From ETH ZURICH and the “obvious science” department comes this study that is little more than a recycle of what is already understood about crops and “shininess”, back in 2009 – reflective surfaces absorb less heat during the daytime. Just wait till the greens deal with GMO engineered “reflective corn”, they’ll have a head-exploding dilemma.
Climate change will make heatwaves more common, and continental areas and urban regions that become significantly warmer in summer will be particularly affected. Together with colleagues from Australia and the US, ETH researchers have now detailed a practical approach that combines clever land use and urban radiation management to help cool extreme summer temperatures locally. Their study has just been published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
Greater reflection breaks up temperature peaks
The scientists’ approach is based on the different reflection properties of ground surfaces. For instance fields left unploughed after harvest reflect significantly more sunlight that ploughed ones (as ETH News reported). Similarly, crop selection for brighter species and the implementation of reflective material on roofs, streets and other urban infrastructure could increase the surface reflectivity and cool local climate .
“These measures could help to lower extreme temperatures in agricultural regions and densely populated areas by up two to three degrees Celsius,” says Sonia Seneviratne, ETH Professor of Land-Climate Dynamics and first author of the study. In this context, the hotter it becomes, the stronger the effect. The cooling effect only works in the short term, however, and is local or regional rather than global – but this regional contribution is still very important, emphasises Seneviratne.
Suitable for Europe and the US, less so for Asia
The researchers obtained their findings using simulations. They used these simulations to examine how radiation-optimised agricultural surfaces and metropolitan areas in North America, Europe and Asia affect average temperatures, extreme temperatures and precipitation.
The models showed that the measures had a negligible effect on average temperatures and only slightly altered precipitation – except in Asia – but significantly reduced extreme temperatures. In Asia, India and China, the levels of the crucial monsoon rains also decreased in the simulations, suggesting that the selected approach is unsuitable for these countries.
Alternatives for climate and geoengineering
The measures that could be used for this type of radiation management already exist and have largely been tested, although they have only been applied on a small scale or for other purposes. In contrast, it is doubtful whether other climate techniques currently discussed as “geoengineering” actually work to adjust or avoid climate change. Interventions such as spraying sulphate aerosols into the atmosphere, fertilising the oceans with iron or placing huge mirrors in space are likely to have unpredictable effects on the Earth’s climate and ecosystems, potentially making the situation even worse.
“Regional radiation management can be effective, but even here, we have to consider any potential effects on food production, biodiversity, CO2 absorption, recreation areas and much more before we can actually implement it,” says Seneviratne. And she points out: “Even this climate technique is no silver bullet; it’s just one potential tool among several others in the battle against climate change.”
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Reference
Seneviratne SI, Phipps SJ, Pitman AJ, Hirsch AL, Davin EL, Donat MG, Hirschi M, Lenton A, Wilhelm M, Kravitz B: Land radiative management as contributor to regional-scale climate adaptation and mitigation. Nature Geoscience, 29 January 2017, doi: 10.1038/s41561-017-0057-5
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-017-0057-5
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Yes this is a bleedin’ obvious study, but then, it is only recently that my local authority stopped invoking the Bluff Act, by discouraging reflective paints and surfaces so the fat-cats up the hills didn’t suffer effects that compromised their over-priced views. (It may have been the threat of judicial review on the grounds of blatant disregard of federal law that brought about the change.)
As I remember, this was used as a basis for the suggestion to paint all our freeways bright white – as in blinding white.
I’m sure this would reduce our human footprint and remove a few drivers from the road – via a dramatic uptick in fatal crashes.
Of course, the approach here in the Northwest is to simply congest traffic and toll roads so highly that commuters can’t afford to drive on them.
The planet ain’t broke. Quite trying to fix it.
GMO a tree with clear chlorophyll this will give it white leaves and greatly increase it’s reflectiveness
You can start with white fruit and work on getting the leaves to match:
“Climate change will make heatwaves more common” Prove it. I’ll be generous – explain why, No maths, no experiments required just a scientific explanation.
Thank you very much for generosity, but you do not need any proof, you have enough probability of one percent, since when the process starts you can not stop and soon you will find yourself in Venus.
Atmospheric conditions on Venos will NEVER happen on Earth. Most of Venus’ stifling heat isn’t a direct result of CO2-greenhouse effect. Venus isn’t even significantly warmer than earth due to it’s proxcimity to the sun. Venus is far warmer because of Atmospheric Pressure 90 times denser than Earth’s atmosphere.
I found it interesting that the authors start with a hot day, which I believe is weather, but then jump off to making a statement about climate.