Whether at the lake, in the garden or on the balcony - if the sun torments us too much, a parasol is set up to provide cooling shade. Scientists are trying to apply this method on a large scale to combat the Earth's overheating. With the help of a parasol in space, solar radiation could theoretically be reduced and thus global warming slowed down - such methods are called geoengineering.

Stopping global warming through emergency measures - is that possible?

If the warming of the global climate cannot be stopped any further despite greenhouse gas restrictions, active methods to cool the earth could be used as emergency measures.

The only question is - to what extent can this idea be implemented in reality?

Is this more of a fictional idea, the realization of which would be more at home in the science fiction genre?

Science fiction or truth?

Parasol

Experts agree that the theory of simply blocking the sun is possible.

However, the implementation is very complex. Of course, the whole process would not be as simple as unfolding a parasol sounds at first. In fact, it involves hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of small slices that assemble themselves into a large umbrella in space.

Implementing this plan could reduce solar radiation by up to 2%.

However, the idea of a gigantic parasol for the earth is not the only vision for having a corrective influence on climate change and its effects.

Artificial clouds

Researchers from the US state of Colorado are planning, among other things, to atomize large quantities of seawater in order to create artificial clouds that reflect sunlight back into space.

Make algae grow faster

Another consideration would be to accelerate algae growth in the oceans by adding iron sulphate. Algae bind carbon dioxide, which is therefore no longer released into the atmosphere.

White plastic parts

Floating plastic disks in the oceans or white plastic tarpaulins in the deserts should also be able to reflect unwanted solar radiation back into space. There are already glacier areas that are covered with white tarpaulins, which leads to a short-term reduction in ice melt.

Geoengineering

In summary, interventions of this kind using technical methods that influence the climate are known as geoengineering or climate engineering. However, whether these ideas can ever be implemented and what benefits and other consequences result from them must be weighed up in each case.