| Subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly updates on Solar Geoengineering:
DEADLINESSRM Sessions at AGU2024:
RESEARCH PAPERSSmith, W. (2024). An assessment of the infrastructural and temporal barriers constraining a near-term implementation of a global stratospheric aerosol injection program. Environmental Research Communications. Abstract Models of stratospheric aerosol injection deployment scenarios have often assumed that a global sunscreen could be applied to the Earth on relatively short notice, perhaps in response to a climate emergency. This emergency response framing confuses the timescales associated with the commencement of such a program. Once deployed, stratospheric aerosols could cool the Earth quite quickly, but the most commonly assumed deployment scenarios would require aircraft and other infrastructure that does not currently exist. Given the span required to develop and certify a novel aircraft program and to subsequently build a fleet numbering in the hundreds, scenario builders should assume a roughly two-decade interval between a funded launch decision and the attainment of a target level of cooling.
Low, S., Fritz, L., Baum, C. M., & Sovacool, B. K. (2024). Public perceptions on solar geoengineering from focus groups in 22 countries. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1), 1-19. Abstract Solar geoengineering maintains a vocal presence as a stop-gap measure in assessments of climate and sustainability action. In this paper, we map prospective benefits and risks, and corresponding governance approaches, regarding three major proposals for solar geoengineering (stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening, and a space-based sunshield). We do so by engaging with 44 focus groups conducted in 22 countries split between the global North and South. We compare results against previous research on the public perceptions of solar geoengineering as well as wider activities in assessment, innovation, and decision-making. We find that global South groups exhibit greater hope but an arguably richer range of concerns for solar geoengineering, in the context of observable inequities in climate action and potential geopolitical conflict. Meanwhile, a strong, global preference for multilateral coordination and public engagement from the conduct of research onwards is offset by skepticism of effective multilateralism and public discourse.
Sandro V., Sina K K., John A D., et al. Microphysical interactions determine the effectiveness of Solar Radiation Modification via Stratospheric Solid Particle Injection. ESS Open Archive. Abstract Recent studies have suggested that stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) of solid particles for climate intervention could reduce stratospheric warming compared to injection of SO2. However, interactions of microphysical processes, such as settling and coagulation of solid particles, with stratospheric dynamics have not been considered. Using a global chemistry-climate model with interactive solid particle microphysics, we show that agglomeration significantly reduces the backscatter efficiency per unit of burden compared to mono-disperse particles, partly due to faster settling of the agglomerates, but mainly due to increased forward- over backscattering with increasing agglomerate size. Compared to injection of SO2, injection of 150\,nm radius diamond particles still substantially reduces required injection rates as well as perturbation of stratospheric winds, age of air and water vapor concentrations due to the small stratospheric warming per radiative forcing. Uncertainties remain as to whether stratospheric dispersion of solid particles is feasible without formation of agglomerates.
Jiang, J., Xia, Y., Cao, L., Kravitz, B., MacMartin, D. G., Fu, J., & Jiang, G. (2024). Different strategies of stratospheric aerosol injection would significantly affect climate extreme mitigation. Earth's Future, 12(6), e2023EF004364. Abstract Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) has been proposed as a potential supplement to mitigate some climate impacts of anthropogenic warming. Using Community Earth System Model ensemble simulation results, we analyze the response of temperature and precipitation extremes to two different SAI strategies: one injects SO 2 at the equator to stabilize global mean temperature and the other injects SO 2 at multiple locations to stabilize global mean temperature as well as the interhemispheric and equator‐to‐pole temperature gradients. Our analysis shows that in the late 21st century, compared with the present‐day climate, both equatorial and multi‐location injection lead to reduced hot extremes in the tropics, corresponding to overcooling of the mean climate state. In mid‐to‐high latitude regions, in comparison to the present‐day climate, substantial decreases in cold extremes are observed under both equatorial and multi‐location injection, corresponding to residual winter warming of the mean climate state. Both equatorial and multi‐location injection reduce precipitation extremes in the tropics below the present‐day level, associated with the decrease in mean precipitation. Overall, for most regions, temperature and precipitation extremes show reduced change in response to multi‐location injection than to equatorial injection, corresponding to reduced mean climate change for multi‐location injection. In comparison with equatorial injection, in response to multi‐location injection, most land regions experience fewer years with significant change in cold extremes from the present‐day level, and most tropical regions experience fewer years with significant change in hot extremes. The design of SAI strategies to mitigate anthropogenic climate extremes merits further study.
WEB POSTS
THESIS
UPCOMING EVENTS
JOB OPPORTUNITIES"Our Institute (European Institute on Economics and the Environment) is always looking for bright researchers motivated to work on the defining issue of climate change. For this position we are encouraging applications by researchers interested in modelling and assessing the implications of climate engineering interventions, specifically either Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) or Solar Radiation Management (SRM), as possible additional strategies to conventional mitigation ones.
We have a portfolio of international research projects on both removing CO2 and CH4 (e.g. UPTAKE, REPAIR), and on assessing solar radiation modification (e.g. CO-CREATE, RFF). We are looking from one to two candidates to work on either research strand, or possibly combine them. We are interested in the integration of all key aspects of climate engineering, from the technical side to its socio-economic repercussion and its governance."
African Climate and Development Initiative - University of Cape Town in South Africa have opened two 3-year postdoc positions to characterise the global and regional impacts and risks of SRM on agriculture and water resources:
YOUTUBE VIDEOSWalker Lee on Marine Cloud Brightening Global Impact Modeling - HPAC | Robbie Tulip "Walker Raymond Lee is a postdoctoral research associate at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. Walker's research explores the design space of climate intervention: what can climate models tell us about how different climate intervention strategies might affect the Earth system in different ways? In this talk he applies this research to Marine Cloud Brightening. From 2018-2023, Walker studied at Cornell University, where he compared simulations of stratospheric aerosol injection at various latitudes, altitudes, and seasons and used feedback control algorithms to determine whether and how different strategies could be used to prevent certain impacts from global warming. After completing his doctorate in 2023, Walker began as a postdoc at NCAR, where he is working to apply the same analysis to simulations of marine cloud brightening interventions."
Making sense of solar engineering | Latitude Media "In this episode, Shayle talks to Dan Visioni (https://dan-visioni.github.io/) , a climate modeler who studies solar geoengineering at Cornell University’s Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. They discuss what solar geoengineering might look like in the real world."
Can technology stop a hurricane? | YaleClimateConnections "Climate change is fueling more intense and frequent hurricanes, posing greater risks to lives and communities. But could cutting-edge technology offer a solution? In this video, meteorologist Alexandra Steele talks with former hurricane hunter Jeff Masters and other experts about whether geoengineering or artificial intelligence could one day enable us to control hurricanes."
A rogue geoengineering startup sparks worry | Latitude Media "Luke Iseman and Andrew Song are the co-founders of Make Sunsets, a startup claiming to be implementing solar geoengineering by launching weather balloons filled with SO2 into the stratosphere. Their first experimental launch in the Mexican state of Baja resulted in a swift regulatory response from the Mexican government. But when they ran another test launch a few weeks ago just outside of Reno, Nevada, Luke invited Alejandro to meet them."
Solar Geoengineering: Ethics and Science | Harvard Climate Action Week 2024 | The Salata Institute at Harvard University "Solar geoengineering refers to a strategy for reducing the impacts of climate change by reflecting some of the incoming solar radiation. Long considered too controversial to discuss in public, it has been getting more and more attention both within the scientific community and from the public at large, perhaps due to the growing awareness of climate change impacts as well as the scale of the challenge of decarbonizing the global energy system. For nearly 20 years, Harvard has played a leading role in convening conversations surrounding this approach to managing climate change, as well as contributing important scholarship on new technological approaches, better understanding of the impacts, and debates surrounding its governance. In this panel, leading scholars from atmospheric chemistry, climate physics and philosophy discussed the current state of our understanding of solar geoengineering, highlighting the main areas of uncertainty, and identified ways to move forward on solar geoengineering research while the debate intensifies on its possible deployment."
Board member Jackie Kado explains why she volunteers her time with Degrees | The Degrees Initiative  "Dr Jackie Kado is the Executive Director of the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and volunteers her time as a member of Degrees’ board of trustees. In this short interview she discuss her the work of the Degrees Initiative and what motivates her to work with the Degrees Initiative."
| |
