Comprehensive Scientific Study Calculates the Cost of GeoengineeringBrandon Turbeville For many, the ability to hold two contradictory thoughts (i.e. chemtrails are conspiracy theories while geo-engineering projects are needed to combat global warming) is a major impediment to any real acceptance of the health and environmental consequences of barium oxide, cadmium, sulfur dioxide, and aluminum oxide being sprayed over their heads on a daily basis. Likewise, the thought that governments, corporations, banks, and academia might be working in secret toward nefarious ends is beyond comprehension for a large portion of the general public. However, as more and more mainstream media outlets and respected scientific organizations begin to openly admit the existence of both the technologies and the programs, the ability to deny it is a gift more closely associated with a mental disorder than with ignorance. Thus, the recent release of a study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters entitled, Cost analysis of stratospheric albedo modification delivery systems, should only serve to weaken the ridiculous claims that those individuals capable of looking above their heads and researching government programs are conspiracy nuts. The study, conducted jointly between three researchers affiliated with three different institutions Justin McClellan of Aurora Flight Science Corporation, David W. Keith of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Kennedy School at Harvard University, and Jay Apt of the Tepper School of Business and Department of Engineering and Public Policy of the Carnegie Mellon University centered around the evaluation of the projected cost analysis of various systems capable of delivering 1-5 million metric tonnes (Mt) of albedo modification material to altitudes of 18-30 km. It should be noted that the study does not address the effectiveness, risks or social implications associated with the deployment of aerosols to the stratosphere for solar radiation management (SRM). This particular study only evaluates the costs of transporting a million tonnes of material to the stratosphere. Still, the researchers are clearly favorable to the idea of geo-engineering. In fact, this much is evidenced in their four-point statement as to why this study was undertaken and why they felt it was necessary to provide rough order-of-magnitude estimates of the cost of transportation for these particulate matters. The study states, Notice that the authors write that scientists are already working on methods for geoengineering. In addition, it is stated that As early as 1992, estimates were made of the cost of geoengineering, citing the US National Research Council as proof. Building on the findings of previous studies, the authors also suggest that, due to the nature of aerosols and the characteristics of stratosphere, it might be most efficient both in terms of cost and lifetime of the aerosols to disperse the material in the tropics above the tropical tropopause. Thus, the study reads, The authors of this particular study were nothing if not thorough and scientific (with the exception of their adherence to anthropogenic global warming theories) throughout the entire process. Virtually every possible variable was taken into account that might affect the cost of stratospheric modificiation via aerosol dispersion. Indeed, the authors took advantage of a set of CER (Cost Estimating Relationships) developed by the RAND Corporation; the Development and Procurement Costs of Aircraft (DAPCA) model. This model was instrumental to the estimation of costs for aerosol dispersal using existing aircraft (airplanes and airships) as well as the projections regarding New Aircraft designs, meaning aircraft that has yet to be unveiled to the general public at the time of the study. Using the DAPCA model, a wide range of variables were considered such as fuel cost, fuel weight, fuel burn rate, thrust specific fuel consumption rate, personnel costs (air crews, site managers, maintenance personnel and logistics, pilots, copilots, payload operators flight crews, etc.), labor rates, and many other factors were all included in the calculations of the cost of dispersing aerosols using existing airplanes to the amount of 1 Mt yr -1. All of these figures are represented in Table 1 of the study under the Maintenance hours per flight hour section. Other data included in the table are the acquisition costs, modification cost, Number of aircraft required, Fleet acquisition cost, and Yearly operations cost. The types of airplane studied include the Large cargo Boeing 747-400, Zoom climber (Boeing F-15E), Business Jet (Gulfstream C-37A), Airlifter (Boeing C-17), and the Supersonic Bomber (Rockwell B-1B). In relation to the Total yearly cost with depreciation and interest, the Large cargo Boeing (747-400) and the Airlifter (Boeing C17) were tied at $1.1 billion. However, with modifications made to reach altitudes of 18.2 km, the Airlifter costs increased to $3.6 billion. In relation to existing aircraft and aerosol delivery, the study claims, The authors go on to discuss the potential for optimal New aircraft design, suggesting that The optimized designs favor 2 engines over greater numbers as engines are a large contributor to RDTE and acquisition costs as well as spare parts costs. Other suggestions are made in this regard which can be found in the New aircraft section and section 6 of the supplementary data. Notably, the study addresses other more novel forms of aerosol disbursal. Or, at least, methods which are not readily visible to the general public. These approaches include airships, rocket powered gliders, guns, and floating platforms with slurry pipes or gas pipes. After the discussion of conventional aircraft (i.e. airplanes), the airship option finishes a distant second place. The authors sum up the feasibility of this option by writing, Rocket powered gliders were also considered as alternative means of aerosol dispersal, but in less practical terms, mainly due to cost. The study claims, In terms of guns, the study was even more unenthusiastic. Although the authors claimed that guns could be used to reach higher altitudes than what were dealt with in the study, the supposed lack of availability for commercial use and prohibitive cost prompted the researchers to discourage pursuit of this method as a central goal. In the section, Guns, the study states, The least feasible method of injecting aerosols into the stratosphere, according to the study, is the floating platform solution which involves the development and maintenance of an actual space elevator. Because this type of system has yet to be publicly developed, as well as a lack of available materials and adequate knowledge of cost, this method of stratospheric modification was relegated to future study. In regards to the floating platform, the authors write, All in all, we must remember that this study is only designed to effectively estimate the cost of dispersing aerosols into the atmosphere, not the reasons for doing so and certainly not the inherent dangers that necessarily go hand in hand with it. Still, the conclusions in regards to cost are astonishing to say the least. This is because the money that would be required to inject 1Mt (Metric Tonne) into the stratosphere is not much larger than that required to implement a typical large scale engineering project. Furthermore, the cost of the program would be akin to that of the operational costs of a small airline. The study also states that the costs associated with stratospheric aerosol dispersal using existing airplanes would actually be much smaller than that of larger airlines like FedEx or Southwest. Thus, the conclusion states: Lastly, the report states, In the end, it is almost unbelievable how anyone is able to continue to deny the existence of geoengineering projects such as aerosol dispersal and/or chemtrails any longer. Without the aid of clear cognitive dissonance, such denial would be virtually impossible absent total ignorance. Still, the mainstream media, government outlets, and academia will undoubtedly continue to label any discussion of these programs as fringe conspiracy theories, even as they promote the further expansion of the science. Regardless of the reaction given by the perpetrators or by the uninformed, studies such as the one detailed in this article only add more evidence to the mounting heap of previous other documents and admissions relating to geoengineering projects the world over. It is for this reason that, as the geoengineers continue to step up their programs of reforming the environment of the planet, those of us who are aware of the overarching agenda must step up our own efforts to awaken the masses to these programs and subsequently demand that they be ended immediately. Read other articles by Brandon Turbeville here. Brandon Turbeville is an author out of Florence, South Carolina. He has a Bachelors Degree from Francis Marion University and is the author of three books, Codex Alimentarius The End of Health Freedom, 7 Real Conspiracies, and Five Sense Solutionsand Dispatches From a Dissident.Turbeville has published over 175 articles dealing on a wide variety of subjects including health, economics, government corruption, and civil liberties. Brandon Turbevilles podcast Truth on The Tracks can be found every Monday night 9 pm EST at UCYTV. He is available for radio and TV interviews. Please contact activistpost (at) gmail.com. 