Week 4 Reflections

This week has been a very interesting look at climate models and geoengineering. Depending on the scenario entered into the climate models, the future predictions of temperature, extreme events and even an acute change in the patterns of the ocean currents, can have some wildly different results. The predictions tested on past observed and modeled changes show that human actions have caused the changes in the latter half of the century. (IPCC 4th report “There is at least a 90% chance that the observed increase in temperature globally is due to man-made greenhouse gases”.)

Photo I took of some bluebells last year, near where I live, just for fun and prettiness.

I found the huge debate around geoengineering very interesting. It is a broad-reaching topic and arguments are based on both scientific reasoning and ethical beliefs. I understand its controversy. Leaping in with this technology without really understanding the baseline problem, or without first doing what we can to mitigate to rise in greenhouse gases in a more long lasting and sustainable way is simply not going to work. There have been some great analogies I have read!

It's been an interesting introduction to things like the SPICE project.

These technical solutions should be consigned very much to the “Plan B” heading, in my opinion. A very thought-provoking week. Thank you.