18 Politically relevant solar geoengineering scenarios

Solar geoengineering, also known as Radiation Modification (SRM), has been proposed to alter Earth’s radiative balance reduce the effects of anthropogenic climate change. SRM identified a research priority, it shown effectively surface temperatures, while substantial uncertainties remain around side and impacts. Global modeling studies have often relied on idealized scenarios understand physical processes interventions their widespread These extreme or are not directly policy-relevant physically implausible (such imposing global solar reduction counter warming an instantaneous quadrupling CO2). The climatic ecological impacts politically relevant potentially plausible approaches rarely modeled assessed. Nevertheless, commentators policymakers falsely assume that solutions This paper proposes 18 appear be broadly from political Earth System perspectives encompass futures could both warnings perhaps desirable. We place these into four groups following broader strategic contexts: (1) Management; (2) Regional Emergencies; (3) Coordinated Interventions; (4) Reactive Interventions. For each scenario, model experiments proposed. Some may performed with existing setups models, others require further specification. Developing performing – assessing likely resulting society ecosystems would essential inform public debate real-world issues surrounding SRM.