The Arctic and Antarctic are classified as deserts with limited or
variable cloud cover available for cloud seeding (correct me if I am
wrong)? To my knowledge, cloud seeding is costly and would also
involve the combustion of jet fuel that is, unfortunately, a
limitation apparent in today's conventional technologies. In addition,
if we just focus on cooling the Arctic would this not just increase
the kinetic-heat-conveyor belt of the Gulf Stream transporting heat
from the subtropics to the Arctic?
I would like to suggest that the highest climatic risk may involve
the possibility of a methane release. Covering the permafrost with an
environmentally friendly, biodegradable (maybe a 500+ year life) white
plastic sheeting (derived from algae) may provide a less variable and
more fail safe approach to hasten the albedo effect over critical
zones. The white membrane with some innovative material science could
also temporarily slow a or even partially absorb a potential methane
out gassing. A risk assessment/GIS map could be devised for the
permafrost with a corresponding deployment schedule. In this case the
Central Siberian permafrost would most likey be considered the first
critical zone for deployment.
Regards,
Brennan
On Dec 15, 5:47 am, Andrew Lockley <[email protected]> wrote:
> I note the use of cloud seeding by the Chinese, and its unexpected effect in
> causing huge snowfalls in Beijing. It seems that there may be two useful
> geoengineering approaches with this technique, and I'd be interested in
> hearing comments.
>
> 1) Rebuild ice - by inducing snowfalls over Greenland, Antarctica and the
> Arctic, it would perhaps be possible to maintain ice. In Greenland, where
> the height of the ice cap is critical, this would seem a particularly
> appealing prospect.
> 2) Albedo modification - Fresh snow is whiter than old snow, especially in
> polluted areas. Is the albedo change worth pursuing? My guess is not.
> HOWEVER, I suspect that triggering significant autumn and spring snowfalls
> in permafrost regions, we could potentially significantly modify albedo.
>
> I invite comments.
>
> A
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