Using methods of geoengineering, it is theoretically possible to artificially influence and cool the climate. Researchers from Bern have recently examined whether it would be feasible to prevent the melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet by artificially ”dimming the sun.” However, the results indicate that artificial influence alone is ineffective without decarbonization and carries significant risks.
Is there an emergency solution to combat climate change? The concept of geoengineering, which involves artificially manipulating the climate, has been under discussion for some time. However, many climate researchers have expressed concerns about the high risks and unpredictable consequences for future generations.
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, a team of researchers led by Johannes Sutter from the Climate and Environmental Physics Division (KUP) at the Institute of Physics and the Oeschger Center for Climate Research at the University of Bern investigated whether the melting of ice in West Antarctica could be prevented through artificial manipulation of solar radiation. The researchers also highlighted the unforeseeable side effects of geoengineering.
“The window of opportunity to limit global temperature increase to below 2 degrees is rapidly closing,” says ice modeling specialist Johannes Sutter. “Therefore, it is possible that technical measures to influence the climate will be seriously considered in the future.” He emphasizes the need to use theoretical models to study the effects and risks of “solar radiation management,” which refers to various methods of blocking solar radiation to cool the Earth.
One of the main reasons for the growing interest in geoengineering is to prevent tipping points that could lead to abrupt and irreversible climate change. These tipping points include the melting of the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, which would result in a significant rise in sea levels. “Observations of ice flows in West Antarctica suggest that we are very close to or may have already passed a tipping point,” explains Johannes Sutter. “Therefore, our study aimed to investigate whether the collapse of the ice sheet could theoretically be prevented through solar radiation management.”
2023-08-12 09:24:02
Original from phys.org