Jul 062015
Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control (Columbia Studies in International and Global History)
As alarm over global warming spreads, a radical idea is gaining momentum. Forget cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, some scientists argue. Instead, bounce sunlight back into space by pumping reflective nanoparticles into the atmosphere. Launch mirrors into orbit around the Earth. Make clouds thicker and brighter to create a “planetary thermostat.”These ideas might sound like science fiction, but in fact they are part of a very old story. For more than a century, scientists, soldiers, and charlata
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A Serious Look at a Dangerous Idea,
Despite this book’s catchy title and its surreal cover image, it is actually a very serious and broadly-sweeping look at the history of weather and climate control. The author has covered many aspects of this subject – from mythology and divination, on to tricksters and deceivers to serious but misguided visionaries and finally to serious modern-day research and contemporary attempts at making the hoped-for changes. Also discussed are the pros and cons of weather/climate control, should such a thing become feasible.
The author writes clearly and packs a lot of information on each page. Occasionally, he throws in a bit of humour but mostly, the book is written in a very serious, lively and quite engaging, tone. It should be of interest to a wide range of readers: from meteorologists and climatologists to lay readers with a serious interest in the subject.
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