An Overview of Geoengineering of Climate using Stratospheric Sulfate Aerosols
National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000-80307,
Boulder CO 80307, USA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences,
University of California, Los Angeles, CA,90095-1565, USA
Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore , MD 21218, USA
March 11, 2008
“Geoengineering considerations: To increase the mass and number of sulfate aerosols in the
stratosphere a new source must be introduced. Using Pinatubo as an analogue, Crutzen
(2006), estimated a source of 1-2 Tg S/yr would be sufficient to balance the warming
associated with a doubling of CO2. Wigley (2006) used an energy balance model to conclude
that ∼5 Tg S/yr in combination with emission mitigation would suffice.” p.5