What are the potential side effects of using sulfur particles for geoengineering?

Researchers warn that stratospheric sulfur injections could disrupt the Indian monsoon system, cause acidic rain that harms the soil, and speed up ozone destruction.

How do the geoengineering particles affect global heat distribution?

The study found that uneven accumulation of the particles around the equator or the poles could disrupt global atmospheric circulation patterns and alter how heat is distributed around the planet.

What alternative materials were considered for geoengineering, and why are they not practical?

The researchers examined materials like diamond, cubic zirconia, and rutile titania, but found them to be either too rare and expensive or difficult to evenly disperse in the atmosphere, making them less effective than sulfur.

Home / Environment / Sulfur Injection Scheme Faces Unexpected Challenges, Warns Atmospheric Scientists

Sulfur Injection Scheme Faces Unexpected Challenges, Warns Atmospheric Scientists

23 Oct

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Summary

Stratospheric sulfur injections may disrupt monsoons and worsen ozone depletion
Geoengineering particles could accumulate unevenly, altering global heat distribution
Alternatives to sulfur, like diamond and zirconia, are impractical for large-scale use

Sulfur Injection Scheme Faces Unexpected Challenges, Warns Atmospheric Scientists

Accordingtoanewresearchpaperpublishedin2025,theconceptofgeoengineeringthroughstratosphericsulfurinjections(SAI)tocooltheplanetandoffsetclimatechangemayfacemorechallengesthanpreviouslythought.Thestudyclaimsthatwhilethe1991eruptionofMountPinatubodemonstratedthecoolingeffectofsulfurparticlesintheatmosphere,italsodisruptedtheIndianmonsoonsystem,causingadroughtacrossSouthAsia.\\n\\nAdditionally,theresearcherswarnthattheunevenaccumulationoftheseparticlesaroundtheequatororthepolescouldfurtherdisruptglobalatmosphericcirculationpatternsandalterhowheatisdistributedaroundtheplanet.Thesulfurparticlesarealsolikelytoreactwithrainwater,formingacidicrainthatcanharmthesoil.\\n\\nThestudy\'sauthors,FayeMcNeillandMirandaHackfromColumbiaUniversity,alsoexaminedalternativestosulfur,suchasdiamond,cubiczirconia,andrutiletitania,butfoundthatthesematerialsareeithertoorareandexpensiveordifficulttoevenlydisperseintheatmosphere.Asaresult,theyconcludethatthesechemicalsarenotlikelytobeaseffectiveassulfurforlarge-scalegeoengineeringefforts.\\n\\nTheresearchersemphasizethatwhilecomputermodelscansimulatetheeffectsofgeoengineeringinterventions,thereal-worldimplementationislikelytobemuchmorecomplexandunpredictable,withinevitablesurprises.Theycautionthattherangeofpossibleoutcomesfromsuchinterventionsismuchwiderthanpreviouslyappreciated.