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Lessons learned from geoengineering freshwater systems

Nature Climate Change volume 4, pages 935–936 (2014)Cite this article

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To the Editor —

Our ecosystems and the services they provide are increasingly being degraded by multiple and interacting pressures. Humans are using geoengineering to mitigate their effects, even though it commonly addresses acute symptoms of single pressures. Barrett et al.1 discuss the benefits, problems and geopolitical consequences of proposed geoengineering to alleviate the effects of climate change by injecting sulphate into the stratosphere. This is an untried, global measure, the efficacy of which is difficult to predict2. However, geoengineering is already being applied in fresh waters, at smaller scales, using additives to alleviate the effects of either local nutrient enrichment or regional acid deposition3. Lessons from these and other freshwater management experiences provide empirical evidence to reinforce the conclusions of Barrett et al. Here, we highlight the need to consider feedbacks between ecosystems and the pressures acting on them beyond the potential interactions in their Fig. 1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, Midlothian, UK

    Bryan M. Spears

  2. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, LA1 4AP, Lancaster, UK

    Stephen C. Maberly

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  1. Bryan M. Spears
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  2. Stephen C. Maberly
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Correspondence to Bryan M. Spears.

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Spears, B., Maberly, S. Lessons learned from geoengineering freshwater systems. Nature Clim Change 4, 935–936 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2412

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