Xref: utzoo talk.politics.misc:8864 sci.misc:1287
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!spdcc!eli
From: eli@spdcc.COM (Steve Elias)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc,sci.misc
Subject: Re: greenhouse effect / solar power satellites
Message-ID: <808@spdcc.COM>
Date: 8 Apr 88 20:21:44 GMT
References: <22678@bbn.COM> <5564@well.UUCP> <761@spdcc.COM> <2997@sfsup.UUCP> <1840@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Reply-To: eli@spdcc.COM (Steve Elias)
Distribution: na
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Lines: 27

In article <1840@ssc-vax.UUCP> eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder) writes:

!In all the discussion about SPS's adding to the flux entering the
!Earth's atmosphere, I have yet to see anyone mention that the
!SPS also blocks some sunlight.  
!you could add a large region of very thin reflective foil
!around the active sps photovoltaics, so as to enhance the
!blockage effect.  If you worry about net energy entering the
!Earth, then this might help.

	this is a great point.  the 'foil' idea could hopefully buy
	time -- even if we don't make the mistake (my opinion) of 
	putting solar satellites in orbit.

!In fact, if there is not enough time to run all our power
!plants backwards to get the CO2 out of the atmosphere before we
!fry, intentionally placing mirrors in orbit to deflect incoming
!sunlight might give us more time to solve the problem.

	if we avoid CO2 and thermal effects as power needs
	grow, hopefully we can avoid the need for a planetary 
	air conditioner!

!Dani Eder/Boeing/Space Station Program

steve elias / a guy who studied some planetary science
(how else would i have time to write so much about it?)