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Artanthos t1_jd2rdk8 wrote

Reply to comment by ZoeInBinary in UN climate report: Scientists release 'survival guide' to avert climate disaster by filosoful

Pumping sulfur dioxide into the upper atmosphere could be done unilaterally, cheaply, and quickly.

It’s a last ditch effort, but it’s results would be immediate and global.

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ML4Bratwurst t1_jd328p3 wrote

Wasnt that the end of the world in Matrix?

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Artanthos t1_jd381a0 wrote

Volcanos have been doing this periodically for Earths entire history.

Mt. Tambora’s eruption in 1816 lowered global temperatures by ~1^• F for a year.

Anything done by humans would have to be done in a more controlled manner.

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ThisElder_Millennial t1_jd328xq wrote

That is a legitimate idea and one that could work. The problem is that once you start, you can't stop. If nations did that unilaterally, it takes the impetus off of states who aren't making CO2 cuts/sequestrations to continue with business as usual.

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Artanthos t1_jd37dvy wrote

Cost/benefit analysis.

Which option is worse will depend on the extent of the climate change.

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ThisElder_Millennial t1_jd38p29 wrote

I'm mainly talking about how this will be a free rider problem. Geoengineering isn't free and has to be continually maintained. The issue is that since everyone will benefit, there isn't the incentive to contribute to the cause. Or, assuming the end goal is to eventually ween ones self off of geoengineering, free riders will have to be "strong-armed" (for lack of a better term) into going carbon zero (or carbon negative). Otherwise, once one of more parties stop the practice, we'll be right back at square one in regards to problems.

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Artanthos t1_jd399lm wrote

I don’t disagree.

But if it comes down to a question of survival and it’s too late for other options, this is the fail safe.

It will cause problems, including acid rain. It will have free riders, it will reduce food production due reducing sunlight, and it will disrupt global weather patterns.

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Eristotle t1_jd35m82 wrote

yes and sulfur dioxide would also create acid rain and result in less crop yield

use calcium carbonate instead and you lose the acid rain and gain a marginal improvement to ocean acidity tho you still get lower crop yields with any solar dimming

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