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Geoengineering

All articles tagged with #geoengineering

Megaconstellation Pollution Could Quietly Cool Earth by 2029, Study Finds
science2 days ago

Megaconstellation Pollution Could Quietly Cool Earth by 2029, Study Finds

A study in Earth's Future warns that pollution from deorbiting megaconstellation satellites and rocket launches could reduce sunlight enough to have a cooling effect comparable to solar geoengineering by 2029; satellites already account for about a quarter of space industry climate impact and are expected to rise to 42% by 2029, with annual rocket soot around 870 metric tons; while this cooling might seem beneficial amid warming, the effects are uncertain and the lack of regulation poses risks, prompting calls for caution and policy action.

via Futurism|
#climate#geoengineering#megaconstellations
Satellite Boom Could Leave Uncharted Climate Footprint, Study Warns
science8 days ago

Satellite Boom Could Leave Uncharted Climate Footprint, Study Warns

A new study projects that the rapid deployment of satellite megaconstellations will drive a growing climate impact via black carbon from rocket launches, potentially rising to about 42% of space-sector warming by 2029 as launches and propellant use increase; while soot has a cooling effect in the upper atmosphere, its impact is small compared to greenhouse gases, prompting calls for tighter regulation, better emissions tracking, and caution around unregulated growth and potential ozone or geoengineering risks.

via Gizmodo|
#black-carbon#climate-change#geoengineering
Megaconstellations Spark Unregulated Climate Experiment, Scientists Warn
space8 days ago

Megaconstellations Spark Unregulated Climate Experiment, Scientists Warn

Scientists warn that SpaceX’s Starlink and other megaconstellations are creating a growing, unregulated high-altitude pollution problem: rocket launches emit black carbon that can have a climate impact far larger than surface sources, while re-entries release aluminum oxides that could harm the ozone. By 2029, pollution from megaconstellations could account for over 40% of space-sector emissions, and with fleets swelling toward tens or hundreds of thousands of satellites, climate effects could alter weather patterns—prompting calls for tighter regulation and more research before the growth accelerates.

via Space|
#climate-change#geoengineering#megaconstellations
climate-policy11 days ago

Private startup outs a plan to shade the planet with silica aerosols

A private startup, Stardust Solutions, publicly details its plan to cool the Earth by dispersing sunlight-reflecting amorphous silica particles high in the atmosphere, sharing six studies ahead of peer review. The company envisions two particle designs and systems to disperse and monitor them, aiming for possible deployment by 2035 with projected revenue around $1.5 billion, after raising about $75 million. While framed as a scientifically rigorous approach, critics warn that solar geoengineering does not address fossil-fuel driving warming and raise concerns about self-governance and international oversight as the technology moves toward potential use.

via Politico|
#climate-change#climate-policy#geoengineering
unconventional geoengineering idea: could a Bering Strait dam avert AMOC collapse?
rivers-and-oceans1 month ago

unconventional geoengineering idea: could a Bering Strait dam avert AMOC collapse?

A new Science Advances study models building three dams across the 51-mile Bering Strait to see if closing the passage could strengthen the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and delay its collapse under warming. Results suggest that under lower CO2 and a mildly weakened AMOC, closure could help maintain AMOC, but with a much weaker AMOC it could accelerate decline; the plan would disrupt wildlife, Indigenous communities, fisheries, and shipping, and outcomes are highly uncertain, necessitating more modeling. Regardless, experts say reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains the most reliable way to protect AMOC.

via Live Science|
#amoc#bering-strait#climate-change
Ocean Antacid Experiments Signal Hope, Yet Hurdles in Climate Fight
environment4 months ago

Ocean Antacid Experiments Signal Hope, Yet Hurdles in Climate Fight

Scientists led by Adam Subhas test ocean alkalinity enhancement by dispersing sodium hydroxide in the Gulf of Maine to raise surface pH and promote CO2 uptake, a potential but uncertain method to counter ocean acidification and remove carbon; while it could help in key regions, it would require massive energy, infrastructure, careful monitoring, and emission reductions, and questions about safety and long-term ecological impacts remain.

via The New York Times|
#carbon-removal#environment#geoengineering
Elon Musk Proposes Solar Shade to Combat Climate Change
science-and-technology6 months ago

Elon Musk Proposes Solar Shade to Combat Climate Change

Elon Musk has proposed using satellite-based solar radiation management to combat climate change, a highly controversial and currently impractical geoengineering approach that involves deploying large satellite constellations to control sunlight reaching Earth. Experts warn of the enormous costs, technical challenges, and potential unintended consequences of such a plan, and Musk has not indicated any concrete plans for SpaceX to pursue this technology. Nonetheless, his interest may stimulate further debate and innovation in the field of climate geoengineering.

via Gizmodo|
#climate-change#elon-musk#geoengineering
High-Tech Climate Interventions for the Poles: Risks and Realities
environment8 months ago

High-Tech Climate Interventions for the Poles: Risks and Realities

A review published in Frontiers in Science warns that proposed geoengineering solutions to slow polar ice melt, such as spraying reflective particles or creating underwater barriers, are likely to cause more environmental harm than good, are costly, and lack sufficient governance, emphasizing the need to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions instead.

via Gizmodo|
#climate-change#environment#environmental-impact
The Unintended Heat Trap of White Roofs
environment1 year ago

The Unintended Heat Trap of White Roofs

A study by Harvard researchers reveals that painting roofs white to reflect heat can inadvertently increase temperatures in surrounding areas due to changes in local atmospheric circulation. This geoengineering technique, intended to combat urban heat, can lead to increased convection and reduced rainfall, potentially exacerbating climate inequity by causing additional warming in neighboring regions. The findings highlight the complexity of implementing such solutions and their unintended consequences on local climates.

via The Guardian|
#albedo-effect#climate-change#climate-inequity
environment1 year ago

The Pitfalls of Solar Paneling the Sahara Desert

Covering the Sahara Desert with solar panels could have severe environmental impacts, including increased local and global temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and disruptions to ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest. The project also faces economic and technological challenges, such as efficiency loss and high maintenance costs. Instead, experts recommend diverse, localized renewable energy solutions to avoid the potential catastrophic effects of large-scale geoengineering projects.

via The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel|
#climate-change#environment#geoengineering
U.S. Develops Geoengineering Early Warning System
science-and-technology1 year ago

U.S. Develops Geoengineering Early Warning System

The United States is developing an early warning system to detect geoengineering activities, which involve deliberate interventions in the Earth's climate system to counteract climate change. This initiative aims to monitor and assess the potential impacts of such activities on the environment and global climate, ensuring that any geoengineering efforts are transparent and do not pose unforeseen risks.

via The New York Times|
#climate-change#early-warning-system#environmental-policy
Scientists Propose Geoengineering to Prevent Doomsday Glacier Collapse
environment1 year ago

Scientists Propose Geoengineering to Prevent Doomsday Glacier Collapse

Scientists are considering a geoengineering project to prevent the collapse of Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, known as the "Doomsday Glacier," by installing a massive underwater curtain to block warm ocean currents. This initiative aims to mitigate potential catastrophic sea level rise, particularly threatening coastal cities like New York and Miami. While the plan could cost around $6 billion annually and faces technical challenges, experts emphasize the importance of reducing carbon emissions to address the root causes of climate change.

via The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel|
#antarctica#climatechange#environment
Experts Propose Geoengineering to Halt 'Doomsday Glacier' Threat
environment1 year ago

Experts Propose Geoengineering to Halt 'Doomsday Glacier' Threat

The Thwaites Glacier, known as the "Doomsday Glacier," poses a significant threat to global sea levels, potentially raising them by over ten feet if it collapses. Scientists are considering geoengineering solutions, such as barriers to block warm water, to slow its melting. However, these measures are seen as temporary fixes rather than solutions to climate change, emphasizing the need for reducing carbon emissions. Studies predict the glacier's complete collapse could occur by 2100 or in the following centuries, with its rapid retreat continuing to accelerate.

via Futurism|
#antarctica#climate-change#environment