What Is Geoengineering?

What Is Geoengineering?

Geoengineering is the deliberate

large-scale intervention in the
Earths natural systems to
counteract climate change.

Geoengineering is the deliberate

large-scale intervention in the
Earths natural systems to
counteract climate change.

There is wide range of proposed geoengineering techniques.

There is wide range of proposed geoengineering techniques.

Generally, these can be grouped into two categories:

Generally, these can be grouped into two categories:

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) or Solar

Geoengineering

Solar Radiation Management (SRM) or Solar

Geoengineering

SRM techniques aim to reflect a small proportion of the Suns energy

SRM techniques aim to reflect a small proportion of the Suns energy

back into space, counteracting the temperature rise caused by

back into space, counteracting the temperature rise caused by

increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which

increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which

absorb energy and raise temperatures. Some proposed techniques

absorb energy and raise temperatures. Some proposed techniques

include:

include:

Albedo enhancement. Increasing the reflectiveness of

clouds or the land surface so that more of the Suns heat is

clouds or the land surface so that more of the Suns heat is

reflected back into space.

reflected back into space.

Space reflectors. Blocking a small proportion of sunlight

before it reaches the Earth.

o

Albedo enhancement. Increasing the reflectiveness of

Stratospheric aerosols. Introducing small, reflective

Space reflectors. Blocking a small proportion of sunlight

before it reaches the Earth.

Stratospheric aerosols. Introducing small, reflective

particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect some sunlight

particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect some sunlight

before it reaches the surface of the Earth.

before it reaches the surface of the Earth.

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) or Carbon

Geoengineering
CDR techniques aim to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,
directly countering the increased greenhouse effect and ocean
acidification. These techniques would have to be implemented on a

http://www.geoengineering.ox.ac.uk/what-is-geoengineering/what-isgeoengineering/

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) or Carbon

Geoengineering

global scale to have a significant impact on carbon dioxide levels in

CDR techniques aim to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,

the atmosphere. Some proposed techniques include:

directly countering the increased greenhouse effect and ocean

acidification. These techniques would have to be implemented on a

Afforestation. Engaging in a global-scale tree planting

effort.

the atmosphere. Some proposed techniques include:

Biochar. 'Charring' biomass and burying it so that its

carbon is locked up in the soil.

global scale to have a significant impact on carbon dioxide levels in

effort.

Bio-energy with carbon capture and sequestration.

Growing biomass, burning it to create energy and capturing and

Ambient Air Capture. Building large machines that can

Biochar. 'Charring' biomass and burying it so that its

carbon is locked up in the soil.

sequestering the carbon dioxide created in the process.

o

Afforestation. Engaging in a global-scale tree planting

Bio-energy with carbon capture and sequestration.

remove carbon dioxide directly from ambient air and store it

Growing biomass, burning it to create energy and capturing and

elsewhere.

sequestering the carbon dioxide created in the process.

Ocean Fertilisation. Adding nutrients to the ocean in

Ambient Air Capture. Building large machines that can

selected locations to increase primary production which draws

remove carbon dioxide directly from ambient air and store it

down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

elsewhere.

Enhanced Weathering. Exposing large quantities of

Ocean Fertilisation. Adding nutrients to the ocean in

minerals that will react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

selected locations to increase primary production which draws

and storing the resulting compound in the ocean or soil.

down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. Grinding up, dispersing,

Enhanced Weathering. Exposing large quantities of

and dissolving rocks such as limestone, silicates, or calcium

minerals that will react with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

hydroxide in the ocean to increase its ability to store carbon and

and storing the resulting compound in the ocean or soil.

directly ameliorate ocean acidification.

Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. Grinding up, dispersing,

and dissolving rocks such as limestone, silicates, or calcium

hydroxide in the ocean to increase its ability to store carbon and

directly ameliorate ocean acidification.

http://www.geoengineering.ox.ac.uk/what-is-geoengineering/what-isgeoengineering/