And, as it was observed in the above-linked article, not one of these options is certain, or even understood well enough to put our faith in at this point, but every single one of them merits exploration.

I don't think I'd be the first to observe that the prospect of curbing our emissions in time to halt global warming is starting to look dubious; for all we know, it may be too late already.  But if we can come up with a way to directly remove CO2 from the atmosphere on a massive scale, or to block large portions of the sun's light from reaching the fastest-warming regions, that just might buy us the time we need to make the changes we need.

Remember, we can explore dozens of options like this; we only have to find one that works.  That gives geo-engineering a major advantage over our current approach; clean energy and efficiency require dozens of different tactics--better cars, better appliances, wind energy, solar, geothermal, better insulated homes, and so on--and virtually all of them have to work for the combination to be effective.

Now, I'm sure as f*ck not saying we should scrap all those other, more certain options in favor of finding some nifty way to tamper with our environment.  But if we can find a feasible, productive way to tamper with our environment--which, let's face it, we've already spent the last two centuries doing unfeasibly and counter-productively--it just might either save us where those other options can't, or at least buy them the time they need to do their job.

And I'm also not saying we need to leap blindly into any of the schemes.  No one's talking about that at this point; you'll note that for both iron fertilization and pipe flotillas, the groups behind them are taking the perspective of getting scientists, policy-makers, and industrial leaders talking and/or getting studies going to come up with something that can be done, and making as sure as possible that it will do more good than harm before making a move.

And if no one can find a geo-engineering option that actually seems like it will work, hey, a few national governments and a few corporations are out some money with no good result.  How often do we get a day where that doesn't happen?

Why do I say this?  Certain kinds of plants like the Sargasso Seaweed can be harvested for bio-mass or used as natural garden fertilizer in addition to it's CO2 capturing abilities, which are quite phenomenal.  The Sargasso Sea might be one of the larger carbon sinks on the planet, perhaps larger than the Amazon (makes me want to get another map!).  These large rafts of seaweed are known to be host to prolific phytoplankton colonies as well.

I don't call this geo-engineering; I call it farming the sea.  You can even farm fish under them, since certain species love to live in the shade just under the weed mat (e.g., dolphin fish, cobia, also called ling).  Sure, a cyclone could bust up everything but it would not be hard to start a new spring crop every year.  In fact, sometimes in the winter seaweed such as the Sargasso die, turn black, and can actually release carbon as gas AND as dissolved organic matter (some seeds do survive, however).

So I used an example of the Sargasso but there are lots of kinds of flora to use.  I would be sure to test the iron or sulfur fertilizer to make sure you didn't burn the plants, just like in your garden.  And you do have to be careful because fertilizing might cause a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) that can contain high levels of domoic acid that could render the test bed nearly sterile.

So break out the map and you'll see within 10 to 200 miles offshore of the US we have some promising patches to grow seaweed and other flora.  You can't do it in the Gulf Stream very well, and of course you wouldn't do this near existing hypoxic zones - of which there are many "black water" areas.  

I think that's an intelligent way to do something good.  The profit sucks, but making natural flora bloom four times as good in some places sounds good to me.  If you have a ship that can take up the stuff in the fall, during senescence, that would be a double-benefit.  

After all, our country was founded on people by the coast who put seaweed in their gardens.  It was often put on crude racks made of sticks - not to dry but to allow the rain to wash the salt out.  Nowadays, seaweed of various kinds are used in production of:

• beer (Irish moss and its uses)
  
• lipstick
  
• ice cream
  
• lotions
  
• holistic vitamins such as kelp
  
• sashimi / sushi
  
• pharmaceuticals

On a vaguely related subject, is anyone else having trouble working out exactly what Earth Shaman is trying to say?

Or for that matter any other place on the internet besides you.

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When the 11 year solar "Sun spot" cycle visits our system,we have enhanced weather processes and extra magma heating,I have coined this grid revv because our "Cymatic" grid has enhanced energy coming into it.
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"Cymatic" is a good Greek-origin word, meaning "having to do with waves."  But I am afraid I miss how it explains "revv."

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It is revved up.
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Oh.  I think I see.

By the way, is the double-V always present in this verb?  I.e., do we write "I rev" in the present tense, or "I revv"?

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I am the science Papa on the planet and the only man able to explain the grid,I fear.
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A science Papa!  We needed one of those, didn't we!

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I have explained many times the processes on this forum and just ask that you and others process the information to the best of your abilities.
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I know just how he feels.  His patience is most comforting.

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I could walk you outside most anywhere(Especially here in the midwest as the crust is less dense) and completely explain the processes of the motor and the grounds of the planet,and if you spent a period of time with me during a storm/rainy period,you could get further in your knowledge.
>>

This sounds like fun.  Someone should charter a bus.  I would especially like to see the Magma Herniation Hills.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

Sorry, Earth Shaman; it's not that we're trying to be hostile, but I'm afraid the "Everything you know is wrong" argument almost never goes over well.  (Weird Al's success aside.)

Anyway, I'm curious to know what people think about the geo-engineering thing in general.  Sam, you seemed open at least to the idea, if it's done right.  Earth Shaman, I'm gathering you're against it.  What does everyone else think?

JMG, now that it's been a few days since you got the discussion going, do you have an opinion for us?  (I know, it's a difficult subject to decide on, but I think it's an important one to discuss.)