Study investigates global geoengineering impacts

Previous studies of geoengineering approaches − which are aimed at averting climate change − have shown that, although the average global temperature could be restored to ’normal’ levels, some regions would remain too warm, whereas others would ’overshoot’ and cool to much. In addition, average rainfall would be reduced.

This new study looked at the impacts of different strengths of geoengineering, from full strength (sufficient to return global average temperatures back to normal) through to no geoengineering at all.

The researchers looked at how the impacts caused by these different strengths of geoengineering differed from region to region, using a comprehensive climate model developed by the UK Met Office that replicates all the important aspects of the climate system, including the atmospheric, ocean and land processes, and their interactions.

Their analysis revealed that with increasing geoengineering strength most regions become drier, while others buck the trend and become increasingly wet. For example, the US became drier with increasing geoengineering and returned to normal conditions under half-strength geoengineering, whereas Australia became wetter, returning to normal conditions only for full-strength geoengineering