Page 9 - October2019

one of the possible benefits of solar
geoengineering—maintaining crop
yields by protecting them from heat
stress—might not come to pass.” He
cites a 2018 study showing that yields of
Dear EarthTalk: Is the plan to sprinkle dust wheat, corn, rice and soy fell after two
in the stratosphere to reflect some of the major volcanic eruptions darkened skies
sun’s rays away from Earth to prevent global around the planet and took a toll on
warming science or science fiction? crop yields.
— M. Jackson, Tampa, FL
Given such concerns, Anderson and
Some certainly do consider it science Keith are erring on the side of caution,
fiction, or worry that it could end up doing setting up an external advisory
more environmental harm than good. Yet committee to review the project and
others—including Bill Gates and a team of point out potential safety concerns to
leading Harvard scientists—think it could be head off negative side effects. “Getting it
the solution to our planetary climate woes. done right is far more important than
getting it done quickly,” says Peter
What we’re talking about is a form of geo- Frumhoff of the Union of Concerned
engineering that entails sending up some 800 Scientists.
jumbo planes to sprinkle their payload of
millions of tons of chalk dust in the If they can pull off a successful test and
stratosphere 12 miles above the Earth’s then scale the idea, the good news is it
surface in an effort to reflect some of the might even be something the
sun’s heat back into space to turn the tide on governments of the world—and/or Find your roots at the Norwood Library
climate change. some rich benefactors—can afford. An In October, come to the Norwood be taught at both sessions. A library card
October 2018 report from the Library to learn how to start your family is necessary because the census database is
The so-called Stratospheric Controlled Intergovernmental Panel on Climate accessible outside the library with your
Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx) was Change found that dispersing enough history research. library card.
developed by chemist James Anderson and sulfur in the stratosphere with a similar WHAT: Family History Month We’ll end the month with the ultimate
physicist David Keith, both of Harvard— (cooling) intent could be done for less celebration of family – Día de los Muertos.
with funding from Bill Gates—”to advance than $10 billion/year—and possibly for WHEN: October 2019 This celebration, rooted in Mexican
WHERE: Norwood Library, 4550 Peck
understanding of stratospheric aerosols that as little as $1 billion/year. While that Rd, El Monte, CA 91732 tradition, connects us to ancestors. We will
could be relevant to solar geoengineering.” might seem like a lot, it’s a bargain if it be having family-centered art projects at 2
The researchers want to test their hypothesis can save our environment, our pm on Saturday, November 2, 2019. Bring
with a $3 million experiment 12 miles above civilization, and our very existence on October is Family History Month and the grand children to the Santa Anita
the Southwestern United States where they the planet. Norwood Library will be celebrating all YMCA to participate in Zumba for Kids!
month. The Library will be offering a
would steer remote controlled balloons to CONTACTS: SCoPEx, FREE Beginning Genealogy Class on Children ages 4 to 12 at 1 pm. To participate
disperse small plumes of calcium carbonate. projects.iq.harvard.edu/keutschgroup/ Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 6 pm and in Zumba, children must wear shoes and
scopex; “First sun-dimming experiment dress comfortably.
The balloons would then turn around and will test a way to cool Earth,” https:// Friday, October 4, 2019 at 11 am. No
observe any differences in the amount of www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018- previous experience with family history About LA County Library
and no computer skills are required. The
solar radiation getting through. This system 07533-4#ref-CR3. same class will be taught on both Tuesday Founded in 1912, LA County Library is
is adapted from a similar design the one of the largest and most innovative
researchers used in groundbreaking research EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer and Friday. library systems in the US. It offers free
analyzing the composition of the & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit The week of October 15, 2019, we will public resources including books, music,
stratospheric ozone layer. EarthTalk. To read more, check out https:/ help you scan your work from the first multimedia materials, computer and
class and/or family photos. Tuesday
/emagazine.com. To donate, visit https:// internet access, as well as educational
But the test plan, initially slated for early earthtalk.org. Send questions to: through Thursday from 12 noon to 7 pm and recreational services to 3.4 million
2019, has received some pushback from question@earthtalk.org. we will have staff available to teach you residents across 3,000 square miles
scientists and environmentalists, who worry how to scan items. It is recommended to through its 86 community libraries and
that such tinkering could cause negative have a flash drive on hand to save the mobile fleet of 18 vehicles, including 3
images.
chain reactions and unforeseen irreversible CalTechLive Event: Wednesday, October 16, We’ll explore national census records bookmobiles, 10 MâkMô maker mobiles,
consequences. 2019 at 8:00 p.m. Causality: From Aristotle to on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 6 pm and 5 Reading Machines. LA County
Zebrafish, Beckman Auditorium, 332 South and Friday, October 25, 2019 at 11 am Library is dedicated to reducing barriers
“Some researchers have suggested that Michigan Avenue, Pasadena. Frederick Eberhardt, and increasing access to and equity of
solar geoengineering could alter using LA County Library’s public services for all. To learn more,
HeritageQuest database. The first class
precipitation patterns and even lead to more Professor of Philosophy at Caltech, will give this is not a prerequisite to this class; taking visit LACountyLibrary.org and follow
droughts in some regions,” reports Jeff Earnest C. Watson lecture. Admission: free. Call @LACountyLibrary on Facebook,
Tollefson on Nature.com. “Others warn that (626) 395-4652 for information the first class will help you focus your
research for this class. The same class will Twitter and Instagram.
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October 2019 9