On Scenarios of Changing the Optical Properties of the Atmosphere by Aerosol Injection for Climate Stabilization

Abstract

Climate changes have always played an important role in the Earth’s biosphere evolution, but today they occur at a historically high rate. The currently observed climate changes, which have an anthropogenic component, should be systematically counteracted. However, pronounced effects of preventing global warming by developing low-carbon economics and alternative energy sources can hardly be achieved soon. The positive feedback loop of carbon emission has already been started. More efficient and rapid results can be achieved by active geoengineering actions in the atmosphere. Artificial redistribution of heat fluxes of short-wavelength solar radiation by injection of fine reflective aerosols (for example, sulfate aerosols) into the stratosphere is a viable method of climate stabilization. We estimate the effect of aerosol-induced changes in the optical properties of the atmosphere on climate using mathematical models with different degrees of complexity. For this problem, we consider various scenarios depending on the set of parameters and initial conditions. In this work, we consider a conceptual model of formation of climate characteristics of a local ecosystem, the main predictor variable of which is the global mean near-surface air temperature. Using this model, we estimate the effect of artificial aerosol injections on the atmospheric optical properties, which change the solar radiation influx and the temperature regime of the climate system. Our conclusions do not contradict the results of previous investigations. The considered modeling including the estimation of the proposed approach efficiency is a tool for testing various scenarios of aerosol impact on climate. In the future, we intend to develop a model of the influence of climate control on the productivity of water systems and on rapid biological invasions.