Sulphur dioxide (SO2) screen to reflect the sun and cool earth.
Five clusters of 3 specially developed hose pipes 2" dia (5cm) around the world would carry liquefied SO2 eighteen miles up (19km) to be sprayed as fine mist into the Stratosphere. These clouds will circulate within 10 days and tend to spiral towards the arctic or antarctic. The hoses would be supported by helium balloons at 100-300 metre intervals; booster pumps at 100 metre intervals would be included. The Albasca oil sands (Alberta) is one site where the rejected sulphur could be burnt to SO2 and liquefied.
In 1991 Mt Pinotubo, in SE Asia erupted and put a million tonnes of SO2 into the atmosphere at high altitude for 2 years. The average world temperature dropped by 0.6 deg C average.
200 million tons of SO2 are released into the atmosphere each year, 25% from Volcanoes, 25% vehicles and coal fired power stations the rest from natural sources (sea spray). A further 100 million tons each year injected is thought will reverse warming of Arctic.
Alternatives of fitting sulphur dispensers into the worlds airliners or by using rockets have been suggested.
A disadvantage could be acid rain and damage to the ozone layer.
Cooling ideas alone do not solve the problem of CO2 build up nor of course the limit of supply of fossil fuels. Read more.
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