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Geoengineering and Carbon Sequestration
by Nick and Beth

Table of Contents: I Geoenginnering A. Pros B. Cons C. Geoengineering Present Day D. Geoegineering's Impact on Climate Change E. Sources



"The principle behind it is straightforward — compensate for an intensified greenhouse effect by reducing the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth" (Walsh)

Pros __Immediate slowing or halt of infrared radiation or solar light-__ A very popular idea among scientists for reducing the amount of infrared reaching the Earth is to release sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. The sulfur dioxide would then reflect incoming infrared radiation and solar light. Another probable quick solution to slowing infrared light is to evaporate ocean water causing the creation of clouds, increasing the Earth’s albedo. A very unlikely solution would be to launch satellites, with mirrors attached, into deep space; the satellites would then reflect incoming solar light. Also the idea of creating a geoengineered forest that causes plants and trees to suck in more CO2, could decrease the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. __Reduction of CO2 in Carbon Cycle-__ Geoengineers suggest fertilizing the ocean with iron to increase the amount phytoplankton, which consume carbon, will reduce some of the carbon in the carbon cycle. Another idea is to create tubes which carry water rich with CO2 to a deeper depth where the carbon will be locked away, preventing the CO2 returning to the atmosphere. __Rebuilding of Ecosystems-__ These technological schemes could reduce the overall temperature of the Earth very rapidly, making it easier for ecosystems to rebuild, such as, the Arctic and Greenland glaciers. Rebuilding the glaciers would help lower the ocean levels to the normal depth, saving costal land.



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Cons Moral Issues-__ Geoengineering could give the world a reason to keep emitting CO2. With a quick short term solution, people might not think into the long-term and think that cutting carbon emissions is unnecessary. Geoengineering is not the solution to climate change; it is just a short term solution that needs to be followed-up with a long-term plan, to decease carbon emissions. __O-zone depletion-__ If we were to release sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere there would be chance that the sulfur dioxide could eat away at the recovering O-zone layer, having an inverse affect, allowing more infrared and sunlight into the atmosphere. __Acid Rain-__ The sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere can also cause there to be acid rain. The acid rain would destroy ecosystems and deplete the amount of carbon the forests can handle in the carbon cycle. Acid rain could also cause the oceans to become more acidic. __Ocean Acidification-__ Fertilizing the ocean with iron and acid rain for the sulfur dioxide could cause ocean acidification. This would cause much distress among marine ecosystems, causing the extinction of species and creating more endangered species. __Cost-__ A general fear of geo- engineering is that the economical and environmental cost might be too much. These new technologies could cost a fortune putting many countries to become in debt. Also there is the fear that we don’t know enough about the environment and unexpected side-effects of geoengineering would cause irreversible problems to the Earth.



__Geoengineering Present Day __ Presently, geoengineering is still in the planning stages. There are still many uncertainties with geoengineering. Scientists around the world are trying to come up with new or improving recent ideas to make the success of these technological advances more probable to succeed. This is a link to an audio clip describing an experiment about fertilizing water with iron and algae absorbing CO2. []

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__ Geoengineering's Impact on Climate Change __ Geoengineering would be a short- term solution to climate change. Geoengineering would only slow climate change, if geoengineering is used, long-term ideas of using safe alternative fuels and reducing carbon emissions should be the next task. Geoengineering would reduce the amount of infrared and light coming into the Earth’s atmosphere greatly. Also the amount of carbon in the atmosphere at one time would be reduced. All of the proposed ideas could cause a significant reduction in temperature, a few degrees, which in turn would allow ecosystems to return to normal.

__ Sources __ "Geo-Engineering-1." __Home__. 16 May 2009 ."House of Commons - Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee - Written Evidence." __United Kingdom Parliament home page__. 30 Sept. 2008. 16 May 2009 ."Ocean iron plan approved as researchers show algae absorb CO2 | Environment | guardian.co.uk." __Latest news, sport, business, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk__. 12 May 2008. 16 May 2009 .

=**__Carbon Sequestration__**=

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Carbon sequestration is a future option to solve the carbon emissions problems. It is the capturing and long-term storing of carbon, which in done a large plant. The carbon is collected from the smoke stack, then turned in to a liquid form of CO2 by being pressurized. Then it gets pumped in to porous rock thousands of feet below the earth's surface. There is a layer of non-porous stone above it, called Cap Rock, this blocks absorption of CO2, unlike the sand stone that absorbs the CO2 in to pore spaces. One use of carbon sequestration for enhanced oil recovery, is when CO2 is injected in to an old oil field, where it helps recover oil that was not attainable before. Other ideas when it comes to sequestration are:
 * What is carbon sequestration?**
 * Pump the carbon in to the ocean, the deepest part of the sea, that can hold vast amounts of carbon dioxide.
 * Building new forests that will balance the amount of carbon being admitted by humans.


 * Pros:**
 * Permanent storage of carbon dioxide.
 * A quick solution that can be completely successful by the year 2020.


 * Cons:**
 * The cost of projects like this $50 per ton of carbon stored.
 * Proof that the carbon dioxide will not seep through the rocks and back in to the atmosphere is not available, because this is such a new idea the long term and wide scale effects are unknown.
 * The IPCC Working Group thinks that in our economic situation, the technology for the storage and capture of carbon moving past demonstration phase is questionable.

Yes, there is one plant in America that uses carbon sequestration, it is the Basson Electric Power Coopertative in North Dakota.
 * Is Carbon Sequestration being used?**

__Sources:__

Coequty, John, and Gabriela von Goerne. "Carbon sequestration.(FORUM)." //Issues in Science and Technology.// 22. 2 (Wntr 2006): 15(1). //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. EDWIN O SMITH HIGH SCHOOL. 15 May. 2009 <[]>.

Gumbel, Peter. "12 Capture the carbon.(Special Double Issue: The Global Warming Survival Guide)(Global Warming)." //Time.// 169. 15 (April 9, 2007): 75. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. EDWIN O SMITH HIGH SCHOOL. 14 May. 2009 <[]>.

SOLOMON, BURT. "A RADICAL APPROACH TO GLOBAL WARMING.(Statistical Data Included)." //National Journal.// 31. 40 (Oct 2, 1999): 2828. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. EDWIN O SMITH HIGH SCHOOL. 15 May. 2009 <[]>.