OSLO, NORWAY — With global warming causing heatwaves, rising sea levels, and potentially bringing about more devastating consequences, scientists are turning to climate engineering solutions to keep temperatures down. <br /> <br />Science reports that geoengineering has two approaches to cool the planet — carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management. <br /> <br />Taking the 'direct air capture' approach is Swiss company Climeworks, which uses several collectors to suck in air that contains carbon dioxide. <br /> <br />The carbon dioxide is filtered and collected, while other air molecules are returned to the atmosphere. <br /> <br />A separate Harvard project, meanwhile, is working on dimming sunlight, reports Reuters. The team plans to release limestone particles using a high-altitude balloon, and then observe its effect on the stratosphere. <br /> <br />The limestone spray will supposedly reflect solar radiation and slow greenhouse gas warming. It will also neutralize the acids that destroy the ozone, thus helping to restore that protective layer. <br /> <br />Another technique aims to cool the seas and prevent coral bleaching by spraying salt generated from seawater to create more reflective clouds. <br /> <br />Critics of geoengineering warn that such 'solutions' are a temporary fix, and run the risk of dealing more damage in the long run. <br /> <br />It's definitely a radical step from reducing carbon emissions, which many believe is the more effective way to curb global warming.
