The Effect of Solar Geoengineering on Surface Winds

Surface winds have profound social and economic impacts, particularly due to their roles in wind power generation and potential storm-related damage. This study investigates how solar radiation management (SRM) techniques might affect wind speeds.

The atmospheric kinetic energy budget suggests that global wind energy dissipation, which is closely linked to surface winds, is influenced by the upward flux of heat and moisture in the atmosphere. These fluxes are further connected to atmospheric radiative cooling and the “Bowen ratio,” which describes the balance between heat and moisture fluxes. Global warming contributes to an increase in atmospheric radiative cooling and a decline in the Bowen ratio, since warmer air can hold more moisture. The anticipated effects of these changes on winds are thought to roughly offset each other, presenting a fortuitous balance.

However, since solar geoengineering alters the structure of atmospheric radiative cooling, it may affect wind patterns in ways that go beyond its effect on global warming. This project will evaluate how these alterations may affect wind speeds, using both theoretical analyses and numerical models for different SRM strategies. The resulting predictions will help evaluate the potential impacts on wind energy generation, agriculture, ecosystems, and infrastructure.