Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1005
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1005
14 Mar 2025
 | 14 Mar 2025

Investigating the ability of satellite occultation instruments to monitor possible geoengineering experiments

Anna Lange, Ulrike Niemeier, Alexei Rozanov, and Christian von Savigny

Abstract. Solar radiation management is a method in the field of geoengineering that aims to modify the Earth's shortwave radiation budget. One idea is to inject sulphur dioxide or sulphuric acid into the stratosphere, where sulphate aerosols are then formed. Such experiments can probably be observed, for example, with satellite occultation instruments like SAGE III/ISS. The aim of the current study is to analyse, using MAECHAM5-HAM simulations and retrievals with the radiative transfer program SCIATRAN, whether it is possible to detect the formed stratospheric aerosols from emissions of 1 and 2 Tg S/y (sulphur per year) with the currently active satellite occultation instruments, taking into account an error estimate that is as realistic as possible. If these smaller amounts of sulphur are detectable, larger amounts will also be detectable. The calculations show that, considering the natural variability and the assumptions made here, the stratospheric aerosols formed from emissions of 1 and 2 Tg S/y in the quasi steady-state phase can be detected, which is not the case in the first month of the two-year initial phase.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

30 Sep 2025
Investigating the ability of satellite occultation instruments to monitor possible geoengineering experiments
Anna Lange, Ulrike Niemeier, Alexei Rozanov, and Christian von Savigny
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 11673–11688, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11673-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11673-2025, 2025
Short summary
Anna Lange, Ulrike Niemeier, Alexei Rozanov, and Christian von Savigny

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Travis N. Knepp, 14 Mar 2025
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Anonymous Referee #1, 08 Apr 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Apr 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Anonymous Referee #3, 25 Apr 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Travis N. Knepp, 14 Mar 2025
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Anonymous Referee #1, 08 Apr 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Anonymous Referee #2, 15 Apr 2025
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1005', Anonymous Referee #3, 25 Apr 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Anna Lange on behalf of the Authors (02 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (04 Jun 2025) by Marc von Hobe
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (24 Jun 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (30 Jun 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (01 Jul 2025) by Marc von Hobe
AR by Anna Lange on behalf of the Authors (11 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (01 Aug 2025) by Marc von Hobe
AR by Anna Lange on behalf of the Authors (01 Aug 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

30 Sep 2025
Investigating the ability of satellite occultation instruments to monitor possible geoengineering experiments
Anna Lange, Ulrike Niemeier, Alexei Rozanov, and Christian von Savigny
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 11673–11688, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11673-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-11673-2025, 2025
Short summary
Anna Lange, Ulrike Niemeier, Alexei Rozanov, and Christian von Savigny
Anna Lange, Ulrike Niemeier, Alexei Rozanov, and Christian von Savigny

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Short summary
Our paper investigates whether it is possible to observe injections of 1 and 2 Tg S/y (sulphur per year) into the stratosphere with the currently active satellite occultation instruments. The calculations show that, considering the natural variability and the assumptions made here, the stratospheric aerosols formed from emissions of 1 and 2 Tg S/y in the quasi steady-state phase can be detected, which is not the case in the first month of the two-year initial phase.
Share