A new study examines how solar radiation modification (SRM) methods, which enhance the reflection of sunlight back into space, could affect water availability in four major river basins in Central Africa: Niger Basin, Lake Chad Basin, Cameroon Atlantic Basin, and Congo Basin. Countries in Central Africa that rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture and hydropower are vulnerable to global warming-exacerbated drought. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, indicates that in a high emissions scenario where water availability could decrease up to 60 percent, SRM techniques could increase water availability up to 50 percent. These results suggest that SRM techniques may mitigate the worsening of drought from global warming in Central Africa.
Using advanced climate models, the researchers evaluated two SRM methods— stratospheric sulfate aerosol injection and global solar dimming. Scientist Ben Kravitz of Indiana University, who co-authored the study, is working on an initiative of the Climate Program Office’s Earth’s Radiation Budget (ERB) program to evaluate and improve how models simulate SRM methods. This work builds on previous studies about SRM’s potential to counteract climate change effects, focusing specifically on Central Africa’s critical water resources. While SRM methods don’t return the climate to pre-warming conditions, they show potential to reduce extreme weather impacts and water deficits, which are vital for agriculture, biodiversity, and livelihoods in the region. The new study advances the understanding of SRM as a climate resilience strategy. It highlights the need for careful consideration of its benefits and potential side effects for sustainable water management and long-term societal well-being.
For more information, contact Clara Deck.
