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SUMMARY:SPICE: Stratospheric Particle Injection for Climate Engineering - 
 Hugh Hunt (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20130226T181500Z
DTEND:20130226T193000Z
UID:TALK42717@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:James Scott-Brown
DESCRIPTION:The SPICE project investigates the benefits\, risks\, costs an
 d feasibility of solar radiation management through the deployment of refl
 ective aerosols in the stratosphere. We propose that particles can be deli
 vered to the stratosphere through a high-pressure pipe suspended by a ball
 oon tethered at an altitude of 20km. An ultra-high pressure pumping system
  would deliver a particulate slurry to be dispersed at altitude. The resul
 ting particulate cloud would then lead to global cooling by increasing the
  albedo of the planet in just the same way as the planet cools after a lar
 ge volcanic eruption. The feasibility of the SPICE system depends upon the
  long-term deployment globally of a small number of (say 60) balloons each
  delivering 5kg/s of aerosol - an estimated 10 million tonnes per year (fo
 r context\, consider that global manmade CO2 output is 30\,000 million ton
 nes per year). SPICE presents many novel engineering challenges\, especial
 ly the design of the pipe and pumping systems to withstand pressures up to
  4000 bar and tensions up to 500 tonnes. In this non-technical introductor
 y presentation a number of these challenges will be discussed\, including 
 the technical and ethical challenges of preparing a 1km test-bed. Prelimin
 ary wind tunnel test results will also be presented as an illustration of 
 the complexity of the dynamic behaviour of the tether in high winds.\n
LOCATION:Winstanley Lecture Theatre
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