Explanation – Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is a proposed geoengineering technique that involves injecting reflective aerosol particles (such as sulfate aerosols) into the stratosphere to combat climate change. The primary goal of SAI is to increase the Earth’s albedo (reflectivity) by scattering incoming solar radiation back into space. This scattering effect reduces the amount of solar energy absorbed by the Earth, leading to a cooling effect that can help mitigate the impacts of global warming. It aims to replicate the cooling impact of volcanic eruptions by introducing sulphur dioxide (SO2) directly into the stratosphere. Within the stratosphere, the SO2 transforms into sulfate aerosols that reflect sunlight.

Source: Forum IAS