An introduction to geoengineering

Before I analyse geoengineering techniques, I wanted to provide an overview of how techniques are classified and briefly explain them.

Geoengineering techniques generally fall into 2 categories:

1) Solar radiation management
2) Carbon dioxide removal

SRM techniques aim to reduce incoming solar insolation to offset global warming (Royal Society, 2009). Such techniques are essentially a ‘short term fix’. Reflecting incoming solar insolation back into space could reduce temperatures on Earth within months and prevent the melting of the Greenland ice sheet (Caldeira et al, 2013).

CDR techniques aim to reduce the accumulation of CO₂ in the atmosphere by ‘capturing’ and storing carbon in oceans, forests or rocks. This can be undertaken biologically, chemically or industrially (Caldeira et al, 2013). CDR techniques are more a ‘long term fix’ – relative to SRM, and are also considered to address the root of climate change (Royal Society, 2009).

The image below distinguishes between the 2 techniques more clearly, which I will be analysing in greater depth: