Designing a radiative antidote to CO2

Abstract:

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) reduces the CO₂‐induced change to the mean global hydrological cycle disproportionately more than it reduces the CO₂‐induced increase in mean surface temperature. Thus if SRM were used to offset all CO₂‐induced mean warming, global‐mean precipitation would be less than in an unperturbed climate. Here we show that the mismatch between the mean hydrological effects of CO₂ and SRM may partly be alleviated by spectrally tuning the SRM intervention (reducing insolation at some wavelengths more than others). By concentrating solar dimming at near‐infrared wavelengths, where H₂O has strong absorption bands, the direct effect of CO₂ on the tropospheric energy budget can be offset, which minimizes perturbations to the mean hydrological cycle. Idealized cloud‐resolving simulations of radiative‐convective equilibrium confirm that spectrally‐tuned SRM can simultaneously maintain mean surface temperature and precipitation at their unperturbed values even as large quantities of CO₂ are added to the atmosphere.