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"Can Geoengineering Help Slow Global Warming?"

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by Tiger10, Aug 19, 2009.

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Tiger10 Founding Member

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As we pump billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we're doing more than warming the planet and scrambling the climate. We're also conducting what climatologist James Hansen has called a "vast uncontrolled experiment." In effect, we're on our way to engineering a world very different from the one we were handed. Belatedly, we're trying to turn off the carbon spigot, hoping that by incrementally reducing the emissions we've spent a couple of centuries pouring into the air we can stop the climate slide before it's too late.

But what if we can't do that? What if it turns out that slashing carbon emissions enough to make a difference — and it seems that means cutting output at least in half by midcentury — is economically and politically impossible? Do we need a Plan B?
(See the top 10 green ideas of 2008.)

A small but growing number of researchers are beginning to say yes. If we geoengineered the earth into a mess with our uncontrolled appetite for fossil fuels, maybe we have to geoengineer our way out of it — in effect, directly cooling the planet via a controlled experiment to counteract our uncontrolled one. Indeed, according to a just-published paper for the Copenhagen Consensus on Climate — a think tank studying inexpensive solutions to climate change — geoengineering might not only be a good way to bring rising temperatures under short-term control while we wait for the longer-term fix of cutting carbon emissions to take hold, it might be the only way.

"The potential benefits of geoengineering are really very large," says Lee Lane, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a co-author of the paper.

There are a number of potential approaches to geoengineering, but the most popular ones focus on controlling the amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth's surface. Climate — in its simplest terms — is the rough relationship between the amount of solar energy that strikes the earth and the amount that is retained by the atmosphere, as opposed to being radiated or reflected back into space. In this sense, the greenhouse effect is not all bad. Without a little bit of it, the earth would be a cold, dead place, with an average temperature as low as -0.4°F. Unfortunately, by adding CO2 and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, we have, in a sense, thrown another quilt on the planet when we were perfectly comfortable to begin with.
(Watch TIME's video "The Truth About Solar Power.")

One way to turn down the thermostat would be to spread sulfur particles into the atmosphere, either through artillery or with airplanes, thickening the air enough so that it would bounce some sunlight back. We know that process does reduce global temperatures: when Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted in 1991, it threw millions of tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, causing global temperatures over the following months to drop by nearly 1°F. Geoengineering would work much the same way — only it would need to be done continuously, to keep up with the intensifying greenhouse effect.

Other methods include spraying seawater mist from ships toward low-lying clouds, which would then reflect more sunlight. Another more extreme but oft-discussed option would involve putting mirrors into the earth's orbit. If those ideas have the disadvantage of sounding convoluted, they have the real advantage of being cheap — at least in relative terms. According to the new paper by Lane and J. Eric Bickel of the University of Texas, the seawater-mist method could counteract a century's worth of warming for $9 billion. Compare that to the political complexity and the economic unknowns associated with a meaningful and enforceable global climate accord. "The benefits are so great, at a low cost, that at the very least it makes sense to invest in a real research program for this," says Lane.
(See pictures of the world's most polluted places.)

But before we start creating man-made volcanoes, we should worry about the side effects. For one thing, increasing sulfur in the atmosphere would increase acid rain, with all the damage that can do to forests and wildlife. And there are serious concerns that artificially changing cloud cover could disrupt global precipitation patterns, a risk that climate scientists Susan Solomon and Gabriele Hegerl raised in a recent article in Science. They found a global drop in precipitation levels after the eruption at Mt. Pinatubo, and an increase in droughts. A cool but dry planet wouldn't be an upgrade from where we are now. "Climate change impacts are driven not only by temperature changes, but also by change in other aspects of the climate system, such as precipitation and climate extremes," they write.

That's a powerful criticism: it's hard enough for scientists to predict what's happening to our climate now, and it would be even harder if we start fiddling with it further. But worst of all might be to take only the safe and slow approach and watch the climate collapse around our ears. We're already geoengineers, after all; we might as well get good at it.
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Can Geoengineering Help Slow Global Warming? - TIME

Tiger10, Aug 19, 2009

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martin Banned Forever

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this is an interesting topic. i heard a long talk about it on npr. they thought it was too risky. but all you have done is posted the article. i cant really talk to the article. why dont you post a link and then your own opinions, so i will have something to discuss? i dont see thr point of just posting something with no commentary. i already know how to read the news.

martin, Aug 19, 2009

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Tiger10 Founding Member

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they thought it was too risky. but all you have done is posted the article. i cant really talk to the article. why dont you post a link and then your own opinions, so i will have something to discuss? i dont see thr point of just posting something with no commentary. i already know how to read the news.
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Thanks for the constructive criticism.

I dont believe in global warming, it is a hoax, being set up to control aspects of our lives.

To put it in picture.

Also I have concern about what is going to be put in these jet trails, I dont expect the Gov. to tell the whole truth, and seeing how the science czar is a eugenicist, I belive some chemicals could be out in there to harm people.

But even if thats not the case,
This is still disturbing.

For one thing, increasing sulfur in the atmosphere would increase acid rain, with all the damage that can do to forests and wildlife
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SO then do we expect the gov. to fix that problem; even though they caused it?
NO, they can just keep their hands off of it.

Tiger10, Aug 19, 2009

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red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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If you would just wear your aluminum foil helmet, the black helicopters won't be able to find you.

red55, Aug 19, 2009

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LSUMASTERMIND Founding Member

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here we go with this shyt again

LSUMASTERMIND, Aug 19, 2009

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Tiger10 Founding Member

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If you would just wear your aluminum foil helmet, the black helicopters won't be able to find you.
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You still dont believe holdren is a eugenicist?

I guess it doesnt matter to you since your lier is in office now, huh.

Tiger10, Aug 19, 2009

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Tiger10 Founding Member

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here we go with this shyt again
Click to expand...

Explain?

Tiger10, Aug 19, 2009

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red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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Tiger10 said: ↑

I guess it doesnt matter to you since your lier is in office now, huh.
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Splice the capstan!
Keelhaul the mizzenmast!
Your lier is in office!
Belay the binnacle!

red55, Aug 19, 2009

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Tiger10 Founding Member

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Splice the capstan!
Keelhaul the mizzenmast!
Your lier is in office!
Belay the binnacle!
Click to expand...

Alright pretend I never said that last sentence do you have anything intelligent to say?

Tiger10, Aug 19, 2009

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Tiger10 Founding Member

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Alright I gave my opinion, anyone want to give theirs?

Tiger10, Aug 19, 2009

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