What Kinds of SRM Methods Are Available (and What Do They Involve)? · Space-based Geoengineering · Stratospheric Aerosol Injection · Surface Albedo Modification.
Solar radiation management (SRM) is a subfield of geoengineering focused on altering the Earth's climate by modifying how sunlight interacts with the planet. Two primary approaches within SRM include albedo modification, which involves increasing the Earth's reflectivity, and solar irradiation mitigation, which focuses on reducing sunlight absorption. The strategy of solar management, in contrast, involves either limiting the amount of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface (solar mitigation) or reflecting some of the sunlight that does reach the surface back into space (albedo modification). One suggested approach to solar radiation management is to increase Earth’s albedo artificially to lower the planet’s temperature by reflecting sunlight into space so that it cannot be absorbed. Furthermore, because such a shield would make no modifications to the atmosphere or to land on Earth, it would not have the possible negative environmental impacts that other approaches to solar radiation management would have.
Methods · Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) · Marine cloud brightening (MCB) · Cirrus cloud thinning (CCT) · Reflective surfaces · Space-based methods.
**Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) refers to deliberate, large-scale actions intended to decrease global average surface temperatures by increasing the reflection of sunlight away from the Earth.** Proposed SRM methods involve the use of aerosols (small particles) or other materials to increase the reflectivity of the atmosphere, clouds, or Earth’s surface. **Long-term protection of Earth’s climate and oceans requires substantial reductions in emissions and atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and other GHGs. SRM is not considered a substitute for climate mitigation efforts, which include decarbonization and GHG emission cuts.** SRM research is being conducted as a response to growing concerns that the pace of CO2 emissions reductions and CDR technology development is not sufficient to avoid severe impacts of climate change in the next decades. **Many of the processes most important for understanding SRM approaches—such as those that control the formation of clouds and aerosols—are among the most uncertain components of the climate system.** Climate models differ in simulating large-scale aerosol climate effects, including on surface temperatures, due to variations in how aerosol processes, atmospheric transport and mixing, and physics are represented.
This approach involves reflecting sunlight back into space while allowing Earth's infrared radiation to escape, thereby controlling climate change.
Discover events, scientific meetings and exhibitions held by the Royal Society, as well as access to videos of past events and information on our venue. The Royal Society provides a range of grant schemes to support the UK scientific community and foster collaboration between UK based and overseas scientists. The Society’s medals, awards and prize lectures recognise excellence in science and technology. Explore the latest work from the Royal Society, from news stories and blog posts to policy statements and projects. This policy briefing presents an independent scientific review of solar radiation modification (SRM) techniques, which work by reflecting additional sunlight back into space to reduce global heating. This policy briefing presents an independent scientific review of solar radiation modification (SRM) techniques, which work by reflecting additional sunlight back into space to reduce global heating. #### Royal Society climate change briefings. The Royal Society highlights how climate change and biodiversity are interlinked and sets out the….
For example, geoengineering includes the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (also called Carbon Dioxide Removal – CDR) through methods such as direct air capture and storage, ocean iron fertilization, or ocean alkalinity enhancement. These activities are referred to as **Solar Geoengineering** or **Solar Radiation Modification (SRM).** Most proposed solar radiation modification techniques involve adding material to the atmosphere to increase the amount of incoming sunlight reflected back to space. Marine solar radiation management (mSRM) techniques, on the other hand, involve adding materials to ocean waters, sea ice, or the lower atmosphere to increase the amount of solar radiation reflected at or near the ocean's surface to limit surface warming or sea ice melt. * *Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB)* – adding particles, such as sea spray, to the lower atmosphere (near the surface) to increase the reflectivity of clouds over the ocean. Another subset of geoengineering activities intends to cool the Earth by intentionally modifying the concentration of certain gases in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide.
# Studying the impacts of Solar Radiation Modification. EDF is part of a growing number of scientists, nonprofits and companies studying Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), a new technology that could temporarily lower global temperatures. EDF’s policy-relevant research program focuses on the potential impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI). We aim to both advance the understanding of SRM’s impacts and also foster public trust by working collaboratively in an open and transparent manner. Solar radiation modification (SRM) is a deliberate intervention into the climate system to temporarily reduce the earth’s temperature. EDF is beginning policy-relevant research on SRM and its impacts, and we’re focusing on stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) as a priority. ### EDF grantees study past data to understand potential SRM impacts. ### Why it’s time to explore the potential impacts of Solar Radiation Modification. ### Workshop Report Proceedings from a Workshop on Operationalizing Research Governance for Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). ### Workshop Report: Identifying and leveraging empirical datasets for Solar Radiation Modification Impact Research.