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RESEARCH PAPER: Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Does Not Cause Stronger Asian Monsoon Drying Than Greenhouse Gas Mitigation (IOP Science)
PREPRINT: Impacts of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Renewable Energy Systems (arXiv)
NEWS FEATURE: The strange and totally real plot to blot out the sun and reverse global warming (E&E News by Politico)
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Associate Director, Administration, CSEi (University of Chicago)
PODCAST: Could Geoengineering Delay Climate Change? With Daniele Visioni (Scales of Success Podcast)
VIDEO: The Equity of Climate Intervention (Climate Emergency Forum)
Read on to unpack more updates:
A computationally efficient method to model similar and alternate stratospheric aerosol injection experiments using prescribed aerosols in a lower-complexity version of the same model: a case study using CESM(CAM) and CESM(WACCM)
Authors: Jasper de Jong, Daniel Pflüger, Simone Lingbeek, Claudia E. Wieners, Michiel L. J. Baatsen, and René R. Wijngaard
Synopsis: This study introduces a pattern-scaling method to generate SAI forcing in CAM using output from WACCM, avoiding costly interactive stratospheric chemistry. By deriving forcing fields from a representative SAI experiment, the approach enables flexible SAI scenarios and feedback-controller applications. Simulations closely match full-complexity WACCM results across versions, resolutions, and forcing setups, offering major computational savings for SAI research.
Impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection on precipitation and winds associated with extratropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: João Gabriel Martins Ribeiro, Michelle Simões Reboita, Natália Machado Crespo and John C Moore
Synopsis: This study evaluates how Stratospheric Aerosol Injection affects Southern Hemisphere extratropical-cyclone precipitation and 10-m winds across past and future periods using ARISE, GLENS, and GeoMIP data. SAI generally weakens cyclone-related precipitation and winds, with contributions declining toward the far future. While models capture present-day cyclone structure, future SAI–no-SAI differences vary by region and project, though overall SAI mitigates warming-driven cyclone intensification.
Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Does Not Cause Stronger Asian Monsoon Drying Than Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
Authors: Chao He, Yifeng Peng and Pengfei Yu
Synopsis: Idealized GeoMIP6 simulations show that both GHG mitigation and equatorial SAI reduce Asian monsoon rainfall mainly by lowering atmospheric moisture as temperatures cool. Crucially, SAI causes no extra drying beyond that expected from equivalent GMST reduction. Inter-model differences stem from insolation gradients tied to aerosol placement, and targeted injection latitudes can enhance or suppress rainfall, indicating that well-designed SAI strategies can reduce monsoon risks.
Confronting a “silent killer:” reducing vulnerability to extreme heat in urban West Africa with surface cooling technology and climate-resilient roofing
Authors: Benjamin K. Sovacool
Synopsis: Extreme heat is a worsening health threat in West Africa, especially in Freetown, where low electricity access limits cooling options. This study examines the MEER pilot, a Surface Radiative Thermal Management project using reflective materials to reduce urban heat while providing shaded seating made from recycled PET. Based on site visits, interviews, surveys, and documents, it highlights SRTM’s rapid, low-risk potential to aid vulnerable communities facing severe heat.
Time Left to Critical Feedback/Loops: Annual Solar Geoengineering-PLUS, Pathways Towards Planetary Self-Cooling - Preprint
Authors: Alec Feinberg
Synopsis: Global warming driven by feedbacks is projected to rise sharply, pushing feedback-loop contributions beyond 50% between 2075–2125, risking tipping points and harder mitigation. By 2100, SRM needs may reach today’s full baseline. To counter this, ASG+ pathways - Earth Brightening, Arctic SAI, and L1 sunshades - are proposed to slow feedback amplification and extend mitigation timelines.
G6-1.5K-SAI and G6sulfur: changes in impacts and uncertainty depending on stratospheric aerosol injection strategy in the Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project - Preprint
Authors: Walker Raymond Lee, Daniele Visioni, Benjamin Moore Wagman, Christopher Robert Wentland, Ben Kravitz, et al.
Synopsis: G6-1.5K-SAI tests SAI designed to cap warming near 1.5 °C with updated subtropical injections. Models agree on cooling per unit SO₂ but differ in required amounts, aerosol optical depth, and cooling efficiency. SAI cools land more than ocean and offsets mid- and high-latitude precipitation increases, though tropical and Arctic responses vary. Compared with G6sulfur, it cools the Arctic more and reduces precipitation less.
Impacts of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Renewable Energy Systems - Preprint
Authors: Sebastian Kebrich, Luisa Kamp, Jochen Linßen, Heidi Heinrichs
Synopsis: This study evaluates the impact of injecting 20 Mt SO₂ annually for a 2 °C cooling target on global radiative balance, PV potential, and renewable energy systems. PV output declines by 0.25–4% globally and up to 12% in Northern Europe in summer. Most modeled energy systems absorb these losses with only minor capacity changes, showing that flexible large-scale renewable systems can accommodate SAI-driven shifts if properly understood in design.
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The New Yorker – A Startup’s Bid to Dim the Sun
Inevitable & Obvious – Carbon Removal Won’t Scale Fast Enough
Riffing on Solutions – We need to talk about the G-word
Nuffield Council on Bioethics – Embedding Ethics in Solar Radiation Modification Research and Development Agendas
E&E News by Politico – The strange and totally real plot to blot out the sun and reverse global warming
Quebec Science – The environmentalist who changes course
Medium – Cooling the Earth to Keep Carbon in the Ground
Bloomberg – Dimming the Sun Is a Terrifying New Industry
The ARC – Systemic Climate Risks are Underpriced and Underresearched
SRM360 – Spotlighting the Amazon Could Clarify SRM Research and Governance Questions
SRM360 – Can Plan C Pick Up Where An Inconvenient Truth Left Off?
The Atlantic – The Real Fight Over Geoengineering Is Beginning
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Associate Director, Administration, CSEi at University of Chicago
“CSEi addresses the science, engineering, and policy of new technologies to reduce or reverse the harms from accumulated greenhouse gasses, including open-systems carbon removal, solar geoengineering, and local interventions to slow the melting of glaciers. The initiative spans engineering, physical and biological sciences, social sciences, humanistic approaches, to behavioral science, law, policy and ethics, bringing together a collaborative group of faculty and researchers and leveraging the global network and partnerships of the University.”
Could Geoengineering Delay Climate Change? With Daniele Visioni | Scales of Success Podcast
“What if one idea could shift the world’s climate future? In this eye-opening episode, Marcus sits down with Daniele Visioni to uncover the surprising science shaping the planet’s temperature and the cutting-edge climate tools most people have never heard of. Clear, bold, and packed with powerful insight, this conversation opens the door to possibilities that could change how we think about risk, responsibility, and the future we’re building.”
COP30: Can Marine Cloud Brightening help the Great Barrier Reef? | Centre for Climate Repair
“Can Marine Cloud Brightening help the Great Barrier Reef? We explored this and more at today’s COP30 Brazil event with Daniel Harrison from Southern Cross University, Clara Botto from The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG), and Leonardo Valenzuela Pérez, PhD from Ocean Visions, moderated by Hugh Hunt from the Centre for Climate Repair, University of Cambridge.”
Solar Climate Intervention Virtual Symposium 20 (Anna Tippett & Dr Ali Akherati) | Solar Climate Intervention Talks
“Anna Tippett (Imperial College London, UK): “Evaluating simulations of ship tracks in a high resolution model.”
Dr Ali Akherati (Reflective, USA): “A web-based emulator for Stratospheric Aerosol Injection: Overview and Latest Updates”.”
Climate Crisis Toolbox: More Than Emission Cuts | Climate Emergency Forum
“This episode of the Climate Emergency Forum features a compelling discussion with Dr. Shaun Fitzgerald, Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge, joining live from COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Regular panelist Paul Beckwith and host Herb Simmens delve deep into the urgent need to look beyond simple emissions cuts as the core answer to the climate crisis. Shaun outlines the Centre’s ambitious research on greenhouse gas removal, including ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, direct air capture, methane oxidation, and innovative climate engineering projects like marine sky brightening and Arctic sea ice thickening.”
Saving the Planet with Geo-Engineering | planet:e | Full Documentary | Hazards and catastrophes
“The German Research Foundation’s special program has investigated a variety of methods. Prof. Andreas Oschlies is an oceanographer and climate model specialist at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel. They are collecting data for better climate simulations. One idea is to reflect incoming solar radiation back into space in advance of causing global warming. The second idea is filtering out carbon dioxide, which is causing warming.
Which of these ideas is realistic, or can we actually save the planet? Or is it too late?”
Cloud Albedo Enhancement | Brendan Moore, PhD
“In this meeting, Paul Washington discusses the approach, costs, benefits, and pitfalls of aerosol seeding versus salt injection.”
Janos Pasztor | The Climate Diplomat Who Refuses to Give Up on Humanity | Christian Soschner
Dr. James E. Hansen - The truth about global warming, ATLAS25 | Operaatio Arktis
“James E. Hansen is an American climate scientist and former director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies. In 2006, Hansen was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. Now Hansen works as Director of Climate Science in Columbia University.
In his keynote at ATLAS25 James Hansen is warning the audience of the dangerous feedback loops of Earth Systems Tipping Points (ESTP). Hansens research and statements have been a controversial talking point among the science community, the media and even some of IPCC lead authors. Hansens message is clear – We’re running out of time.”
Solar Geoengineering and Forcing 14X Greater than CO₂ | dfrsoft
“This video is an introduction to my paper “Solar Geoengineering & Solar Forcing 14 times Greater than CO2: Climate and Land Use Amplifications in GW Diagnostics. Using straightforward Earth energy-budget physics, this study finds that solar geoengineering (SG) or solar forcing ≈13.8 times more efficient (stronger in radiative forcing or mitigation) per Wm⁻² than carbon dioxide changes. The paper also include the urbanization GW effect about 13% as well diagnostics show the GHG AR6 forcing is about 39% to high.”
The Equity of Climate Intervention | Climate Emergency Forum
“This episode explores the dual challenge facing global climate action: not only are emission reductions and natural carbon sinks increasingly insufficient to stabilize our climate, but every potential solution must address core questions of justice and equity. The discussion focuses on large-scale climate interventions like solar radiation modification and marine cloud brightening, asking whether these emergency measures could prevent catastrophic warming—while emphasizing that those most affected by climate impacts are often the least responsible for them.”
14 - 30 November | Online - Documentary Plan C For Civilization World Premiere
01 December | Online & In-person (UK) - Good COP, Bad COP: First reflections on COP30 by Centre for Climate Repair
04 December | Online - Live Discussion: Are emissions cuts on track to avoid catastrophic impacts? by SRM360 (NEW)
09 December | Online - What is Global Cooling? by Sebastian Manhart
15-19 December | New Orleans, Louisiana - 2025 American Geophysical Union Meeting
9-13 March 2026 | Kyoto, Japan - CMIP Community Workshop (CMIP26)
21-26 June 2026 | United States - Gordon Research Conference - Bridging Observations, Models, and Impacts in Solar Radiation Modification Research
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