The Carbon Pulse and its Impact

The podcast explores the concept of the carbon pulse, which refers to the rapid extraction of ancient carbon over the past couple of hundred years. The speaker emphasizes that this carbon pulse is occurring at an unprecedented rate, millions of times faster than it was sequestered. This carbon is in the form of oil, gas, and coal, which were condensed over millions of years and are now being rapidly used as an energy source. The magnitude of the carbon pulse is compared to previous carbon pulses in Earth's history, which resulted in mass extinctions. The podcast highlights that while the current carbon pulse is happening over a shorter timeframe, the sheer amount being released per year is much larger. This poses significant implications and raises questions about the shape and impact of the carbon pulse, both in the short term and in the long term.