3 ms·
> Someone needs to figure out large scale injection of SO2 to the stratosphere. Don't wait for permission, just do it! I wonder if a hundred years ago someone
by SketchySeaBeast 3y ago
> Someone needs to figure out large scale injection of SO2 to the stratosphere. Don't wait for permission, just do it!
I wonder if a hundred years ago someone said "Someone needs to introduce the cane toad to Australia to reduce the beetle population! Don't wait for permission, just do it!".
Not the exact same thing, sure, but we are terrible at predicting side effects.
- BurningFrog 3y agoThe effects of SO2 to the stratosphere are well known and understood, because volcanoes occasionally do just that. Without asking for permission.
- SketchySeaBeast 3y agoIn the same volumes and in the same way as we would be doing it?
- consp 3y agoAccording to wikipedia (and it's source) vulcanoes are at about 1/10th compared to humans (as in, we dump it into the atmosphere 10 times as much) and wildfires about 1/25th compared to humans. Note: data from before 1995.
- BurningFrog 3y agoWhat's interesting here is SO₂ in the stratosphere, not the general atmosphere.
- BurningFrog 3y agoThis article has more detail on how the 2001 Mount Pinatubo eruption lowered temperatures by 0.6°C : https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1510/global-effects-of-mount-pinatubo https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/1510/global-effects... There are two mechanisms. 1. The SO₂ combines with water to form aerosol droplets which scatter and absorb incoming sunlight. 2. These droplets break down or drop to Earth over 1-2 years. Which means that if something unforeseen happens it will be gone pretty soon. Also, while SO₂ in the lower atmosphere causes acid rain, the stratosphere is above all that.