Planetary engineering
Encyclopedia
Planetary engineering is the application of technology
for the purpose of influencing the global properties of a planet
. 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 types of planetary engineering include ecopoiesis
, 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 are recent evidence that human
s can cause change on a global scale.
, or ecology of a planet, moon
, or other body to be similar to those of Earth in order to make it habitable by humans.
by either removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (e.g. using ocean iron fertilization) or by managing solar radiation (e.g. by using mirrors in space) in order to negate the net warming effect of climate change.
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
for the purpose of influencing the global properties of a planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
. The goal of this theoretical task is usually to make other worlds habitable for life
Life
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
.
Perhaps the best-known type of planetary engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
is terraforming
Terraforming
Terraforming of a planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology to be similar to those of Earth, in order to make it habitable by terrestrial organisms.The term is sometimes used more generally as a...
, by which a planet's surface conditions are altered to be more like those of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. Other types of planetary engineering include ecopoiesis
Ecopoiesis
Ecopoiesis is a neologism created by Robert Haynes. The word was formed from the Greek, οικος, house, and ποιησις, production. Ecopoiesis refers to the origin of an ecosystem. In the context of space exploration, Haynes describes ecopoiesis as the "fabrication of a sustainable ecosystem on a...
, the introduction of an ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
to a lifeless environment. Planetary engineering is largely the realm of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
at present, although some types of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
on Earth are recent evidence that human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s can cause change on a global scale.
Terraforming
Terraforming is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying the atmosphere, temperatureTemperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
, or ecology of a planet, moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, or other body to be similar to those of Earth in order to make it habitable by humans.
Geoengineering
Geoengineering is the application of planetary engineering techniques to Earth. Recent geoengineering proposals have principally been methods to tackle human-induced climate changeClimate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
by either removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (e.g. using ocean iron fertilization) or by managing solar radiation (e.g. by using mirrors in space) in order to negate the net warming effect of climate change.
See also
- Astronomical engineeringAstronomical engineeringEngineering on an astronomical scale, or astronomical engineering, i.e., engineering involving operations with whole astronomical objects , is a known theme in science fiction, as well as a matter of recent scientific research and exploratory engineering.-See also:*Planetary...
- Macro-engineeringMacro-engineeringIn engineering, macro-engineering is the implementation of extremely large-scale design projects...
- Megascale engineeringMegascale engineeringMegascale engineering is a form of exploratory engineering concerned with the construction of structures on an enormous scale. Typically these structures are at least 1,000 kilometers in length—in other words, at least 1 megameter, hence the name...
- Virgin Earth ChallengeVirgin Earth ChallengeThe Virgin Earth Challenge is a competition offering a $25 million prize for whoever can demonstrate a commercially viable design which results in the permanent removal of greenhouse gases out of the Earth's atmosphere, so as to contribute materially to avoid global warming...
- Rendezvous with RamaRendezvous with RamaRendezvous with Rama is a novel by Arthur C. Clarke first published in 1972. Set in the 22nd century, the story involves a cylindrical alien starship that enters Earth's solar system...
External links
- Geoengineering: A Climate Change Manhattan Project (Stanford Envtl. Law Journal
- Geoengineering Retrospective Overview of articles on geoengineering from the sustainability site WorldchangingWorldchangingWorldchanging is an American non-profit online magazine and blog about sustainability and social innovation. At 19/09/2011, it was taken over by Architecture for Humanity....
- 5 ways to save the earth; documentairy about geo-engineering
- ClimateShield - Lifeboat Foundation ClimateShield
- Climate Engineering Is Doable, as Long as We Never Stop Wired Magazine