Class

Article

College

College of Engineering

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

Faculty Mentor

Jeannie Johnson

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

Terminal Lakes will drastically be affected by climate change. The Caspian Sea, by conservative estimates will drop 30 ft by the end of the century with minimal intervention uncovering an area the size of Portugal, concentrating the current ecological hardship, country conflict, and business contraction. Geoengineering, specifically Solar Radiation Management, poses a significant boon in limiting the damage with an injection of aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect the Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere to lower temperatures and reduce evaporation. So far, because of limits placed on field testing by the UN, there has been limited testing outside simulation of the most promising and risky geoengineering methods. However, extensive scale proof of concepts can begin operation quickly should any country or countries decide to implement them. While not a long term and total solution, geoengineering poses a significant aid to mitigating the sea level decline to a point where other solutions with greater human governance demands can be negotiated. While a single well-funded nation can implement geoengineering, there are significant risks involved. Because there is limited real-life testing, variables not considered in the computer models, long-term effects, and downstream consequences are unknown. Significant work needs to be done to see if nations are willing to face those risks based on the cost-balance and cultural needs that face them individually and collectively. Presentation Time: Thursday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/84125172996?pwd=aDlRb3dhU3AyUzR2eXNMRytZWmF3dz09

Location

Logan, UT

Start Date

4-11-2021 12:00 AM

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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Apr 11th, 12:00 AM

Terminal Lakes and Climate Change: Averting Catastrophe Dependent Upon Intervention Efficacy

Logan, UT

Terminal Lakes will drastically be affected by climate change. The Caspian Sea, by conservative estimates will drop 30 ft by the end of the century with minimal intervention uncovering an area the size of Portugal, concentrating the current ecological hardship, country conflict, and business contraction. Geoengineering, specifically Solar Radiation Management, poses a significant boon in limiting the damage with an injection of aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect the Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere to lower temperatures and reduce evaporation. So far, because of limits placed on field testing by the UN, there has been limited testing outside simulation of the most promising and risky geoengineering methods. However, extensive scale proof of concepts can begin operation quickly should any country or countries decide to implement them. While not a long term and total solution, geoengineering poses a significant aid to mitigating the sea level decline to a point where other solutions with greater human governance demands can be negotiated. While a single well-funded nation can implement geoengineering, there are significant risks involved. Because there is limited real-life testing, variables not considered in the computer models, long-term effects, and downstream consequences are unknown. Significant work needs to be done to see if nations are willing to face those risks based on the cost-balance and cultural needs that face them individually and collectively. Presentation Time: Thursday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/84125172996?pwd=aDlRb3dhU3AyUzR2eXNMRytZWmF3dz09