Atmospher Sci & Global Chg
Newsmakers
March 2016
Climate Scientist Rasch is Expert for Michigan Engineering Article
Help with understanding geoengineering
Dr. Philip Rasch, Chief Scientist in climate science at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, was quoted in an in-depth article from Michigan Engineering, "Is it Time to Get Serious About Geoengineering?"
The article describes the sometimes controversial topic of geoengineering. It's a concept that involves what many believe are last-ditch efforts to reduce the climate effects of greenhouse gases only while long-term mitigation is in progress.
The article describes geoengineering as an area of science many avoid for fear of showing recognition of human-caused climate change significance.
"We would all like to believe that we're not harming the planet," said Rasch. "And any time you consider something like geoengineering it's an explicit recognition that we've reached a point where we need to be really worried."
As an internationally recognized scientist in climate modeling with emphasis on the climate impact of aerosols and clouds, Rasch's expertise makes him one of few to use innovative analysis studies to provide insight into the impacts and consequences of geoengineering techniques.
Rasch and his climate modeling colleagues are optimistic their expertise will provide a fundamental and useful understanding of Earth's climate system. "We don't have a lot of time to mess around," he said. "Because some of the changes we're anticipating will at some point become irreversible."