https://geoengineering.environment.harvard.edu/geoengineering
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Geoengineering is a controversial subject. Geoengineering is a process to change the world on a global scale. The full-scale control and manipulation of natural processes on Earth to produce change is massively impactful and has wide-sweeping implications. Over the years, we have negatively and positively impacted the globe through our activties, and those who can manipulate the environment hold a powerful grasp on the planet. Geoengineering holds potential to positively impact our environment, but many considerations exist that must be explored.
Geoengineering has been conducted for decades already due to our industrial processes. Large cities including London and Los Angeles have been impacted by smog and the release of pollutants that have changed the composition of the atmosphere. CFCs have been released into the air, and the result was a weakening of the ozone layer. We have been unintentionally geoengineering our world, and many consequences of this have been unexpected and deleterious. It is for this reason that any geoengineering effort we undertake be modeled, tested and approved before its application. In addition, because geoengineering involves the world or large parts of it, we must get the buy-in of nations involved before we take steps. What happens if we take a step and crops are impacted or water quality declines precipitously in a nation?
Scientists and geoengineers have proposed two solutions for global warming and climate change including solar radiation management and carbon geoengineering. Solar radiation management is the release of gasses or particles into the atmosphere to reduce solar intensity and carbon geoengineering is the attempt to remove carbon dioxide from the air into various carbon sinks. Carbon sequestration and storage is a common form of carbon geoengineering. The release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere is an example of solar intensity reduction that mimics a volcanic eruption and subsequent cloud of gasses. Scientists have also proposed using mirrors and glass to reflect sunlight back into space, and local engineering may also involve using specially engineered paint to reflect sunlight out of urban areas. These are extremely controversial methods, as a reduction in solar intensity may impact crops and general illumination on Earth.
Plankton growth operations are another impactful example of geoengineering efforts. Phytoplankton is a carbon sink that removes carbon dioxide from the air. Plankton blooms can be created by adding iron to the water or making man-made lakes that can be filled with plankton. The dead plankton could also be used and recycled to make products.
Paths taken in the future involving geoengineering must be properly evaluated. We cannot risk unintentionally sabotaging the world as previous large-scale projects have done. The industrial revolution poisoned our air, and CFCs harmed our ozone layer and we cannot make similar mistakes with attempts to right past wrongs.
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