Evaluating the potential of iron-based interventions in methane reduction and climate mitigation

• DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ad3d72
• Publication Date: 2024-04-11T22:23:16Z
• Authors: Daphne Meidan; Qinyi Li; Carlos A Cuevas; Scott C Doney; Rafael P Fernandez; Maarten M J W van...; Matthew S Johnson; Douglas E Kinnison; Longlei Li; Douglas S Hamilton; Alfonso Saiz-Lopez; Peter Hess; Natalie M Mahowald
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Methane oxidation; methane oxidation; Science; Physics; QC1-999; community earth system model (CESM); Q; iron aerosols; Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering; Iron aerosols; Community earth system model (CESM); Environmental sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; chlorine chemistry; Chlorine chemistry; GE1-350; TD1-1066

Abstract Keeping global surface temperatures below international climate targets will require substantial measures to control atmospheric CO 2 and CH 4 concentrations. Recent studies have focused on interventions decrease through enhanced oxidation. Here for the first time using a set of models, we evaluate effect adding iron aerosols atmosphere enhance molecular chlorine production, thus oxidation methane reduce its concentration. Using different emission sensitivity scenarios, examine potential role impact emissions direct interactions with solar radiation, chemical radiative response methane. Our results show that depends sensitively location emissions. In all regions there is threshold in amount must be added remove Below this increases. Even once reached, iron-aerosol driven chlorine-enhanced impacts are complex. The forcing both ozone decreased most efficient but due addition absorbing tends warm planet. Adding any anthropogenic aerosol may also cool planet cloud interactions, although these very uncertain, here focus unique properties aerosols. If similar distribution as current shipping emissions, our study shows before decreases 2.5 times aerosols, or 6 Tg Fe yr −1 ideal case examined here. suggests photoactive fraction key variable controlling additions poorly understood. More when, where how should conducted. Before seriously considering method, additional chemistry, climate, environmental air pollution carefully assessed future since they likely important.