GEOENGINEERING

1. GEOENGINEERING By: Andrew Gemma

2. WHAT IS IT? • A large scale intervention with Earth with the intent to reduce the effects of global warming • It’s something that scientists have thought about before, but it really is just starting to be talked about • Some people believe it can be used in replace of cutting emissions, while others believe that it should be used in addition to relieve some pressure

3. WHAT IS IT (CONT.) • It’s the “Big Science solution” to the problem of global warming and emission control • Globally, there is such little progress being made on the subject that some geoengineering techniques may end up being the solution • Almost all of these solutions are incredibly cheap • Also fast/easy to put into action

4. TYPES • There are two different forms that are talked about the most (none have really been put into action) • Cloud Reflectivity • Basically spray sea water onto low level clouds, which in turn would make them brighter. This would allow the clouds to reflect more sunlight • This is very cheap to do and has potential to work • However, most of the information is based off of lab testing and computer simulations. Weather can be seriously impacted and the impact it can truly have really isn’t known

5. Sulfate Aerosols • Seems to be the most practical and logical solution. Also the most talked about in the science world • Sulfate aerosols are pumped into the stratosphere or mesosphere, which would ultimately reflect sunlight back into space (albedo enhancement) • Fast and cheap (once again) • Can damage our ozone and impact our weather conditions • David Keith and other scientists are certain that it will work because it already happens naturally with volcanoes • It basically acts as a shield for the troposphere

6. CONT. • Globally, if we double the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, but reduce the solar radiation by 1.8% we can stay below the 2 degree Celsius mark. • Keith suggests that sulfate be put into the mesosphere, which would limit its impact on our ozone and have less of an effect on our weather

7. Over-Arching Negatives • Nobody really knows exactly what would happen with these ideas because they have never been implemented • There is no global governance over this type of technologies so there is no way of knowing what would actually be agreed upon • If the globe actually begins to cool, this could spark the continuation of the combustion of fossil fuels • If we start, when do we stop? What if there is an malfunction in the technology? What would the repercussions be?

8. FINAL THOUGHTS • Geoengineering should be looked at more as a way to “take the heat off” • Some of these techniques are just starting to be talked about and it’s scary how much control over the Earth we really can have • There is such slow progress being made globally on this issue that these types of ideas may be the solution later on • Really shouldn’t be seen as a last resort because there is so much unknown about potential side-effects • This shouldn’t really be looked at as a final solution to the problem of global climate change. At least for now