(Image Source: Asher Space Research Institute of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology)
By Glenn A. Walsh
Reporting for SpaceWatchtower
Could a giant umbrella in Outer Space reduce solar radiation hitting the Earth, and hence, contribute to a reduction in Global Warming? A proposal for a giant Sun-blocking umbrella to be constructed in Outer Space has been proposed by an Israeli physics professor.
Professor Yoram Rozen of the Asher Space Research Institute of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is floating the possibility that such a parasol floating in Space between the Sun and the Earth could provide some protection from advancing Climate Change. He calculates that such a large Space Umbrella could reduce solar heating of the Earth by 1 or 2 per-cent. Although this would not end Global Warming, it could be one way to reduce the heat received from the Sun.
Last year, the U.S. White House specifically announced that it was open to plans to block sunlight from hitting the Earth. In 2021, philanthropist Bill Gates had proposed spreading millions of tons of chalk dust high in the atmosphere to block sunlight; thus far, nothing has come of this proposal.
The Space Umbrella would have to be about 9 million statute miles / 14.48 million kilometers from the Earth. Scientists claim that, once deployed, the Space Umbrella could reduce the Earth's temperature by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit within the first two years.
The Space Umbrella would consist of light-weight solar sails on a solar-powered spacecraft. It would move through Space by opening and closing the shading layer.
Such a Space Umbrella would need to be approximately one million square miles in size, about the size of the nation of Argentina! That size could not be launched at one time from Earth; sections of the Space Umbrella would have to launch separately and assembled in Space.
An alternative would be to launch a series of smaller Space Umbrellas that may add-up to about the same size. Another alternative would be to have such a Space Umbrella tethered to an asteroid.
A previous suggestion would have been to deploy dust at a La Grange Point (a location in Outer Space where the gravity between the Sun and the Earth are roughly equal, hence allowing matter at the La Grange Point to remain in one spot), so the dust would block some sunlight from reaching the Earth.
The Space Umbrella would use La Grange Point Number 1 (L1). According to the Israeli team, that point would provide a constant shading over a large portion of our planet.
Professor Rozen is now seeking $10-to-$20 million to build a prototype of a smaller size, about 100 square-feet, for construction by 2027. So far, no cost has been estimated for creating and launching a one million square-mile Space Umbrella. But, costs could reach trillions of dollars.
Skeptics of the Space Umbrella plan, including Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb, note that the cost of such a large Space Umbrella(s) would be exorbitant. He said that such a plan would require international collaboration and probably reallocation of funds from the military.
Skeptics also note that launching, assembling, and maintaining such a parasol in Outer Space would be extremely challenging, similar, but to a much greater scale, to the recent launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. There is also a question as to how well such a Space Umbrella could hold-up to the harsh conditions of Outer Space.
Further, a solar storm, meteor, or asteroid that damages the Space Umbrella could result in sudden and rapid warming on Earth, with possible disastrous effects and no ready way to repair such damage.
However, the non-profit Planetary Sunshade Foundation supports the Israeli proposal. They believe the project cost may not be as high as projected, as the costs of space travel continue declining.
Again, this plan, if implemented, would not be a 'silver bullet'. This would be just one way to reduce some heating of the Earth, while the nations of our planet make the hard choices needed for a more permanent solution.
Internet Links to Additional Information ---
Space Sun Shade: Link >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_sunshade
La Grange Point: Link >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_point
Climate Change: Link >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
Global Warming Potential: Link >>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_potential
Source: Glenn A. Walsh Reporting for SpaceWatchtower, a project of Friends of the Zeiss
"Sun-Blocking Space Umbrella to Cut Global Warming?"
Tuesday, 2024 February 13.
Artificial Intelligence not used in the writing of this article.
© Copyright 2024 Glenn A. Walsh, All Rights Reserved
Like This Post? Please Share!
More Astronomy & Science News - SpaceWatchtower 'X' / Twitter Feed:
Link >>> https://twitter.com/spacewatchtower
Astronomy & Science Links: Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#sciencelinks
Want to receive SpaceWatchtower blog posts in your in-box ?
Send request to < spacewatchtower@planetarium.cc >.
gaw
Glenn A. Walsh, Informal Science Educator & Communicator (For more than 50 years! - Since Monday Morning, 1972 June 12):
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/weblog/spacewatchtower/gaw/
Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
Project Director, Friends of the Zeiss: Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/
SpaceWatchtower Editor / Author: Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/
Formerly Astronomical Observatory Coordinator & Planetarium Lecturer, original Buhl Planetarium & Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center), America's fifth major planetarium and Pittsburgh's science & technology museum from 1939 to 1991.
Formerly Trustee, Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, Pittsburgh suburb of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, the fourth of only five libraries where both construction and endowment funded by famous industrialist & philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: Link >>> http://www.planetarium.cc Buhl Observatory: Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/11/75th-anniversary-americas-5th-public.html
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago: Link >>> http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear: Link >>> http://johnbrashear.tripod.com
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: Link >>> http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc
* Other Walsh-Authored Blog & Web-Sites: Link >>> https://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/gawweb.html
No comments:
Post a Comment