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THIS WEEK’S TOP SRM UPDATES
Research Paper: G6-1.5K-SAI and G6sulfur: changes in impacts and uncertainty depending on stratospheric aerosol injection strategy in the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (European Geosciences Union)
Research Paper: Sulfur Exposure for Airplane Passengers From Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (AGU)
Monthly News Brief: Monthly Solar Geoengineering Updates (May’2026) (Solar Geoengineering Updates)
Fellowship Opportunity: African Climate Intervention Fellowship (ACIFER) 2026 (Emerging Climate Frontiers)
Funding Announcement: Next-level grants awarded to boost Global South SRM expertise (The Degrees Initiative)
PhD in Climate Modelling: Modelling the injection of stratospheric aerosols and its impact on the climate of France (CNRS)
Upcoming Event: Overshoot: What’s the climate strategy above 1.5°C? (Theo Cox)
Podcast: Novel Solutions (How We Survive)
Read on to unpack more updates:
RESEARCH PAPERS
Earth’s east–west albedo symmetry
Authors: Jianhao Zhang, Jake J. Gristey & Graham Feingold
Synopsis: Researchers have identified a previously unknown east–west albedo symmetry on Earth, finding that a meridian near 27°E divides the planet into two hemispheres that reflect nearly identical amounts of sunlight. Using 25 years of satellite observations, the study shows this symmetry extends across clear-sky reflectivity, cloud effects, and ocean coverage, forming a rare “triple symmetry.” Researchers suggest the pattern may be linked to large-scale atmospheric circulation and could provide new constraints for climate models and solar geoengineering.
Precipitation and circulation changes in the Indian summer monsoon region under stratospheric aerosol intervention in the GLENS simulations
Authors: Shinu Sheela Wilson and Govindasamy Bala
Synopsis: New modeling research suggests SAI could substantially alter the Indian summer monsoon, potentially overcompensating precipitation changes despite stabilizing global temperatures. Under a high-emissions scenario, monsoon rainfall increases by ~14%, but large-scale SAI simulations instead show a ~10% decrease, driven primarily by weakened atmospheric circulation rather than reduced moisture. Researchers caution results are model- and scenario-specific and require broader validation.
Impact of stratospheric aerosol injection on ocean surface circulation in the Gulf of Guinea
Authors: Yves W Pomalegni, Zacharie Sohou, Ezinvi Baloïtcha and Simone Tilmes
Synopsis: New modeling research suggests SAI could moderate climate-driven changes in ocean circulation in the Gulf of Guinea while introducing additional dynamical complexity. Simulations show warming under high emissions alters major surface currents, including the Guinea Current and South Equatorial Current, whereas SAI generally preserves similar circulation patterns but weakens their magnitude. Researchers find ocean dynamics remain the dominant driver, with SAI responses showing stronger nonlinear and ageostrophic behavior.
G6-1.5K-SAI and G6sulfur: changes in impacts and uncertainty depending on stratospheric aerosol injection strategy in the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project
Authors: Walker Raymond Lee, Daniele Visioni, Benjamin Moore Wagman, et al.
Synopsis: Initial results from the new G6-1.5K-SAI climate experiment suggest SAI could limit warming to around 1.5°C above preindustrial levels using symmetric subtropical aerosol injections rather than equatorial deployment. Models broadly agree on cooling efficiency per unit sulfur injection but differ substantially on required injection volumes, Arctic impacts, and tropical precipitation responses. Compared with earlier scenarios, the updated approach produces stronger Arctic cooling and smaller precipitation reductions, though uncertainties remain significant.
Multi-model analysis of the impact of water vapor on the radiative forcing of volcanic aerosols after the 2022 Hunga Eruption
Authors: Ilaria Quaglia, Daniele Visioni, Ewa M. Bednarz, et al.
Synopsis: New multi-model analysis of the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption suggests the event produced a net cooling effect, driven primarily by sulfur dioxide emissions and resulting sulfate aerosols rather than the unprecedented water vapor injection. Researchers estimate a global radiative forcing of roughly −0.19 W/m² during 2022–2023, though cooling may be underestimated due to revised SO₂ estimates. Water vapor contributed mainly by accelerating early aerosol growth, strengthening cooling during the first six months after the eruption.
Sulfur Exposure for Airplane Passengers From Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
Authors: Alan Robock, Alistair Duffey, Walker Raymond Lee, Lauren Wheeler
Synopsis: New modeling research suggests high-latitude SAI using aircraft could create potential passenger exposure risks if commercial planes fly through sulfate aerosol clouds. Simulations across three Earth system models estimate average cabin sulfuric acid concentrations of roughly 5–45 μg/m³ under large-scale injection scenarios, with some flights potentially experiencing higher exposures. Researchers note these values approach air-quality guideline thresholds, highlighting the need for further study of aviation-related health risks under SAI deployment scenarios.
Highland Pathways Shape Global Dust Vertical Transport and Its Climate Effects
Authors: Yuzhi Liu, Qingzhe Zhu, Weiqi Tang, Dan Li
Synopsis: This research suggests global highlands play a disproportionately important role in lifting dust into the atmosphere, potentially making them relevant for future solar radiation management strategies. The study finds regions such as the Tibetan and Iranian Plateaus act as major dust conduits, with rising dust emissions causing particularly strong increases in upper-atmosphere dust concentrations. While enhanced dust may cool the surface, researchers warn it could also warm the mid-to-upper atmosphere, highlighting potential climate risks and environmental trade-offs.
The Geoengineering Put: Ecological Debt, Termination Risk, and Asset Prices - Preprint
Authors: Kelly Shue, Samuel M. Hartzmark
Synopsis: SRM and other geoengineering approaches could fundamentally reshape climate economics by enabling rapid, low-cost planetary cooling, creating a “free-driver” problem where single nations may act unilaterally. A new macro-finance framework argues geoengineering acts like a climate damage insurance mechanism while accumulating “Ecological Debt,” creating long-term termination shock risks. The study finds geoengineering may initially benefit fossil fuel firms but eventually turns them into risky assets, while SRM and carbon removal become complementary under termination risk.
Schematic diagram illustrating the process of aircraft air supply, filtering, and distribution of H
2SO
4 (Source)WEB POSTS
Solar Geoengineering Updates - Monthly Solar Geoengineering Updates (May’2026)
CFG - Why future generations need a seat at the table in the climate interventions discussion
DSG - Reading the Signals: Stardust and the Shape of an Emerging Field
Planetary Sunshade Foundation - Brussels Workshop on EU Governance of Solar Geoengineering
Federation of American Scientists - I Want to Talk About Solar Geoengineering and You Should Too!
Geopolitical Monitor - The Geopolitics of Geo-Engineering: Weather Warfare vs. Climate Security
New Scientist - Earth has a mysterious triple symmetry that may influence its climate
WBIW - Indiana Youth Tackle Climate Crisis With Ideas at Second Annual IU Geoengineering Summit
The Abstract M Surj - Cloudy skies could point to brighter days ahead
Silverlining - Engineering a Particle for the Stratosphere
Degrees Initiative - Next-level grants awarded to boost Global South SRM expertise
SRM Malaria Dashboard - Data driven solutions for a malaria free future
SRM360 - Two Conferences Highlight a Transatlantic Divide on SRM
ACIRhub - Africa’s Climate Future Demands a Voice in Global Geoengineering Debates
LinkedIn - Science7 (S7), the national science academies of the G7, has weighed in on geoengineering in the Arctic with a recommendation
DEADLINES
African Climate Intervention Fellowship (ACIFER) 2026 | 31 August - 14 October 2026 | Online | Deadline to apply: 30 July 2026
ARIA Launches Funding Call for Projects Related to Climate Adaptation, Weather Innovation, and Climate Interventions | Applications close on 31 July 2026
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
PhD in Climate Modelling: Modelling the injection of stratospheric aerosols and its impact on the climate of France | Application Deadline: 26 June 2026
“The aim of this thesis will be to estimate and understand the effects of applying SAI-based climate intervention methods on France’s climate.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
15 June | Online - SRM Research on a Rapidly Changing Planet: Earth System Tipping Points by Co-Create
20-21 June | United States - Bridging the Knowledge Gaps in Climate Engineering with Experiments, Models, and Observations by Gordon Research Seminar
21-26 June 2026 | United States - Gordon Research Conference - Bridging Observations, Models, and Impacts in Solar Radiation Modification Research
24 June | United Kingdom - Overshoot: What’s the climate strategy above 1.5°C? by Theo Cox (NEW)
29 June | Lauterpacht Centre - May We Engineer The Climate? An International Law Perspective by Centre for Climate Repair (NEW)
30 June | Online - How Should Solar Geoengineering Research Be Governed? by SRM360 (NEW)
10 July | University of Cambridge, UK - Climate Repair: Can we Refreeze the Arctic? by Centre for Climate Repair (NEW)
10-11 September | Washington, DC. - 2026 RFF and Harvard SRM Social Science Research Workshop
12-15 October | Malaysia - Global Tipping Points 2026 | Abstract Deadline: 15 May
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PODCASTS
Novel Solutions | How We Survive
“Talk to enough experts about geoengineering and the conversation eventually turns to termination shock. That’s the idea that if we were to start cooling the planet and then suddenly stop, the resulting “shock” of heat could be catastrophic. It’s also the title of a novel by bestselling sci-fi writer Neal Stephenson, who explores the science, politics, and unintended consequences of trying to engineer the earth’s climate.
In this episode, we sit down with Stephenson to talk about what sci-fi can teach us about real-world climate solutions. But first: a climate idea so ambitious it sounds like it came straight from the pages of science fiction.”
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Plan C for Civilization: Film Screening and Panel | Columbia Business School
“Plan C for Civilization tackles the promise and peril of solar geoengineering with exclusive verite access to its protagonist David Keith and the SCoPEx project, as well as the rogue geoengineers of Make Sunsets. From Bangladesh to Nevada, solar geoengineering is emerging after more than 60 years in the shadows, and with it, a new chapter of the climate change saga. After the film screening, V. Faye McNeill (Chemical Engineering) and Gernot Wagner (Columbia Business School) had a discussion with the documentary filmmaker Ben Kalina (Mangrove Media LLC). This session was moderated by Vincent Sandow-Straesser, ’26CCS.”
Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium #25 (Dr. Timofei Sukhodolov & Prof. Brad Marston) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks
Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium #24 (Dr. Micheal Diamond) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks
Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium 23 (Dr Anna Lange) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks
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