A continuous latitudinal energy balance model to explore non-uniform climate engineering strategies

Bonetti, F. and McInnes, C. (2019) A continuous latitudinal energy balance model to explore non-uniform climate engineering strategies. Climate Dynamics, 52(9-10), pp. 5739-5757. (doi: 10.1007/s00382-018-4474-y)

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Abstract

In order to investigate the effects of solar radiation management (SRM) technologies for climate engineering, an analytical model describing the main latitu8 dinal dynamics of the Earth’s climate with closed-loop control has been developed. The model is a time-dependent Energy BalanceModel (EBM) with latitudinal resolution and allows for the evaluation of non-uniform climate engineering strategies. The resulting partial differential equation is solved using a Green’s function approach. This model offers an efficient analytical approach to design strategies that counter act climate change on a latitudinal basis to overcome regional disparities in cooling. Multi-objective analyses are considered and time-dependent analytical expressions of control functions with latitudinal resolution can be obtained in several circumstances. Results broadly comparable with the literature are found, demonstrating the utility of the model in rapidly assessing new climate engineering controls laws and strategies. For example, the model is also used to quickly assess the trade-off between the number of degrees of freedom of SRM and the rms error in latitudinal temperature compensation. Moreover, using the EBM the dynamics of the ice line can be investigated and a Lyapunov stability analysis is employed to estimate the maximum reduction of solar insolation through climate engineering before the current climate falls into an ice-covered state. This provides an extreme operational boundary to future climate engineering ventures.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Federica Bonetti acknowledges a University of Glasgow PhD scholarship and Colin McInnes acknowledges support from a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bonetti, Federica and McInnes, Professor Colin
Authors: Bonetti, F., and McInnes, C.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Climate Dynamics
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0930-7575
ISSN (Online):1432-0894
Published Online:06 October 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Climate Dynamics 52(9-10):5739-5757
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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