Scientists Consider Blocking Out the Sun to Stop Climate Change.

No, this isn’t a belated April Fool’s joke!

“Britain’s national science academy, the Royal Society, recently organized a conference at Chicheley Hall — 40 miles north of London — where thinkers from around the world gathered to decide if, and how, the international community could implement geo-engineering tactics to stop global climate change. If the international community fails to mitigate climate change with policy and infrastructure, we’re going to need to take some drastic measures to keep the planet inhabitable. The attendees at the conference decided that though the full consequences are unknown, the only real plan that would work would be to block out the sun.”

Now I know where the saying “Mad Scientist” comes from.

Many crack-pot ideas were discussed at the conference but this idea emerged with solid potential. 

"By most accounts, the leading contender is stratospheric aerosol particles," said climatologist John Shepherd of Britain's Southampton University. The particles would be sun-reflecting sulfates spewed into the lower stratosphere from aircraft, balloons or other devices – much like the sulfur dioxide emitted by the eruption of the Philippines' Mount Pinatubo in 1991, estimated to have cooled the world by 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) for a year or so.

WTF?

Don’t worry that pumping sulfates into the atmosphere would most likely damage the ozone layer that is shielding Earth from the Sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Don’t worry that it won’t stop atmospheric carbon dioxide from acidifying the oceans, and don’t worry about a sudden cooling of the Earth that would itself alter climate patterns in unknown ways.

Maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t the “cure” sound worse than the problem? A bit like amputating your leg to “cure” an ingrown toe nail?

Or maybe this is really some ingenious plan to actually get us all to believe in (imaginary) AGW, and convince us that we should all immediately slash our use of fossil fuels.  Otherwise “plan B” will mean that we’ll never see a Blue Sky again.

The PM and others have the hide to say that the Science is settled – give me a break!

Via the Huffington Post

Andy Semple

Comments

[Grantley]

1.

Oh dear. A joke...? perhaps.

Wonder who pays these people?

Here is a counter solution for them. (& I invite any additions to my proposal...afterall if the sky really is falling then its time for serious action:).....
All lights in bulidings not occupied will be turned off at all times. No more neon advertising lights.
(cities will be in darkness).
All vehicles sold will consume no more than 5l/100km (or equivalent calculation) unless a demonstrable need is presented. All vehicles not meeting this standard will be crushed this week.....bugger!, I'm walking.

Airconditioning will be removed and opening windows installed in all buildings.

In winter time warm clothing will be worn, windows may be closed.

These methods will be first be trialled by all of the attendees at the conference referred to.

Me..?

I'm off to find a dark room to lock myself away in and awaiting the falling of the sky.

Sheez!

[ThePhilosophersays]

2.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun

I can see Noel Coward right now !

[Vikas Nayak]

3.

I'm starting to think society is being trolled by the environmentalists.

[Ben]

4.

I wear sunglasses to block out the sun. It works too.

[ThePhilosophersays]

5.

Scene......Gillard/Brown Marriage Bed.

Act1 Scene 3

Bob......Juia are you awake ?

J....Yeah Bob watchawanna say

B.....Juliar I got a great idea.

J....sheeez another on Blob what now a tax on boat people arrivals ?

B....Nah I can solve this Carbon Tax stuffup and get people to maybe even like you.

J......How Blob I mean ya stole my left side of the bed and now I have to tell everyone im rooted on the left so I sleep in the middle. Then ya told me to Tax Carbon or you would leave me....what now Blob.

B...Juliar this is going to stimulate the economy, create jobs, bring tourists and be eco friendly too

J.....Blob you have been smoking those unbranded smokes again haven't you. I warned you about that one too didn't I ?

B....Shut up Juliar lay back close your eyes and dream of Moscow in the winter.

J.....Blob tell me what to do .

B. We are going to build a giant Umbrella and stick it into the ground at Uhluru/. Its gonna keep us all cool and we just fold it up when it rains orits night time.

J....Blob you are so smart. How many Jobs it gonna create Blob

B....Juliar there will be new industries in making the sun reflective fibres and such. We will have to pay people to open and close it too. We will lead the world in advanced green technology.

J.....Blob if I didn't have you to tell me what to do I just don't know what I'd do.

B....Shut up Juliar it just shows how easy it is to scew you. Do you mind if I upload this on Webcam. I have this matre at ADFA who has an uplink ?

[Anton]

6.

Actually this is a good idea.

The distribution of the sunscreen particles can be done quickly, and the effect noticed almost immediately.

We therefore have a "quick fix" should climate change actually occur. Instead of carbon dioxide taxes and silly light globes, we just carry on as normal. If the planet actually warms, put on the unscreen. If not, the budget stays in deficit, Flannery is confirmed a fool and a team of mad scentists has been kept too busy to have any other stupid ideas.

[David Williams]

7.

Someone's been watching the Simpsons when looking for ideas on science and how to "save the world".

[Paul]

8.

I think the zealous environmentalists should be up in arms about this proposal.
They should surely be attacking the scientists for proposing any action that will deprive Gaia of her light.

[Georgina]

9.

thePhilosopher "mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun" I like it. What stupid people are paid to spout such nonsense. No sun, no crops, no energy, no man, no animals, no nothing. A wasteland. How can these people be so stupid? Supposed to be intelligentia! Talking crap and being paid for it. It would be more sense to harvest the energy from the sun. Even in the early 19th century scientists were looking at ways at harvesting the energy from the sun. Lemstrom had a little success but did not have the knowledge and research we have today. Where are our research scientists? Not this crappy lot metting in London.

[Pia Robinson]

10.

this story is errant nonsense.

[ThePhilosophersays]

11.

Pia Robinson is Violetta dressed up in Robinson Clothing.

Begone Dark Troll

[Dallas Beaufort]

12.

Cornering the market in vitamin D

[ThePhilosophersays]

13.

Could be a good move Dallas But I suspect Cornering the umbrella market might also be a good move

[Andrew]

14.

"going to need to take some drastic measures to keep the planet inhabitable"

I thought you would take drastic measures to keep the planet habitable?

[ThePhilosophersays]

15.

Yes Andrew but they KNOW the Carbon Tax won't work unless it can c rash to economy to a state of Zero emmissions...like Spain has almost achieved in the green miracle.

Of course knowing in advance that it is just an ecuse for revolutionary activity Greens need to demand more and more drastic measures to " Keep the Planet Habitable "

More and more imposts based on dodgy science until they herd us all into the Green new dawn of an Anarcho Green Utopia. Yep no carbon emmissions once you destroy all industry and herd us into re education camps.

[ThePhilosophersays]

16.

Andy I notice the source as the Huffington Post. The links from Huffington to George Soros and the Obama clique of 1960s and 70s radicals is interesting.

[Go Entrepreneurialism, Go Capitalism, Go Growth. Go Liberty.]

17.

We’re told the science of AGW is settled (science is NEVER settled) but how can we believe in the “science of AGW” when garbage from a so called eminent (bent?) scientist’s from Britain’s national science academy, the Royal Society, come out with such a stupid idea – Let’s block the Sun!
The climategate emails proved that Bent Scientists would go to extraordinary lengths to hide their research from sceptics and now the same people our PM says we should trust come out with what could only be described as idiotic screwball ideas at best

[ThePhilosophersays]

18.

Go, Just enjoy my take on it up the Top in my Blob and Juliar sketch. Rights are not exercised and you may put on the play in your Town Hall anytime.

[Go Entrepreneurialism, Go Capitalism, Go Growth. Go Liberty.]

19.

"By most accounts, the leading contender is stratospheric aerosol particles," said climatologist John Shepherd of Britain's Southampton University.
The particles would be sun-reflecting sulfates spewed into the lower stratosphere from aircraft, balloons or other devices – much like the sulfur dioxide emitted by the eruption of the Philippines' Mount Pinatubo in 1991, estimated to have cooled the world by 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) for a year or so.
Engineers from the University of Bristol, England, plan to test the feasibility of feeding sulfates into the atmosphere via a kilometers-long (miles-long) hose attached to a tethered balloon.
Shepherd and others stressed that any sun-blocking "SRM" technique – for solar radiation management – would have to be accompanied by sharp reductions in carbon dioxide emissions on the ground and some form of carbon dioxide removal, preferably via a chemical-mechanical process not yet perfected, to suck the gas out of the air and neutralize it.

Oh that’s a great idea. Not only kill our economies by introducing a Carbon Tax, but let’s purposely spew billions of tons of sulfates into the atmosphere and then design some machine to suck out the Carbon Dioxide gas out of the air.
So no economy, No sunlight and we suck out the CO2 – so all the plants die/crops fail and then everything else fails and dies!!!!
But wait…..I get it, it’s actually the script for the next James Bond movie – this is what Ernst Blomfield wants to do!

I still can’t get over that this idea was put forward by some mad scientist who’s probably being paid by the British taxpayer. From the ideas coming out of this get together you would have thought it was a brainstorming session for some new Spielberg Sci-Fi movie. FMD!

[Go Entrepreneurialism, Go Capitalism, Go Growth. Go Liberty.]

20.

very good

[ThePhilosophersays]

21.

Yes Go but this passes for science in Green circles.

What these guys will do for a grant so they can avoid work is amazing.

Get any crazy idea thats the flavour of the month and Get idiots to fund it.

Should keep them in grants for a while

[Go Entrepreneurialism, Go Capitalism, Go Growth. Go Liberty.]

22.

More from the Huffington Post article.

The conferees worried, too, that a "geoengineering industrial complex" might emerge, pushing to profit from deployment of its technology. And Australian economist-ethicist Clive Hamilton saw other go-it-alone threats – "cowboys" and "scientific heroes."
"I'm queasy about some billionaire with a messiah complex having a major role in geoengineering research," Hamilton said.

I’m just worried about ecotards like Hamilton who have their own messiah complexes.

[Go Entrepreneurialism, Go Capitalism, Go Growth. Go Liberty.]

23.

More from the Huffington Post article.

The conferees worried, too, that a "geoengineering industrial complex" might emerge, pushing to profit from deployment of its technology. And Australian economist-ethicist Clive Hamilton saw other go-it-alone threats – "cowboys" and "scientific heroes."
"I'm queasy about some billionaire with a messiah complex having a major role in geoengineering research," Hamilton said.

I’m just worried about ecotards like Hamilton who have their own messiah complexes.

[Dallas Beaufort]

24.

Correction, cornering the market of Dumb

[Jonsouth]

25.

Fools! Darken the sky and that's when the machines take over :)

[John A]

26.

Headline I'd like to see:

SCIENTISTS ADMIT SUN CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE

:-)

[Grantley]

27.

LOL

also waiting for hell to freeze over.

[ThePhilosophersays]

28.

On a similar track : Scientists admit it will get warmer today. Respected Climatoligist Tim Flannery has advised all Australians that as from 4am today it will get warmer. Its is expected though that it will cool after 2pm bringing the threat of Global cooling.

All citizens are required to carry an umbrella to help reduce the impact of the sun rising between 4am and 2pm. After 2pm anyone carrying an umbrella in the open position will be shot as a contributor to global cooling.

[Go Entrepreneurialism, Go Capitalism, Go Growth.]

29.

LOL
Very good.
I have searched the net and I can’t find anyone here in Australia reporting on this story. No one but MH.
I would have thought Andrew Bolt or Tim Blair might have mentioned the conference but nothing.
This conference is a great example to illustrate to “Joe Public” that these so called eminent scientists come up with some of the most stupid solutions you could think of to combat AGW.

[Dallas Beaufort]

30.

How much is Tim Flim Flam being paid a minute to spin his top?