Technocrat

Cloud-Seeding Yachts to Reduce CO2 Emissions?

Iddo
Thu Aug 07 14:39:00 -0700 2008
Environment
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Researchers John Latham of the University of Manchester and Stephen Salter of the University of Edinburgh have designed wind powered cloud-seeding yachts that spray salty sea water into the air to increase the reflectivity of the clouds covering over 25% of the world’s water mass, meaning the clouds would reflect more solar energy back into space than they do currently. A mere 3% increase in cloud reflectivity would fully counter the global warming caused by the world’s increased CO2 emissions.

The yachts would use Flettner rotors, or spinning vertical cylinders, rather than sails to generate power from wind. The vessels would also use turbines placed under the hull to power additional operations of the boat including the actual spraying process. They would be unmanned and controlled via GPS positioning. Read more...

Cloud-Seeding Yachts to Reduce CO2 Emissions?
Uncle Entity
Thu Aug 07 17:37:59 -0700 2008
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The only thing that comes to mind is 'unintended consequences'.

Cloud-Seeding Yachts to Reduce CO2 Emissions?
Charles E Hill
Thu Aug 07 18:05:06 -0700 2008
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Read the article.

Estimates of the number of cloud seeders needed to counter global warming range from as low as 50 boats to as high as 1000. Each vessel would cost an estimated 500 million dollars.

That brings to mind "boondoggle", "pork barrel" and "scam".  That is between $25 billion to $5 trillion for a cost.

weather mods

zogger
Thu Aug 07 20:23:23 -0700 2008
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I'd rather spend the money on just replacing coal plants with wind plants as much as possible, to get to the point we can just leave the coal buried in the ground like forever. I am uneasy with any plans to reduce sunlight (like Teller's chemtrails scheme..), plants need it, solar panels need it, and etc. I think large scale on purpose terraforming has its place, but over yonder on mars might be a better experimental laboratory venue to try out techniques.... Plus, just making it cooler by reflecting heat does nothing to remove the for-real toxic gases released with burning coal and petroleum products. That stuff is in the air and the water, we would just be making slightly cooler toxic soup with the spray ships. But, on a smaller scale, it would be a hoot to play in it at the beach!

weather mods
Paul Jackson
Sun Aug 10 11:33:17 -0700 2008
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Well at least we could turn these things off if something untoward starts to happen and the extra water vapor in the atmosphere would also have a tendency to wash-out some of the toxics in the air

Cloud-Seeding Yachts to Reduce CO2 Emissions?
cowardly dragon
Fri Aug 08 12:49:36 -0700 2008
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sunlight ==>

plant photosynthesis ==>

feed entire ecosystem

 

3% drop in sunlight?

 

3% drop in ecosystem.

 

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