Solutions for Global Warming
Ideas Considered Include Mirrors, Filters and Ocean Seeding
Even with our conscious efforts to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that industry puts out on a yearly basis, Global Warming remains an issue. The temperatures are still spiralling upward. Lowering carbon dioxide emissions is still the prefered way to manage the greenhouse gas effect. This article explores other proposals that have been made, as alternatives or adjuncts, to carbon dioxide emissions control.
The 1960's Onward
As far back as the 1960s, manipulation of the climate has been discussed. At that time, it was proposed that small, reflective particles be placed into the air to prevent the sun's rays from penetrating the earth and to reflect the sunlight back out into space. Sulfates seems to cause the opposite effect of what carbon dioxide gases do and tend to cool global temperature. This has been proven scientifically with volcanic eruptions that spew ash into the upper atmospheres. The ash contains sulfates which form a large cloud that once in the atmosphere, cools down the earth significantly.
Unfortunately this solution may open up other problems down the road and it only addresses global warming, not the peripheral effects of carbon dioxide pollution, such as the change in the PH of the ocean water. It's been proposed that the most lilely application for this would be at the polar caps during their summer months to prevent melting into the oceans.
In the recent March 2007 issue of The Economist, several possible solutions to curtailing global warming were discussed. These include the following:
A Large Mirror
One of the alternatives being discussed that has some merit - but whose implementation may prove to be difficult - is the placement of a series of reflective-type ships to deflect many of the sun's rays away from the earth. The most ideal placement of such a device would be at the Lagrange Point.
Lagrange Point is the name of the direct line between the sun and the earth, where centripetal force and the earth's gravity meet. This point would allow the device to stay in place and not move. It was proposed that this consist of small 3 foot or 3 meter ships that are lined up together, coated with a reflective material, to block what's estimated to be approxamately 2% of the sun's rays. This in turn would cool the atmosphere enough to counteract the carbon dioxide emissions. The ships would be held in place by magnets and it's estimated that it would be close to 20 metric tons. The cost would be an astounding US$ 2-3 trillion.
Misting
Another more practical solution would be to force tiny droplets of ocean water into the air, essentially creating a cloud that could reflect sunlight away from the earth. It's been proposed that ships, unmanned and capable of moving around can shoot 22 lbs of water per second up into the air to produce this effect. It's estimated that as many as 50 to 60 ships would be needed at a cost of US$ 3-4 million each to accomplish this. The ships could manoeuver seasonally to correspond with the summers of each polar cap area. As a result they could go north for the summer and south for the winter. The big advantage with this is that the cost is lower, as compared with the former proposal, and that it's mobile and can be used where needed.
Other Possibilities
Other solutions bandied about are the use of reflective mirrors in deserts, ocean seeding to absorb carbon dioxide and the use of giant filters to grab these molecules in the air. Most of these are impractical and will not be used.
Despite these considerations, one thing remains certain: the regulation , monitoring and lessening of carbon dioxide emissions is still necessary and feasible. However, and despite the large price tags, alternatives are in the wing to prevent what certainly could become one of the earth's most major catastrophes.
