New research study: 'Sky is not the limit' for solar geoengineering

There are limits to the height at which aerosols can be deployed to counter global warming. Climate intervention that involves high-altitude injections comes with increased costs and safety risks according to new research published today.

The new report is the first to assess the safety and cost-effectiveness of deployment at an altitude of 25 km, following a study that clarified the lofting technologies by which it would be feasible to undertake solargeoengineering. The report responds directly to a question posed by the US National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in a landmark study in March 2021, which recognized the need for additional research on the viability of depositing aerosols well above 20 km.

Wake Smith, the lead author of the study, says that the conclusion should change how climate intervention models are run around the world.

Climate modelers commonly incorporate lofty deployment of stratospheric aerosols into their studies because several studies have shown that 25 km is more effective than 20 km. airliners and military jets cruise near 10 km, whereas 20 km is the realm of high-flying spy planes and drones. Plans to fly hundreds of thousands of annual solar deployment flights to altitudes that are not accessible to elite spy planes would increase costs and pose unacceptable safety risks.

There is a ceiling in the sky above which traditional aircraft can't fly, and 25 km above it.

More information: Wake Smith et al, Review of possible very high-altitude platforms for stratospheric aerosol injection, Environmental Research Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1088/2515-7620/ac4f5d Citation: New research study: 'Sky is not the limit' for solar geoengineering (2022, March 14) retrieved 14 March 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-03-sky-limit-solar-geoengineering.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.