Balloon rises to the challenge of bringing down global warming

A giant balloon part-funded by billionaire Bill Gates could help future generations control scorching temperatures caused by climate change.

A huge inflatable structure will release particles of chalk dust 20 kilometres above the northern Swedish town of Kiruna this summer, as scientists explore new ways to reduce the power of the Sun.

In the first serious attempt at “solar geoengineering”, researchers will assess how calcium carbonate in the stratosphere could deflect some of the Sun’s rays and reduce temperatures on Earth.

The project is being led by Harvard University. The balloon will also carry 600 kilograms of scientific equipment high above the Arctic to monitor how effective the process could be.

A small plume of dust will be released and will stretch across a few kilometres, allowing scientists to check how the particles react with air.

Data can then be entered into a computer model to observe the effect of a similar operation on a larger scale.

David Keith, a professor of applied physics and one of the project’s leaders, said solar geoengineering should only be used to complement existing climate-change measures.

“Solar geoengineering is not an alternative or substitute to cutting emissions,” he said.

“Doing serious investigation of what its risks are and how well it could work provides the next generation with better information to make a more informed decision.

“It could allow us to reduce the temperature extremes that cause real human suffering, deaths from heatwaves and loss of crops in some of the poorest parts of the world.

“Elsewhere, it could reduce extreme precipitation events that are some of the most dangerous aspects of climate change.

“Solar geoengineering could be relatively inexpensive.”

But critics claim that cooling the planet with solar geoengineering could deflect from other projects to reduce carbon emissions.

If a success, the strategy is only likely to be used if significant portions of the Earth become too hot for people to live in.

Rising temperatures are a major issue for the Middle East, with concerns that some areas could become uninhabitable if temperatures continue to increase.