is difficult to cover all of the facets of this work in a short review, however,as an overview, Mr. williams concludes that the only vible approach will be to accept the inevitablilty of hydrogen as the portable fuel of choice and--shocking as it may seem to some--nuclear power as the original source of energy.

Along the way to reaching these conclusions, he has found it necessary to evaluate various alternatives--including the popular one of widespread conservation, which would be helpful of course, but is unlikely to be achieved on any broad basis. Mr. Williams give many of these ideas--such as solar power and a host of others--serious and courteous consideration. They all have a place--in this reviewers opinion at least--nevertheless, when examined in depth (as he does) inevitably fall short of promising a long term, ultimate solution. This part of the book is, by itself, worth reading.

The next stumbling block in accepting Mr. William's thesis is his insistance that nuclear power must be the primary source for energy. He envisions large plants producing the hydrogen from water and and, of course, there is a strong cultural bias in the general public agains anything nuclear. The foundations for this bias are dealt with convincingly. The radiation bugaboo is examined as well the general hazards which, as he shows, are no more extreme than in any energy realte activity on a large scale. Suffice it to say that coal mining and drilling for oil present similar hazards and hydrogen as a portable fuel is no more of a hazard than gasolene--although we are accustomed to the latter and familiarity breeds a level of complacency.

One starts reading a work like Mr. Willliam's rather cynically, expecting a grandiose plan for a perfect world--knowing that the devil is in the details, which are usually not provided. I am pleased to report that in this case, many of the details are identified and dealt with in an orderly fashion with a convincing candor. The plan presented here is intriguing and well documented and worthy of serious considersation.

Recommended reading.