Shrinking ship bubbles ‘could counteract climate change’

BBC ^ | 19 December 2014 | Rebecca Morelle

[moose07]

Getting ships to generate smaller bubbles as they sail across the oceans could counteract the impact of climate change, a study suggests.

Scientists from University of Leeds, UK, say this would create a brighter wake behind a vessel and reflect more sunlight back into space.

However, it could also increase rainfall in some areas.

The findings were presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco.

This is the latest idea from the hotly debated field of geoengineering - manmade global fixes to climate change.

Suggestions for reducing the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth range from installing giant mirrors in space to injecting salt into clouds to make them more reflective.

But Leeds' Prof Piers Forster said the bubbles idea was a more plausible scheme.

More at site....

[shibumi]

"How about if we just get all the kids to blow bubbles in their chocolate milk?"

Two reasons:

First, it has to be *white* milk. Chocolate isn't reflective enough.

Second, which ever kind of milk you use, it's racist.

[RobinOfKingston]

It's coming in thick and fast today.

Hey, when ya got bill ta pay, gettin' paid ta make little bubbles outa big 'uns is as good a job as any.

[blueunicorn6]

Breaking news!

UN to require all ocean-going vessels to tow a rowboat behind them. There will be a guy in the rowboat with a pin to pop any big bubbles. Unemployment drops 5%!
Al Franken to be first rowboat!

[RW_Whacko]

Scientists letting too many fart bubbles escape in the bath tub?

[blueunicorn6]

“However, it could also increase rainfall in some areas.”

Why, yes, of course. Who’s ready for another margarita?

[moose07]

UN to require all ocean-going vessels to tow a rowboat behind them. There will be a guy in the rowboat with a pin to pop any big bubbles. Unemployment drops 5%! Al Franken to be first rowboat!

LoL, you provide the link, i'll post it. :)

[IronJack]

I wonder if these people realize how stupid they sound.

[moose07]

I used to think they where just having a laugh, to see how far they could push it.
But now, i do think they actually believe it.
Unless, they no longer believe it and are using farce as a face saver.

[bgill]

There wouldn’t be global warming if ants would quit farting.

[CPOSharky]

Last week it was ground squirrels in Alaska.

When are they going to investigate the Antarctic Snow Snake?

[dasboot]

Eat slow. Fart less. Save earth.

[moose07]

“When are they going to investigate the Antarctic Snow Snake? “

I’ll keep an eye out for that story for you. :)

[Pecos]

Unfortunately, they don’t. This is simply another case of merging “gee, I hope so” with “humans are the scourge of the earth” and incredibly flawed modeling of the physics.

[peeps36]

Next they will force people into the water twice a day to blow bubbles out their ass. This will turn harmful gas into magic bubbles that fight climate change. I wonder if cows can do it too?

[RightGeek]

What about cow farts?

[elcid1970]

This “study” probably has nothing whatsoever to do with cavitation, which is the generating of air bubbles in the water by the action of rotating propeller blades.

Severe cavitation reduces thrust efficiency & modern propellers are designed to minimize this phenomenon.

These scientists......I thought the article would be about weaponized air bubbles (no joke) caused by underwater detonations, which can literally break a ship in half.

[moose07]

“What about cow farts?”

You mean like a Bovine powered Prairie-masker?
A rack of cows on the stern of the ship, yeah!

[Flick Lives]

Does anyone else suspect that scientists break the monotony of their jobs by competing with each other to see who can sell the media on the most absurd theory?

Bingo. It's a game. I can see these "scientists" sitting around having a beer. "Wait, wait, I've got it! Look at the bubbles in this beer. Bubbles! Gas! Global warming! Get a napkin quick, write this down!..."

[Flick Lives]

Suggestions for reducing the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth range from installing giant mirrors in space to injecting salt into clouds to make them more reflective.

I'd suggest all followers of the Church of Global Warming walk around outside covered in a full layer of aluminum foil to act as little mirrors bouncing back solar radiation. You could show you are doing your part to fight Global Warming!

[Salamander]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGuvQPInjmw