Can Geo-Engineering Save Global Warming?

There is a new movement afoot known among some scientists known as geoengineering. It refers to the purposeful intervention of humans in the earth’s environment to stop global warming. There are two primary methods being discussed for doing this. The first is to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The second is to limit how much the sun heats the earth. Even though many people may agree that global warming could be a problem, fewer people agree that it is wise to dramatically alter any part of the earth’s environment without seriously considering the possible consequences.

Let us first discuss geoengineering that reduces the amount of greenhouse gases. What is a greenhouse gas, anyway? Carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, halocarbons, methane gas, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapor are all considered by some to be greenhouse gases. To reduce carbon dioxide, some scientists have suggested using machines that “scrub” the air free of it by using an ion exchange resin; however, this could prove to be very expensive. Another suggestion is to dump lime into the oceans to reduce their acidity and enable them to absorb more carbon dioxide. When the lime reacts with the carbon dioxide, it produces bicarbonate ions similar to the ones found in baking soda. How would an excess of bicarbonate ions affect marine life? And is it economically feasible to mine lime in a way that would not produce more greenhouse gases? Still another suggestion is to fertilize the ocean with iron so that plankton will begin to multiply and in turn remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But how would an overgrowth of plankton affect the oceanic ecosystem? And what if too much iron caused the water in that area to become uninhabitable by other creatures?

The second technique for geoengineering involves limiting the amount of warmth from the sun. Some scientists suggest sending unmanned boats that spew seawater into the sky around the ocean. The hope is that this water will create clouds that are more reflective. But what happens if it creates clouds that disrupt the weather cycles in other places? Another solution is to cool the earth by launching sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere similar to when a volcano erupts. However, sulfur dioxide is a poisonous gas that is considered be some to be a pollutant. And other scientists have mentioned requiring that all rooftops be painted white to reflect the sun’s rays. Possibly the biggest obstacle to this plan would be the cost of painting all the rooftops and enforcing penalties for people who do not.

Everyone agrees about the importance of preserving the environment. And some people believe global warming to be the biggest threat to our environment. But not all of the people concerned about it are convinced that geoengineering is the answer. The general consensus is that eliminating the emission of greenhouse gases should be the first priority. It should not be trying to alter the environment to offset global warming; this could cause other unforeseen problems. Before any drastic measures are taken, there needs to be agreement among everyone that geoengineering is the best course of action.

Dave, an avid internet marketer, freelance writer and SEO specialist, gladly pours his knowledge of many different subjects into all of his writings and is an advocator of the Global Good movement. His current project includes a website about freelance opportunities, freelance writing and where to find freelance jobs around the internet.

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