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Counteracting global warming by using a locally optimized solar radiation management
  • Davide Marchegiani,
  • Dietmar Dommenget
Davide Marchegiani
Monash University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Dietmar Dommenget
Monash University
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Abstract

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) is regarded as a tool to potentially counteract global warming by increasing planetary albedo. Even though it has shown effective results in offsetting global surface temperature, one of its main limits lies in the persistence of major regional anomalies, for both surface temperature and precipitation. Here, using the Globally Resolved Energy Balance (GREB) model, we present experiments designed to completely offset global and regional surface temperature response due to CO2 forcing. Our innovative idea, is to employ a spatially and seasonally optimized SRM, as opposed to the state-of-the-art geoengineering which utilizes a homogeneous one. This approach allows to cut down surface warming by more than 99% in nearly all regions and seasons, with the exception of polar regions. This pilot study is opening up interesting pathways for further experiments with more complex models, to completely compensate global warming with SRM.