Aerosols to the (Climate Disaster) Rescue?

[BillTre]

As the climate continues to warm too quickly for comfort, many have turned their attention to more a more direct counter-action to the warming of the earth.

One proposed approach has been to put aerosols (of sulfur dioxide) into the atmosphere.
This is the same thing volcanoes do when they reduce the global temperature after large eruptions.

Science news report here:
Apparently 5,000,000 tons of sulfur dioxide + 1/4 Mt. Pinatubo, but for climate control, it would have to happen every year.

Modelling shows:

1. It should lower the temp by 1/4˚C, but the temperature would continue to raise after that.
   
2. If it were run for 50 years and then stopped, more abrupt temp increases.

 

[davenn]

One proposed approach has been to put aerosols (of sulfur dioxide) into the atmosphere.

I would be concerned about the production of sulphuric acid H₂SO₄ ... "acid rain"

 

[BillTre]

I would be concerned about the production of sulphuric acid H₂SO₄ ... "acid rain"

Does that happen after big volcano blasts?

 

[davenn]

Does that happen after big volcano blasts?

yes, lots ... look at your own original post
Apparently 5,000,000 tons of sulfur dioxide from Mt Pinatubo ( not sure over what period of time
( prob during the whole eruption period ... days ... several weeks)

it says 20 million in the article , not 5 million

He said it would be similar to what happens naturally following some volcanic eruptions. For example, the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines cooled the planet by 0.5°C, after spewing some 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere.

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-acid-rain.php

Causes of Acid Rain
Both natural and man-made sources are known to play a role in the formation of acid rain. But, it is mainly caused by combustion of fossil fuels which results in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

1. Natural Sources

The major natural causal agent for acid rain is volcanic emissions. Volcanoes emit acid producing gases to create higher than normal amounts of acid rain or any other form of precipitation such as fog and snow to an extent of affecting vegetation cover and health of residents within the surrounding

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/gas.html

Volcanic gases can be harmful to health, vegetation and infrastructure.

View Movie Your browser does not support HTML 5 video.​

Magma contains dissolved gases, which provide the driving force that causes most volcanic eruptions. As magma rises towards the surface and pressure decreases, gases are released from the liquid portion of the magma (melt) and continue to travel upward and are eventually released into the atmosphere. Large eruptions can release enormous amounts of gas in a short time. The 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo is thought to have injected more than 250 megatons of gas into the upper atmosphere on a single day. However, even if magma never reaches the surface, gases can often escape continuously into the atmosphere from the soil, volcanic vents, fumaroles, and hydrothermal systems.

By far the most abundant volcanic gas is water vapor, which is harmless. However, significant amounts of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen halides can also be emitted from volcanoes. Depending on their concentrations, these gases are all potentially hazardous to people, animals, agriculture, and property.

http://icelandreview.com/news/2014/11/14/acid-rain-eruption-found-around-iceland

Acid rain has been found in 40 percent of samples of rainwater collected by the Icelandic Met Office in various locations around Iceland since September. The acidity level has dropped as low as pH 3, while regular precipitation has a pH level of 5-6.

there's 3 out of many links

Dave

 

[256bits]

One proposed approach has been to put aerosols (of sulfur dioxide) into the atmosphere.

Isn't that done already?
As a reference for the USA.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=10151
Sulfur dioxide emissions have been declining in the west for several years, due to clean air acts.
But that could be offset in other parts of the world building coal plants.
Some of those emissions should be able to reach the upper atmosphere rather than all of it settling in low lying calm areas (to only burn your eyeballs and cause breathing difficulties ).

Sulfur dioxide itself is rather a greenhouse gas.
If the atmosphere is over capacitated to clean it out, ie. oxidizing it to an acid, then warming, rather than cooling, is the result.
I suppose that is the reason their model uses a modest 5Mton of injection - it shows the result they kind of wanted to publish, IMO.

 

[256bits]

for more
https://whyclimatechanges.com/pdf/Papers/Ward2009SulfurDioxide.pdf

 

[DrStupid]

I would be concerned about the production of sulphuric acid H₂SO₄ ... "acid rain"

and ozone depletion

 

[Evo]

Sorry, this is the type of thread that got discussions of climate change shut down. No speculation about "fixes", which then gets into politics, we will only discuss the actual verifed science of Climate Change.

Thank you for understanding.