Ineffectual Climate Bandage | weatherology°
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By: Meteorologist Michael Karow
Updated: Aug 21st 2023

Ineffectual Climate Bandage

Stopping the rise in average global temperatures is expected to be one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Transitioning away from a fossil fuel dependent economy, one that has been dominant for over 100 years, will be no easy feat. That's why some researchers have begun to look at alternative methods to cool the planet, called geoengineering. One such method, called stratospheric aerosol injection, involves releasing aerosol particles into the stratosphere, the layer just above where the majority of Earth's weather occurs, in order to reflect just enough of the incoming sunlight to curb the rise in global temperatures. At first glance, this might seem like an easy fix, as volcanoes essentially do the same thing when they release fine ash into the stratosphere and temporarily cool the planet. However, according to a 2020 computer modeling study from scientists around the world, including MIT and Indiana University, such an easy fix would create negative climate consequences of its own.

The research team employed computer climate models to examine a number of different future scenarios of geoengineering. One of them, called G1, would see just the right amount of aerosols released to offset a quadrupling of carbon dioxide emissions. Under this scenario, the strength of extratropical storms (the low pressure systems which frequently bring rain and snow to the mid-latitudes) would weaken in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. While this would mean less powerful, damaging storms like nor'easters, it would also significantly reduce the amount of precipitation at middle latitudes. Weaker extratropical storms would also lead to more stagnant weather patterns, potentially leading to more persistent heatwaves and less ventilation and mixing of air pollution.

The main reason why extratropical storms are expected to weaken under this geoengineering scenario is the cooling of temperatures near the equator, because of reduced incoming solar radiation, while areas near the poles continue to warm. The net effect would be to lessen the temperature difference between the equator and the poles. This temperature difference is one of the key drivers of extratropical storms.

sun clouds aerosols
Injecting aerosols into the stratosphere is one type of geoengineering which aims to curb global warming by reducing the amount of incoming sunlight
satellite extratropical storm 2010
Satellite image of an extratropical storm across eastern North America on October 26, 2010 - [NWS-Duluth]