Definitions:
Geo engineering: a relatively new branch of science, dedicated to preserving the atmosphere and decreasing through scientific solutions, rather than conservation; climate manipulation
Liquid H2SO4: sulfuric acid which forms particle of the right size needed to reflect sunlight
Chlorofluorocarbons: CFC's that depleted the ozone layer globally, especially over Antartica
Summary:
The article discusses Geoengineering and the different challenges it faces, as well as the many solutions scientists are examining in order to preserve the atmosphere and keep the heating effects of global warming minimal. One such solution suggests solid particles (H2SO4) being released into the high stratosphere, reflecting the sun's rays using solar radiation management - with the purpose of intentionally cooling the Earth. However, this process costs an estimated $10 billion per year, just to cool the planet by 2 degrees celsius, and could leave an even greater negative impact on the environment, like causing problems such as severely damaging the stratospheric ozone layer and reducing precipitation in monsoon dependent areas. The leading Geoengineering solution is spraying a mist of seawater into clouds over the ocean to make them whiter and brighter, intensifying the cloud forming process, reflecting the sun's light. Despite how natural this solution is, it will affect precipitation patterns heavily - increasing it on areas over the ocean and decreasing it in areas over land. The final Geoengineering solution discussed in this article is simply removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using a number of materials, such as sodium hydroxide. The solution is permanent, has very few side effects, and is generally reasonable - except for the cost and finding storage for billions of tons of carbon-containing particles per year. Other solutions exist - such as increasing plankton CO2 intake and sending something large and shiny into space to reflect back the sun's light. The article was extremely interesting, listing the pros and cons of every solution, and relates to all of our lives as global warming is one of the biggest issues the world faces today.
Discussion:
Global warming is one of the biggest issues the world faces, and the article illustrates that there are almost limitless solutions to the heating. Although some solutions are much less realistic than others, if scientists continue to research, one solution is bound to be found that has nearly non existant side effects and controls global warming at an outstanding rate. The article closely examined each solution, listing all of its pros and cons. However, I do think researchers should be cautious to which solution they choose. David Keith compared Geoengineering to chemotherapy, stating that people had to choose whether they would rather just avoid carcinogens, and if you already have cancer prefer chemotherapy to dying, even though chemotherapy will make you lose your hair and even sicker at some points. Also, just like Geoengineering solutions might - chemotherapy doesn't always help the patient. Sometimes it just kills them, which is what may happen to the world's atmosphere.
Questions:
What are the ideal degrees that Geoengineering solutions will reduce global temperatures to?
Do injecting sulfur aerosols/intensifying the cloud forming process/removing carbon dioxide from the air carry more negative risks on the environment, than the gain the world will have from making our atmosphere no longer completely natural?
For future research, I think it would be a good idea to look up past global temperature schemes in the past, so I could have a clearer understanding of what events caused which cold spells or warm spells or any dramatic change in temperature.
Resources:
http://www.treehugger.com/various%20geo-engineering%20schemes.jpg
Engelhaupt, Erika. "Engineering a Cooler Earth." Science News 5 June 2010, 177th
ed.: 16 - 20. Science Reference Center. Web. 16 Sept. 2010.
<http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/
detail?vid=14&hid=109&sid=e9f89da8-10cc-4cf6-a5bd-0b79f51edb79%40sessionmgr104&bd ata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=sch&AN=51230409#db=sch&AN=51230409#db=sch&AN=51230409>.
