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Related: About this forumCould artificially dimming the sun prevent ice melt? (Spoiler: Not without cutting emissions)
Could artificially dimming the sun prevent ice melt?With methods of so-called geoengineering, the climate could theoretically be artificially influenced and cooled. Bernese researchers have now investigated whether it would be possible to prevent the melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet by artificially "dimming the sun". The results show that artificial influence does not work without decarbonization and entails high risks.
Is there an emergency solution that could stop climate change? Technical methods that artificially influence the climate have been discussed for some time under the term geoengineering. However, the majority of climate researchers have been critical of them: high risks, incalculable consequences for future generations.
In a study just published in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers led by Johannes Sutter of the Climate and Environmental Physics Division (KUP) at the Institute of Physics and the Oeschger Center for Climate Research at the University of Bern investigate the question of whether the melting of ice in West Antarctica could be prevented by artificially influencing solar radiation. The researchers also warn of unforeseeable side effects of geoengineering.
Avoiding a key climate tipping point
Specifically, Sutter and his colleagues have investigated what would happen if so-called aerosols suspended particles in a gas introduced into the stratosphere succeeded in blocking solar radiation from the earth a dimming of the sun, so to speak. So far, research has focused on the global effects of solar radiation management (SRM). The Bern study is the first to use ice model simulations to show what effect such a measure would have on the Antarctic ice sheet. The study examines the possible development of the ice sheet under different future greenhouse gas scenarios and yields differentiated results: If emissions continue unabated and the SRM occurs in the middle of this century, the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could be delayed somewhat, but not prevented. In a medium emissions scenario, SRM deployed by mid-century could prove to be an "effective tool" to slow or even prevent ice sheet collapse.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01738-wIs there an emergency solution that could stop climate change? Technical methods that artificially influence the climate have been discussed for some time under the term geoengineering. However, the majority of climate researchers have been critical of them: high risks, incalculable consequences for future generations.
In a study just published in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers led by Johannes Sutter of the Climate and Environmental Physics Division (KUP) at the Institute of Physics and the Oeschger Center for Climate Research at the University of Bern investigate the question of whether the melting of ice in West Antarctica could be prevented by artificially influencing solar radiation. The researchers also warn of unforeseeable side effects of geoengineering.
Avoiding a key climate tipping point
Specifically, Sutter and his colleagues have investigated what would happen if so-called aerosols suspended particles in a gas introduced into the stratosphere succeeded in blocking solar radiation from the earth a dimming of the sun, so to speak. So far, research has focused on the global effects of solar radiation management (SRM). The Bern study is the first to use ice model simulations to show what effect such a measure would have on the Antarctic ice sheet. The study examines the possible development of the ice sheet under different future greenhouse gas scenarios and yields differentiated results: If emissions continue unabated and the SRM occurs in the middle of this century, the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could be delayed somewhat, but not prevented. In a medium emissions scenario, SRM deployed by mid-century could prove to be an "effective tool" to slow or even prevent ice sheet collapse.
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Could artificially dimming the sun prevent ice melt? (Spoiler: Not without cutting emissions) (Original Post)
OKIsItJustMe
Aug 2023
OP
Think. Again.
(9,447 posts)1. We need to be sure...
...that ANY geo-engineering method we do consider will be instantly reversible if (when) the unexpected consequences of our effort become worse than the original problem we are trying to solve.
OKIsItJustMe
(19,973 posts)2. "Instantly Reversible!?"
Im sorry, but youre dreaming.
Anything which will significantly effect the climate will have inertia all its own, and is liable to have all sorts of unpredicted side effects. Thats why it would have been really good to do research decades in advance
but its too late for systematic research now.
Some are operating in panic mode, while others are operating in purely obstructive mode. Plan on unilateral efforts being made with potentially global repercussions.
Think. Again.
(9,447 posts)3. I think we agree on this...