https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2752-5295/ae15b6
Authors: Hounsou-Gbo, A. Nathanael Dossa, Maiella Toupe, Marcel Kouakou, Arnaud Kouekam, Toussaint Mitchodigni, Zacharie Sohou, Alan Robock, Ben Kravitz
DOI 10.1088/2752-5295/ae15b6
21 October 2025
Abstract
Sea level rise is a global concern in the era of climate change, prompting the exploration of interventions such as solar radiation modification through stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). This intervention could affect the physical system in various ways. The present study analyzes the global and regional impacts of SAI using ARISE-SAI-1.5 (SAI-1.5) simulations with the Community Earth System Model 2. We calculated the regional thermosteric sea level under different scenarios. After validating our methodology for sea level components over the period 1995-2014, we determined changes in sea level variables under both SAI-1.5 and the underlying Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 2–4.5 (SSP2-4.5) relative to the reference period (1995-2014). In contrast to sea surface temperature, which under this SAI strategy should be maintained near 1.5°C above preindustrial values, global sea level rise would continue increasing under SAI-1.5. However, SAI would significantly impact thermal expansion in SSP2-4.5 simulations, reducing the global long-term sea level trend from 3.7± 0.03 mm/year for SSP2-4.5 to 1.9± 0.04 mm/year for SAI-1.5, a 49% reduction. The associated ocean heat content (OHC) is reduced from (2.0 ±0.3)×10²² J/year under SSP2-4.5 to (1.17 ±0.30)×10²² J/year under SAI, a 42% reduction. Additionally, SAI would impact the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf Stream region by reducing the sea level rise rate. These findings underscore the potential of SAI as a climate intervention strategy with significant implications for sea level change.
Source: IOP Science