Ms. Peterson quotes NASA research studies that increasingly persistent jet contrails may turn into man-made clouds (or white haze), that are “…trapping warmth in the atmosphere and exacerbating global warming…”  NASA (2005), goes on to state that “…Any change in global cloud cover may contribute to long-term changes in the Earth’s climate.  Contrails, especially persistent contrails, represent a human-caused increase in the Earth’s cloudiness, and are likely to be affecting climate and ultimately our natural resources…”   In testimony before the US House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Ken Caldeira of Carnegie Institution of Washington stated, “With regard to environmental negatives, it is possible there could be adverse shifts in rainfall, or damage to the ozone layer, or unintended impacts on natural ecosystems. These unintended consequences should be a major focus of a Solar Radiation Management research program.”

With straight forward and sobering language Ms. Peterson make a strong case for the ‘precautionary principal” when it comes to geoengineering and its potential impact on the environment and health.

Ms. Peterson quotes NASA research studies that increasingly persistent jet contrails may turn into man-made clouds (or white haze), that are “…trapping warmth in the atmosphere and exacerbating global warming…”  NASA (2005), goes on to state that “…Any change in global cloud cover may contribute to long-term changes in the Earth’s climate.  Contrails, especially persistent contrails, represent a human-caused increase in the Earth’s cloudiness, and are likely to be affecting climate and ultimately our natural resources…”   In testimony before the US House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Ken Caldeira of Carnegie Institution of Washington stated, “With regard to environmental negatives, it is possible there could be adverse shifts in rainfall, or damage to the ozone layer, or unintended impacts on natural ecosystems. These unintended consequences should be a major focus of a Solar Radiation Management research program.”

With straight forward and sobering language Ms. Peterson make a strong case for the ‘precautionary principal” when it comes to geoengineering and its potential impact on the environment and health.