The Solar Geoengineering Updates Newsletter (October'2023)
Welcome to the Solar Geoengineering Updates Newsletter, a monthly newsletter that updates you on the developments of everything SRM-related.
DEADLINES:
(NEW) Call for Proposals-Grants for social science research on solar radiation modification | Deadline: 13 December 2023
RESEARCH PAPERS
G6-1.5K-SAI: a new Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) experiment integrating recent advances in solar radiation modification studies
Visioni, D., Robock, A., Haywood, J., Henry, M., Tilmes, S., MacMartin, D. G., ... & Egbebiyi, T. S. (2023). G6-1.5 K-SAI: a new Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP) experiment integrating recent advances in solar radiation modification studies. EGUsphere, 2023, 1-21.
Natural variability can mask forced permafrost response to stratospheric aerosol injection in the ARISE-SAI-1.5 simulations
Ariel Lena Morrison, Elizabeth A. Barnes, James Wilson Hurrell. Natural variability can mask forced permafrost response to stratospheric aerosol injection in the ARISE-SAI-1.5 simulations. ESS Open Archive . October 27, 2023.
Comparison of UKESM1 and CESM2 simulations using the same multi-target stratospheric aerosol injection strategy
Henry, M., Haywood, J., Jones, A., Dalvi, M., Wells, A., Visioni, D., ... & Tye, M. R. (2023). Comparison of UKESM1 and CESM2 simulations using the same multi-target stratospheric aerosol injection strategy. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 23(20), 13369-13385.
The Ethics of Volcano Geoengineering
Cassidy, M., Sandberg, A., & Mani, L. (2023). The ethics of volcano geoengineering. Earth's Future, 11(10), e2023EF003714.
Characterizing climate pathways using feature importance on echo state networks
Goode, K., Ries, D., & McClernon, K. (2023). Characterizing climate pathways using feature importance on echo state networks. arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.08495.
Understanding the Urgent Need for Direct Climate Cooling
Clarke, W. S., Elsworth, C., Field, L. A., Hoffmann, A., MacCracken, M. C., Macdonald, J., ... & Tulip, R. (2023). Understanding the Urgent Need for Direct Climate Cooling. Authorea Preprints.
Effect of Regional Marine Cloud Brightening Interventions on Climate-Tipping Elements
Hirasawa, H., Hingmire, D., Singh, H., Rasch, P. J., & Mitra, P. (2023). Effect of regional marine cloud brightening interventions on climate tipping elements. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(20), e2023GL104314.
Metals from spacecraft reentry in stratospheric aerosol particles
Murphy, D. M., Abou-Ghanem, M., Cziczo, D. J., Froyd, K. D., Jacquot, J., Lawler, M. J., ... & Shen, X. (2023). Metals from spacecraft reentry in stratospheric aerosol particles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(43), e2313374120.
Solar Radiation Modification challenges decarbonization with renewable solar energy
Baur, S., Sanderson, B. M., Séférian, R., & Terray, L. (2023). Solar Radiation Modification challenges decarbonization with renewable solar energy. EGUsphere, 2023, 1-22.
Modest geoengineering side effects predicted by an emulator
Bodai, T., Lembo, V., Aneesh, S., Ishuzu, M., Franz, M. O., & Chung, E. S. (2023). Modest geoengineering side effects predicted by an emulator.
Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Quantify “Climate Distinguishability” After Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
Mamalakis, A., Barnes, E. A., & Hurrell, J. W. (2023). Quantifying “climate distinguishability” after stratospheric aerosol injection using explainable artificial intelligence. Authorea Preprints.
Solar geoengineering and carbon removal significantly lower economic climate damages
Liu, A., Moore, J. C., Cheng, X., & Chen, Y. (2023). Solar geoengineering and carbon removal significantly lower economic climate damages. One Earth.
Presenting balanced geoengineering information has little effect on mitigation engagement
Merk, C., & Wagner, G. (2022). Presenting Balanced Geoengineering Information Has Little Effect on Mitigation Engagement.
The interaction of Solar Radiation Modification and Earth System Tipping Elements
Futerman, G., & Wieners, C. (2023). The Impact of Solar Radiation Modification on Earth System Tipping Points and Threshold Free Feedbacks (No. EGU23-10044). Copernicus Meetings.
Estimating the portion of Marine Cloud Brightening sea-salt aerosols that activate when incorporated into low-lying marine clouds: preliminary results
Hernandez-Jaramillo, D. C., Medcraft, C., Braga, R. C., Rosenfeld, D., & Harrison, D. (2023). Estimating the portion of Marine Cloud Brightening sea-salt aerosols that activate when incorporated into low-lying marine clouds: preliminary results. In XXVIII General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.
Optimal climate intervention scenarios for, crop production vary by nation
Brendan Clark, Lili Xia, Alan Robock , Simone Tilmes, Jadwiga H. Richter, Daniele Visioni & Sam S. Rabin. (2023). Nature Food.
Coral reefs, cloud forests and radical climate interventions in Australia’s Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef
Sovacool, B. K., Baum, C. M., Low, S., & Fritz, L. (2023). Coral reefs, cloud forests and radical climate interventions in Australia’s Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef. PLOS Climate, 2(10), e0000221.
Climate cooperation with risky solar geoengineering
Cherry, T. L., Kroll, S., & McEvoy, D. M. (2023). Climate cooperation with risky solar geoengineering. Climatic Change, 176(10), 138.
WEB POSTS
Degrees launches the world’s first research fund for SRM social science in the Global South (The Degrees Initiative)
Tiny but powerful Mach 5 ramjet engine could make drones supersonic soon (Interesting Engineering)
Climate intervention requires international research and the Global South has contributions to make (Illuminem)
Article on Geoengineering in an Italian Newspaper (FQ)
Global Concerns Over Marine Geoengineering Echo Worldwide, Signaling United Stand for Regulations (CIEL)
Degrees’ Inés Camilloni and Andy Parker discuss risk-risk framing and SRM research at UN science summit (The Degrees Initiative)
To avert climate disaster, what if one rogue nation dimmed the Sun? (BBC)
Oops, we stopped geoengineering (Adapting Substack)
Response to Overshoot Commission Report (Solar Geoengineering Non-Use Agreement )
The Brutal Realpolitik of Geoengineering (HEATMAP)
A Wild Idea to Protect the Great Barrier Reef (NAUTILUS)
Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP)—Cooling and Shading (RRAP)
Solar Radiation Modification (SRM): A Simple Guide to its Climate Effects (Medium)
Climate intervention technologies may create winners and losers in world food supply (Phys.Org)
THESIS
Radiative Forcing & Feedback through the Lens of Solar Geoengineering
COMPENDIUM
FROZEN ARCTIC: Compendium of interventions to slow down, halt, and reverse the effects of climate change in the Arctic and northern regions
BOOK
Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (OpenBook Publisher)
DISCUSSIONS
Geoengineering bombs
SRM FIRMS
SRM Youth Watch
UPCOMING EVENTS
(NEW) Model Simulations of Climate Interventions Aiming to Offset Future Warming: Insights and Uncertainties by Healthy Planet Action Coalition | 02 November 2023
(NEW) Solar Climate Intervention Virtual Symposia | 10 November 2023
(NEW) 104th Annual Meeting by American Meteorological Society | 28 January 2024 - 01 February 2023
Climate Engineering (GRS) | 17-18 February 2024
GRC Climate Engineering 2024 | 18-23 February 2024
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University: College of Arts & Sciences: Atmospheric Sciences | Deadline: 06 November 2023
“The Department of Atmospheric Sciences in the College of Arts & Sciences at Texas A&M University invites applications for two full-time tenure-track assistant professor positions in the areas of (i) weather and climate risk, climate impacts, or geoengineering, (ii) applications of machine learning or artificial intelligence in weather and climate, or (iii) atmospheric turbulence, boundary layer meteorology, or urban meteorology, including high-resolution observations, modeling, or downscaling. This position is expected to begin in Fall 2024.”
Technical Director at Arctic Ice Project (AIP)
“AIP (https://www.arcticiceproject.org) is dedicated to preserving and restoring Arctic sea ice to both cool the Arctic and slow down global warming. We are in our R&D phase now to ensure our methodology is both safe for the environment and effective.”
PODCASTS
Cloud seeding law - Simon | Reviewer 2 Does Geoengineering
“Manon Simon discusses her thesis on the legal overlap between cloud seeding and MCB. What can we learn and apply from decades of cloud seeding regulation?”
Global Climate Politics and the Dangers of Solar Geoengineering | Terra Verde
“The politics around solar geoenigeenering — which refers to technologies that would reflect the sun’s radiation away from Earth as a means to cool the planet — have intensified in recent years. That includes the release of a new report on the subject by a little-known climate lobbying group, The Overshoot Commission, at the UN climate talks last month in New York. The report offers an alarming narrative promoting solar geoengineering as a response to the change crisis, despite the uncertainties around it, the risks it poses to both communities and the environment, and the fact that it does not address the root causes of climate change.
Dr. Carl Schleussner, head of science at Climate Analytics, joins Terra Verde host Gary Graham Hughes to offer insight into the current state of global climate politics, geoengineering lobbying by groups like The Overshoot Commission, and what it means if high level politicians are considering solar geoengineering as a climate solution.”
How can young people take part in solar radiation modification governance? with Clara Botto | Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G)
“Young people need to learn more about solar radiation modification, and provide their inputs to governments, think tanks, and policymakers, says Brazilian climate activist Clara Botto, in this C2GTalk. “We need to have global conversations to address something that might have global impacts,” she adds. That is why she and her colleagues have launched SRM Youth Watch, a global platform aimed at informing and bringing new communities into the debate.
Clara Botto has been engaged with sustainable development at a grassroots and international level, from arts to politics, for the past eight years. She is currently one of C2G’s Youth Climate Voices.”
Pinatubo’s effect on ozone - Peng | Reviewer 2 Does Geoengineering
“Want to know *exactly* how Pinatubo affected ozone? After a marathon 6h edit, @geoengineering1 has finally managed to retrieve some usable audio from his car-crash Pinatubo interview - and it actually sounds OK, remarkably. Paper: Perturbation of Tropical Stratospheric Ozone Through Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Chemistry Due To Pinatubo https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL103773”
Could there be a just solar geoengineering?—w/ Shuchi Talati, Founder of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering | Reversing Climate Change
“Solar geoengineering. It's not just a question of whether or not to do it, but of how it might be done and why.
This week we are joined by Shuchi Talati, founder of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering, to talk about who is making decisions about solar geoengineering and whether or not populations most vulnerable to climate change have a seat at the table.
Solar geoengineering or “Solar Radiation Modification/Management (SRM)” is the large-scale and intentional intervention to increase the amount of sunlight reflected back into space. The purpose is to temporarily limit temperature increase.
Shuchi walks us through why the Alliance is not for or against SRM, why refusing to discuss or research RSM is potentially an inherently privileged standpoint, and why she believes we should center voices from regions already experiencing horrific climate impacts.
Listen in to find out who is currently researching SRM, what the potential risks and benefits are, and how the Alliance plans to make such a controversial topic more open and accessible.”
Climate Overshoot Commission’s Pascal Lamy: “Solar geoengineering should be explored” | Danny in the Valley
“The Sunday Times’ tech correspondent Danny Fortson brings on Pascal Lamy, chairman of the Climate Overshoot Commission to talk about climate migration (7:30), the huge cost of adaptation (12:40), solar geoengineering (14:40), the attraction of a sticking plaster solution (21:25), termination shock (26:40), carbon takeback obligations (32:30), pollution removal (37:00), and how Britain fights into this fight (41:10)”
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
In Real Life: Blocking The Sun | Scripps News
“Wildfires and heat waves are pushing governments to consider a controversial question: Could we artificially reflect the sun from our atmosphere and cool our planet’s rising temperature? And more importantly, should we? “In Real Life” rides along in the world’s largest flying laboratory and sees the dire stakes surrounding a drastic step to curb climate change.”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | Day 1 Welcome and Panel 1: Biophysical Impacts | Resources for the Future
“Panel 1. Biophysical Impacts: Climatic and Non-climatic Risks and Benefits: The starting point for social science research on solar geoengineering (SG) is the biophysical parameters of a possible SG intervention. This session provided a grounding in SG knowns and unknowns, as well as ongoing research in this area. - Babatunde Abiodun, University of Cape Town - John Moore, University of Lapland - Daniele Visioni, Cornell University - Lili Xia, Rutgers University.”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | A Conversation with the Right Honourable A. Kim Campbell, P.C. | Resources for the Future
“This session includes a conversation with the Right Honourable A. Kim Campbell, P.C., former Canadian prime minister and current member of the Climate Overshoot Commission, moderated by Jonathan Wiener.”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | Panel 2. Would Solar Geoengineering Crowd Out Emissions Cuts? | Resources for the Future
“Panel 2. Would Solar Geoengineering Crowd Out Emissions Cuts? The “Moral Hazard” Risk Examined A key concern about solar geoengineering research is the notion of “moral hazard” risk, where any movement to consider SG weakens the motivation to pursue mitigation. This session examined the latest social science research on SG moral hazard risk. - Joe Aldy, Harvard Kennedy School and RFF - Talbott Andrews, University of Connecticut - Dave McEvoy, Appalachian State University - Christine Merk, Kiel Institute for the World Economy - David Morrow, American University.”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | Solar Geoengineering’s Place in Broader Climate Strategy | Resources for the Future
“Panel 3. Solar Geoengineering’s Place within the Broader Climate Strategy Portfolio: If solar geoengineering is deployed, it will likely occur alongside other key climate strategies, such as emission mitigation, CO2 removal, and adaptation. The aim of this session is to describe the role of SG under different development of mitigation and adaptation policies, assuming countries cooperate to fight climate change. - Mariia Belaia, George Mason University - Tony Harding, Georgia Institute of Technology - Doug MacMartin, Cornell University - Massimo Tavoni, RFF-CMCC European Institute on Economics and the Environment - Simone TIlmes, National Center for Atmospheric Research.”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | Plausible Non-optimal Near-term Solar Geoengineering Scenarios | Resources for the Future
“Panel 4. Plausible Non-optimal Near-term Solar Geoengineering Scenarios: Several decades of experience with global coordination and cooperation around climate mitigation suggests that solar geoengineering might emerge in a non-optimal manner. This session will examine how this might happen, what it might mean, and what actions might be warranted in the near term. - Beth Chalecki, University of Nebraska Omaha - Tyler Felgenhauer, Duke University - Joshua Horton, Harvard Kennedy School - Jessica Seddon, Yale University - Erin Sikorsky, Center for Climate and Security”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | Capacity Building for Competent, Just, & Inclusive Decisionmaking | Resources for the Future
“Panel 5. Capacity Building for Competent, Just, and Inclusive Decisionmaking: As momentum around research and governance discussions is growing, questions arise around how we should make decisions around both research and potential deployment of solar geoengineering, and who is part of a decision-making process. This panel will examine key steps to enabling and building meaningful engagement in this space. - Julie Arrighi, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre - Marion Hourdequin, Colorado College - Hassaan Sipra, Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering - Shuchi Talati, Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering - Billy Williams, American Geophysical Union”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | The NOAA Earth Radiation Budget Initiative with Greg Frost | Resources for the Future
“This session includes a conversation on the NOAA Earth Radiation Budget Initiative with Greg Frost, Special Advisor for Carbon Dioxide Removal and Solar Radiation Modification at NOAA, moderated by Kristin Hayes.”
RFF Solar Geoengineering Futures | Important Next Steps for Solar Geoengineering Policy and Research | Resources for the Future
“Panel 6. Important Next Steps for Policy and Research: A Solar Geoengineering Research Agenda for the Next Decade: In this final panel, we hope to bring together themes from the previous session in a discussion of funding and policy possibilities and priorities. - Holly Buck, University at Buffalo - David Keith, University of Chicago - Andy Parker, The Degrees Initiative - Ted Parson, University of California, Los Angeles School of Law - Billy Pizer, Resources for the Future.”
How to harness the power of volcanoes | Anders Sandberg | How volcanoes could change the world | The Institute of Art and Ideas
“Anders Sandberg talks through ways of geoengineering volcanoes, and why we might want to pursue them.
Can we do anything about the existential risk posed by volcanic eruptions?
The power of volcanoes could change the world. From bombing them in WW2, to exploding US lava flows, we have tried in vain to tame their power for the last century. Join Oxford futurist Anders Sandberg as he argues that geoengineering could transform our lives and the world as we know it.”
Gabriela Ramos C2G Closing Event | C2G Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative
“Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization shares thoughts and reflections about working with Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G). More speakers will share their thoughts at the C2G closing event. You can also see more on C2G’s video wall.”
Solar Radiation Modification: Governance options | C2G Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative
“What are the potential governance options available for addressing Solar Radiation Modification? Whether you are for, against, or unsure, of Solar Radiation Modification comprehensive international governance is urgently needed.”
SRM YW Soft Launch Event in Bangladesh | SRM Youth Watch
Chris Field Conversation with Healthy Planet Action Coalition 21 September 2023 | Robbie Tulip
“Stanford Professor Chris Field, an advisor to the Climate Overshoot Commission (COC) is our guest at the Healthy Planet Action Coalition meeting Thursday, September 21 for 90 minutes.”
Alan Gadian Marine Cloud Brightening HPAC 5 October 2023 | Robbie Tulip
“Presentation by Alan Gadian of his Marine Cloud Brightening research at the Healthy Planet Action Coalition General Meeting. Alan is a Visiting Professor of Dynamical Meteorology at the University of Leeds and Senior Scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS). In addition to pursuing his own MCB modelling research, Alan is working closely with Stephen Salter and others on trying to move this potentially important direct climate cooling method forward.”
Pdf and ppt of Alan Gadian Presentation to Healthy Planet Action Coalition on Marine Cloud Brightening
There's a playlist with videos on the Solar Geoengineering topic, you can check it out here:
Feel free to take out a paid subscription if you'd like to contribute to the work we do. And so email me if you want to point out anything we've missed andrew.lockley@gmail.com
I really like what you've done here! I was thinking about making a geoengineering newsletter that looks at things in an objective way, but this exists, so that is no longer necessary.