Join us for a physics colloquium, entitled ‘Solar Radiation Modification to deliberately cool the planet: Could we Would we? Should we?’ with Professor James Haywood, University of Exeter.
Please note – The lecture will run from 16:00-17:00, followed by refreshments from 17:00-18:00 in the Level 2 Foyer of the Blackett Building.
Abstract
The Earth’s climate continues to warm. Indeed, the average temperature of 2023-2025 is very likely to exceed pre-industrial temperatures by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius; the target of the Paris COP21. The imminent exceedance of this temperature target has led to augmenting existing emission reduction strategies with highly speculative ‘Solar Radiation Modification’ methods. These propose counterbalancing global warming by increasing the amount of sunlight that the Earth and its atmosphere reflects back to space. This talk will describe some of the most recent research in this area, with a focus on results from the UK’S Earth System Model (UKESM1). The question ‘Could we?’ will be answered, leaving the audience to deliberate on the questions ‘Would we?’ and ‘Should We?’.