Can We Refreeze The Arctic? This Scientist Certainly Thinks So
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Thanks to global warming, the ice in the Arctic Ocean is today about half of what it was in the 1980's. Given that the situation can only get worse and governments are unable to come to a consensus about how to reverse the trend, one scientist is proposing a radical solution - To use modern technology to repair the damage.
Harvard University's Professor David Keith who has published two papers on the subject is proposing a bold idea that involves injecting reflective particles into areas close to the Arctic ice caps, so that less of the sun's heat would be absorbed. This in turn, would result in lowering temperatures and help some of the Arctic water to refreeze. According to Keith's calculations, just a 0.5% reduction in sunlight penetration could restore the sea ice, back to its former glory. The best part is, it would all be accomplished without cutting back any human created greenhouse gases.
While this may sounds almost impossible, the scientist maintains that the whole thing could be accomplished with the help of a few modified Gulfstream jets and cost just $8 billion USD. While that may sound a lot, it is a minuscule amount, if this idea really works.
So, what is the holdup? Why aren't governments all over the world jumping at being the first to give this a try? Because this kind of open air large-scale geoengineering has never been done before and nobody knows what the side effects will be - It could all work out fine or lead to something totally disastrous like collapsing the remaining ice sheets or worse, cause a massive drought. In fact environmentalists are so vary that the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity has a permanent ban on any such human attempt to try change nature.
Even Professor Keith agrees with that stance, which is why he is just laying out the idea in his research papers, but not, advocating its implementation - At least not just yet! Hopefully, we will be able to avoid these kind of experimental solutions and reverse global warming by simply, altering the way we lead our day-to-day lives.
Resources: inhabitat.com, dailymail.co.uk
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242 Comments
- Ethan Sover 11 yearsi don't think it is going to work. also that is a lot of money can you believe it $8 billion bucks. but if it does work that would be awesome.
- Kellyover 11 yearsI leaned that, first, David Keith wants to refreeze the arctic. Smart! Second, I learned in 1000 years, the ice has gone down 46%. :( Last but not least, I learned that the Gulfstream jets and cost just $8 billion USD.
- me sydneyover 11 yearsi learned that the polar ice caps are very important . Also, I learned that a proffessor at Harvard University named David Keith is planning on using reflective particles to reflect more sunlight so the sun doesnt beat down on the icecaps. Finally, I learned that he doesnt want to do it yet, hoping that people will change the way we live.
- \Nameover 11 yearsi learned that it is possible to stop global warming but it will take a lot of money. i learned that professor keith is very smart and i hope global warming does stop so we can save arctic foxes.
- erickover 11 yearswhoa this is awesmee
- Angieover 11 yearsI learned that global warming is a big deal, and that David Keith Has a plan to restore it but the government won't let him.
- :)over 11 yearsI learned that global warming is a horable thing. It is making the world so hot it's unfreezing the artic. David Keith has made an idea to refreeze the artic.
- Ziahover 11 yearsThey are hoping to release subatomic particles into the area near the ice. It might cost $8 billion USD. This could alter the way we live.
- <(**<)over 11 yearsI never thought about how the arctic would be affected by global warming. It's cool how we might be able to restore the arctic.
- Nehaover 11 yearsI learned that the scientist are trying to stop global warming and trying to refreeze the earth and arctic animals can't live without cold air