Speaker: Robert Wood
The Earth is warming rapidly due to increasing greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. Although progress is being made on reducing emissions, it is likely that warming may exceed levels that are dangerous for humans and ecosystems. Solar Climate Intervention has been proposed as a means to reduce Earth temperatures by introducing additional aerosol particles to either directly reflect sunlight or increase the reflection of sunlight by low clouds over the oceans. This presentation will explore the science of solar climate intervention and examine the potential benefits and risks.
Bio:
Robert Wood is Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Science at the University of Washington. Wood’s research work focuses upon understanding processes controlling clouds and precipitation in the Earth’s atmosphere and the roles that aerosol, cloud and precipitation play in determining climate variability and change. Wood’s research uses a combination of global datasets, including satellite and global climate models together with high resolution and theoretical models. Wood serves as lead scientist for the Marine Cloud Brightening Research Project at the University of Washington, which aims to better understand the feasibility of deliberately seeding marine low clouds as a potential means for cooling the Earth system.