January 27, 2007
IT'S AMAZING. IT'S THE MIRRORS:
US: Use mirrors to solve global warming (Bonnie Malkin, 27/01/2007, Daily Telegraph)
The US government has called on the world's scientists to research using giant mirrors or reflective dust to slow global warming. [...]Posted by Orrin Judd at January 27, 2007 5:53 PMScientists have previously estimated that reflecting less than 1 per cent of sunlight back into space could compensate for the warming generated by all greenhouse gases emitted since the industrial revolution.
Possible techniques include putting a giant screen into orbit, thousands of tiny, shiny balloons, or microscopic sulphate droplets pumped into the high atmosphere to mimic the cooling effects of a volcanic eruption.
One Ice Age later: "Environmentalists blame Bush for global cooling due to giant mirrors."
Wasn't this in a Futurame episode? It went great until the mirror rotated and turned into a version of the Archimedes death ray, nearly incinerating Al Gore's head.
Posted by: Just John at January 27, 2007 6:32 PMFuturama, that is. Preview is my friend.
Posted by: Just John at January 27, 2007 6:32 PMIf mirrors don't work, then let's try smoke. If that doesn't work, then maybe a combination of smoke and mirrors.
Posted by: AllenS at January 27, 2007 6:39 PMNuclear Winter will do the trick. Let's nuke the Norks and Chicoms.
Posted by: oj at January 27, 2007 6:45 PMSo, Gaia will decide to engage Sol. Not a good idea.
Posted by: ratbert at January 27, 2007 7:05 PMI still like the approach of fertilizing the oceans with iron. Likely cheaper, no interference with astronomy, and we'd end up with more fish.
Posted by: PapayaSF at January 27, 2007 7:07 PMWasn't there a Highlander movie about this? And btw, it sucked really bad, I remember I laughed through the whole movie.
Posted by: KRS at January 28, 2007 2:00 AMThis one is way too easy!
Posted by: erp at January 28, 2007 8:38 AMOr we could let the planet go through its normal heating and cooling cycles and leave well enough alone...sheesh!
Posted by: Bartman at January 28, 2007 9:30 AMWell, space mirrors are cheaper than kneecapping the global economy. But then, what isn´t?
Posted by: wf at January 28, 2007 5:30 PM