August 5, 2023 19:25 |
Updated: August 5, 2023 19:36
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Source: britaku, the sun in the afternoon in the middle of the city
Reviewing the Potential and Risks of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) to Overcome Climate Change and Global Warming
Climate change and global warming have become urgent issues around the world. Efforts to deal with it are gaining increasing attention, including among the United States government and the United Nations (UN). One of the interesting technological researches is solar radiation modification (SRM) or modification of solar radiation. This program aims to dim the Sun in the hope of counteracting threatening climate change and reducing global warming which continues to increase. SRM is trying to offer a solution to significantly cool the planet on a time scale of several years.
Theoretically, the SRM technique focuses on reflecting sunlight back into space. One proposed way is to pump sun-blocking particles into the upper atmosphere. The process, called “stratospheric aerosol injection,” involves aircraft spraying aerosols such as sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. These particles form a fog which functions to reflect back sunlight so that the light does not fully reach the Earth’s surface. Several natural events, such as the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, accidentally proved the effectiveness of this method by lowering global temperatures by about 0.5 degrees Celsius.
In September 2022, researchers from Yale University even suggested that the use of an aerosol injection method could hypothetically assist in reversing the polar melting state. However, despite the positive potential, a recent report from the United Nations Environment Program stated that the current plans for implementing SRM technology are unrealistic. They argue that SRM technology on a large scale is still not feasible, expedient, or safe enough, mainly because of limited scientific understanding and uncertainty about its possible unintended impacts and consequences.
However, although there are doubts about the application of SRM technology on a large scale, experts do not completely exclude the possibility of its use in combating climate change. The fact that this method has the potential to cool the Earth’s surface is gaining support, but its unknown side effects, especially on a global scale, is cause for concern.
Some scientists also highlight the need for strict UN oversight of this technology. They emphasize that the impact may vary across regions, and there is a risk that artificial cooling will have a bigger impact in some areas than in others. Uncertainty also arises regarding the impact on regional weather patterns, agriculture, and food and water security which are basic needs for all people.
In facing the challenges of climate change and global warming, research and technology research such as SRM shows potential as a tool to deal with them. However, limited scientific understanding and the risk of adverse effects pose serious challenges in executing this program on a large scale. Therefore, it is necessary to have an in-depth study, close supervision, and involvement of the scientific community, government and society as a whole to ensure that the proposed solutions to address climate change remain in safe, effective and sustainable corridors for the welfare of the planet Earth and all the living things that live in it.
2023-08-05 12:25:00
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