14 DAY TRIAL // Having agreed that global warming resulting from gas emissions is no longer something to be controlled in an effective manner, geoengineers have turned instead to coming up with ways to prevent sunlight from reaching the surface of the earth and thus over-heating it.
Natural history teaches us that during periods of time immediately following large volcanic eruptions, the earth cools off because the dust particles released into the atmosphere act as an over-sized “umbrella” blocking off the sun.
Thus, the scientists wish to try and accomplish something similar, meaning that they are currently planning on increasing the amount of aerosols in the earth's stratosphere.
However, as sciencedaily.com reports, specialists Ben Kravitz and Ken Caldeira from the Carnegie Mellon University, together with Douglas MacMartin from the California Institute of Technology, argue that going along with this plan will make the sky three-to-five times brighter, not to mention considerably more white.
Apparently, one other consequence may be that future sunsets will start displaying afterglows.
Seeing how life on our planet is pretty much used to carry on with its activities under very specific lighting conditions, odds are that, should the sky suddenly begin to manifest changes in terms of brightness and color, un-thought of incidents might occur.
What we can state for the time being is that photosynthesis will surely be affected, and that we will no longer we able to use solar energy the way we do now.
Ben Kravitz argues that "These results give people one more thing to consider before deciding whether we really want to go down this road. Although our study did not address the potential psychological impact of these changes to the sky, they are important to consider as well."
Although the idea of casting a shadow on the planet so as to protect it might seem appealing to some, perhaps it is best to carefully consider the pros and cons and only act when we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are doing the right thing.