Some of the More Radical Proposals to Address and Mitigate

question 10

Essay

Some of the more radical proposals to address and mitigate climate change involve geoengineering, which involves deliberately modifying Earth's climate. Evaluate how the actions listed would affect the global climate and global biogeochemical cycles by answering the questions that follow.
Option 1: Plant more trees.
Option 2: Build one or more giant reflective mirrors and send them into Earth's orbit.
Option 3: Fertilize ocean water with iron.
Option 4: Spray sulfuric acid as aerosol into the stratosphere.
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Suppose global temperature suddenly increases by 4°C. If this sudden increase imperiled many of the species on Earth, which of the four options would decrease global temperatures most quickly and be easiest to implement on short notice?

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Definitions:

Optimal Number

The most favorable quantity that achieves the best outcome under specific conditions.

Individual Marginal Benefit

The additional benefit received by an individual from consuming one more unit of a good or service.

Traffic Lights

Traffic lights are signaling devices positioned at road intersections and pedestrian crossings to control the flow of traffic, using a universal color code to signal stop, go, and caution.

Socially Efficient

A situation in which resources are allocated in the most beneficial way from the perspective of society as a whole, considering both private and external costs and benefits.