Geoengineering Researchers Have Halted Plans For a Balloon Launch in Sweden (technologyreview.com) 13
The advisory committee for a Harvard University geoengineering research project is recommending that the team suspend plans for its first balloon flight in Sweden this summer. From a report: The purpose of that initial flight was to evaluate the propelled balloon's equipment and software in the stratosphere. In subsequent launches, the researchers hope to release small amounts of particles to better understand the risks and potential of solar geoengineering, the controversial concept of spraying sulfates, calcium carbonate or other compounds above the Earth to scatter sunlight and ease global warming. These would mark the first geoengineering-related experiments conducted in the stratosphere. But the committee has determined that the researchers should hold off on even the preliminary equipment tests until they've held discussions with members of the public in Sweden. David Keith, a Harvard climate scientist and member of the research team, said they will abide by the recommendations.
The decision is likely to push the launch into 2022, further delaying a project initially slated to begin as early as 2018. It also opens up the possibility that the initial flights will occur elsewhere, as the researchers had selected the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden in part because the Swedish Space Corporation could accommodate a launch this year. Moreover, that company said in its own statement that it decided not to conduct the flights as well, following recent conversations with geoengineering experts, the advisory board and other stakeholders. Harvard set up the advisory committee in 2019 to review the proposed experiments and ensure the researchers take appropriate steps to limit risks, seek outside input, and operate in a transparent manner. In a statement, the committee said it has begun the process of working with public engagement specialists in Sweden and looking for organizations to host conversations.
The decision is likely to push the launch into 2022, further delaying a project initially slated to begin as early as 2018. It also opens up the possibility that the initial flights will occur elsewhere, as the researchers had selected the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden in part because the Swedish Space Corporation could accommodate a launch this year. Moreover, that company said in its own statement that it decided not to conduct the flights as well, following recent conversations with geoengineering experts, the advisory board and other stakeholders. Harvard set up the advisory committee in 2019 to review the proposed experiments and ensure the researchers take appropriate steps to limit risks, seek outside input, and operate in a transparent manner. In a statement, the committee said it has begun the process of working with public engagement specialists in Sweden and looking for organizations to host conversations.
Why Sweden? (Score:2)
Releasing a big balloon requires infra structure (Score:3)
It's probably not a small balloon or payload.
Have a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com] for an example of a balloon release - the video is only 1:47 long.
I don't know any details of that particular project, but for a big balloon, just the payload might be 2000 kg and reach an altitude of 40 km. IIRC, the "skin" of such a balloon masses a tonne or two. Then in addition you have the mass of the helium -- I think it's about two tonnes but it could be "just" one tonne.
Doing that kind of release is non
Get your data (Score:2)
I believe the stratosphere is anyones' stratosphere, due to its shifting nature, and so, if we should do this intrusively, we should do it as a planet.
However, Sweden sounds as good as any nation to set first steps in this, getting some preliminary data?
Please tell me this is an April Fools Story (Score:2)
Re: Please tell me this is an April Fools Story (Score:2)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Bad idea (Score:2)
Re:Bad idea (Score:4, Insightful)
Blocking sunlight also lowers photosynthesis which removes CO2 from the atmosphere.
Part of the reason for this experiment was to measure the extent of the blockage in the wavelengths used for photosynthesis.
the highest rise in temperature is to the north, moving vegetation to the north removing CO2
As permafrost thaws, previously frozen vegetation decays, releasing both CO2 and CH4.
the temperature rise haven't hurt the equatorial part of Earth very much yet
The Sahara has expanded southward by 200 km.
UN ban (Score:5, Interesting)
There is a ban on geoengineering experiments since the 2010 UN Convention on Biodiversity conference in Nagoya. Sweden is one of the 193 signatories.
So, this research would be against the law. But this is Sweden we are talking about, and the authorities here don't have the clout to stop anything. Politicians and authorities here are wimps, which is why we got Greta Thunberg (as a reaction to inaction) and why they can't control COVID. Sweden also tend to bend over backwards to anyone from the US with enough will to get things their way.
However, activists could certainly disrupt things. And this is why this is a PR issue more than a legal issue.
There is a worst case scenario. (Score:2)
Weird place to stop (Score:4, Insightful)
"Don't even test the equipment you might use to do an experiment with later"
The correct response to that is not 'OK' but 'piss off'.
If the later experiment is given the green light, this just adds an unnecessary delay. Not only that, the scale of such an experiment combined with the compounds involved render it essentially harmless.
Even if the data gathered is never used to go large-scale, it's still interesting and valuable science and the kind of people who would block this experiment are the kind of people who should have absolutely zero influence over it.