such a dork!

The Krakatoa Can Can

The head of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry wants to fill the sky with sulfur.

The intention, I guess, is to form a kind of second ozone layer; the sulfur particles will reflect the sun’s heat back out into space, preventing a good bit of it from reaching the Earth and accelerating the global temperature. The article linked above cites evidence (volcanic eruptions) that suggests this would actually work.

It’s a temporary solution, since the sulfur particles would only last a few years. Presumably, they could be replenished, although I imagine the cost would make it impractical in any great frequency.

I have nowhere near enough scientific acumen to argue with someone who’s been in the field for over fifty years. Hell, I don’t have the legs to argue with someone who’s got a hard science bachelor’s degree. But this just seems like a bad idea.

As one commenter on the article points out, volcanic eruptions — and the proposed measure here is, essentially, an artificial volcanic eruption without the flaming chunks of rock and lava falling from the sky — carry a variety of unpleasant after-effects, like acid rain.

But the Earth has survived massive eruptions before, some with climatic effects severe enough to drop snow on Hawaii in July (I’d pull up a reference for that one, but my sister stole the Childcraft books for her daughter). The fact that this is a very temporary move, then, could actually work in its favor.

Crutzen’s not proposing it as the solution, merely something to stave off bad Kevin Costner movies for a few more years. If nothing else, maybe it’d give Florida and Louisiana a year or two to catch their breath.

I hesitate to say that it’s worth a shot, but… well… maybe it is.

posted by Smitty @ 5:47 PM