Bill Gates is betting on solar dimming technology and bioengineering to counteract global warming. But this event opens up a great unknown: will it bring us hope or is it the path to dystopia?
Global warming and climate change have become the most visible risk to humanity. The melting of the ice sheet represents a very worrying threat that puts the population at risk due to the rise in the level of the oceans. That’s not to mention the loss of biodiversity that would result in a natural disaster.
Research suggests that we must lower the average temperature of the planet that every year experiences an increase. 2020 exceeded by 1.02°C the warmest historical record that belongs to 2016 and 2021 is expected to be an even hotter year.
It is clear that we must take measures in this regard to guarantee the survival of the species and life on Earth as we know it so far. However, some of the proposals border on science fiction.
Bill Gates behind solar dimming
Microsoft billionaire founder Bill Gates is financially backing the development of solar dimming technology through ScoPEX. That is, they study what real effects spraying the atmosphere with particles that would reflect sunlight off the planet would have to help control Earth’s temperature.
Controversy has surrounded the project and solar geoengineering ever since people began talking about issues like controlling the planet’s temperature with methods taken from science fiction. However, it will be in June when the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (ScoPEX) takes a step forward.
The project got permission to operate near the city of Kiruna in Sweden. It should be noted that the release of aerosols is not yet within the plans. For now, both ScoPEX and the Swedish Space Corporation have agreed to launch a balloon with scientific equipment 20 kilometers high. The launch will serve to test the controls to maneuver the balloon and the relevant communications. If they are successful, then they will move on to the next phase.
Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment
The dynamics of the experiment consists of spraying non-toxic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) powder into the atmosphere. This type of aerosol reflects the sun and according to the Harvard University researchers behind ScoPEX, it could counteract the effect of global warming.
By transporting the balloon to a height of 20 kilometers, an amount of calcium carbonate will be released ranging from 100 grams to 2 kilograms. The goal is to create a disturbed air mass approximately one kilometer long and one hundred meters in diameter. In parallel, the balloon will be used to measure the resulting changes in the disturbed air mass, including changes in aerosol density, atmospheric chemistry, and light scattering.
Hope or dystopia?
Many environmental experts point out that the results of the experiment could result in sudden changes in the atmosphere. Which could lead to consequences for the environment just as worrying as global warming.
The human tendency to control everything has already brought us to this point. The unknown is open as to whether the experiment will prosper or will only remain an attempt to surpass science fiction.
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