Human efforts to combat climate change are now entering a controversial new chapter. A number of scientists are researching the idea of “dimming” the sun—a geoengineering concept that aims to reduce Earth’s heat by emitting microscopic sulfur particles into the atmosphere.
However, behind this seemingly promising idea, there is the potential for a global disaster that could disrupt the climate system and accelerate natural destruction.
Inspired by Natural Phenomena
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The concept of geoengineering, or artificial climate engineering, is actually inspired by natural phenomena. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 is one example.
At that time, nearly 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide were ejected into the stratosphere—the layer of the atmosphere at an altitude of 12 to 50 kilometers. According to the US Geological Survey, the presence of these sulfur particles reduces the global average temperature by around 0.5°C.
Side Effects and Global Impact
However, the cooling only lasted two years and caused significant side effects. India’s monsoon system is disrupted, causing severe drought in South Asia. In addition, the stratosphere layer actually heats up, which accelerates ozone destruction.
This impact makes scientists now more careful in assessing the idea of ”dimming” the sun.
“A lot of things could happen if we try to do this and the range of impacts is much wider than previously realized,” said Faye McNeill, an atmospheric chemist at Columbia Climate School and Columbia Engineering.
Cannot yet imitate the real world
In the study, scientists used computer models to predict the effects of geoengineering interventions. However, McNeill emphasized that simulations will never completely depict reality.
“In simulations, the particles used are perfect—with ideal sizes, numbers and locations. However, the real world is much more complex and full of uncertainties,” he said.
Risks that May Occur
The worst scenario could occur if sulfur particles accumulate in the equatorial region. This condition has the potential to disrupt global atmospheric circulation and heat distribution throughout the Earth.
Conversely, if particles are concentrated at the poles, the tropical monsoon system could be disrupted.
“It’s not just about getting five teragrams of sulfur into the atmosphere. The timing and location are also crucial,” McNeill added.
Apart from the risk of disrupting the weather, sulfur particles that eventually fall to Earth can also react with rainwater, forming acid rain which damages soil and ecosystems. The research team also tried to find alternative materials other than sulfur, but the results were not promising.
“Many of the proposed aerosol candidates are not abundant in nature or difficult to distribute evenly,” explains Miranda Hack, an aerosol scientist at Columbia University.
Some materials such as diamond and zirconia are too expensive, while calcium carbonate and aluminum easily agglomerate in the air.
Not an Instant Solution
With all these limitations, scientists emphasize: dimming the sun is not an instant solution. In fact, if you make a wrong move, this effort could be the beginning of greater damage—even a threat to life on Earth itself. (Space/Z-1)
