The most potent weapon against the EU may be the weather. How the next phase of Moscow's energy war plays out in large part depends on something no politician or scientists can control — the weather. Hmm... It's time to prepare for technologies that manipulate the climate.
Sticks of silver iodide are fired into the atmosphere to produce precipitation. Tiny particles are suspended in the stratosphere to block the sun's rays. Massive filters and underground pumps can siphon carbon from the air.
Geoengineering, the intentional manipulation of the climate, is quickly emerging as a tool to address global warming. Even though these technologies could have world-altering consequences, there is no international agreement or enforcement mechanism that directly addresses geoengineering. Without regulation, it would only take one country—watching its crops shrivel or its water run dry—taking a chance to set a global climate experiment in motion, potentially leading to conflict. And then, there’s the Russian Federation. Geoengineering ideas have a long history in Russia—and now, they appear to be moving to the next scientific level.
Although so far it has received little or no attention, the journal Russian Meteorology and Hydrology recently published a new kind of geoengineering study whose lead author is the journal’s editor, the prominent Russian scientist Yuri A. Izrael. Known for his opposition to the Kyoto Protocol, his skepticism of human-caused global warming, and his enthusiasm for geoengineering, Izrael also happens to be a top scientific adviser to Vladimir Putin. And now, his paper reports on what is probably the very first geoengineering field trial. Izrael and his team of scientists mounted aerosol generators on a helicopter and a car chassis and proceeded to blast out particles at ground level and at heights of up to 200 meters. Then they attempted to measure just how much sunlight reaching the earth was reduced due to the aerosol plume.
This small-scale intervention was effective, the Russian scientists say. And in an accompanying article on geoengineering alternatives, Izrael and colleagues note that “Already in the near future, the technological possibilities of a full-scale use of [aerosol-based geoengineering] will be studied.”
Up until now, scientists have largely studied the possibilities of geoengineering in relatively unthreatening computer models—not out in nature itself. They’ve just run a series of simulations to try to assess likely impacts. In this context, the apparent trajectory of Russian research sounds like something quite new. And it may prompt increasing calls for regulation of geoengineering interventions, even at the small-scale research level where environmental consequences would be relatively minimal.
The time to establish international agreements on geoengineering is now, while the risks are still theoretical. In particular, any further devastating climate impacts, particularly to vulnerable low-lying developing countries, may draw new calls for geoengineering research or interventions. And given the current state of deliberations in Copenhagen, that’s the scariest thing of all.
More info: https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/
Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth’s natural systems to counteract climate change.
There is a wide range of proposed geoengineering techniques. Generally, these can be grouped into two categories:
Solar Radiation Management (SRM) or Solar Geoengineering
SRM techniques aim to reflect a small proportion of the Sun’s energy back into space, counteracting the temperature rise caused by increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which absorb energy and raise temperatures. Some proposed techniques include:
Albedo enhancement. Increasing the reflectiveness of clouds or the land surface so that more of the Sun’s heat is reflected back into space.
Space reflectors. Blocking a small proportion of sunlight before it reaches the Earth.
Stratospheric aerosols. Introducing small, reflective particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect some sunlight before it reaches the surface of the Earth.
Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR) or Carbon Geoengineering
GGR techniques aim to remove carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, directly countering the increased greenhouse effect and ocean acidification. These techniques would have to be implemented on a global scale to have a significant impact on greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. Some proposed techniques include:
Afforestation. Engaging in a global-scale tree planting effort.
Biochar. 'Charring' biomass and burying it so that its carbon is locked up in the soil.
Bio-energy with carbon capture and sequestration. Growing biomass, burning it to create energy, and capturing and sequestering the carbon dioxide created in the process.
Ambient Air Capture. Building large machines that can remove carbon dioxide directly from ambient air and store it elsewhere.
Ocean Fertilisation. Adding nutrients to the ocean in selected locations increases primary production which draws down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Enhanced Weathering. Exposing large quantities of minerals that will react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and storing the resulting compound in the ocean or soil.
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. Grinding up, dispersing, and dissolving rocks such as limestone, silicates, or calcium hydroxide in the ocean increases its ability to store carbon and directly ameliorate ocean acidification.
