Stratospheric Aerosol Injection with Alternative Materials: Modeling of the Feasibility and Impacts Using the NCAR Community Earth System Model (CESM)

Stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI) has been proposed in addition to ambitious mitigation to increase the planet’s reflectivity to counter some of the impacts of climate change until atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are sufficiently reduced. We will perform comprehensive model studies to assess the feasibility and impacts of SAI using solid materials — calcite (CaCO3), alumina (Al2O3) and diamonds — on atmospheric composition, ozone, ice clouds and feedbacks of the climate system. This work will integrate new solid materials into the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model (CESM) based on collaborative input from new laboratory results to assess the direct effects of the material on chemistry and dynamics, polar stratospheric clouds and cirrus clouds. We will collaborate closely with researchers from the Global South and assess the global, regional and local impacts of SAI using different materials in regions of interest.