Future Directions in Simulating Solar Geoengineering

Abstract

Solar geoengineering is a proposed set of technologies to temporarily alleviate some of the consequences of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) created a framework of geoengineering simulations in climate models that have been performed by modeling centers throughout the world (B. Kravitz et al., The Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP), Atmospheric Science Letters, 12(2), 162–167, doi:10.1002/asl.316, 2011). These model simulations are being made with state‐of‐the‐art climate models. So far they have focused on evaluating and comparing model response to globally uniform reductions in solar radiation, creation of stratospheric sulfate aerosol layers aimed at increasing planetary albedo, and injection of sea spray into the marine boundary layer aimed at increasing the reflectivity of marine stratus clouds. Analyses of GeoMIP simulations have identified robust features and key uncertainties of the modeled effects of solar geoengineering.