# 4 Geoengineering Attack Plans to Fight Climate Change

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2008/05/geo-engineering-attack-plans-to-fight-climate-change/
- Published: 2008-05-16T01:10:00-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

**Geo engineering As the war on global warming heats up, some scientists argue that
geo engineering meddling with the environment might be the only way to save it.

By Emily MasamitsuSource: [Popular Mechanics](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a1652/4216744/)
Illustrations by BlandDesignsPublished in the June 2007 issue.

The [researchers](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/new-research-exposes-a-crisis-in-the-global-trade-of-recyclable-plastics/)
sailing aboard Weatherbird II aren’t studying global warming. So they’re trying 
to end it. The ship’s three-year mission, funded by for-profit eco­renewal firm 
Planktos. For it is to seed oceans with iron-rich dust, which should trigger plankton
blooms.

![Iron in oceans for plankton. So the Weatherbird II is already spreading iron in
its wake. And it is only one of several extreme geo engineering attack plans on 
the table.](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/coral_seamount_na.
jpg?resize=243%2C420&quality=52&ssl=1)

Coral garden on a seamount in the North Atlantic. Seamounts are oases of the open
ocean, rich in marine life, and [provide a stop](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/03/kia-teams-with-amazon-to-provide-onestop-homecharging-solutions-for-electric-vehicles/)
over for migratory species such as whales, turtles and tuna, and host congregations
of deep sea fish, all vulnerable to impacts of human activities.
© IMAGDOP / University
of the Azores

# Plankton

More [plankton](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/08/oceana-to-use-rovs-to-help-everyone-know-whats-up-in-the-gulf-coast/)
means more carbon dioxide can be pulled out of the atmosphere and trapped in the
seas.

The [project is the first large-scale effort](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/solar-energy-school-project-reflects-community-efforts/)
in a controversial field, known as geoengineering. One that aims to [actively combat global](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/11/waste-plastic-has-been-used-to-make-activated-carbon-in-what-could-offer-a-commercial-solution-to-the-global-plastics-crisis/)
warming. Despite the risk of unintended environmental side effects. So the Weatherbird
II is already spreading iron in its wake.

And it is only one of several extreme geoengineering attack plans on the table.

Finally and for the entire story from Popular Science including [geoengineering](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a1652/4216744/).

#### THE GOAL:

Reverse plankton die-offs and reduce atmospheric [CO2 levels by seeding oceans](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/08/ocean-acidification-co2-understanding-the-crisis/)
with iron, a key nutrient for plankton.

#### THE PLAN:

Up to 600 tons of granulated iron ore will be spread in the Pacific, Atlantic and
Antarctic oceans, where plankton levels have fallen steeply. Planktos says the iron
won’t act as a pollutant, since it will be consumed. Shoreline plankton blooms can
cause oxygen depletion, but Planktos says it’s not a problem in deep seas.

#### TIMETABLE:

The _Weatherbird II_ set sail in April; Planktos expects to see blooms this summer.

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
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