Enhanced weathering is the process of exposing large quantities of minerals that are reactive with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and storing the resulting compound in the ocean or soil. It is considered a form of carbon dioxide removal or CDR. BENEFITS CHALLENGES Has the potential to increase terrestrial and oceanic net productivity Can be…
Ocean alkalinity enhancement is increasements in the ocean’s alkalinity via the exposure of large quantities of reactive minerals to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Calcium oxide is created when temperatures of ca. 1000 degrees Celsius are used to heat high purity limestone. The Calcium oxide is then stored in the ocean. The water prevents the…
Geoengineering is deliberate, large-scale intervention in Earth’s natural systems to counteract climate change. The two most common forms are: SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT (SRM) SRM techniques aim to reflect a small proportion of the Sun’s energy back into space, counteracting the temperature rise caused by increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which absorb energy…
Stratospheric aerosols are minute particles suspended in the atmosphere designed for solar radiation management [SRM]. When these particles are sufficiently large, their presence becomes noticeable as they scatter and absorb sunlight, which can reduce visibility [haze] and redden sunrises and sunsets. Aerosols interact both directly and indirectly with the Earth’s radiation budget and climate. As…
Albedo is the fraction of the sun’s radiation reflected from a surface. It is quantified as the proportion or percentage of solar radiation of all wavelengths reflected by a body or surface to the amount incident upon it. An ideal white body has an albedo of 100% and an ideal black body is 0%. Albedo…