ATM S 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Solar Radiation Management, Paul J. Crutzen, Edward Teller

• School: UW
• Department: Atmospheric Sciences
• Course: ATM S 111
• Professor: D A R G A N M F R I E R S O N

Document Summary

Can we reduce impacts of global warming by climate engineering, without reducing co2. Take co2 out or reduce sunlight to counter increased co2 due to human activity. History: 1074: mikhail budyko proposed injecting sulfur dioxide in the stratosphere to cool the earth. Early 1990s: edward teller and collaborators designed putting nanotech particles into the atmosphere to deflect sunlight. 1992: the national academy of sciences issues a detailed study on geoengineering options including cos-benefit analysis. 2006: paul crutzen (nobel prize winner for ozone hole) says we should consider it: the scope and speed of climate changes due to increasing co2 coupled with lack of mitigation efforts. Lack of progress in mitigation efforts, the potential for unanticipated climate catastrophe, maybe cheaper. Positive feedbacks combine so hard to rule out high sensitive climates. Two main strategies: taking co2 out of the atmosphere or solar radiation management (blocking out sun to cool the earth back down).