Could We– Should We– Modify the Climate?
by James Trefil
From previous research we can see that humans can change the climate through CO2 emissions because we already have. Now we wonder if we should try to alter the climate to what would be most comfortable. The energy the sun pours down is about 1,500 watts per square meter. If we double the CO2 in the atmosphere, this will increase the sun’s energy by 4 watts per square meter. Eruptions like the one from Mount Pinatubo in 1993 put sulfur compounds in the air, which reflects the sunlight and cools the earth. Scientists are wondering if they can use sulfur compounds in jet engines or use special space mirrors to reflect light in a similar way. The problem with this is that it is very difficult to predict what the possible side effects could be. Other scientists are trying to actually remove the CO2 from the atmosphere. There is a special type of plankton that lives in the ocean, but does not get enough iron to grow. Scientists performed a test near the Galapagos Islands where they put iron into the region of the ocean. The plankton was able to grow, so it took more CO2 from the atmosphere. This 7-day trial removed about 100 tons of CO2 from the air. Scientists hope that the CO2 will stay in the ocean after the plants die. Like the other experiments, it is difficult to predict side effects because scientists do not know very much about fertilizing ocean plants.
I found this article very interesting because it talked about ways to actually stop global warming. Most articles give tips on how we can prevent it from continuing, but this one showed how scientists are actually taking CO2 away from the atmosphere, instead of just preventing more from going in. I think both the sulfur compound idea and the one about plankton are very interesting are will help the earth a lot if they work. I definitely think we should include this in our documentary. For our “causes” group we could talk about how we are polluting our oceans, which makes ocean plants have a lack of certain minerals and nutrients, such as iron. This contributes to global warming because if the plants can’t grow then they cannot remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
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Modify the climate?? This really sounds like science fiction to me! Almost unbelievable! We can’t change human behavior so we will find a way to change the climate?? It seems every action has a reaction so…
A question for your experts…what would be the side effects/consequences of changing the climate? Putting more iron into the ocean, sulfur in the air?? And…do they really know what the side effects would be?
Whoaw. That article blew my mind! I would love to read more about this and potential practical uses based on that seven day trial. Now that you all have started storyboarding, where would this fit into your five minutes? What would you show while discussing this information?
I definitely agree, I was shocked when I read this article. With all the scientific discoveries being made lately, there’s definitely going to be a lot of political uproar about what is morally right. They still don’t know what the side effects are with most of these tests, so I’m not sure how many answers I am going to get from experts.
I thought this article was really interesting, but I have absolutely no idea how this will fit into the documentary. Any ideas?
I was looking at your visual metaphors and if I remember correctly your group is working on causes of Global Warming? So this doesn’t probably apply to your group but I was wondering… could you just interview “people on the street” (even at NH)and do a “morally right” check. Do you believe in Global Warming? If they say yes, then would it be morally right to change the weather? Restrict amount of driving? Check each individuals carbon footprint and require changes if necessary? Wouldn’t it be great if you could ask the pres. candidates to respond?