3 ms·

Ask HN: How much can reflection of sunlight help with climate change?

8 points by codingclaws 3y ago

Couldn't we put a bunch of relatively small satellites into orbit that reflect sunlight away from the earth?

PaulHoule 3y ago
See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4550401/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4550401/ and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576521001995 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009457652... The most plausible scheme right now seems to be https://geoengineering.global/stratospheric-aerosol-injection/ https://geoengineering.global/stratospheric-aerosol-injectio...
AK42 3y ago
Biden is looking at a much simpler approach - already in place by volcanic eruptions. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/01/white-house-cautiously-opens-door-to-study-blocking-suns-rays-to-slow-global-warming-ee-00104513 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/01/white-house-cautiou...
dharmab 3y ago
See also: https://www.science.org/content/article/changing-clouds-unforeseen-test-geoengineering-fueling-record-ocean-warmth https://www.science.org/content/article/changing-clouds-unfo...
avmich 3y ago
See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_shade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_shade . An obstacle to sunlight which diverts some percentage of the light away from Earth could cool the planet, but this is a delicate and expensive operation. I'd think at the stage we have all different ways should be considered. Maybe there are others obviously better approaches.
cromulent 3y ago
See also sulphur such as this discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37008034 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37008034 And also YC linked Make Sunsets: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/12/24/1066041/a-startup-says-its-begun-releasing-particles-into-the-atmosphere-in-an-effort-to-tweak-the-climate/amp/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/12/24/1066041/a-startu... And of course the excellent novel Termination Shock: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_Shock_(novel) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_Shock_(novel)

8 points by codingclaws 3y ago

Couldn't we put a bunch of relatively small satellites into orbit that reflect sunlight away from the earth?

See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4550401/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4550401/ and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0094576521001995 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009457652... The most plausible scheme right now seems to be https://geoengineering.global/stratospheric-aerosol-injection/ https://geoengineering.global/stratospheric-aerosol-injectio...

AK42 3y ago

Biden is looking at a much simpler approach - already in place by volcanic eruptions. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/01/white-house-cautiously-opens-door-to-study-blocking-suns-rays-to-slow-global-warming-ee-00104513 https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/01/white-house-cautiou...

dharmab 3y ago

See also: https://www.science.org/content/article/changing-clouds-unforeseen-test-geoengineering-fueling-record-ocean-warmth https://www.science.org/content/article/changing-clouds-unfo...

avmich 3y ago

See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_shade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_shade . An obstacle to sunlight which diverts some percentage of the light away from Earth could cool the planet, but this is a delicate and expensive operation. I'd think at the stage we have all different ways should be considered. Maybe there are others obviously better approaches.

cromulent 3y ago

See also sulphur such as this discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37008034 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37008034 And also YC linked Make Sunsets: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/12/24/1066041/a-startup-says-its-begun-releasing-particles-into-the-atmosphere-in-an-effort-to-tweak-the-climate/amp/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/12/24/1066041/a-startu... And of course the excellent novel Termination Shock: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_Shock_(novel) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_Shock_(novel)