https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2515-7620/ac7a25

Mapping potential surface contributions to reflected solar radiation

Brian V Smoliak, Michel Gelobter and Jeff T Haley

Abstract

Modifying Earth's albedo is one of the strategies considered to reduce its
energy imbalance and slow global warming by reflecting solar energy.
Atmospheric contributions to reflected solar radiation through
stratospheric aerosols or cloud brightening have received considerable
attention; however, the efficacy of surface interventions is less
understood. We address this gap by estimating the potential for surface
contributions to reflected solar radiation at approximately 30 km
resolution using a simple radiative transfer model. Long-term average
annual-mean incoming and outgoing top-of-atmosphere and surface solar
fluxes are input to determine atmospheric shortwave optical properties
(i.e., transmittance, absorptance, and reflectance), which can be used with
surface albedo to estimate surface-reflected outgoing solar radiation. A
comparison of reanalysis- and satellite-based input datasets shows good
agreement. The results indicate global annual-mean surface-reflected
outgoing solar radiation potential of 109 Wm-2, nearly a factor of five
larger than the actual value, and local areas where it could be increased
above 200 Wm-2 with surface albedo enhancement. Regions with particularly
strong potential include Andean South America, the Middle East,
southwestern North America, southwestern Africa, Australia, and the
sub-equatorial tropical oceans. Future research could extend the methods to
account for seasonal variations and the potential to mitigate extreme heat
events in particular.

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