14 Facts About Solar geoengineering

Solar geoengineering, or solar radiation modification, is a type of climate engineering in which sunlight would be reflected back to outer space to limit or reverse human-caused climate change.

Solar geoengineering appears able to prevent some or much of climate change temperature increases.

The goal of solar geoengineering would be to reduce radiative forcing by increasing Earth's albedo .

However, because warming from greenhouse gases and cooling from solar geoengineering operate differently across latitudes and seasons, this counter-effect would be imperfect.

Solar geoengineering is almost universally intended to complement, not replace, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, carbon dioxide removal, and adaptation efforts.

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Solar geoengineering has been suggested as a means of stabilizing regional climates - such as limiting heat waves, but control over the geographical boundaries of the effect appears very difficult.

Almost all research into solar geoengineering has to date consisted of computer modeling or laboratory tests, and there are calls for more research funding as the science is poorly understood.

Climate models consistently indicate that a moderate magnitude of solar geoengineering would bring important aspects of the climate - for example, average and extreme temperature, water availability, cyclone intensity - closer to their preindustrial values at a subregional resolution.

Greenhouse gases warm throughout the globe and year, whereas solar geoengineering reflects light more effectively at low latitudes and in the hemispheric summer and only during daytime.

David Victor suggests that solar geoengineering is within the reach of a lone "Greenfinger, " a wealthy individual who takes it upon him or herself to be the "self-appointed protector of the planet".

Solar geoengineering estimated that this would cost around US$10 billion up front, and another $10 billion in supportive cost during its lifespan.

Solar geoengineering poses several governance challenges because of its high leverage, low apparent direct costs, and technical feasibility as well as issues of power and jurisdiction.

Solar geoengineering does require widespread engagement with community and stakeholders, not to incur in a multitude of challenges and barriers to the research, testing and deployment of novel technology.

Support for solar geoengineering research comes almost entirely from those who are concerned about climate change.