Is geoengineering the answer? Maybe not such a great idea

Credit: Mann & Kump, Dire Predictions: Understanding Climate Change, 2^nd Edition
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

There’s no denying it any longer, we are in the midst of human induced climate change. Sadly there are many who are experiencing the terrible adverse effects of this change in our air, water and land. There may still be some who dispute the human driven aspect of these changes, but the proof is out there, pretty undeniable at this point.

So what to do? We certainly need to do something but not just anything either. As we work to mitigate this issue the ideas of geoengineering our way out of this mess come to light. These are solutions that might be giant mirrors in space, cloud seeding, iron seeding our oceans, or even growing trees in desert landscapes.

But the problem with these solutions is that once more we are messing with the natural balance of Earth and nature. And isn’t that what got us into this predicament in the first place? Our constant use of fossil fuels has rendered nature out of balance, to the place that a “business as usual” way of life would result in possibly no life for many species, humans included.

On the surface these well thought out geoengineering plans look like a way out of the climate change mess. But even with good ideas and intentions, maybe down the road not so good.

Take the growing of trees in the desert for example. We know that trees are a wonderful way to capture and hold carbon, natural carbon sinks that would clear so much CO2 out of the atmosphere. Problem is, adding trees to a desert landscape changes the color of that landscape. The darkness of many trees absorbing more sunlight would result in more heat absorbed. So even though the trees capture more carbon, there is the side effect of perhaps more heat on the land from the trees rather than the desert landscape reflecting more of that heat. We would be interfering with the very color of our Earth that is designed in a way to be balanced and healthy.

We need ideas, solutions and actions to take in response to climate change, while we still have a fighting chance – and we do! But I fear that too many of the geoengineering schemes are like putting a bandaid over the wound, without doing the healing that will result in really making a difference.

Gifts from the rain

I think I’m going to get a t-shirt made that reads: I survived the wettest March on record in Portland. Yes, all you kind people who told me, “It rains all the time in Portland – why would you want to move there?”, you are correct! It does rain here quite a bit, but today the sun came out for a long overdue visit, and I hurried out to take some pictures of the beauty that is a result of all that rain. I saw so many others with cameras in hand, giddy at the break from the rainy days. But truth be told, I will take the constant wetness of rain over the bone-chilling cold of a Minnesota winter any day. I forgive Portland for raining so much lately, and I still find myself in love with this lovely city of so much color.

Winter in a new place

I spent 50 some years used to the seasonal rhythms of the Midwest. That included harsh winters that did not allow flowers to bloom much past October. I am finding that winter in the Pacific Northwest is much kinder to vegetation, and that flowers continue to bloom, even in December. My internal seasonal clock is so confused! I know it is winter, it is colder here, yet I can go for a walk in the park and still see color! That was my chief complaint after last year’s winter in Minnesota; the dull, drab, colorless monotony that dragged on for what seemed an eternity. But here in Oregon I find color that nourishes my soul through the shorter, grayer days. A walk today revealed a dash of flowers here and there, along with moss that hangs like green overcoats on the tree trunks. There are leaves that fall off the trees, just like the Midwest, and they create a soft carpet on the sidewalks. Then I find trees whose leaves look as vibrant and green as they did in the summer months. But I’m not complaining. Soon enough I will be going back to Minnesota for a visit, and I know that I will be missing the winter in my new home.

Flowers in December

 

The roses have given up

Their petals now brown

Too shy to bloom in the cool air

 

But the pansies persevere

Their clown faces and circus colors

Celebrate the winter season

 

Hibiscus hang on

Now faded, washed out blue

On display until the bitter end

 

Cranesbill of delicate purple

Withstand the dropping degrees

And continue to hang on the vine

 

December flowers bloom

Like colorful candy sprinkles

On the muted green foliage