| HOME >> BIOLOGY >> TECHNOLOGY |
There may be better ways to engineer the planet's climate to prevent dangerous global warming than mimicking volcanoes, a University of Calgary climate scientist says in two new studies.
"Releasing engineered nano-sized disks, or sulphuric acid in a condensable vapour above the Earth, are two novel approaches. These approaches offer advantages over simply putting sulphur dioxide gas into the atmosphere," says David Keith, a director in the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy and a Schulich School of Engineering professor.
Keith, a global leader in investigating this topic, says that geoengineering, or engineering the climate on a global scale, is an imperfect science.
"It cannot offset the risks that come from increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If we don't halt man-made CO2 emissions, no amount of climate engineering can eliminate the problems massive emissions reductions are still necessary."
Nevertheless, Keith believes that research on geoengineering technologies,their effectiveness and environmental impacts needs to be expanded.
"I think the stakes are simply too high at this point to think that ignorance is a good policy."
Keith suggests two novel geoengineering approaches'levitating' engineered nano-particles, and the airborne release of sulphuric acidin two newly published studies. One study was authored by Keith alone, and the other with scientists in Canada, the U.S. and Switzerland.
Scientists investigating geoengineering have so far looked mainly at injecting sulphur dioxide into the upper atmosphere. This approach imitates the way volcanoes create sulphuric acid aerosols, or sulphates, that will reflect solar radiation back into space thereby cooling the planet's surface.
Keith says that sulphates are blunt instruments for climate engineering. It's very difficult to achieve the optimum distribution and size of the aerosols in the atm
'/>"/>
| Contact: Hollie Roberts robertsh@ucalgary.ca 403-210-8857 University of Calgary Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology technology :
1. Clemson scientists put a (nano) spring in their step
2. City of Hope Helps KGI Launch New Management Training Program for Scientists
3. University of Pennsylvania scientists move optical computing closer to reality
4. Scientists grow nanonets able to snare added energy transfer
5. The National Cancer Institute Joins the Global Community of Scientists Now Using BIOMARKERcenter From Thomson Reuters
6. Scientists peel away the mystery behind golds catalytic prowess
7. SACHEM Launches 2-D HPLC e-Learning Program : New e-Learning Program Teaches Scientists How to Better Analyze and Prove Product Purity Through Greater Sensitivity and Precision in Identification of Trace Components
8. Vermillion and Stanford Scientists Receive Best Research Award From the PAD Coalition
9. Brewing better beer: Scientists determine the genomic origins of lager yeasts
10. Tengion Scientists Publish Positive Preclinical Findings With Neo-Organ Demonstrating Long-term Durability and Growth With Skeletal Maturation
11. CU scientists create worlds thinnest balloon -- just one atom thick
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |