The first solar geo-engineering experiment ?
The experiment that was going to be carried out is something totally new, uncertain, and one that many people opposed to.
It is about launching a series of balloons into the stratosphere in Sweden, and from there to spray it with different particles and thus be able to analyze how the radiation varies from the Sun that reaches the Earth.
It is an experiment developed by Harvard University, to experiment with a possible way to counteract the effects of climate change.
They have done laboratory level testing, but it is not the same as doing it in the real world.
The objective was to release particles into the atmosphere so that more sunlight is reflected and that in this way less heat reaches the Earth, and thus lessen its heating.
That is the theory. The practice remains to be seen, and those who criticize it (I think with good reason) argue that it is not possible to know in a short time the “response” of the Earth to this abrupt change in conditions, since the Earth is a very complex ecosystem that takes time to react, and the consequences can be most unforeseen and perhaps very damaging.
They tried to hang devices like those indicated in the photo below from balloons, to release up to 2 kg. of sub-micron particles in a space of a kilometer, and then their sensors would measure how the particles are scattered and how much sunlight they reflect.
The goal was to have data to simulate what would happen if tons of particles were launched, and to estimate their possible effects.
The same people who were going to do the test recognized this fact with the hope that in the future they will not have to go to these extremes, but they want to have some data on what could happen, knowing that these small-scale data cannot be directly extrapolated to a higher scale.
I believe that the most important problem has to do with legal, environmental and ethical issues, since this type of action carried out in one country can have consequences in other countries.
I am a firm supporter of scientific and technological development, but I believe that not everything goes.
I am not a scientist but I have some technical training, and my common sense tells me that we only have one planet and that we should take care of it and not play with it.
The solution to our “problem” of climate change is to change our way of life, not “play” with nature.
And I am glad to be able to say that this experiment has been “canceled” by Sweden because it is not clear at all about its suitability.
Although I would not be surprised if scientists continue to insist on testing and do it elsewhere. There are some who are very persistent.
