Infographic
An overview of sunlight reflection methods
Sunlight reflection methods (SRM) are hypothetical approaches to lower global temperatures by increasing the amount of sunlight reflected to space.
Sunlight
Space-based SRM
Reflective material between the earth and sun could scatter light, but delivery would be extremely costly.
Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)
Tiny particles released in the stratosphere could reflect a small fraction of sunlight, producing a global cooling.
Cirrus cloud
thinning (CCT)
Seeding might thin cirrus clouds, allowing more heat to escape to space.
Heat
Surface albedo modification
Brighter surfaces could reflect more sunlight, but global cooling potential is limited.
Marine cloud brightening (MCB)
Sea-salt particles could be sprayed from ships to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds.
Space-based SRM
Reflective material between the earth and sun could scatter light, but delivery would be extremely costly.
Sunlight
Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)
Tiny particles released in the stratosphere could reflect a small fraction of sunlight, producing a global cooling.
Heat
Cirrus cloud
thinning (CCT)
Seeding might thin cirrus clouds, allowing more heat to escape to space.
Surface albedo modification
Brighter surfaces could reflect more sunlight, but global cooling potential is limited.
Marine cloud brightening (MCB)
Sea-salt particles could be sprayed from ships to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds.
Sunlight
Heat
Marine cloud brightening (MCB)
Sea-salt particles could be sprayed from ships to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds.
Space-based SRM
Reflective material between the earth and sun could scatter light, but delivery would be extremely costly.
Surface albedo modification
Brighter surfaces could reflect more sunlight, but global cooling potential is limited.
Cirrus cloud
thinning (CCT)
Seeding might thin cirrus clouds, allowing more heat to escape to space.
Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)
Tiny particles released in the stratosphere could reflect a small fraction of sunlight, producing a global cooling.
Sunlight
Heat
Marine cloud brightening (MCB)
Sea-salt particles could be sprayed from ships to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds.
Space-based SRM
Reflective material between the earth and sun could scatter light, but delivery would be extremely costly.
Surface albedo modification
Brighter surfaces could reflect more sunlight, but global cooling potential is limited.
Cirrus cloud
thinning (CCT)
Seeding might thin cirrus clouds, allowing more heat to escape to space.
Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI)
Tiny particles released in the stratosphere could reflect a small fraction of sunlight, producing a global cooling.
Citation
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