Risks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorTrisos, Christopher
dc.contributor.authorDel, Cuore Emma
dc.date.accessioned2026-04-22T11:24:24Z
dc.date.available2026-04-22T11:24:24Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.date.updated2026-04-22T08:31:35Z
dc.description.abstractSolar Radiation Modification (SRM), otherwise known as ‘solar geoengineering', is a proposed set of methods to limit the amount of sunlight that is able to reach the surface of the Earth in order to mitigate the effects of global warming. However, its potential effects on biodiversity and ecosystems have received minimal attention in literature. In this study, I investigated the risks to terrestrial biodiversity from stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), one of the most studied methods of SRM, whereby megatons of sulphate or other aerosol particles are injected into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight back into space. Specifically, I assessed the temporal dynamics of exposure to potentially dangerous temperatures for more than 26,000 species of terrestrial vertebrates using a G6sulfur scenario, which provides simulations of a high emissions pathway (SSP5-8.5) with SAI deployed using sulphate aerosols to keep global warming levels similar to that in an intermediate-emissions scenario achieved through conventional mitigation (SSP2- 4.5). The results showed that the magnitude of species populations exposed to potentially dangerous temperature conditions under G6sulfur was 14% higher than under SSP2-4.5. Tropical forests of South America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia are projected to have the most increase in risk from G6sulfur when compared to SSP2-4.5. Moreover, these places appear to be impacted by earlier and more abrupt exposure under G6sulpur when compared to SSP2-4.5, which could affect the time species have to adapt to temperature changes and could potentially prompt ecological disruption. However, for the Sahel region and India, SAI deployment may reduce risk of species exposure. This reveals the complexities of governing proposed SAI deployment and necessitates informed decision making on whether and how to deploy these types of interventions. More research is needed on the effects of various deployment scenarios on biodiversity and the increased participation of developing countries in SRM research and decision-making processes is essential.
dc.identifier.apacitationDel, C. E. (2023). <i>Risks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43117en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDel, Cuore Emma. <i>"Risks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43117en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDel, C.E. 2023. Risks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43117en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Del, Cuore Emma AB - Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), otherwise known as ‘solar geoengineering', is a proposed set of methods to limit the amount of sunlight that is able to reach the surface of the Earth in order to mitigate the effects of global warming. However, its potential effects on biodiversity and ecosystems have received minimal attention in literature. In this study, I investigated the risks to terrestrial biodiversity from stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), one of the most studied methods of SRM, whereby megatons of sulphate or other aerosol particles are injected into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight back into space. Specifically, I assessed the temporal dynamics of exposure to potentially dangerous temperatures for more than 26,000 species of terrestrial vertebrates using a G6sulfur scenario, which provides simulations of a high emissions pathway (SSP5-8.5) with SAI deployed using sulphate aerosols to keep global warming levels similar to that in an intermediate-emissions scenario achieved through conventional mitigation (SSP2- 4.5). The results showed that the magnitude of species populations exposed to potentially dangerous temperature conditions under G6sulfur was 14% higher than under SSP2-4.5. Tropical forests of South America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia and Australia are projected to have the most increase in risk from G6sulfur when compared to SSP2-4.5. Moreover, these places appear to be impacted by earlier and more abrupt exposure under G6sulpur when compared to SSP2-4.5, which could affect the time species have to adapt to temperature changes and could potentially prompt ecological disruption. However, for the Sahel region and India, SAI deployment may reduce risk of species exposure. This reveals the complexities of governing proposed SAI deployment and necessitates informed decision making on whether and how to deploy these types of interventions. More research is needed on the effects of various deployment scenarios on biodiversity and the increased participation of developing countries in SRM research and decision-making processes is essential. DA - 2023 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Solar Radiation Modification KW - stratospheric aerosol injection KW - G6sulfur LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2023 T1 - Risks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates TI - Risks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43117 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/43117
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDel CE. Risks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, 2023 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43117en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Environmental and Geographical Science
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectSolar Radiation Modification
dc.subjectstratospheric aerosol injection
dc.subjectG6sulfur
dc.titleRisks from Solar Geoengineering with Stratospheric Aerosol Injection on Land Vertebrates
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_sci_2023_del cuore emma.pdf
Size:
1.92 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters