Terraforming Earth has got to be easier than terraforming Mars.
Here's a very interesting rant that suggests we treat the Earth as if it were Mars. It's a hopelessly wild idea, I'm afraid, but worth a thought just the same.
It's absolutely not a wild idea. The number of computers that can project how we affect the environment are growing rapidly. Already we can model the results of direct human action on the atmosphere. Some are already using atmospheric modelling to see how we can proactively shape the earth's atmosphere (which is the core issue around global warming). There will be a lot of trial and error, I'm sure. But actions like venting heat into space, pumping overheated seawater into deep cold water trenches, solar shading, and of course, carbon emission control, will and must be our future. Frankly, under the circumstances, letting "nature" take its course on us will result in untold deaths and intense political conflict. I think, as soon as a few good studies on some terraforming techniques start to pop up, interest will start to rise. After all, science got us into this mess, so science better get us out...
It's absolutely not a wild idea. The number of computers that can project how we affect the environment are growing rapidly. Already we can model the results of direct human action on the atmosphere. Some are already using atmospheric modelling to see how we can proactively shape the earth's atmosphere (which is the core issue around global warming). There will be a lot of trial and error, I'm sure. But actions like venting heat into space, pumping overheated seawater into deep cold water trenches, solar shading, and of course, carbon emission control, will and must be our future. Frankly, under the circumstances, letting "nature" take its course on us will result in untold deaths and intense political conflict. I think, as soon as a few good studies on some terraforming techniques start to pop up, interest will start to rise. After all, science got us into this mess, so science better get us out...
ReplyDelete