GEOENGINEERING WOWS

One of the biggest 'wows' you'll find is after you read about James Lovelock, along with Chris Rapley's idea in the works to 'stimulate the Earth to cure itself -- see Newspapers are Online Brands

It all comes back to Algae.  It's really great to know that slimy stuff that can surprise you off your raft and creep you out as it slithers around your calfs has a magnificent purpose that's being taken to a whole new level.  

They do this all with pipes that pump up the cool water from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the ocean, bringing the nutrients along with it, mixing and creating the blooming algae. Algae blooming in vast amounts to absorb carbon dioxide greenhouse gas. In addition, the algae releases a 'chemical called dimethyl sulphide that is know to seed sunlight reflecting clouds.'

Another factor that makes this technique a big wow for me, is the perspective behind it. Lovelock and Rapley are trying to boost the ecology, speed up what's already naturally taking place, to neutralize some of the damage, where we got ahead of nature. In this way, it doesn't seem to be a band-aid or a promise, but an appropriate response that would provide some real results.

Factors to consider include how the engineering would directly effect the immediate ecology, the ocean itself, and this factor is something they are still exploring. But the exploration is hopeful. The scientists seem to be thinking their solution just needs to be given a chance, that the risks are low enough to put the plan into action.

Obviously anything that can be done sooner than later should be done sooner than later, given the global climate circumstances. It's amazing the ideas that scientists, and people are coming up with, and this one just might work!