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Carnegie Researchers Say Geotech Can't Cure Ocean Acidification

Posted by timothy on from the take-it-with-a-ton-of-salt dept.

CarnegieScience writes "Plans to stop global warming by 'geoengineering' the planet by putting aerosols in the atmosphere to block sunlight are controversial, to say the least. Scientists are now pointing out that even if it keeps the planet cool, it will do almost nothing to stop another major problem — ocean acidification. The ocean will keep on absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (making carbonic acid) and the water's pH will get too low for corals and other marine life to secrete skeletons. So this is another strike against a quick fix of our climate problems."

3 of 248 comments (clear)

  1. straw man argument by Captain+Kirk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Geo-engineering may make people think that we can carry on as now with no sacrifices. This article tries to re-inject a sense of fear. Its like saying "OK so the vacuum cleaner is good at cleaning the floor. But does it paint the garage? No? Well back to cleaning the floor with a mop then"

    Surely we deserve a more rational debate? Sacrifices are needed but sophistry will not persuade anyone.

    --
    1000s Warcraft Gold while you sleep
    1. Re:straw man argument by Yvanhoe · · Score: 4, Interesting

      In the climate change debate, there are no places for sanity anymore. For years scientists have tried to warn politicians that *maybe* we ought to be *careful* about some *possible* consequences of our wastes and pollution. Every one dismissed them. Then, for right or wrong (I think for right but who knows), comes the IPCC and Al Gore. They put the scientific argument in the closet, took a deep breath and shouted PAAAAAANIIIIIICC ! And finally got some politicians to take actions. In the 70s you were a irresponsible hippy if you studied sea level rises or the downfall of biodiversity, now you are a irresponsible lackey of oil interest if you examine the various cataclysmic claims and propose to refine a model in the way that seems to minimize the IPCC conclusions.

      Big financial and political interests have now come into play, rational public debate is out.

      --
      The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
  2. Global experiments with us as guinea pigs by RichMan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Ok, the whole solution of Geo-engineering is a WTF moment.

    We did not understand the global bio-sphere to begin with so we are in the Global-Environment change state. Now we propose attacking the symptoms without a full understanding of the dynamics.

    It is like we have are playing russian roulette here and we don't know how many chambers are loaded.

    Look at most attempts to "fix" environmental problems by introducing others. The bio-sphere is just way more interconnected than we can account for.

    The best solution is to reduce our foot-print as rapidly as we can. And make sure it stays that way.