Ecosystem impacts of geoengineering: A review for developing a science plan

Lynn M. Russell; Philip J. Rasch; Georgina M. Mace; Robert B. Jackson; John Shepherd; Peter Liss; Margaret Leinen; David Schimel; Naomi E. Vaughan; Anthony C. Janetos; Philip W. Boyd; Richard J. Norby; Ken Caldeira; Joonas Merikanto; Paulo Artaxo; Jerry Melillo; M. Granger Morgan

doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0258-5

Ecosystem impacts of geoengineering: A review for developing a science plan

Lynn M. Russell, Philip J. Rasch, Georgina M. Mace, Robert B. Jackson, John Shepherd, Peter Liss, Margaret Leinen, David Schimel, Naomi E. Vaughan, Anthony C. Janetos, Philip W. Boyd, Richard J. Norby, Ken Caldeira, Joonas Merikanto, Paulo Artaxo, Jerry Melillo, M. Granger Morgan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

77 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Geoengineering methods are intended to reduce climate change, which is already having demonstrable effects on ecosystem structure and functioning in some regions. Two types of geoengineering activities that have been proposed are: carbon dioxide (CO2) removal (CDR), which removes CO2 from the atmosphere, and solar radiation management (SRM, or sunlight reflection methods), which reflects a small percentage of sunlight back into space to offset warming from greenhouse gases (GHGs). Current research suggests that SRM or CDR might diminish the impacts of climate change on ecosystems by reducing changes in temperature and precipitation. However, sudden cessation of SRM would exacerbate the climate effects on ecosystems, and some CDR might interfere with oceanic and terrestrial ecosystem processes. The many risks and uncertainties associated with these new kinds of purposeful perturbations to the Earth system are not well understood and require cautious and comprehensive research.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	350-369
Number of pages	20
Journal	AMBIO
Volume	41
Issue number	4
Early online date	20 Mar 2012
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0258-5
Publication status	Published - Jun 2012

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Russell, L. M., Rasch, P. J., Mace, G. M., Jackson, R. B., Shepherd, J., Liss, P., Leinen, M., Schimel, D., Vaughan, N. E., Janetos, A. C., Boyd, P. W., Norby, R. J., Caldeira, K., Merikanto, J., Artaxo, P., Melillo, J., & Morgan, M. G. (2012). Ecosystem impacts of geoengineering: A review for developing a science plan. AMBIO, 41(4), 350-369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-012-0258-5

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title = "Ecosystem impacts of geoengineering: A review for developing a science plan",

abstract = "Geoengineering methods are intended to reduce climate change, which is already having demonstrable effects on ecosystem structure and functioning in some regions. Two types of geoengineering activities that have been proposed are: carbon dioxide (CO2) removal (CDR), which removes CO2 from the atmosphere, and solar radiation management (SRM, or sunlight reflection methods), which reflects a small percentage of sunlight back into space to offset warming from greenhouse gases (GHGs). Current research suggests that SRM or CDR might diminish the impacts of climate change on ecosystems by reducing changes in temperature and precipitation. However, sudden cessation of SRM would exacerbate the climate effects on ecosystems, and some CDR might interfere with oceanic and terrestrial ecosystem processes. The many risks and uncertainties associated with these new kinds of purposeful perturbations to the Earth system are not well understood and require cautious and comprehensive research.",

author = "Russell, {Lynn M.} and Rasch, {Philip J.} and Mace, {Georgina M.} and Jackson, {Robert B.} and John Shepherd and Peter Liss and Margaret Leinen and David Schimel and Vaughan, {Naomi E.} and Janetos, {Anthony C.} and Boyd, {Philip W.} and Norby, {Richard J.} and Ken Caldeira and Joonas Merikanto and Paulo Artaxo and Jerry Melillo and Morgan, {M. Granger}",

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AU - Russell, Lynn M.

AU - Rasch, Philip J.

AU - Mace, Georgina M.

AU - Jackson, Robert B.

AU - Shepherd, John

AU - Liss, Peter

AU - Leinen, Margaret

AU - Schimel, David

AU - Vaughan, Naomi E.

AU - Janetos, Anthony C.

AU - Boyd, Philip W.

AU - Norby, Richard J.

AU - Caldeira, Ken

AU - Merikanto, Joonas

AU - Artaxo, Paulo

AU - Melillo, Jerry

AU - Morgan, M. Granger

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AB - Geoengineering methods are intended to reduce climate change, which is already having demonstrable effects on ecosystem structure and functioning in some regions. Two types of geoengineering activities that have been proposed are: carbon dioxide (CO2) removal (CDR), which removes CO2 from the atmosphere, and solar radiation management (SRM, or sunlight reflection methods), which reflects a small percentage of sunlight back into space to offset warming from greenhouse gases (GHGs). Current research suggests that SRM or CDR might diminish the impacts of climate change on ecosystems by reducing changes in temperature and precipitation. However, sudden cessation of SRM would exacerbate the climate effects on ecosystems, and some CDR might interfere with oceanic and terrestrial ecosystem processes. The many risks and uncertainties associated with these new kinds of purposeful perturbations to the Earth system are not well understood and require cautious and comprehensive research.

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