Stratospheric Particle Injection for Climate Engineering (SPICE) is a UK government-funded project that aims to assess the feasibility of injecting particles into the stratosphere from a tethered balloon for the purposes of solar radiation management.
The project investigates the feasibility of one so-called geoengineering[1] technique: the idea of simulating natural processes that release small particles into the stratosphere, which then reflect a few percent of incoming solar radiation, with the effect of cooling the Earth with relative speed. This could produce the same type of global cooling effect as a large volcanic eruption – such as Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in June 1991 (but without any disruption from hot lava, ash or smoke, which would not be present). In the two years following that eruption the Earth cooled on average by about half a degree Celsius.[2][3]
The SPICE project will take the first steps in research to understand whether or not these natural processes can be mimicked and, if so, with what effect. It is the first UK project aimed at providing evidence-based knowledge about geoengineering technologies. The project itself is not carrying out geoengineering, just investigating the feasibility of doing so. SPICE will start to shed light on some of the uncertainties surrounding this controversial subject, and encourage debate that will help inform any future research and decision-making. Geoengineering is seen as being potentially useful in combating climate change but could also lead to unforeseen or unintended risks – for example on local weather systems, or discouraging people to take action to reduce carbon emissions.
The project is funded by a £1.6m grant by the EPSRC to run from October 2010 to March 2014.[4]
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The SPICE project consists of three strands of research (Work Packages):
Researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Oxford and Cambridge and the Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory are considering what would be an ‘ideal’ particle to inject into the stratosphere. The researchers will aim to identify a particle with excellent solar radiation scattering properties, and consider what potential impacts might be on climate, weather, ecosystems and human health.
Engineers from the University of Cambridge and Marshall Aerospace will assess the effect of wind on tethered ballon at a height of 1 km while at the same time pumping water at a rate of around 100 kg/hour.[5] They will be using the data obtained from these tests in computer models aimed at examining how a full-scale tethered balloon might behave in the high winds experienced at altitudes up 20 km.
Researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Edinburgh and Bristol are working with the Met Office's Hadley Centre to consider what can be learned from past volcanic eruptions. They are also modelling the potential impact on ozone layer concentrations, regional precipitation changes and atmospheric chemistry.
A consultation exercise was undertaken with members of the public in a parallel project by Cardiff University, with specific exploration of attitudes to the SPICE test.[6] This research found that very few people were unconditionally positive about the idea of geoengineering or the proposed test. However, most were willing to entertain the notion that the test as a research opportunity should be pursued.
The project was presented to the public at the British Science Festival in Bradford, 13 September 2011 to coincide with plans to conduct the 1 km delivery system testbed in Norfolk the following month.[7] However, this was later postponed for six months[8] following advice from a stage–gate advisory panel to "allow more time for engagement with stakeholders".[9]
Following the original announcement, a campaign opposing geoengineering led by the ETC Group drafted an open letter calling for the project to be suspended until international agreement is reached,[8] specifically pointing to the upcoming convention of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2012.[10]