Since the small, practical actions necessary to help prevent
global warming have not been taken, scientists are now
considering crazy schemes to get the job done.
Mark Townsend writes in The Observer that U.K. climate
scientists are proposing to build a massive shield on the edge
of space that would deflect the Sun's rays and stabilize the
Earth's climate. It would be made up of thousands of tons of
small metal pieces, ejected into the upper atmosphere.
Another sun barrier could be billions of tiny balloons sent into
space. These ideas were inspired by the cooling effect from
the 1814 volcanic eruptions in Indonesia, which spewed
enough matter into the upper atmosphere to cause
temperatures to fall by 30% for 3 years.
On land, giant reservoirs holding salt water could be built to
correct the rise in sea levels caused by melting polar ice,
which releases freshwater into the ocean, changing the
current that keeps Europe warm. When needed, salt water
could be released into the ocean at strategic spots so the
Gulf Stream doesn't drop down.
Other ideas: Huge, floating cloud-making machines that spray
ocean water into the air, and large algae plantations, that
would absorb greenhouse gases, the way they do in the
ocean right now.
Environmentalist John Schellnhuber says, "The present
climate policy does not seem to be working. We are not
saying we have the magic bullet, but this is a desperate
situation and people should start thinking about the
unconventional. Preventative plans on a larger scale are
needed."
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