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1,500-Ship Fleet Proposed To Fight Climate Change

Posted by timothy on from the sponsored-by-viagra dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "According to UK and US researchers, it should be possible to fight the global warming effects associated with an increase of dioxide levels by using autonomous cloud-seeding ships to spray salt water into the air. This project would require the deployment of a worldwide fleet of 1,500 unmanned ships to cool the Earth even if the level of carbon dioxide doubled. These 300-tonne ships 'would be powered by the wind, but would not use conventional sails. Instead they would be fitted with a number of 20 m-high, 2.5 m-diameter cylinders known as Flettner rotors. The researchers estimate that such ships would cost between £1m and £2m each. This translates to a US$2.65 to 5.3 billion total cost for the ships only."

8 of 692 comments (clear)

  1. Futurama by asills · · Score: 5, Funny

    And here I thought dropping an ice cube into the ocean was a really far fetched idea and nobody would take it seriously.

    --
    -- What did Spock find in Kirk's toilet? The captain's log.
    1. Re:Futurama by ypctx · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't forget to add Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem for greater effect:)

    2. Re:Futurama by pak9rabid · · Score: 5, Funny

      Fortunately our handsomest politicians came up with a cheap, last minute way to combat global warming.

  2. Re:Headline by Shakrai · · Score: 5, Funny

    One question for any Chaos Theory fans: what are the long-term effects of creating large, man-made clouds over the ocean?

    In Central Park you get rain instead of sunshine and a whole lot of people get eaten by prehistoric animals?

    --
    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
  3. Re:Being as WATER VAPOR is the #1 greenhouse gas.. by Samantha+Wright · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sometimes, only RTFA can help you.

    --
    Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
  4. Re:That's what? by Sen.NullProcPntr · · Score: 5, Funny

    We need to do enough research to make sure it won't cause a hurricane / tsunami first

    You don't actually know what a tsunami is, do you?

    Hey, it could happen. Those clouds can get pretty big! If one of them were to fall....

    ;-)

  5. Re:That's what? by mi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Two days of war?

    I'd prefer to look at it as every able-bodied living person obtaining a $0.99 rubber chicken and shaking it at the sky... Costs the same, involves the entire world community, and is just as useful.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  6. Re:She will. by Tumbleweed · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen modded to +5.

    *pft* Hell, I can beat *that*! Just check out some of my comments. I expect an apology.