Study warns against dimming the sun to cool Earth
A new Columbia University study says using stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)—basically, trying to "dim the sun" to cool Earth—comes with a lot more challenges than people think.
The models we have now oversimplify how these particles actually behave in the real world.
SAI could mess up tropical monsoons, shift jet streams
The study points out that SAI could mess up tropical monsoons, shift jet streams, and even cause acid rain or soil problems.
Using sulfate aerosols isn't as safe as it sounds, and alternatives like diamond or calcium carbonate face practical challenges, such as limited abundance and a tendency for particles to clump together.
Logistics and global coordination are huge hurdles for SAI
Logistics and global coordination are huge hurdles for SAI.
Columbia climate economist Gernot Wagner says it's unlikely this approach would go smoothly in reality, and the article suggests focusing on cutting fossil fuels and boosting clean energy instead of banking on risky geoengineering.