Question

g it has been proposed that global warming due to increasing co2 could be countered by injections of so2 in the stratosphere to produce sulfate aerosols. it is estimated that injecting one ton of sulfur as so2 into the stratosphere would increase the albedo a of the earth by 4 x 10^-8 for a duration of one year. calculate the corresponding radiative forcing due to the injected sulfur for that 1-year period.

Answer 1

To calculate the corresponding radiative forcing for the injected sulfur, multiply the change in albedo by the total solar irradiance and divide it by four which is equal to -1.64 × 10⁻⁵ W/m².

here is the calculation of the radiative forcing due to the injected sulfur for that 1-year period:

Given:

Increase in albedo (ΔA): 4 × 10⁻⁸

Solar constant (S₀): 1367 W/m²

Earth's radius (R): 6.371 × 10⁶ m

Earth's albedo (A₀): 0.3

Formula:

Radiative forcing (ΔF) = S₀πR²ΔA

Calculation:

ΔF = (1367 W/m²)(π)(6.371 × 10⁶ m)²(4 × 10⁻⁸)

ΔF ≈ -1.64 × 10⁻⁵ W/m²

Therefore, the corresponding radiative forcing due to the injected sulfur for that 1-year period is -1.64 × 10⁻⁵ W/m².