Download http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1507/1507.05495.pdf Forthcoming in Futures doi:10.1016/j.futures.2015.07.002
Should we geoengineer larger ice caps? Jacob Haqq-Misra (Submitted on 20 Jul 2015) The climate of Earth is susceptible to catastrophes that could threaten the longevity of human civilization. Geoengineering to reduce incoming solar radiation has been suggested as a way to mediate the warming effects of contemporary climate change, but a geoengineering program for thousands of years could also be used to enlarge the size of the polar ice caps and create a permanently cooler climate. Such a large ice cap state would make Earth less susceptible to climate threats and could allow human civilization to survive further into the future than otherwise possible. Intentionally extending Earth's glacial coverage will require uninterrupted commitment to this program for millenia but would ultimately reach a cooler equilibrium state where geoengineering is no longer needed. Whether or not this program is ever attempted, this concept illustrates the need to identify preference among potential climate states to ensure the long-term success of civilization. Comments: Accepted for publication in Futures Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics (physics.ao-ph); Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph) DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2015.07.002 Cite as: arXiv:1507.05495 [astro-ph.EP] (or arXiv:1507.05495v1 [astro-ph.EP] for this version) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
