blog post

July 10, 2023 by M. Connors

Geoengineering is a term that refers to the deliberate manipulation of the Earth’s climate system to counteract global warming. One of the most controversial forms of geoengineering is solar radiation management (SRM), which aims to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface by reflecting or scattering some of it back to space. SRM could involve spraying aerosols into the stratosphere, creating artificial clouds over the oceans, or launching mirrors or reflectors into orbit.

While SRM might seem like a quick and cheap way to cool the planet, it also poses many risks and uncertainties. For instance, SRM could have unintended consequences that range from damaging ecosystems to causing droughts and other extreme weather events around the world. If SRM were ever deployed and then abruptly stopped, the climate would rapidly warm up to levels that could be catastrophic for life on Earth.

The Biden administration quietly released a report on June 30 — just ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend — outlining a potential research program primarily focused on solar radiation management. The report, which was prepared by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), recommends that the U.S. government should invest in a “modest” and “governance-focused” SRM research program that would explore the feasibility, effectiveness, and ethical and social implications of SRM techniques. The report also suggests that the U.S. should collaborate with other countries and international organizations to ensure transparency and accountability in SRM research.

A new supercomputer for climate research will help scientists study the effects of solar geoengineering, a controversial idea for cooling the planet by redirecting the sun’s rays. The supercomputer, named “Frontier”, is expected to be operational by 2025 and will be located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Frontier will be able to perform more than 1.5 quintillion calculations per second, making it one of the most powerful computers in the world. With Frontier, scientists will be able to run high-resolution simulations of different SRM scenarios and evaluate their impacts on various aspects of the climate system, such as temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, ocean currents, and sea level.

One of the key questions that Frontier will help answer is how SRM would affect photosynthesis and plant growth in general. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce organic matter and oxygen. Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth, as it provides food and energy for most living organisms and regulates the carbon cycle and the oxygen level in the atmosphere. However, photosynthesis is also sensitive to changes in light intensity and quality, which could be altered by SRM.

Some studies have suggested that SRM could reduce photosynthesis by decreasing the amount or changing the spectrum of sunlight available for plants. This could have negative consequences for crop yields, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. On the other hand, some studies have argued that SRM could enhance photosynthesis by reducing heat stress and increasing water availability for plants. This could have positive effects on food security, carbon sequestration, and land use. The net effect of SRM on photosynthesis is still uncertain and depends on many factors, such as the type and magnitude of SRM intervention, the location and type of plants, and the interactions with other environmental factors.

Another important question that Frontier will help address is how long humans or other animals could live on a planet without plant life. This is a hypothetical scenario that could occur if SRM were ever used to extreme levels or if something went wrong with its implementation or termination. Without plants, there would be no source of food or oxygen for most animals, including humans. Moreover, without plants, there would be no regulation of the carbon cycle or the climate system, leading to further warming and instability.

The answer to this question depends on how much food and oxygen reserves humans or other animals have access to and how fast they consume them. For example, according to some estimates, humans could survive for about a year on stored food supplies if all plant life disappeared from Earth. However, this would vary depending on factors such as population size, dietary habits, distribution of food resources, and social cooperation or conflict. As for oxygen, humans could breathe for about 1000 years if all plant life disappeared from Earth, assuming that oxygen consumption remains constant at current levels. However, this would also depend on factors such as atmospheric chemistry.

It is my fear the average citizen has no idea their governments are even looking into this potential life ending technology. I will not venture to surmise why they are doing it. I will leave the why part for you to figure out. Feel free to share this article with your unsuspecting associates.

For more information and current research on this topic please visit Geoengineering Watch at https://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/ .

I have my opinions. What are yours? Leave your comments on Twitter @TheOldFolkShow