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Oops? (positive effect of sulfur dioxide in marine air pollution)

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 31, 2024.

  1. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Nature.com link.

    When the world locked down for 2020, shipping was abruptly reduced. This meant far less sulfur pollution in the atmosphere...

    ...which (unfortunately) meant more sunlight was allowed in to heat up the planet.

    How's that for hooked?
     
  2. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    this and other aerosol effects on clouds were known earlier but the shipping emission reduction provided a test. One might say.

    If global marine fleet moves to lower sulfur fuel (which seems to be the plan), then this will persist to some extent.

    Conversely the geoengineering plan would be to shoot some stuff up into the skies (probably sea water). make aerosols, brighten clouds, and slow warming.
     
  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    The title of the paper really stood out for me, as I'd recently read Neal Stephenson's fictional work, Termination Shock, about wildcat sulfur dioxide geoengineering done by trillionaires for er, fun.
     
  4. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    What stands out for me is that the net effect of dirty-fuel shipping is apparently negative on global warming. The SO2 (Twomey) outweighs the CO2 (infrared).

    Whodathunk that?
     
  5. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    The coalrollers of the world ought not to learn of this :eek:
     
  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    After the 9/11 attack, flying over the USA was shutdown and I was able to see a sky without contrails. If I remember correctly, there were reports this led to a slight cooling effect.

    If electric jet liners ever become a reality, we may yet see clear skys again and have an effect on global warming.

    Bob Wilson
     
  7. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Whether contrails appear or not in general is controlled by humidity at flight level. Sometimes you see 'em and sometimes you don't.
     
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I've always seen them but their persistence, how long they last, appears to change. I think high cirrus clouds are beautiful but contrails spoil the effect.

    Bob Wilson
     
  9. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Ocean surface ships in contrast are always in nearly water-saturated air. So their contrails are 100%