Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
Examining the engineering feasibility, risk profile, and systems challenges of using stratospheric aerosols to partially offset global warming.
SAI is a proposed Sunlight Reflection Method (SRM). It uses aerosol dust in the stratosphere to reflect a small percentage of sunlight back to space. If 1% of the incoming sunlight is reflected, then warming effects of CO₂ could be largely cancelled.
We leverage fundamental research by climate scientists and consider potential 'next steps'. The overarching goal of CCI's program is to examine opportunities and risks in the context of systems engineering. This has been a neglected aspect of SRM research with significant potential for advancement.
- Systems engineering evaluation of SAI deployment concepts
- Technical barrier identification and characterization
- Risk and uncertainty quantification
- Monitoring and verification method development
- Input to governance framework development
The SAI program has passed its Preliminary Feasibility Review. CCI is now seeking expanded scientific and engineering capacity to advance to the next research phase.
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