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Geo-Engineering a Climate Change Solution

Geo-Engineering a Climate Change Solution. Geo-Engineering. The deliberate large-scale manipulation of the planetary environment to counteract anthropogenic climate change The Royal Society, “Geo-engineering the Climate” 2009. Geo-Engineering: Basic Principle .

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Geo-Engineering a Climate Change Solution

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  1. Geo-Engineering a Climate Change Solution

  2. Geo-Engineering The deliberate large-scale manipulation of the planetary environment to counteract anthropogenic climate change The Royal Society, “Geo-engineering the Climate” 2009

  3. Geo-Engineering: Basic Principle • Introduce particles into the atmosphere which reflect more of the incoming solar radiation (energy from the sun) • As energy is reflected (instead of being absorbed) the earth’s atmosphere cools

  4. Idea From Nature: Volcanoes Large eruptions release great amounts of ash and gas into the atmosphere Krakatoa, Indonesia (1883) Pinatubo, Phillipines (1991) • 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas released • These eruptions caused measurable decreases in the global climate for 1-3 years. • 1.3 degrees Celsius cooler

  5. Volcanoes and GHG Emissions • CO2 emissions from ALL active volcanoes in one year 0.25 Gigatons CO2 • Human-caused CO2 emissions for 2010 35 Gigatons CO2 Humans produce 140 times as much CO2 than all active volcanoes in one year Volcanoes are not a significant source of CO2

  6. Proposed Process • Planes, Balloons, Rockets and/or Artillery deliver sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas into the upper atmosphere • SO2 reacts with water vapour and forms sulfuric acid SO2 + H20  H2SO4 • Super-small droplets (aerosols) of sulfuric acid reflect incoming solar radiation back into space • Sulfur aerosols remain in atmosphere for 3-4 years

  7. Benefits • Low cost • SO2 easy and cheap to produce • Delivery technology exists • Planes, balloons, rockets etc. • Likely to be very effective at cooling climate • Could be implemented quickly

  8. Concerns • Health concerns when sulfuric acid falls from atmosphere • Impact of acid precipitation on water cycle • Less solar radiation reaching surface • Negative impact on photosynthesis • Solar energy panels less effective Geo-Engineering Debate

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