Geoengineering Earth's radiation balance to mitigate CO sub(2)-induced climate change

To counteract anthropogenic climate change, several schemes have been proposed to diminish solar radiation incident on Earth's surface. These geoengineering schemes could reverse global annual mean warming; however, it is unclear to what extent they would mitigate regional and seasonal climate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2000-07, Vol.27 (14), p.2141-2144
Main Authors: Govindasamy, B, Caldeira, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:To counteract anthropogenic climate change, several schemes have been proposed to diminish solar radiation incident on Earth's surface. These geoengineering schemes could reverse global annual mean warming; however, it is unclear to what extent they would mitigate regional and seasonal climate change, because radiative forcing from greenhouse gases such as CO sub(2) differs from that of sunlight. No previous study has directly addressed this issue. In the NCAR CCM3 atmospheric general circulation model, we reduced the solar luminosity to balance the increased radiative forcing from doubling atmospheric CO sub(2). Our results indicate that geoengineering schemes could markedly diminish regional and seasonal climate change from increased atmospheric CO sub(2), despite differences in radiative forcing patterns. Nevertheless, geoengineering schemes could prove environmentally risky.
ISSN:0094-8276