Cooling the climate
THE IDEA OF COOLING the climate with stratospheric sunshades that would shield the planet from the sun’s warming rays moved up the international agenda this week, with mixed results. On the one hand, new research suggested that it is theoretically possible to fine-tune such a shield without some of its potentially damaging consequences.
Among the most controversial but also effective and affordable geoengineering options are planetary sunshades. By using high-flying aircraft, for instance, to spray a fine mist of mineral or man-made particles into the upper stratosphere, a portion of the sun’s incoming energy could be bounced back out into space before it gets a chance to warm the planet.
In a warmer world, due to greenhouse-gas emissions, the water cycle is intensified, making drier regions drier and wetter regions wetter, leading to floods and droughts. In their modelled “half-warmed” world, Dr Irvine and his colleagues found that both temperature and precipitation extremes were moderated, which should lead to fewer droughts and floods.
The barriers to unity were on display in Nairobi. In 2010 the Convention on Biological Diversity advised against geoengineering activities “until there is an adequate scientific basis” to justify them, but America is not a party to that convention. It was represented at UNEA.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Perspective | Dan Jenkins made tough writing look easy and made sentimentality look crankyA celebrity in the sportswriting profession, he put a care and a soul into his words few can match.
Read more »
SpaceX's Crew Dragon Spacecraft Returns To Earth After Historic First MissionSpaceX has successfully completed the first test flight of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, the first orbital spacecraft designed for humans to launch from the US in eight years, with a successful return to Earth today.
Read more »
SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule returns to Earth after historic test flightSpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule has returned safely to Earth, wrapping up its inaugural mission to the ISS. - NBCNewsMACH
Read more »
Last Blockbuster on Earth mints new memberships 'every day'You may still have a late fee for that DVD you rented in 2010 if -- and only if -- you belong to the Blockbuster store in Bend, Oregon. At the end of March, the last Blockbuster video in Australia will close, leaving the Oregon outpost of the once-dominant brand the lone survivor, according to the Australian
Read more »
Little Earth's big week on the space stationLittle Earth is having an eventful week tagging along with the astronauts on the International Space Station after launching on SpaceX's Crew Dragon on Saturday. The plush toy headed out alongside space-suited dummy Ripley.
Read more »