Planting 'climate friendly' crops that reflect sunlight could help offset the effects of global warming, a study suggests. The crops, spread across large fertile regions of North America and Europe, would send a small percentage of the sun's light and heat back into space. Different strains of crops such as wheat have significantly different levels of reflectivity, or albedo, say scientists. Selecting those that reflect the most could make summers in Europe more than 1 per cent cooler, they claim. Lead researcher Dr Joy Singarayer, from the University of Bristol, said: 'Our current studies on crop reflectivity are at an early stage, but our initial results are really encouraging, as they suggest that simply by choosing to plant specific strains of crops, we could alter the reflectivity of vast tracts of land and significantly reduce regional temperatures.The concept of using increased reflectivity to manipulate our climate is, in fact, an ancient one - humankind has for centuries painted settlements white to reflect the sun and keep cool. We could now realise the opportunities to do this on a much bigger scale via our agricultural plantations.' The findings were outlined in London over the weekend at the Royal Society discussion meeting 'Geoengineering - Taking Control of our Planet's Climate'. (Daily Mail)Monday 8 November 2010
Planting crops that reflect sunlight 'could help offset effects of global warming'
Planting 'climate friendly' crops that reflect sunlight could help offset the effects of global warming, a study suggests. The crops, spread across large fertile regions of North America and Europe, would send a small percentage of the sun's light and heat back into space. Different strains of crops such as wheat have significantly different levels of reflectivity, or albedo, say scientists. Selecting those that reflect the most could make summers in Europe more than 1 per cent cooler, they claim. Lead researcher Dr Joy Singarayer, from the University of Bristol, said: 'Our current studies on crop reflectivity are at an early stage, but our initial results are really encouraging, as they suggest that simply by choosing to plant specific strains of crops, we could alter the reflectivity of vast tracts of land and significantly reduce regional temperatures.The concept of using increased reflectivity to manipulate our climate is, in fact, an ancient one - humankind has for centuries painted settlements white to reflect the sun and keep cool. We could now realise the opportunities to do this on a much bigger scale via our agricultural plantations.' The findings were outlined in London over the weekend at the Royal Society discussion meeting 'Geoengineering - Taking Control of our Planet's Climate'. (Daily Mail)