Vapor by David Meyer

Author:David Meyer [Meyer, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction & Literature, Action Suspense, Mystery & Suspense, Espionage, Thrillers
ISBN: 1230000384957
Amazon: B00WLP5NZ4
Barnesnoble: B00WLP5NZ4
Goodreads: 25417567
Publisher: Guerrilla Explorer Publishing
Published: 2015-03-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 46

“Geoengineering?” My mind twisted in disbelief. “But why would Simona want to change the climate?”

“I think she believes the experts are right. Namely, that climate change is real and presents a danger to humanity.” Carrie took a breath. “There are three ways to deal with climate change. First, we mitigate it. That is, we limit its magnitude and range by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or by building out carbon sinks to remove carbon dioxide from the air. Second, we adapt to it. We accept climate change is a foregone conclusion and work on limiting its negative effects. Or third, we shield ourselves from it. That’s what experts call geoengineering.”

“How can a bunch of chemicals shield us from climate change?”

“It’s called solar radiation management. Like I said, CN-46 reflects sunrays back into space. Less sunlight means less warming.”

“And that really works?”

“The theory is sound. Most geoengineering experts advocate depositing sulfur-based particles into the stratosphere. In that layer, the particles react with water, which causes them to block sunlight. But CN-46 is an extremely advanced piece of technology. It allows Simona to shield much more sunlight with far fewer particles.” Carrie shrugged. “Even so, it’s more of a bandage than a fix. It wouldn’t do anything to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. So, things like ocean acidification would remain an issue.”

Geoengineering.

I mulled over the revelation. It answered some of my questions, but not all of them. For instance, why had Simona sought out the reliquary? And why had Eco-Trek kidnapped homeless people from Saipan?

Something clicked inside my brain. “Have you ever heard of the ‘Year Without a Summer’?”

She shook her head.

History was a passion of mine. But not the usual history taught in school. No, I preferred its mysterious, dark corners. I liked to explore taboo subjects, to question so-called truths. And a little digging revealed much of what modern society believed was patently false. The Wild West really wasn’t all that wild. The Federal Reserve, widely respected as an upstanding institution, had been established in a real-life conspiracy. And the atomic bombs, often viewed as the last shots of World War II, were more accurately described as the first shots of the Cold War.

“In 1815, Mount Tambora erupted in Indonesia,” I said. “It was the largest eruption in recorded history and spewed tons of volcanic ash and sulfur into the stratosphere. The sun’s rays were reflected back to space and global temperatures dropped by an average of about one degree Fahrenheit.”

She nodded. “That’s exactly what Simona is trying to do, only through artificial means.”

“And unfortunately, with similar side-effects. Do you know what happened during the ‘Year Without a Summer’?”

Carrie shook her head.

“In 1816, Crops failed and a massive famine took hold over parts of the world. Food shortages led to riots and even a typhus epidemic in Ireland. At the same time, giant storms occurred. Flooding increased.” I frowned. “There were cultural effects, too. Spectacular sunsets became commonplace. Thousands of people, wiped out by crop losses in New England, headed west in search of better growing conditions.

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