Can lunar surface dust be floated in space to combat global warming?

delivery time2023-02-09 13:09

Cosmic Dust Sunlight Blocking Simulation… Moon dust is the most efficient

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Eom Nam-seok = While various geoengineering methods are being reviewed to cope with global warming, it is suggested that dust on the surface of the moon can be shot up into space between the sun and the earth to reduce the sunlight reaching the earth. .

According to the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and foreign media, a research team led by Ben Bromley, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Utah, analyzed the dust particles that can be used to block sunlight, the required amount, and the trajectory. It was published in PLOS Climate, an open information access journal published by the Science Library (PLOS).

The research team launched the space platform at the first Lagrangian point (L1), which can maintain a stable orbit by balancing the gravity between the sun and the earth, and splitting and spraying the material taken from the earth can achieve the most obvious light blocking effect, but the cost is astronomical. As much as it takes, it is said that it is more efficient to shoot dust from the lunar surface as an alternative.

The research team focused on reducing starlight enough to be detected by the dust ring formed around the star, and conducted research on the idea that only a small amount of material could block sunlight in a specific orbit between the sun and the earth.

The research team applied simulation technology, which is commonly used when studying the process of planet formation, and tested its efficiency in various scenarios.

As a result, two approaches emerged as the most promising.

First of all, it was found to be effective, such as creating a shade for a certain period of time when a space platform was floated on L1 and dust was blown out. However, these dusts were easily scattered under the influence of solar wind, radiant energy, and gravity, and there was a problem in that the shade was maintained only when new dust was continuously supplied at intervals of several days.

The next step is to shoot lunar dust from the lunar surface in the L1 direction. It is believed that the lunar dust grains formed over 4 billion years have properties suitable for blocking sunlight and have the advantage of requiring less energy to shoot up dust. done.

The research team said that having to supply new dust every few days is a logistical challenge, but it can also be an advantage.

Concerns about geoengineering have been allayed, he said, because the dust particles ejected into space do not permanently block sunlight reaching the Earth, but are temporary enough to disperse into space in a matter of days and do not fall through the Earth’s atmosphere.

Geoengineering methods to solve global warming using engineering technologies have been reviewed in various ways, but they have limitations in that they can cause permanent damage to the earth.

For example, spraying sulfur particles into the atmosphere has been suggested as a way to bring down the global temperature by reflecting solar light, such as when a volcanic eruption occurs, but it can bring unexpected and irreversible results.

The research team emphasized that this study explored the potential impact rather than evaluating logistical feasibility.

“We are not experts on climate change, nor are we experts on the rocket science needed to move objects from one place to another,” Bromley said. I just saw it,” he said.

He added, “But I hope you don’t miss the game changer on important issues (like global warming).”

eomns@yna.co.kr

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2023/02/09 13:09 Sent