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Planetary EngineeringPlanetary engineering is the application of technology for the purpose of influencing the global properties of a planet. (Fogg, 1995) The goal of this theoretical task is usually to make other worlds habitable for life. Perhaps the best-known type of planetary engineering is terraforming, by which a planet's surface conditions are altered to be more like those of Earth. Other terms used for particular types of planetary engineering include caeliforming for the creation of an Earth-like atmosphere and ecopoiesis for the introduction of an ecology to a lifeless environment. Planetary engineering is largely the realm of science fiction at present, although some types of climate change on Earth could be considered a form of "geoengineering." Geoengineering is the deliberate modification of Earth's environment on a large scale, With a growing human population and the spread of technology, geoengineering becomes more observable. The industrial revolution has enabled humanity to alter between one-third and one-half of the Earth's surface. In turn, atmospheric CO2 has increased by 30 percent over the last two centuries. More atmospheric N is fixed by humanity than by all natural terrestrial sources combined. And, more than half of all accessible surface fresh water is put to use by humanity. (Vitousek et al, 1997) According to most climate models, climate change may result in altered precipitation patterns and the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather around the world. http://www.ipcc.ch/ Records indicate that surface temperatures have risen by more than half a degree Celsius (one degree Farenheit) within the last 50 years. Sea surface temperatures (SST) have also risen during the last 30 years by a comparable amount. (Sheppard et al, 2002) Currently a great deal of political debate takes place over the notion that human civilization has already inadvertently modified Earth's climate through the industrial emission of greenhouse gases and proposals have been made to counter any such effects through further deliberate geoengineering. For example, some have proposed to put large mirrors in orbit which would modify the insolation received by Earth - either increasing or decreasing it, as the need arises. Large-scale sequestration of CO2 inside geological formations or ocean sediment, modification of Earth's albedo with reflective or absorbtive materials spread over portions of its surface, or the alteration of rainfall patterns through the creation of artificial seas are other examples which have been seriously considered. References - Fogg, Martyn J. (1995). Terraforming: Engineering Planetary Environments. SAE International. Warrendale, PA.
- Vitousek, P.M. Mooney, H.A. Lubchenco, J. Melillo, J.M. (1997).Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems. Science, 277:5325.
- Sheppard C. R. Spalding M. Bradshaw C. Wilson S. (2002). Erosion vs. recovery of coral reefs after 1998 El Nino: Chagos reefs, Indian Ocean. Ambio. Feb;31(1):40-8.
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