A Brief History of Geoengineering and Some Early Proposals

The concept of Geoengineering was first proposed during the era of World War II. Scientists from the United States and the Soviet Union were funded to research weather control as a potential military strategy. Below are some examples of the earliest Geoengineering proposals.

1. Altering the climate of Siberia, Russia, to make it more habitable by raising the atmospheric temperature.
2. Proposing to dam the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bering Strait to warm the Arctic region.
3. Implementing cloud seeding to induce artificial rain, beneficial to the agriculture sector.

Chemicals Used in Geoengineering

Various chemicals are used in Geoengineering projects, some of which are listed below.

1. Hydrogen sulfide
2. Sulfuric acid
3. Sulfur dioxide
4. Carbonyl Sulfide
5. Dimethyl Sulfide

Potential Benefits of Geoengineering

Geoengineering methods provide several benefits, some of which are outlined below.

1. Potential to decrease carbon dioxide levels, thereby reducing global warming.
2. Affordable cost of implementation.
3. Ability to halt ice loss at the poles, since the cooling potential is greater at the poles compared to tropical areas.
4. No need for toxic chemicals.

However, Geoengineering also has a few associated disadvantages.

1. Lack of necessary technology.
2. Absence of real-world testing.
3. Unable to halt ocean acidification.

The information provided above will assist candidates in their preparation for the UPSC 2023.

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