An update on engineering issues concerning stratospheric aerosol injection for geoengineering

An update on engineering issues concerning stratospheric aerosol injection for geoengineering

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) geoengineering is a proposed response to anthropogenic global warming (AGW). Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is one proposed method, reliant on lofting material into the stratosphere. Engineering reviews related to this technology approach have been sparse, wit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental Research Communications Vol. 2; no. 8; pp. 82001 - 82010
Main Authors: Lockley, Andrew, MacMartin, Doug, Hunt, Hugh
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01-08-2020
Subjects:
Aerosols
Aircraft design
Aircraft rockets
Anthropogenic factors
Climate change
Cost estimates
Engineering
Geoengineering
Global warming
High altitude
Injection
Light gas guns
Lofting
Meteorological balloons
Rockets
Solar radiation
Stratosphere
Stratospheric warming
Technology
Tethered balloons
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Summary:Solar Radiation Management (SRM) geoengineering is a proposed response to anthropogenic global warming (AGW). Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is one proposed method, reliant on lofting material into the stratosphere. Engineering reviews related to this technology approach have been sparse, with most major primary analyses now at least five years old. We attempt to bridge this gap-with a short, qualitative review of recent developments in various fields of engineering that have potential applicability to SAI. Our analysis shows that a new conventional aircraft design is still likely to be the most dependable and affordable technology solution (cost estimates start around $1000-1500 per ton lofted), with hybrid or vacuum airships a potential challenger. Rockets, gas guns and MAGLEV/coilguns show some potential-although they lack the inherent level-flight capability that would be needed for direct aerosol distribution (versus distribution of gaseous precursors), without substantial additional engineering. Should very high-altitude access be required, rockets, jet-hybrid rockets, and various guns (especially light-gas guns) potentially offer the required capability. Costs and performance for tethered balloons remain highly uncertain. Towers are not found to be promising. The extreme accessibility of free balloons suggests that this method may be used primarily for reasons of political leverage, as opposed to being an optimal engineering solution.
Bibliography:ERC-100313.R1
ISSN:2515-7620
2515-7620
DOI:10.1088/2515-7620/aba944