What is it about?
The paper describes the potential air vehicles to release then track and measure the results in the atmosphere of various aerosol particles that can be used to partially reduce the sun's radiation to cool the earth. The vehicles can reach altitudes above 65000 feet, and inject different aerosols into the atmosphere. The vehicles can conduct short term measurements, or using an airship, follow and measure the injected cloud for months.
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Photo by Richard Gatley on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This provides a feasible method for conducting aerosol research into the stratosphere. If the world continues to delay replacement of fossil fuels causing global temperature increases, the injection of aerosols can be used as a near term stopgap method to keep the earth's temperature tolerable. Use of this methodology buys precious time for changes to be made to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Perspectives
This paper lays the ground work for the design of systems to facilitate vital research into solar geoengineering advocated by the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, prior to any decision to deploy this technology.
Donald Bingaman
Washington University in Saint Louis
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Stratospheric Aerosol Research Experiments and Aircraft for Solar Geoengineering, January 2021, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
DOI: 10.2514/6.2021-1681.
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