Researchers say salt could help cool our warming planet
Digital Reporter
Monday, March 26, 2018, 6:06 PM - If efforts to combat climate change fail, injecting a finely-powdered salt into Earth's upper troposphere may help cool the planet, according to a recent announcement by Robert Nelson, a senior scientists at California's Planetary Science Institute.
Scientists have looked into different ways to geoengineer the planet to keep atmospheric warming at bay.
Some have suggested injecting particles, or aerosols, into the stratosphere. That could help reflect sunlight away from the planet, not unlike the way massive volcanic eruptions have helped cool the planet.
But Nelson says there are issues with that approach.
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Many proposed areosoles, for example, contain components that could damage the ozone or promote acid rain.
For his study, Nelson searched for reflective compounds that wouldn't pose a risk to human health or the planet.
Salt isn't a perfect solution. If injected into the statosphere, which is about 18 km up, its chlorine content could eat away at the ozone.
But Nelson argues the impact can by minimized by injecting the salt in the upper troposphere, which lies above the clouds, but below the stratosphere.
He plans to conduct further research, but is quick to point out his solution shouldn't be considered an alternative to reducing carbon emissions, adding that while salt might reflect heat away from the planet, it won't stop carbon dioxide from acidifying the oceans.
A copy of Nelson's findings can be found online.
