One scientist's hobby: recreating the ice age - AP http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101127/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_ice_age_park
Could reintroducing wildlife in northern Siberia slow global warming? The idea is that wild horses, moose and reindeer, perhaps followed by other deer and bison, would slow global warming. Grazing and trampling would encourage the growth of grass. Trampling herds would compress the snow and the soil, creating an insulator that prevents the soil from thawing and that keeps permafrost frozen. Furthermore, grass and snow will reflect sunlight more, as opposed to darker-colored tundra and forest that would absorb more sunlight. Questions: 1. Would above benefits be outweighed by the fact that grazing animals would cause additional emissions, through digestion and through their manure? 2. Would grassland indeed form, or would compressing the soil due to trampling instead contribute to the formation of swamps and wetlands that cause additional emissions? What's you view? Is grassland a better alternative than tundra and forest? Is this initiative to be recommended? Cheers, Sam Carana -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" 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/geoengineering?hl=en.
