People have difficulty abandoning fossil fuels, so some argue that we will soon have to start Geogim – that is, to modify the atmosphere to prevent devastating planet heating.
Practice is controversial. Some argue that it is the only solution as we have been waiting too long to reduce carbon emissions. Others say that we should not conduct two uncontrolled experiments on the Earth’s climate (the first is the worldwide burning of fossil fuels).
This has not stopped people trying. And an approach defended by We make the solar ingredients He has drawn the attention of the US Environmental Protection Service.
The start is basically two children from Silicon Valley who release weather balloons filled with sulfur hydrogen and sulfur dioxide particles. When the balloon floats somewhere after 66,000 feet at altitude, it explodes and releases sulfur dioxide particles, which are scattered and reflecting the sunlight, cooling the earth a tiny piece.
The company sells “cooling credits” based on how much estimated heating each balloons release. Sunsets has raised $ 750,000, according to the Pitchbook, and the start says its investors include boost VC, Draper Associates and Pioneer Fund.
Neither is the founder, a scientist, but the science behind sulfur dioxide and solar reflectability is healthy. Man accidentally proved The importance of sulfur dioxide in world albedo – the average reflectivity of Earth’s surface – when they broke the sulfur content of marine fuel fuels in 2020. It has a prominent climate scientist supported in favor of practice.
Still, given the complexity of the world climate, it is not clear what other results can have. It can sow thunderstorms in an area while depriving other rain areas. Have several scientists called attention.
In addition, if sulfur’s dioxide particles are dragged closer to the ground, they could aggravate people’s asthma and cause other respiratory problems. Here, EPA faces the EPA’s Geoengineering approach. Sulfur dioxide is regulated as an atmospheric pollution. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said this week that the organization is Investigating the Company.
Sunsets argues that its actions are legal. To one Frequently questions On its website, the company says: “Yes, our method to cool the land falls under the law of modification of the 1976 weather and reports annually on the Noaa of our Developments as needed.”
However, the law is unclear here. When written, the law on the modification of the weather was probably intended to cover the practice of sowing clouds, where particles such as iodine silver are shot in clouds to cause rain or snowfall. The most modification of the weather today is made by entities such as ski resort and Irrigation areas in the West. Of not clean How is the law on climate amendment apply.
Still, while EPA can be justified in its research, it is not exactly consistent with Zeldin’s approach to pollution.
The body attempts to strengthen carbon They are likely to create much more pollution of sulfur dioxide than the sunsets will be released with its balloons. A balloon make sunsets released November 15 2024Released 1,715 grams of sulfur dioxide. In 2023, US power plants were released 650,000 tonnes In the atmosphere, the majority from which it came from carbon. This is about the same amount with 343,900,000 from the start balloons.
