Denser clouds over the sea, repainting of the Earth in a different color, saturation of the upper atmosphere with particles. Geoengineering is suddenly on a horse as a means of climate change, an important element in the fight against the climate crisis.
“Just a few years ago, I never imagined that this scenario was possible,” says Anders Hansson, a researcher at Linkoping University.
The increasingly desperate climate situation is forcing both scientists and politicians to actively seek new additional solutions to the problem of rising temperatures. Research labs around the world are doing what looks like science fiction, trying to massively impact our weather system. These projects are developing very quickly, at least as far as political debates are concerned.
“In 2010, I never thought that the position would change so quickly. Previously, geoengineering was barely mentioned, but now it has become part of almost all climate scenarios on which the Paris Treaty relies. Otherwise, the equation simply won't add up,”says Anders Hansson.
When talking about geoengineering, two different groups of technologies are usually mentioned: removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reducing the intensity of sunlight. One of the methods of the first group became the leader of the potentially popular technologies of the future.
This is bioenergy with carbon sequestration and storage - a method of energy production that boils down to burning large amounts of biomass, for example, in power plants and in the pulp and paper industry, then compressing and burying the released carbon dioxide, and planting new forest. Thus, the amount of carbon dioxide should decrease - at least on paper.
“The problem is that it requires huge amounts of biomass to grow. We are talking about volumes from two to ten billion tons. And then there is a conflict with other environmental challenges such as biodiversity maintenance, food production and water supply,”explains Anders Hansson. In addition, he says that there are virtually no commercial carbon capture and storage facilities yet. “This has not yet been tested at all. In general, the experience of such storage is very limited, and there are no demonstration facilities either."
Few research grantsAnders Hansson explains the lack of investment by the lack of government research grants. “So far, there is no financial incentive to pursue negative emissions,” he says. Another type of technology - limiting solar radiation - is also in its infancy. One of the most unusual ideas that will be tested on a very small scale next year is the simulation of volcanic eruptions. It is volcanoes that have the ability to lower the temperature of the earth by a certain number of degrees, depending on how strong the eruption is. Particles that enter the atmosphere during eruptions block out sunlight, and the largest volcanoes can change the climate of the entire Earth for many years. Technically, it is already possible today to artificially throw the corresponding particles into the air, the only problem isthat they rarely stay at the top long enough, and there may be a side effect of acidification of the sea. “When the Philippines erupted in the 1990s, the earth's temperature dropped by half a degree. The problem is that no one can estimate exactly what effect this will have in different parts of the plague. For example, the monsoon rainfall system may be disrupted,”says Anders Hansson.
Experiment plannedThe particle experiment is scheduled to take place next year in Arizona under the direction of Harvard professor David Keith. Other methods mentioned are less spectacular, such as mirrors in space that will reflect sunlight. “There is an area between the Sun and the Earth, where the gravity is zero, if you put mirrors there, they will remain there. But even a 0.5% reduction in solar radiation intensity would dramatically affect all life on Earth,”says Anders Hansson. "Another alternative is to put microscopic mirrors in orbit around the Earth, but then there is a risk that they will harm satellites." Although research in this area is still very limited, there is no shortage of ideas. A more easily executable model involves changing the color of the earth - in other words, all roofs need to be painted white. Then they will reflect some of the sunlight back. Another model is considering the possibility of thickening clouds using water vapor and thus reducing the amount of penetrating light.
Unclear effect “The other side of the coin: the person changes the system again. And how big will the effect be? No one knows. Then you need to come to a political agreement on exactly how to proceed, as this will affect the climate of the entire Earth. One thing is certain: we haven't heard the last word on geoengineering yet. The debate has just begun, and we can be sure that more or less violent political discussions will arise in the coming years. There is will - and it is only a matter of time before technologies and knowledge will catch up with it.
Methods for dealing with the climate crisis1. Combustion of biomass and disposal of carbon dioxide. 2. Mirrors in space or microscopic mirrors in the stratosphere. 3. Increase the density of clouds to reflect back sunlight. 4. Simulation of volcanic eruptions through the release of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. 5. Fertilizing the ocean in order to increase the amount of plant plankton in it, which will consume carbon dioxide. 6. Reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by capturing them. Canada is testing a giant vacuum cleaner that is supposed to suck carbon dioxide directly from the air.
Sara Milstead