In an effort to curb so-called global warming, the Biden administration is coordinating research into the feasibility and efficacy of blocking out the sun, at least partially.
On March 15, President Joe Biden signed Congress’ “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022” into law, providing funding for a five-year research plan to be coordinated by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OTSP).
The OTSP, whose deputy director for Climate and Environment was recently sanctioned by the National Academy of Sciences, will work in concert with relevant federal agencies on its “scientific assessment of solar and other rapid climate interventions in the context of near-term climate risks and hazards.”
According to the White House, the “report shall include: (1) the definition of goals in relevant areas of scientific research; (2) capabilities required to model, analyze, observe, and monitor atmospheric composition; (3) climate impacts and the Earth’s radiation budget; and (4) the coordination of Federal research and investments to deliver this assessment to manage near-term climate risk and research in climate intervention.”
CNBC reported that the efficacy of various solar geoengineering (SG) climate interventions will be studied, including stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), whereby aerosols are sprayed into the stratosphere to block and reflect sunlight back into space.
Spraying sulfate aerosols and other reflective substances (e.g., calcium carbonate particles, aluminum dioxide, or diamonds) into the atmosphere, around 12-16 miles above the Earth, can accomplish what volcanic eruptions have otherwise achieved in the way of partially blocking sunlight and temporarily cooling global mean temperatures.
Hellbound and Down 