Eastman Kodak Company
METHOD OF GEOENGINEERING TO REDUCE SOLAR RADIATION

Abstract:

A method to facilitate the reduction of solar radiation impacting Earth proposes the use of a plurality of porous particles that are introduced into Earth's stratosphere at an average distance of at least 10 kilometers above sea level. Each porous particle has a continuous polymeric phase composed of an organic polymer, and discrete pores dispersed within the continuous polymeric phase. Each porous particle has a mode particle size of 2-20 .mu.m; a coefficient of variance (CV) of no more than 20% compared to the mode particle size; and a porosity of 20%-75%. The discrete pores have an average pore size "d" (nm) that is defined by 0.3.ltoreq.d/.lamda..ltoreq.0.8 wherein .lamda. is 400-3,000 nm. Each of the discrete pores of the porous particles is filled with air and optionally a pore stabilizing hydrocolloid that is disposed at the interface of the discrete pore and the continuous polymeric phase.