Solar geoengineering
Global warming
Greenhouse gas effect
Animation: Samantha Lee/Business Insider
Solar geoengineering
Global warming
Greenhouse gas effect
Since Earth absorbs less radiation, warming can be halted as long as we keep releasing sunlight-reflecting clouds.
More radiation gets reflected back into space, preventing the planet from absorbing as much warmth.
Geoengineering doesn’t change the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which
is why experts say we can’t solve climate change without cutting fossil fuel use.
Like in a warming scenario, less radiation is escaping into space, but less is being absorbed in the first place.
Earth's atmosphere releases infrared radiation.
How solar geoengineering could provide a temporary reprieve
Earth absorbs solar radiation from the sun, which warms the planet.
Some solar radiation gets reflected off the atmosphere back into space.
Burning fossil fuels releases
more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping more heat.
Less radiation is able to escape the atmosphere, causing temperatures to climb.
Earth's atmosphere releases infrared radiation.
How burning fossil fuels cranks up the thermostat
Earth absorbs solar radiation from the sun, which warms the planet.
Some solar radiation gets reflected off the atmosphere back into space.
Some of the radiation released by Earth gets trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which keeps the planet warm.
Some radiation escapes into space which has a cooling effect.
Earth's atmosphere releases infrared radiation.
How the greenhouse gas effect keeps the planet warm
