[SUNSHADE #1: THE VOLCANO EFFECT]

Sulfur in the Stratosphere

Past volcanic eruptions have cooled the earth substantially by injecting sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas into the upper atmosphere.
Atmospheric scientists have proposed that SO2— already emitted in vast quantities into the lower atmosphere by burning
fossil fuels — could have the same cooling effect if it were lofted into the stratosphere.

Light is scattered
by clouds of sulfate
droplets

DEPLOYMENT BY BALLOON
Lighter-than-air craft would require DEPLOYMENT BY PLANE
very little energy to raise a cargo of Running on “dirty,” high-sulfur
SO2 at least six miles high. fuel at cruising altitudes, airplanes
could add plenty of SO2 to the
stratosphere.

STRATOSPHERE

HOW IT WORKS
When SO2 reaches the stratosphere, a series of chemical reactions that
involve such molecules as the hydroxyl radical (OH), diatomic oxygen
(O2) and water, either in its vapor form or condensed into a liquid
droplet, give rise to sulfate particles about a micron across. The
particles—made up of sulfuric acid (H2SO4 ), water and trace amounts
of impurities—deflect some of the incoming sunlight. The diagram
below shows some of the molecules involved, but none of the specific
chemical pathways are portrayed.

H2O
Past volcanic
eruption OH

DEPLOYMENT BY MISSILE
Shells charged with SO2 and fired from
SO2
O2 ships at sea could respond quickly to
changing conditions in the upper atmo­
H2SO4
sphere, provided atmospheric scientists
gain a better understanding of the details
H2O of aerosol formation there.

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