Condensation Nuclei to Build-back Ice Sheets?

Question

Hi,

I'm Rob, professional software engineer and amateur geologist...

Could condensation nuclei typically used to enhance precipitation at ski resorts, like dry ice (CO2) and silver iodide, be used to enhance precipitation above the planet's ice sheets, and thereby enhance snow and cloud cover?

As most scientists know, snow and clouds are significantly better reflectors of long-wave radiation than are most land surfaces and clear sky.

Just a thought....

Robert

I'm not sure if Chin2's claim that the cost of silver iodide / dry ice deployment over polar air mass precipitation systems is too great.

Furthermore, I'm sure 'millions of dollars' is not infeasible -- have you seen the Defense budget of the U.S. Gov't?

However, I appreciate the answer because it is at least serious. Any one else?

I know that it's like re-freezing an ice cube in a microwave oven as it melts, but when this ice cube fills at least 1/4th of the oven, and holds down a large mass of submerged CO2, it has to be cooled...

Cloud-seeding:
http://www.livescience.com/environment/ap_051220_cloud_seeding.html

And, yes, cloud-seeding is STILL theoretical -- though some studies proved it, others couldn't

If a multibillion dollar package can cloud-seed Antarctica, then we have a great shot at keeping the CO2 index below 450 by 2100.

The benefits to the economy and civilization are obvious.

At this point, the only conclusion we can make is that more work has to be done on cloud-seeding.

Answer 1

Hmm, we could seed clouds and cause more precipitation. But we have yet to find a method to create COLD outside a building. That would be the reason our icecaps are melting. As far as reflecting long-waves, I don't think they're a significant source of heat (think infrared, which tends to dissipate easily, and thus doesn't reach the Earth from the Sun).

If the ozone issues have proven anything, it's that increasing the Earth's coverage causes _more_ heat to build up. Which melts ice caps.

I know I'm assuming your intent is to stop global warming, but I see no other logical extension of enhancing snow and cloud cover... unless you sell pre-fab igloos, or something.

Answer 2

nice thought robert. but though this method is used at ski resorts, it is non-feasable, impractical & uneconomical. you practically cannot spent some million dollars in such a project where the terrain is so difficult and vast(unlike a ski resort), so not the whole planet's ice sheets can be covered.So it makes no IMPACT on the enviornment. Further, the ski companies's motive is to attract customers, and the motive behind your thought can be to reduce globalwarming? Such small scale apparatus will fail to fulfil this urgent need.