Geo-engineering can save this planet

An article in the next issue of "Atlantic" puts geo-engineering front and center for stopping the ill effects of global warming. Faster and cheaper than the more political proposals like cap and trade or efficient cars. It's written by Graeme Wood, called "Moving Heaven and Earth." When they finally post it online, it will be here. Some of the schemes include pumping SO2 into the atmosphere to block much of the incoming solar radiation and cool the planet. Another scheme calls for spraying seawater into the air, forming heavier white clouds to reflect sunlight back where it comes from. A frisbee fan, my favorite: setting up big electromagnetic guns that would shoot thousands of reflective frisbees into space. Those in turn would turn back the solar energy. Wow! Another is to create a "Blade Runner" atmosphere, too dense for solar radiation to penetrate. We'd better hurry. "Blade Runner" is set in 2019. Wood's article claims any of these ideas could be carried out for less than $100-billion. Not much compared to what we're paying for bank bail-outs, saving decrepit auto makers or waging war in far-flung parts of Asia. Hell, Bill Gates could do it on his own. Various geoengineering schemes date back to the early phases of global warming concern. Here's one blog that's nearly a year old. The poll reflects a great deal of reader skepticism. The only large-scale attempt at geoengineering took place in the South Atlantic this year, and failed. It was called Lohafex. The micro-organisms of the ocean organized to take advantage of the iron oxide, cancelling out its supposed ability to capture carbon. For Gaia advocates a victory for Mother Nature. Once again: Nature 1, Science O. [poll id="114"] Here's webpage for John Latham, proponent of churning up seawater to form clouds. Here's a look at the diplomacy of huge geoengineering projects, authored by proponent of the "Blade Runner" solution. Wood's most fascinating writing is about the cost and politics of geoengineering. To use another movie example he writes of a possible "Greenfinger," the future parallel of the James Bond's hated Goldfinger. A wealthy freelancer who tries signlep-handedly to change the climate. Wood says there are already a few dozen people who singlephandedly control enough cash to do such a thing. And right now this is a libertarian playground. There are very fewe rules or treaties about what anybody can do in the atmosphere. SO2 aerosol anyone?