Benefits: It is inexpensive, simple, and may help prevent some of the worst effects of climate change, such as sea level rise. Cons: It may have numerous unanticipated side effects, such as interfering with global rainfall patterns. Its difficult to coordinate. Additionally, geoengineering has no effect on other serious climate impacts, such as ocean acidification. Advertisement.
However, there is another issue that we didn’t really address in that interview: Once geoengineering begins, it will be impossible to stop, especially if everyone continues to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at the same time. Why? Because the Earth will quickly begin to heat up once we stop spraying those reflective particles into the atmosphere. Additionally, abrupt climate change is more harmful than the type we already know about.
David Appell cites a current study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research as providing compelling evidence for this claim. In order to predict what would happen if solar geoengineering were used to counteract a 1 percent annual increase in global carbon dioxide emissions, the authors first used 11 climate models. The good news: Global temperatures stay pretty stable. But then they stopped the geoengineering. And that was catastrophic: Global temperatures spiked very sharply:
It’s important to note that the rate of climate change matters almost as much as the range of temperature changes, so why is that so bad? Many experts on climate policy believe that an increase in global temperatures of 2 degrees Celsius between now and the end of the century would be difficult to adapt to. However, a 2-degree increase over just a few decades would be more difficult. Many species would have difficulty moving to suitable climates. Farmers would struggle to adapt crops to the heat. When you have less time to build, building seawalls to ward off rising oceans is much more difficult.
So, yes. Theoretically, sulfate particles could be released into the atmosphere through a large hose to cool the planet. We just need to pray that the hose never experiences any problems. Or, if we begin spraying and later learn there are terrible unanticipated side effects, it will be much more difficult to stop. Advertisement.
This is one of the reasons why many supporters of geoengineering, such as Harvard’s David Keith (who wasn’t involved in this JGR study), contend that the technique would need to be used in conjunction with reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions. In October, Keith told me, “Nothing alters the fact that, in the long run, the only way to manage carbon risk is to stop emitting carbon dioxide.” However, nothing we know about reducing carbon dioxide emissions indicates that it will help us manage the risk of CO2 already in the atmosphere or manage climate risks in the very near future. In other words, he views geoengineering as an adjunct to emissions reduction, not a replacement for it.
Additional reading: An interview with David Keith on whether geoengineering should be used to cool the Earth It’s important to note that Keith addresses the issue of “rapid climate change” in his most recent book on the topic; we just didn’t cover it in the interview. Loading. Stay informed about Silicon Valley news and learn how to regain control of your data and devices with The Download’s top stories.
Examples of climate engineering
Climate engineering primarily concentrates on two main issues and their solutions. These two areas of study are:
Solar geoengineering
The objective of solar geoengineering is to divert some sunlight away from the earth. This is done in order to lessen solar radiation, which is a major factor in the production of greenhouse gases. Aerosol injections and cirrus cloud thinning, for example, have the advantages of being quick to deploy and having little environmental impact, but they don’t address the current atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide removal
Lowering the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases is the goal of climate engineers who concentrate on carbon dioxide removal. High levels of greenhouse gases are the main cause of problems like ocean acidification and ice cap melting. Solutions for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere include, for instance, capturing it from the surrounding air and restoring forests to better absorb it.
What is a climate engineer?
An individual who works to implement significant changes to the climate is known as a climate engineer. They study and put into practice solutions that can have an impact on the environment for organizations that are for profit, nonprofits, and governments. Climate engineers are experts in both the technology needed to solve everyday issues and the science underlying how the earth’s climate works.
Common job duties for a climate engineer might include:
Pros of using climate change engineering
There are several advantages to using climate change engineering. Although these benefits can differ depending on the proposed solution, some of the more well-liked choices at the moment have the following advantages:
Effective
The effectiveness of climate change engineering is its biggest advantage. The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can be reduced through a variety of climate change engineering initiatives, preserving the planet’s long-term health. Another crucial aspect of addressing climate change issues is managing solar radiation, which is assisted by some climate change engineering.
Scale
Climate change engineering aims to provide solutions that address the issue on a comparable scale because climate change is a global-level issue. These solutions can be implemented by engineers and scientists on a large scale, in contrast to some other types of climate change mitigation efforts. These large-scale solutions can also be implemented quicker than smaller ones due to their scale, which contributes to addressing the effects of climate change sooner.
Can mimic natural processes
Some approaches to combating climate change seek to replicate natural processes. This will hopefully reduce the number of unintended side effects and improve outcome prediction. For instance, one suggested remedy is atmospheric aerosols similar to those produced by volcanic eruptions, which assist in obstructing solar radiation
Mobile
The areas that currently need climate change solutions change continually. As a result, some climate engineering projects concentrate on making their solution portable so that it can be moved as needed from one location to another. As an illustration, direct air capture (DAC) systems eliminate carbon dioxide from the surrounding air. By doing this, DAC systems can be deployed where they are most needed as opposed to being connected to a single source of carbon dioxide.
Job creation
Engineering solutions for climate change require personnel from multiple industries. This could result in more jobs being created, which is beneficial for the economy. Along with long-term jobs to operate new machinery, this also includes temporary jobs to build and install new technologies.
Cons of using climate change engineering
Some potential drawbacks of climate change engineering to consider include:
Side effects
It is more difficult to foresee adverse side effects of climate change engineering solutions because they frequently aim to change the earth’s environment on a large scale. For instance, the release of aerosols to block solar radiation might interfere with natural weather processes and make them more difficult to forecast. Additionally, there is some worry that if the users of this technology stop releasing aerosols, it might lead to an increase in global temperatures, which would negate the effects. Climate change engineers gain from carefully considering all potential side effects and carrying out research that enables them to limit those effects when searching for solutions.
Costs
Some engineering solutions for climate change come with extremely high implementation costs. One suggested remedy, for instance, is the installation of a solar shield in space that will reflect sunlight. To raise the funds required, such a project would need to enjoy a lot of public support. This also applies to other solutions such as DAC. Climate change engineers must simultaneously lower costs and tout the advantages of pursuing their ideas in order to make them a reality.
Time investment
Implementing engineering solutions for climate change can also take a long time. Large infrastructure projects are necessary in some situations, but in others, engineers still need to create or advance the necessary technology. Some solutions to problems that require more immediate attention may take decades to complete. Therefore, climate change engineers frequently concentrate on initiatives that can provide more immediate benefits.
Energy use
Engineers make sure that their projects don’t use too much energy so that the benefits of the project are offset when designing solutions for climate change. A project won’t be successful if it requires so much energy that the amount of carbon dioxide produced during power generation exceeds the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. Climate change engineers try to prevent this by using more environmentally friendly energy sources, like solar power, or by finding ways to cut back on the amount of power required for their projects.
Global Warming PROs & CONs – Could it be good?
FAQ
Is climate engineering good?
In conclusion, there are benefits and drawbacks to climate change and global warming. It promotes economic expansion, and we observe cutting-edge technology. Conversely, as a result of increased disease-causing pollution in the air, death rates have increased globally.
Why is climate change a problem for engineers?
According to the research, climate engineering would be a poor substitute for the failure to reduce emissions now. According to the results of the model, it is unlikely that most climate engineering techniques will be able to keep global warming within the internationally set goal of two degrees above pre-industrial levels.
What are the cons of geoengineering?
Increased demand on infrastructure Extreme weather conditions, such as more frequent and stronger winds in some regions, heavy snowfalls, and increased thermal stress on engineering structures, could be brought on by climate change.
