Controlled Volcanic Eruptions

[Airbrush]

Will it be possible to induce a volcano to erupt in such a manner that it is manageable and it dumps ash into the atmosphere, and this ash could slow down global warming?  Think of a volcano like Kilauea in Hawaii that erupts continuously and the prevailing winds carry the ash away from the islands.  Maybe if they throw some substances into the volcano it will be more effective at blocking sunlight?

[Sensei]

34 minutes ago, Airbrush said:

(...) it will be more effective at blocking sunlight?

(I mentioned it numerous times in the past) The best way to control amount of the light that reaches Earth would be constellation of remotely controlled satellites-mirrors. On demand, they would open or rotate toward the Sun, covering certain part of the Earth, and reflect light, preventing it reaching the Earth's surface.

It will have to be done, sooner or later, after millions or billions of years, when the Sun begins to rise and change into red giant, with increased output power.

Edited August 23, 2019 by Sensei

[Ken Fabian]

8 hours ago, Airbrush said:

Will it be possible to induce a volcano to erupt in such a manner that it is manageable and it dumps ash into the atmosphere, and this ash could slow down global warming?  Think of a volcano like Kilauea in Hawaii that erupts continuously and the prevailing winds carry the ash away from the islands.  Maybe if they throw some substances into the volcano it will be more effective at blocking sunlight?

The most effective and least cost thing we can do is shift from high emissions energy to low emissions and some progress is being made with potential for a lot more. It is a widely held view - certainly mine - that other solutions may help but none can compensate for continuing fossil fuel emissions. But sunlight blocking is not yet on anyone's short list. In any case we have no way to induce or control volcanic eruptions to do it - even if we thought we could get the climate affects what we want, without major complications.

[Airbrush]

On 8/23/2019 at 4:48 AM, Ken Fabian said:

The most effective and least cost thing we can do is shift from high emissions energy to low emissions and some progress is being made with potential for a lot more. It is a widely held view - certainly mine - that other solutions may help but none can compensate for continuing fossil fuel emissions. But sunlight blocking is not yet on anyone's short list. In any case we have no way to induce or control volcanic eruptions to do it - even if we thought we could get the climate affects what we want, without major complications.

Certainly we must shift to alternatives to fossil fuels.  But in addition, something should be done to reduce greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere.

How long will it be until we can figure out how to use a volcano like Kilauea to block sunlight?

I suggested in "Engineering" that deserts, that are not too far from the ocean, can be used for simple, solar desalination.  You need huge pipes to bring huge volumes of sea water to a desert where the salt water fills thousands of artificial concrete ponds that are covered with solid clear plastic (or glass made from desert silica?) that is shaped as a convex lens to magnify the sunlight to heat the salt water and the condensation is collected.  This is totally sun powered.  Fresh water is then used to irrigate subsistence crops to grow for humans that work on the desalination farm.  Excess fresh water is directly transported by hose, so no water is wasted, to an ever-increasing forest of trees that capture co2.  These oases can spring up like weeds, all over the world in any desert near the ocean, and they grow in size over time.

Edited August 24, 2019 by Airbrush