Geoengineering by cloud seeding: influence on sea ice and climate system
GCM computations using a fully coupled ocean atmosphere model indicate that increasing cloud reflectivity by seeding maritime boundary layer clouds with particles made from seawater may compensate for some of the effects on climate of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations. The chosen seeding strategy (one of many possible scenarios) can restore global averages of temperature, precipitation and sea ice to present day values, but not simultaneously. The response varies nonlinearly with extent of the seeding, and geoengineering generates local changes to important climatic features. The global tradeoffs of restoring ice cover and cooling the planet must be assessed alongside the local changes to climate features.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 971893
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-66848; TRN: US201004%%344
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Research Letters, 4(4):Article number: 045112, Vol. 4, Issue 4; ISSN 1748-9326
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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