Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the Earth

ABSTRACT Solar radiation modification (SRM) through space solar shielding is a proposed strategy to mitigate global warming. This approach involves reflecting sunlight back into space while allowing Earth's infrared radiation to escape, thereby controlling climate change. The effectiveness of s...

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Main Authors: Kyung Bae Jang, Tae Ho Woo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Energy Science & Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.2083
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author Kyung Bae Jang
Tae Ho Woo
author_facet Kyung Bae Jang
Tae Ho Woo
author_sort Kyung Bae Jang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Solar radiation modification (SRM) through space solar shielding is a proposed strategy to mitigate global warming. This approach involves reflecting sunlight back into space while allowing Earth's infrared radiation to escape, thereby controlling climate change. The effectiveness of space solar shielding is evaluated using a complex algorithm that considers various parameters of the shielding satellite, such as its size, orbit, and deployment mechanism. The thickness of the shield should be similar to the solar wavelength, around 400‐600 nm, to deflect sunlight with an expected mass density lower than 1.5 g/m2. The primary objective is to reduce the greenhouse effect by mitigating the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. In 2022, CO2 levels in the United States surpassed the pre‐industrial level of 278 ppm, increasing by approximately 7.11 ppm due to the consumption of coal, natural gas, and petroleum for electricity generation. This point reflects the relatively recovered climate environment at the end of the pandemic. Therefore, long‐wavelength solar radiation energy going out from the Earth is absorbed and increases the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, so we want to reduce the solar energy coming into the Earth. The performance of space solar shielding is analyzed using a system dynamics (SD) model, which incorporates feedback loops and non‐linear relationships between various variables. The results indicate that while the effectiveness of CO2 reduction may diminish over time, the overall climate mitigation benefits could be significant. However, the large scale of space solar shielding raises concerns about potential side effects. Further research is necessary to assess the environmental and socio‐economic implications of this geoengineering approach.
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spelling doaj-art-de44e87b124e4bccafbbd73014643d6a2025-08-20T02:12:33ZengWileyEnergy Science & Engineering2050-05052025-04-011341653166110.1002/ese3.2083Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the EarthKyung Bae Jang0Tae Ho Woo1Department of Electrical Engineering, Gangneung‐Wonju National University, 150 Namwon‐ro Heungeop‐myeon Wonju‐si, Gangwon‐do Republic of KoeraDepartment of Mechanical and Control Engineering The Cyber University of Korea Seoul Republic of KoreaABSTRACT Solar radiation modification (SRM) through space solar shielding is a proposed strategy to mitigate global warming. This approach involves reflecting sunlight back into space while allowing Earth's infrared radiation to escape, thereby controlling climate change. The effectiveness of space solar shielding is evaluated using a complex algorithm that considers various parameters of the shielding satellite, such as its size, orbit, and deployment mechanism. The thickness of the shield should be similar to the solar wavelength, around 400‐600 nm, to deflect sunlight with an expected mass density lower than 1.5 g/m2. The primary objective is to reduce the greenhouse effect by mitigating the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. In 2022, CO2 levels in the United States surpassed the pre‐industrial level of 278 ppm, increasing by approximately 7.11 ppm due to the consumption of coal, natural gas, and petroleum for electricity generation. This point reflects the relatively recovered climate environment at the end of the pandemic. Therefore, long‐wavelength solar radiation energy going out from the Earth is absorbed and increases the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, so we want to reduce the solar energy coming into the Earth. The performance of space solar shielding is analyzed using a system dynamics (SD) model, which incorporates feedback loops and non‐linear relationships between various variables. The results indicate that while the effectiveness of CO2 reduction may diminish over time, the overall climate mitigation benefits could be significant. However, the large scale of space solar shielding raises concerns about potential side effects. Further research is necessary to assess the environmental and socio‐economic implications of this geoengineering approach.https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.2083carbonmitigationshieldingsolarspace
spellingShingle Kyung Bae Jang
Tae Ho Woo
Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the Earth
Energy Science & Engineering
carbon
mitigation
shielding
solar
space
title Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the Earth
title_full Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the Earth
title_fullStr Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the Earth
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the Earth
title_short Analysis of Solar Radiation Shielding in Space for Climate Mitigations of the Earth
title_sort analysis of solar radiation shielding in space for climate mitigations of the earth
topic carbon
mitigation
shielding
solar
space
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.2083
work_keys_str_mv AT kyungbaejang analysisofsolarradiationshieldinginspaceforclimatemitigationsoftheearth
AT taehowoo analysisofsolarradiationshieldinginspaceforclimatemitigationsoftheearth