SAI: Should We Reflect More Sunlight to Cool the Earth? with Dr. Kelsey Roberts

Could reflecting sunlight help cool the Earth? Stratospheric aerosol injection, or SAI, is a proposed climate intervention that aims to reduce global temperatures by reflecting a small portion of incoming sunlight. Inspired by volcanic eruptions, this approach is being studied through climate and ecosystem models to better understand its potential effects. This episode explores how SAI could influence sea surface temperature, net primary production, ocean chemistry, and marine food webs. It also looks at how scientists use models to evaluate different deployment scenarios, including long-term use and phase-out strategies. Along the way, the conversation considers uncertainty, regional variability, and the role SAI might play within a broader portfolio of climate responses.

Support our science communication by joining us on Patreon or sending us a gift on PayPal

Episode Guests: Dr. Kelsey Roberts

Find Dr Robert’s publication on the Potential Impacts of Climate Intervention on Marine Ecosystems

Review Dr. Robert’s publications on Google Scholar

Find more resources on geoengineering at GeoMIP

Learn more about Justice and Governance about SRM Technologies at DSG

Listen to COP30: Green Power for more on global climate policy

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(40)

How many species are there in the sea? with Dr. Manuel Callebar Guiterrez

How many species are there in the ocean? Marine biologist and taxonomist Manuel Caballero Gutierrez joins Oceanography to explore one of the biggest unanswered questions in marine science: how much l...

26 Touko 23min

Hadal Zone Master Class with Professor Alan | Deep Sea Pod Feed Drop

What happens at the deepest points of the ocean? This week on Oceanography, we’re sharing a special feed drop episode from Deep Sea Pod, hosted by Thomas Linley and Alan Jamieson — two scientists man...

19 Touko 46min

A New Earth Radio Show

Where does climate change stand in 2026? This week on Oceanography, we’re bringing you a special crossover from Green Frequency: a new Earth Radio show from Pine Forest Media exploring environmental s...

12 Touko 31min

Elephant Seals Can Be Scientists Too

Elephant seals are helping map the Southern Ocean. This week on Oceanography, we’re sharing a special crossover episode from South Pole, another Pine Forest Media series focused on Antarctic science a...

5 Touko 52min

Solar Geoengineering: Who Gets to Decide? with Hassaan Sipra

Solar geoengineering is a justice question. As sunlight reflection methods move from theory toward real-world research, who gets to decide what happens next? This episode explores the justice and gove...

28 Huhti 1h 5min

A Natural Experiment in the Sky: Shipping, Clouds, and Climate

Shipping pollution changed clouds. What can scientists learn? What happens when cleaner shipping fuel suddenly changes the atmosphere above the ocean? In this episode of Oceanography, meteorologist Dr...

21 Huhti 56min

MCB: Can Brighter Clouds Cool the Planet? with Dr. Jessica Wan

Can brighter clouds cool Earth? Marine cloud brightening (MCB) is a proposed solar radiation modification strategy that could reflect sunlight, cool ocean regions, and potentially reduce dangerous hea...

7 Huhti 51min