Can Fake Trees Save the Planet?

Most people nowadays believe that global warming, and the human contribution to it, is very real. Now a growing number of scientists have moved on from convincing the public of the problem’s existence to pointing out that a line has been crossed. That is, we’ve crossed that scary point of no return. For that reason, scientists in the United Kingdom are getting to work on a back-up plan.

As part of an ongoing report those UK scientists are researching the feasibility of geo-engineering, or altering the Earth’s climate in order to mitigate or reverse the effects of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. Now I know this enters the realm of science fiction but, to be fair, so did viable solar energy and space stations not so long ago.

Photo Credit: Bahugala

This group of scientists are part of the Royal Society, Britain’s national academy of science — not some crackpot institution by any means. Professor John Shepherd, the group’s chairman, pointed out that, “Our study aims to separate the science from the science fiction and offer recommendations on which options deserve serious consideration.” Fair enough, but it’s a little unsettling to think that we’re searching science fiction for answers.

Proposed geo-engineering solutions include those that would suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere — sounds logical but believed to be too slow a process. Another is the idea of vast plantations of fake trees, involving the bio-engineering of fast-growing trees that would suck CO2 out of the air as they grow. Then the wood would be turned into charcoal in gargantuan ovens and buried, never to be seen again…we hope.

Yet another idea is to make the clouds brighter so they’ll reflect more sunlight away from the earth. This could have a more immediate effect. Even increasing the reflected sunlight by a few percent could be enough to prevent the effects of global warming, according to Brian Launder, one contributer to the report.

Scientists are apprehensive, however, that publicizing the idea of preventing global warming via geo-engineering may actually make people lazier about pursuing a carbon-neutral economy — an agreed-upon necessity regardless of cloud or tree altering technology.

Photo Credit: mira66

That is a good point, not to mention that very little is known about these technologies or their side effects. It is a very touchy thing altering the climate, as we should all understand by now. On the other hand this or similar technology is very present and possible. I don’t know how many readers are aware of contrails, or believe in chemtrails for that matter, but I have personally spent mornings watching large clouds form over the desert, solely from the streams left behind by high-flying jets — how that affects the weather or if it is intentional, I can only imagine.

The point being that science fiction is fast becoming real science, and shooting ice crystals up into the clouds to make them brighter is not such a radical thought. The real issue, however, remains global warming. Even if geo-engineering could save our skin in a pinch, the mere prospect demands a rapid ramp up of renewable energy production, as well as eliminating greenhouse gas emission and enjoying rather than trying to dominate our natural world.

Via The Times Online

Posted on April 24th in Solar Information by Dan.