I just wish I'd thought of it as a plot for a story. Rouge states cause volcanoes to cool Earth's climate - I mean, there are so many things that can go wrong, so many political implications, so many opportunities for things to explode! It's a science fiction dream!
-- Jonathan Sherwood Sr. Science & Technology Press Officer University of Rochester 585-273-4726 On Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 5:19 PM, Dave Henn <[email protected]> wrote: > Actually, this could be a two-for for rogue states. If a rogue state can > figure out how to trigger massive volcanic eruptions, such as the Wyoming > Yellowstone Caldera's > impending-some-time-in-the-next-umpteeump-thousands-of-years explosion, then > they can have a major hit against a hated "enemy" while reducing the degree > of global warming. > > David > > > On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 4:28 PM, Jonathan > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> This is the kind of thing I wish I'd thought of... >> >> >> >> Sent to you by Jonathan via Google Reader: >> >> >> Giant Explosions Are The Cheapest Way To Halt Climate Change, Say >> Scientists [Strange >> Scenarios]<http://io9.com/5459922/giant-explosions-are-the-cheapest-way-to-halt-climate-change-say-scientists> >> via io9 <http://io9.com> by Annalee Newitz on 1/29/10 >> >> A recent report from a group of environmental scientists, published in >> Nature, argues that cutting greenhouse emissions is much more expensive than >> another option we have to halt global warming: Setting of a mega-volcano >> that would coat atmosphere in nice, sun-blocking ash. According to an >> article on the report in the >> *Telegraph*<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7090608/Simulated-volcanic-eruptions-to-block-sun.html>: >> >> >> They called for governments to establish a multimillion-pound fund for >> research into the simulated volcanoes and other solar-radiation management >> techniques for shielding the Earth against sunlight. >> >> "The idea of deliberately manipulating Earth's energy balance to offset >> human-driven climate change strikes many as dangerous hubris," they wrote. >> >> "Many scientists have argued against research on solar radiation >> management, saying that developing the capability to perform such tasks will >> reduce the political will to lower greenhouse gas emissions. We think that >> the risks of not doing research outweigh the risks of doing it." >> >> They said the cost of solar radiation management was 100 times lower than >> the price tag for cutting emissions to achieve the same effect, raising the >> risk that small groups of nations or even rogue states could act alone. >> >> They wrote: "It is plausible that, after exhausting other avenues to limit >> climate risks, such a nation might decide to begin a gradual, well-monitored >> programme of deployment, even without any international agreement on its >> regulation. >> >> "In this case, one nation – which need not be a large and rich >> industrialised country – could seize the initiative on global climate, >> making it extremely difficult for other powers to restrain it." >> >> So let me get this straight. "Rogue states" are going to get fed up with >> carbon taxes and instead create simulated volcanoes in order to save the >> environment? That's a . . . strange scenario. I like it though. >> >> <http://feeds.gawker.com/%7Eff/io9/full?a=7cGcakZwGGc:OQhtPBEyuv8:yIl2AUoC8zA> >> <http://feeds.gawker.com/%7Eff/io9/full?a=7cGcakZwGGc:OQhtPBEyuv8:D7DqB2pKExk> >> <http://feeds.gawker.com/%7Eff/io9/full?a=7cGcakZwGGc:OQhtPBEyuv8:V_sGLiPBpWU> >> >> >> >> Things you can do from here: >> >> - Subscribe to >> io9<http://www.google.com/reader/view/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fio9.com%2Findex.xml?source=email>using >> *Google Reader* >> - Get started using Google >> Reader<http://www.google.com/reader/?source=email>to easily keep up with >> *all your favorite sites* >> >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]<r-spec%[email protected]> >> . >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en. >> > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<r-spec%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en.
