Can Diamond Mud Actually Assist Cool the Earth by Reflecting Daylight?

A crew of local weather and earth scientists are exploring an concept that sounds virtually unbelievable: utilizing diamond mud to chill the planet. This strategy goals to decelerate world warming by reflecting daylight again into area. The strategy they’re contemplating known as photo voltaic geoengineering, which entails including particular particles into the environment to cut back warmth reaching the Earth. The purpose is to deal with local weather change head-on, past the efforts of merely lowering greenhouse gases.

Essentially the most generally studied materials for this goal has been sulphur dioxide. Whereas it might mirror daylight, it brings a number of dangers, equivalent to acid rain and injury to the ozone layer. To discover a higher different, scientists have been taking a look at different aerosols that might have the identical reflective energy however with fewer negative effects.

The Diamond Mud Proposal

Researchers at ETH Zurich, together with groups from the Institute for Atmospheric and Local weather Science, performed a research testing varied particles for his or her potential to chill the Earth. These included supplies like calcite, aluminium, and even diamond mud. They used a posh local weather mannequin to grasp how every substance would work together with warmth and daylight and the way lengthy the particles would keep within the air.

The outcomes shocked them: diamond mud emerged as top-of-the-line candidates. It displays extra gentle and warmth than different supplies and would not carry the identical environmental dangers as sulphur dioxide. Since diamonds are chemically inert, they’re much less prone to trigger points like acid rain.

Nonetheless, the prices are staggering. To attain the required cooling impact, they estimate it will require round 5 million tonnes of artificial diamond mud annually. The worth tag? Roughly $200 trillion over a number of many years.

Challenges in Implementation

Even when cash was no concern, there are different challenges. Producing diamond mud at such a scale requires expertise we presently haven’t got. Distributing it across the globe is one other impediment, as specialised plane can be wanted to deploy it on the proper altitude. This strategy would additionally require worldwide cooperation and thorough regulation to keep away from geopolitical tensions.

Whereas this proposal may not be viable proper now, it represents the inventive lengths scientists are exploring to fight the rising local weather disaster.