This exploratory study evaluates the following moderation scheme against global warming: deploying nanoparticles in the atmosphere in order to scatter a tiny amount of sunlight (1% or 2W/m2) up to space. Such a strategy could be a last-resort method to counteract unbearable effects of global warming. For particles made of a wide range of known materials, the scattering ability is defined to quantify how efficient the particle is at scattering sunlight. This scattering ability is a function of the particle radius and index of refraction, and is calculated by an in-house numerical code solving the Mie scattering equations. The code is validated against scattering calculations for SO2 particles published by Schwartz[1]. Our calculations show that an optimum particle size exists, which would minimize the amounts to be deployed in the atmosphere. Also, we evaluate the deployment of biodegradable nanoparticles, which would counteract global warming and minimize dangers related to their redeposition.

Volume Subject Area:
Heat Transfer
Topics:
Aerosols, Biodegradation, Climate change, Electromagnetic scattering, Particulate matter, Nanoparticles, Sunlight, Particle size, Refractive index
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