. 23/10/2024 2:53 PM
A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that using diamond dust could be an effective way to cool the Earth. The researchers compared seven different materials and found that diamond dust is the best at reflecting solar radiation. They propose spraying five million tonnes of diamond dust each year into the upper atmosphere to lower global temperatures by 1.6 degrees Celsius.
Geoengineering refers to large-scale efforts to change the Earth's climate system to combat global warming. There are two main types of geoengineering:
Solar Radiation Management (SRM) - This aims to reflect sunlight away from Earth.
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) - This focuses on removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
SRM techniques involve releasing materials into the atmosphere or space to reflect sunlight. One inspiration for SRM comes from volcanic eruptions, which release particles that cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight. For example, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 temporarily lowered global temperatures by 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Researchers have previously looked at using materials like sulphur and calcium for SRM, but diamond dust has shown unique advantages.
CDR methods aim to capture and store CO2 from the air. Techniques include:
Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) - Captures CO2 emissions from industrial sources and stores them underground.
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) - Uses captured CO2 for industrial processes.
Direct Air Capture (DAC) - Extracts CO2 directly from the atmosphere.
While these methods can reduce CO2 levels, they face significant challenges, including high costs and finding safe storage sites for captured CO2.
Despite the challenges, geoengineering remains a vital area of research. As climate change impacts become more visible, solutions like SRM and CDR are gaining attention. It is essential to explore these options carefully, as no climate targets can be met without some form of geoengineering.
The idea of spraying diamond dust to cool the Earth may sound unusual, but as scientists search for radical solutions to combat global warming, it is an option worth considering. With global temperatures already about 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial times, innovative technologies are needed to address this urgent issue.
