A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System Simulations

Abstract Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is being discussed as a possible approach to reduce future global warming in addition to emission cuts, and numerous scenarios and Earth system model (ESM) experiments have been developed to explore its effectiveness and risks. Given the complex geopoli...

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Main Authors: Chenrui Diao, Patrick W. Keys, Curtis M. Bell, Elizabeth A. Barnes, James W. Hurrell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:Earth's Future
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005455
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author Chenrui Diao
Patrick W. Keys
Curtis M. Bell
Elizabeth A. Barnes
James W. Hurrell
author_facet Chenrui Diao
Patrick W. Keys
Curtis M. Bell
Elizabeth A. Barnes
James W. Hurrell
author_sort Chenrui Diao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is being discussed as a possible approach to reduce future global warming in addition to emission cuts, and numerous scenarios and Earth system model (ESM) experiments have been developed to explore its effectiveness and risks. Given the complex geopolitical, economic, and strategic considerations among countries, global cooperation in SAI deployment will be challenging. Unilateral SAI deployment has thus been highlighted as an important research topic, although it has been explored very little in scenario design and ESM studies. Inspired by a novel game theory model and a newly developed framework for identifying geopolitically plausible SAI initiator(s), this paper builds a framework for integrating unilateral SAI scenario design, geopolitical game theory, ESM simulation, and climate analyses into a single decision loop. We design and simulate a geopolitically plausible scenario of the initiation of unilateral SAI using the Community Earth System Model, and explore two independent plausible unilateral SAI reaction scenarios following the climate storylines under the initiator scenario. Our work demonstrates an approach to explore the complex feedbacks between unilateral SAI deployment scenarios and the simulation of the subsequent climate storylines.
format Article
id doaj-art-101ddfe3b44c48b1a94f5c7d166da125
institution OA Journals
issn 2328-4277
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Wiley
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series Earth's Future
spelling doaj-art-101ddfe3b44c48b1a94f5c7d166da1252025-08-20T02:30:05ZengWileyEarth's Future2328-42772025-05-01135n/an/a10.1029/2024EF005455A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System SimulationsChenrui Diao0Patrick W. Keys1Curtis M. Bell2Elizabeth A. Barnes3James W. Hurrell4Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USADepartment of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USAInternational Programs United States Naval War College Newport RI USADepartment of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USADepartment of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USAAbstract Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is being discussed as a possible approach to reduce future global warming in addition to emission cuts, and numerous scenarios and Earth system model (ESM) experiments have been developed to explore its effectiveness and risks. Given the complex geopolitical, economic, and strategic considerations among countries, global cooperation in SAI deployment will be challenging. Unilateral SAI deployment has thus been highlighted as an important research topic, although it has been explored very little in scenario design and ESM studies. Inspired by a novel game theory model and a newly developed framework for identifying geopolitically plausible SAI initiator(s), this paper builds a framework for integrating unilateral SAI scenario design, geopolitical game theory, ESM simulation, and climate analyses into a single decision loop. We design and simulate a geopolitically plausible scenario of the initiation of unilateral SAI using the Community Earth System Model, and explore two independent plausible unilateral SAI reaction scenarios following the climate storylines under the initiator scenario. Our work demonstrates an approach to explore the complex feedbacks between unilateral SAI deployment scenarios and the simulation of the subsequent climate storylines.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005455solar geoengineeringclimate modelinggeopolitical game theoryclimate changestratospheric aerosol injection
spellingShingle Chenrui Diao
Patrick W. Keys
Curtis M. Bell
Elizabeth A. Barnes
James W. Hurrell
A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System Simulations
Earth's Future
solar geoengineering
climate modeling
geopolitical game theory
climate change
stratospheric aerosol injection
title A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System Simulations
title_full A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System Simulations
title_fullStr A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System Simulations
title_full_unstemmed A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System Simulations
title_short A Model Study Exploring the Decision Loop Between Unilateral Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Scenario Design and Earth System Simulations
title_sort model study exploring the decision loop between unilateral stratospheric aerosol injection scenario design and earth system simulations
topic solar geoengineering
climate modeling
geopolitical game theory
climate change
stratospheric aerosol injection
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EF005455
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