11/27/24: Albedo geoengineering could make neighbors hotter

The Sun shining in a blue sky dotted with clouds.

Albedo geoengineering could reduce precipitation both inside and outside of the geoengineered zone, a new Geophysical Research Letters study finds. Credit: Unsplash/Chuttersnap

AGU News

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Featured Research 

Heatwave-drought combination events are on the rise 
Combined hot-dry events can create more extreme weather than droughts or heatwaves alone. New research finds that the frequency of heatwave-drought events in China has doubled since 1980, and that land use change and urbanization may drive up to 30% of that increase. [Earth’s Future study] 

Albedo geoengineering could make neighbors hotter 
Land radiative management is a geoengineering strategy to increase surface albedo and cool the land by reflecting sunlight. New research finds that increasing land albedo not only decreases precipitation inside of the geoengineered region, but also decreases precipitation and increases temperatures outside of the region. That could result in heat inequities should wealthier areas adopt the geoengineering technique in the future. [Geophysical Research Letters study][learn about AGU’s ethical framework for geoengineering research] 

Light, not temperature, limited ancient coral reef range 
Coral reefs thrive in warm, sunny environments. But fossil samples reveal that corals did not spread beyond 50 degrees north and south of the Equator, even when ocean temperatures were much warmer. New research finds that low winter light levels are likely what caused coral drop-offs at higher latitudes in the ancient ocean. [Geophysical Research Letters study] 

Hektoria glacier rapid retreat caused by ice shelf collapse 
Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier retreated 23 kilometers (14 miles) between March 2022 and August 2023. New research finds that the glacier also retreated between 2002 and 2011, and advanced between 2011 and 2022. That slow advance and retreat were both caused by changes in ocean temperatures, while the rapid 2022 retreat was caused by the collapse of underlying ice shelves. [Geophysical Research Letters study] 

Saltwater intrusion to spread globally 
Saltwater intrusion happens when seawater makes its way into fresh surface and groundwater. New research finds that almost 77% of coastal areas below 60 degrees north will experience saltwater intrusion by the end of the century. Sea level rise will be responsible for saltwater intrusion’s global spread, while groundwater recharge declines will account for more severe intrusion cases. [Geophysical Research Letters study] 

Climate change acceleration expected in vulnerable urban areas 
The world is warming overall, but high aerosol emissions have kept some cities cool by reducing solar radiation. Future pollution control could mean that those aerosols, which are harmful to human health, will be reduced. The resulting rapid temperature acceleration would most burden cities with low literacy, life expectancy and standards of living, new research finds. [Geophysical Research Letters study] 

Lake cold spells to decrease, shorten 
Climate change is warming lakes in the summer, but it’s also changing how cold they get in the winter. New research finds that lake cold spells shortened and decreased from 1979 to 2022, and are expected to shorten by 19 days and weaken by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the 21st century.  [Geophysical Research Letters study] 

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