A new modeling study explores whether a fleet of modified Boeing 777 cargo planes could theoretically lower the Earth’s average temperature by 0.6°C (1.1°F). The proposed method, Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), involves releasing sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to form sulfate particles that reflect incoming sunlight back into space—a cooling mechanism naturally demonstrated by the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption.
Because commercial cargo aircraft struggle to carry heavy payloads to the optimal 20-kilometer altitude, researchers modeled releasing the aerosols at roughly 13 kilometers near the 60° North and South latitudes. However, injecting particles lower in the atmosphere reduces their residence time from several years to just a few months. This inefficiency means millions of tons of sulfur dioxide would need to be transported and released annually to maintain the effect.
While feasible in computer simulations, deploying this technology carries severe global risks. Potential consequences include increased acid rain, uneven global cooling, and “termination shock”—a rapid and dangerous spike in global temperatures if the injection system is ever halted. Crucially, solar geoengineering does not remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or prevent ocean acidification, making it a highly theoretical intervention rather than a true solution for climate change.
#Geoengineering #ClimateChange #SolarGeoengineering
