• Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
Geo-engineering with Atmospheric Aerosols Can Cool Down Rising Temperatures
August 24, 2016

Geo-engineering with Atmospheric Aerosols

Can Global Warming be completely eliminated? Is it possible to restore the normal climate? These are some highly debated questions that we frequently ponder over. A study conducted by the University of Eastern Finland suggests that it’s possible to cool down rising temperatures, reverse climatic change and stop global warming.

We’ve read that greenhouse gas emissions damage the ozone layer, allowing the sun’s UV rays to enter Earth and cause global warming. But, there is a method (still considered hypothetical) to eliminate this phenomenon by increasing the concentration of atmospheric aerosol levels. Scientists call it Atmospheric Geoengineering or climate engineering. Simply said, it’s a way to artificially manipulate the climate.

What is Aerosol Geoengineering?

A large volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 had sprayed huge amounts of sulphur dioxide into the Earth’s stratosphere. Readings taken post the eruptions showed that Earth’s temperature had gone down by 1 degree Fahrenheit and remained that way for 2 more years.

Atmospheric / Aerosol Geoengineering is a method of artificially injecting tiny aerosol particles into the atmosphere to counterbalance the effects of climate change. But this method to mitigate the effects of global warming will need to go hand-in-hand with consistent efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. It’s no way a complete replacement for the current efforts.

Study and research have been in place over the past 20 years, where weather modification experiments were initiated using silver iodide crystals.There is no major step taken to implement it in the live environment yet but UK scientist Professor Tim Lenton says that aerosol injection is ongoing worldover.

How does it work?

Large concentration of aerosol particles (15-20 million tonnes) when sprayed at a safe distance of six miles above the ground level will ultimately cool down the climate.

These particles can survive for a period of minimum 3 years, which gives enough time for natural replenishment of the melting polar ice caps.

There are two ways to inject the aerosol particles:

  1. Stratospheric Geoengineering (Chemtrails)

This is the most efficient way of executing the experiment as it replicates the natural effects of the 1991 volcanic eruption in cooling the climate.

The Stratosphere is a layer of the atmosphere above the Troposphere. A direct injection of aerosols into this layer will form a sheet of coolant that would block the solar radiations from entering the Earth’s surface.

  1. Tropospheric Geoengineering

The Troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, with an air temperature of 32 to -31 degree Fahrenheit. Aerosols injected into this layer will attract and collect water droplets to form brighter clouds that would reflect solar radiation back into outer space. Whiter clouds bring cooler climates.

The aerosol effect on climate

Northern hemisphere has the highest concentration of aerosols, as a result of being the center of industrial revolution.

Unlike the dark aerosol particles which absorb some heat, the brighter ones don’t absorb heat. They reflect sunlight and make the climate cooler. The magnitude of their cooling effect on climate is comparable to the warming effect caused by the increase in atmospheric gases. However, the warming occurs everywhere and the cooling is limited to the stipulated industrial areas.

The current observations by the climate models (still too primitive) are fragmented and limited to the readings in specific locations. They give reasonable proofs but don’t specify the overall combined effects of atmospheric warming happening in some locations and cooling in the others.

Aerosol studies by NASA

The Atmospheric Effects of Aviation Project (AEAP) is an ongoing study by NASA which measures the emissions from research and commercial aircrafts.

It has been determined that the emissions affect atmospheric water vapor concentrations by decreasing the size of ice crystals that form the clouds. These clouds have better ability and properties to reflect UV rays.

Scientists are still looking for conclusive evidences to prove the impact of aerosols on climatic conditions.

Controversies behind the theory

Just like the heated debate over whether global warming is real or a hoax, this method of artificially altering the climate is also negated by a group of scientists. While there has been much research on global warming, and enough evidence to support that it is a threat that we cannot afford to ignore, there aren’t many conclusive experiments to prove the effects of aerosol geoengineering.

There are claims that an uncontrolled use of aerosol sprays will rupture the air quality with an excess dose of chemical components, causing air pollution. Another drawback is that if the levels of greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled, this method will have no impact, flushing billions of dollars down the drain.

In 2012, US geoengineers had planned to infuse aerosol particles by flying a balloon over Fort Sumner in New Mexico, but this experiment was called off. It was claimed that it may damage the ozone layer, and disrupt the natural rainfall by over 15 to 20% across the regions of North and Central America.

Current situation  

Research is still on to improve and implement artificial climate alteration, but scientists deny chemtrails occurring any soon. Arguments prevail that as of now, aerosol geoengineering can only provide a temporary relief to the climatic woes.

aerosolsatmosphericatmospheric warmingclimateengineeringGeoengineering
Share

Environment

Estel Masangkay
I am a freelance creative writer based in the “valley city” of Olongapo near the neighboring Subic Bay Freeport Zone in The Philippines. I enjoy outdoor trips and activities in natural settings and I am passionate about animal welfare and environmental conservation. You can connect with me via my social networks: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EstelGraceMasangkay">Facebook</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/em23me">Twitter</a> <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107876341884421334423/">g+</a>

You might also like

5 Green Engineering Trends of 2017
July 17, 2017
Corporate Greenwashing At Cop: An Ironic Failure Of Natural Justice
September 23, 2016

Leave a reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Recent Posts

    • The Environmental Impact Of Biomedical Waste And How To Reduce It
    • What Are the Most Eco-Friendly Types of Water Filters?
    • The Top 7 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Cabinet Picks For 2023
    • How To Sustain A Carbon-Neutral Lifestyle
    • Sustainable Fishing Methods to Fish More Responsibly
  • Categories

    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Environmental Policy
    • Green Food
    • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
    • Green Travel
    • Infographics
    • Other Stories
    • Pollution
    • Recycle
    • Sustainability
    • Toxics
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2011



Home | About | Advertise With Us | Bike The Netherlands | Current Environmental Issues | Eco Editorial | Contact