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Geoengineering describes activities specifically and deliberately designed to effect a change in the global climate with the aim of minimising or reversing anthropogenic (that is human caused) climate change. Geoengineering covers many techniques and technologies but splits into two broad categories: those that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere such as sequestering and locking carbon dioxide in geological formations; and those that reflect solar radiation. Techniques in this category include the injection of sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere to mimic the cooling effect caused by large volcanic eruptions. The technologies and techniques vary so much that any regulatory framework for geoengineering cannot be uniform. Instead, those techniques, particularly carbon removal, that are closely related to familiar existing technologies, could be regulated by developing the international regulation of the existing regimes to encompass geoengineering. For other technologies, especially solar refection, new regulatory arrangements will have to be developed.
There are three reasons why, we believe, regulation is needed. First, in the future some geoengineering techniques may allow a single country unilaterally to affect the climate. Second, some—albeit very small scale—geoengineering testing is already underway. Third, we may need geoengineering as a “Plan B” if, in the event of the failure of “Plan A”—the reduction of greenhouse gases—we are faced with highly disruptive climate change. If we start work now it will provide the opportunity to explore fully the technological, environmental, political and regulatory issues.
Nor is geoengineering confined to modelling and the distant future. Professor Keith
told us that the Russians were already carrying out testing,100 though Dr Blackstock added
that the Russian tests were “extremely subscale”.101
Scientists have long known that aerosols in the atmosphere can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth, and so some geoengineering schemes had proposed cutting global temperatures by deploying aerosols. The Russian scientists put that plan into action by placing aerosol generators on a helicopter and a car chassis, so that they could spew sulfates at heights of up to 656 feet (200 meters) and see how much that cut back on sunlight.
Originally posted by Phage
I don't see anything about plans to inject anything. All I see is more discussions about various geoengineering proposals.
pro·pos·al/prəˈpōzəl/Noun
1. A plan or suggestion put forward for consideration or discussion by others.
Oh, the testing mentioned? If you read a little further into the document you find out what they are talking about.
Nor is geoengineering confined to modelling and the distant future. Professor Keith
told us that the Russians were already carrying out testing,100 though Dr Blackstock added
that the Russian tests were “extremely subscale”.101
pro·pos·al/prəˈpōzəl/Noun 1. A plan or suggestion put forward for consideration or discussion by others.
Originally posted by Phage
Please provide information about other testing.
Originally posted by tom goose
Phage, you have made me question what my eyes and memory tell me on a couple of occasions. I cannot argue your science because i don't understand it enough.
So the studies that focus on blocking sunlight - If the the technology is being seriously considered and the window of purpose is closing, when would you consider an appropriate time to deliver the results? and how do you propose the idea it delivered to the public?
Geoengineering describes
Techniques in this category include
Originally posted by byteshertz
Phage is right. And there is an obvious difference between proposing something and planning to do it.
A proposal is the initial step to see what others think of an idea
Originally posted by tom goose
Realistically, do you believe the is enough time to get through all the red tape and multinational agreements before it will be too late to use it?
Originally posted by Phage
It's all in the very early stages of study.
Originally posted by Phage
It's not politicians.
Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by tom goose
Solar maximum is not the problem, and it's only two years away. As I said, there is little evidence that individual solar cycles have much of an effect on warming and the evidence that is there is well contested.