NASA looks at plan to blot out Sun

The Sydney Morning herald ^ | November 20, 2006

[chemical_boy]

THE idea seems like something out of a Superman comic: a machine or missile shoots tonnes of particles into the atmosphere that would block the Sun's rays, cool down the overheated Earth, and reverse global warming.

But at the weekend scientists gathered in a closed session organised by NASA and Stanford University to discuss researching such a strategy. The idea is called geo-engineering: using technology to tinker with the Earth's delicate climate balance.

Ken Caldeira, a climate scientist at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University, said his modelling showed the idea worked. "We found that if you blocked 20 per cent of the sunlight over the Arctic Ocean it would be enough to restore sea ice," he said.

[CodeMasterPhilzar]

Exactly. We should stop this effort in its tracks, now. So called climate scientists haven't shown they can accurately predict well...anything. And in general, our record (humans that is) at "managing" the natural world is basically an unmitigated string of disasters, even by well-meaning groups.

[no-to-illegals]

Limitations.....Limitations.....
by all means the good Dr. is correct.....

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Didn't they do this in The Matrix to keep the machines from getting solar energy?

[Frwy]

I want to bid all my FRfriends a very fond farewell while I still can. Very bad times are upon us.

[Eagles6]

"a machine or missile shoots tonnes of particles into the atmosphere that would block the Sun's rays, cool down the overheated Earth, and reverse global warming."

I'm sure this will turn out well.(Need I add /sarc?)

[no-to-illegals]

yes, but America does have heroes.....
and we know life isn't a comic book!

[jwparkerjr]

re: Not to mention screwing with human circadian rhythms

You don't think it's a fair trade to impair the ability of a few old people to square dance in return for saving Earth?

[LibFreeOrDie]

Um... didn't we spend the last few decades trying to get all the evil particulate pollution OUT of the atmosphere? And now they're want to put it all back???

[samm1148]

Global warming: The false calamity brought to you by your leftist friends who can't even tell you what the temperature will be NEXT WEEK.

[Hambone02]

I find it amazing how these climo-idiots cannot predict next weeks weather, predict correctly how many storms per hurricane season, etc., but can say with certainty we are all (mankind, not us) going to be bacon in a couple hundred years...

[Tench_Coxe]

"it is a simple concept capable with a 15 mile (similar) square mirror, but I would guess capability is limited to no more than several hundred yards square for the present, or actual sky coverage size, if this was / is the question."

It would be a more useful endeavor if such a system were also used to generate power for use on planet Earth. Then again, there would be the usual nervous nellies worried about the potential such a thing would have as a weapon (would would then be exploited by vested interests afraid of losing a chokehold on energy sources).

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I'm sorry, but no.

I can't in good conscience interfere with any elderly person who still has the wherewithal to dosey-do.

[RichInOC]

I like to think of myself as your basic "pave the earth" kind of guy, but suffice it to say I have a very, very bad feeling about this.

[no-to-illegals]

it would be best ...... an idea left ...... but (then again) I'm for the power distribution angle myself.

[Reeses]

A more down to earth technology is creating man-made clouds and snow, which reflect sunlight out to space just fine. The climate management would be more local and not necessarily subject to UN control.

Fewer people live in the southern hemisphere and the north and south are fairly independent. Engineers could perfect climate management technologies in the south without having to fear global oopsies.

Of course the global warming scare mongers will move on to screaming about man-made climate control. We'll look back fondly on the simple days of global warming hysteria.

[annelizly]

OH YEAH!!! I'm with YOU!!!

Not only can't they cure cancer, they can't cure AIDS, herpes, diabetes, MS, PMS, menapause, acne, morning sickness, emphyzema, arthritis, .......etc....etc...

scary!

[wodinoneeye]

Simpler to use a 'Nuclear Winter' to counter the mythical 'Global Warming' (kill two birds with one stone...)

[My Favorite Headache]

Sitting on this barstool talking like a damn fool
Got the twelve oclock news blues
And Ive given up hope on the afternoon soaps
And a bottle of cold brew
Is it any wonder Im not crazy? is it any wonder Im sane at all
Well Im so tired of losing- I got nothing to do and all day to do it
I go out cruisin but Ive no place to go and all night to get there
Is it any wonder Im not a criminal?
Is it any wonder Im not in jail?
Is it any wonder Ive got

Too much time on my hands, its ticking away with my sanity
Ive got too much time on my hands, its hard to believe such a calamity
Ive got too much time on my hands and its ticking away from me
Too much time on my hands, too much time on my hands
Too much time on my hands

Well, Im a jet fuel genius - I can solve the worlds problems
Without even trying
I have dozens of friends and the fun never ends
That is, as long as Im buying
Is it any wonder Im not the president
(hes not the president)
Is it any wonder Im null and void?
Is it any wonder Ive got

Too much time on my hands, its ticking away at my sanity
Ive got too much time on my hands, its hard to believe such a calamity
Ive got too much time on my hands and its ticking away from me
Too much time on my hands, too much time on my hands
Too much time on my hands

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

**reverse global warming. ***

But, but I like global warming! I HATE cold weather!

[antidisestablishment]

It's almost as dumb as launching millions of copper needles into the ionosphere.Of course, this was in the heady days of empirical science. LOL!