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Solar Geoengineering Could Lead To Whiter, Brighter Skies

Posted by Soulskill on from the cheaper-than-a-giant-annular-mirror dept.

cylonlover writes "We've heard reports that placing small, reflective particles into the upper atmosphere could actually improve crop yields, but would also significantly reduce the amount of electricity generated by solar power plants and do little to arrest the acidification of the world's oceans. Now another potential side effect has been theorized by Californian researchers, who say that solar geoengineering could lead to brighter, whiter skies, and sunsets with an afterglow (abstract)."

7 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. Hose astronomers, sandblast jet planes... by cirby · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thanks, guys.

    1. Re:Hose astronomers, sandblast jet planes... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      We at the Monsanto corportation don't feel that you're sarcasm is warranted. Honestly, after all the Frankenscience we've unleased to this point to benefit mankind and large scale agricultural producers, we just don't see why you guys are getting so bent out of shape over a little, bitty amount of reflective dust.

  2. Re:The haze is white in the city, violet from afar by smooth+wombat · · Score: 4, Funny

    You're not suggesting that humans could possibly affect nature or the weather, are you? As all the AGW will tell you, there is absolutely no way we puny humans could possibly do anything to change weather patterns, affect rain or pollute the air.

    What you're seeing is a natural event, something that comes and goes over the centuries. It happened in the past and will happen again (sorry for the BSG reference).

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  3. Re:Nothing new here by DanTheStone · · Score: 3, Funny

    For the meme, obligatory http://xkcd.com/966/

  4. Re:The haze is white in the city, violet from afar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The smog from Atlanta is being produced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

    Let's all be grateful for leap years!

  5. Re:Whiter, brighter skies? by RivenAleem · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm concerned with the implication that white = bright, dark = dumb. I thought we'd moved away from such racist views.

  6. alienz, really?!!! by Thud457 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whatcouldpossiblygowrong?

    Seriously, have these guys never seen the matrix or highlander?

    So we need to avoid any potential sequels ?

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff