We have already discussed the possibility of implementing the SPICE project (Robock, 2000) but some fascinating research has been undertaken which looks at quantifying the extent of the sea ice changes post cloud seeing.
If you’ve forgotten the basics of the SPICE project then let me give you a few reminders. It consists of injecting aerosol particles into boundary layer clouds which act as condensation nuclei. This results in increased droplet numbers being present leading to an increased albedo. Consequently, the planet undergoes a trend of cooling. For more in depth information on this method may i refer you to a previous post.
Rashch et al. (2009) agree that cloud seeding can indeed stabilise earth temperatures and ice extent. However, the issue that would arise if this was attempted would be the difficulty in compensating uniformly for all changes across the globe. As in the majority of studies in this field, Rashch et al. simulate the affects geoengineering in a simulation where atmospheric CO2 is twice the levels that it is presently at. The great loss of ice that would result is shown in (a) and (b) in the figure below. However, with varying magnitudes of cloud seeding, large increases in sea ice are demonstrated leading to both restoration and stabilisation of the sea ice extent which is present today.
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