What Is Geoengineering?

What Is Geoengineering?

Geoengineering is the deliberate
large-scale intervention in the
Earth’s natural systems to
counteract climate change.

Geoengineering is the deliberate
large-scale intervention in the
Earth’s natural systems to
counteract climate change.

There is wide range of proposed geoengineering techniques.

There is wide range of proposed geoengineering techniques.

Generally, these can be grouped into two categories:

Generally, these can be grouped into two categories:

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) or Solar
Geoengineering

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) or Solar
Geoengineering

SRM techniques aim to reflect a small proportion of the Sun’s energy

SRM techniques aim to reflect a small proportion of the Sun’s energy

back into space, counteracting the temperature rise caused by

back into space, counteracting the temperature rise caused by

increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which

increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which

absorb energy and raise temperatures. Some proposed techniques

absorb energy and raise temperatures. Some proposed techniques

include:

include:

o

o

Albedo enhancement. Increasing the reflectiveness of

o

clouds or the land surface so that more of the Sun’s heat is

clouds or the land surface so that more of the Sun’s heat is

reflected back into space.

reflected back into space.

Space reflectors. Blocking a small proportion of sunlight

o

before it reaches the Earth.
o

Albedo enhancement. Increasing the reflectiveness of

Stratospheric aerosols. Introducing small, reflective

Space reflectors. Blocking a small proportion of sunlight
before it reaches the Earth.

o

Stratospheric aerosols. Introducing small, reflective

particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect some sunlight

particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect some sunlight

before it reaches the surface of the Earth.

before it reaches the surface of the Earth.

geoengineering. burning it to create energy and capturing and elsewhere. and dissolving rocks such as limestone. dispersing. These techniques would have to be implemented on a o Afforestation. dispersing. Some proposed techniques include: Biochar. down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Grinding up. o the atmosphere. 'Charring' biomass and burying it so that its carbon is locked up in the soil. burning it to create energy and capturing and o o o o Ambient Air Capture. Building large machines that can Biochar. remove carbon dioxide directly from ambient air and store it Growing biomass.ac.Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) or Carbon Geoengineering CDR techniques aim to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. o global scale to have a significant impact on carbon dioxide levels in o effort. 'Charring' biomass and burying it so that its carbon is locked up in the soil. Building large machines that can selected locations to increase primary production which draws remove carbon dioxide directly from ambient air and store it down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. sequestering the carbon dioxide created in the process. directly countering the increased greenhouse effect and ocean acidification.uk/what-is-geoengineering/what-isgeoengineering/ Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) or Carbon Geoengineering global scale to have a significant impact on carbon dioxide levels in CDR techniques aim to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. o Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. Engaging in a global-scale tree planting effort. elsewhere.ox. Enhanced Weathering. silicates. Bio-energy with carbon capture and sequestration. Exposing large quantities of o Ocean Fertilisation. or calcium minerals that will react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hydroxide in the ocean to increase its ability to store carbon and and storing the resulting compound in the ocean or soil. Engaging in a global-scale tree planting o Bio-energy with carbon capture and sequestration. the atmosphere. or calcium . Some proposed techniques include: directly countering the increased greenhouse effect and ocean acidification. o Afforestation. Adding nutrients to the ocean in minerals that will react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere selected locations to increase primary production which draws and storing the resulting compound in the ocean or soil. o Enhanced Weathering. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. Grinding up. Ocean Fertilisation. Exposing large quantities of and dissolving rocks such as limestone. These techniques would have to be implemented on a http://www. Adding nutrients to the ocean in o Ambient Air Capture. Growing biomass. sequestering the carbon dioxide created in the process. directly ameliorate ocean acidification. silicates.

geoengineering.ox.uk/what-is-geoengineering/what-isgeoengineering/ .hydroxide in the ocean to increase its ability to store carbon and directly ameliorate ocean acidification. http://www.ac.