Fed report: Time to examine purposely cooling planet idea

[ScienceRocks]

Fed report: Time to examine purposely cooling planet idea
11 hours ago by By Seth Borenstein

It's time to study and maybe even test the idea of cooling the Earth by injecting sulfur pollution high in the air to reflect the sun's heat, a first-of-its-kind federal science report said Tuesday.

The idea was once considered fringe—to purposely re-engineer the planet's climate as a last ditch effort to battle global warming with an artificial cloud. No longer.

In a nuanced, two-volume report, the National Academy of Sciences said that the concept should not be acted upon immediately because it is too risky, but it should be studied and perhaps tested outdoors in small projects. It could be a relatively cheap, effective and quick way to cool the planet by mimicking the natural effects on climate of large volcanic eruptions, but scientists concede there could be dramatic and dangerous side effects that they don't know about.

Because warming has worsened and some countries might act unilaterally, scientists said research is needed to calculate the consequences.

Panel chairwoman Marcia McNutt, editor of the journal Science and former director of the U.S. Geological Survey, said in an interview that the public should read this report "and say, 'This is downright scary.' And they should say, 'If this is our Hail Mary, what a scary, scary place we are in.'"

Read more at: Fed report Time to examine purposely cooling planet idea
Ok! I personally would rather have a warmer planet...Maybe the way it was 30 million years ago?

 

[Old Rocks]

Well, I would not, but my wife would. However, to have that happen in a short time span will definately create some major problems in a world with 7 billion people to feed.

 

[Billy_Bob]

The STUPID.... IT BURNS!!!!