Two methods of geoengineering – changing certain climate aspects by human intervention – moved closer to implementation recently.  However the biggest hurdle remains – lack of funding.  Lack of funding springs from the second significant hurdle – opposition to geoengineering.

The first method is cloud brightening.  Brighter clouds reflect more solar rays and energy back into space, and prevent the energy from reaching the earth’s surface and heating.  John Latham in 1990 published an article suggesting brightening low-lying maritime clouds by injecting tiny sea-salt particles into the clouds from below.  Dr. Latham’s ideas were ignored for over ten years.  During that time engineer Stephen Salter of the University of Edinburgh and colleagues worked on practical ways to do it.  Then recently Armand Neukermans, developer of inkjet printers, working in Silicon Valley with colleagues contrived a “spray atomizer” to spread the sea-salt particles.

The second Method belongs to Harvard professor David Keith.  Prof. Keith proposes an artificial layer of haze in the stratosphere to reflect sunlight.  To accomplish his layer he constructed a system which would hang beneath a large balloon, and spray a large plume of sulphate particles to create the same effect as the haze layer.  The apparatus would also measure the physical and chemical changes in the stratosphere.

Some environmental groups and certain academics oppose geoengineering and especially the planned experiments.  Perhaps as a result government money is simply not available for these endeavors.  Dr. Keith received funding for some research, but has none for experimental field testing.  No one has any near-term prospects.

Opposition from some quarters and the accompanying or loosely related refusal to fund stop progress for now.  The mechanisms seem viable.  Engineering still waits.

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