Geoengineering Earth's Climate: Resetting the Thermostat

by Jennifer Swanson

Overview

Most scientists agree that Earth is warming rapidly. Glaciers are melting and rising seawaters are submerging islands and coastal cities. In the coming decades, millions will likely have to escape extreme weather caused by climate change.

Some scientists say we need to act faster and with radical new technologies—now—to save our planet. They propose geoengineering, or "engineering Earth," to reset our global thermostat. Ideas include thickening clouds with chemicals to reduce the amount of sunlight and pulling carbon dioxide from the air with machines. However, critics say that geoengineering could backfire and create even worse weather. Is geoengineering too risky? Or is it our best hope of survival?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512415698
Publisher:	Twenty-First Century Books (CT)
Publication date:	10/28/2017
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)
Lexile:	1140L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Swanson began her writing career at the age of five when she wrote and illustrated books for her kindergarten class. A self-professed science geek, Jennifer started a science club in her garage at the age of 7. She used to gather leaves and flowers and look at them under a microscope. Much to her mother's dismay, her prize possession was a cow skull that she found in a field down by the river. Her love of science continues to this day as when she is not writing, she loves to go out and notice the science all around her. Jennifer lives in Jacksonville with her husband and two dogs. Learn more about Jennifer at her website: www.JenniferSwansonBooks.com

Table of Contents

Author's Note 5

1 An Abrupt Change in Climate 6

2 Time to Get Serious 21

3 Capturing Carbon 32

4 Rock and Roll 47

5 Carbon in the Water 54

6 Shading the Planet 61

7 Geoengineering Our Future 72

Source Notes $

Glossary $

Selected Bibliography $

Further Information $

Index $

Editorial Reviews

Swanson offers a fascinating introduction to geoengineering, a term new to most of us. Swanson presents the fight to control climate change by explaining what the change is and what it means to Earth, and then by going into detail about some of the projects from around the world. Geoengineering means fighting climate change by controlling the weather, capturing carbon, digging up rocks that absorb carbon, controlling algae blooms, shading the planet, and more. Swanson presents each of these projects with a clear explanation, identifying the pros and cons that might result. Swanson is scrupulous in addressing both the good and the bad of each idea. The last chapters name projects that have fewer side-effects, such as using renewable fuels and planting trees to cool cities. Sidebars address specific aspects of climate change, such as whether increased carbon will help tree growth and ozone depletion. Backmatter includes source notes, a glossary, and an index. Reviewer: Amy S. Hansen; Ages 14 up.

Children's Literature - Amy S. Hansen

10/01/2017
Gr 9 Up—Swanson explains the impacts of climate change, particularly the warming caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The author discusses how increased greenhouse gases contribute to powerful storms, extreme droughts, record temperatures, and melting ice sheets. Although replacing fossil fuels with renewables can help, some climatologists and engineers think more decisive action may be required. They are developing technologies that could alter Earth's existing systems to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Swanson explains theories behind and potential implementation of strategies such as reforestation, carbon capture and sequestration, ocean fertilization, and solar radiation management. The pros and cons related to each are presented along with discussions on current controversies and difficulties related to the implementation of such technologies. Diagrams help explain concepts such as the biological and industrial carbon cycle and the geological carbon cycle, but the dense text and unfamiliar concepts require patient, committed reading. VERDICT Researchers will appreciate this sobering, weighty overview of an important and controversial topic.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato

School Library Journal

2017-08-21
How can we turn Earth's temperature down? An author of nonfiction for young readers on a wide range of topics takes on the controversial subject of geoengineering: purposeful human efforts at global climate change. With clear, information-packed exposition organized into short chapters and broken up with subheadings, diagrams, and photographs, she moves from a general overview and history to a consideration of two specific areas: carbon-dioxide removal and sun shields. She explains the greenhouse effect, the biological, industrial, and geological carbon cycles, photosynthesis, and the effects of ocean acidification and algal blooms. She talks about the importance of balance: avoiding efforts that will tip the climate from too warm to too cold. She points out the possibility that large-scale solar-radiation management could lead to a de-emphasis on reducing the amount of greenhouse gases being added to the atmosphere. Most importantly, she states that these global solutions are extremely controversial. Methods suggested so far would be expensive, possibly wildly impractical, and likely to have unintended consequences. But, she argues, quoting some of the researchers she consulted, continuing to explore these possibilities is vital in the face of the overwhelming evidence that our climate is changing for the worse. Occasional proofreading slips don't dampen the importance of this compact overview, a good starting place for teen readers and researchers on a critical issue. (source notes, glossary, selected bibliography, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews