Question

Can the greenhouse effect be reversed?

Answer 1

1. Yes, while we cannot stop global warming overnight, we can slow the rate and limit the amount of global warming by reducing human emissions of heat-trapping gases and soot (“black carbon”).
2. If all human emissions of heat-trapping gases were to stop today, Earth’s temperature would continue to rise for a few decades as ocean currents bring excess heat stored in the deep ocean back to the surface.
3. Once this excess heat radiated out to space, Earth’s temperature would stabilize.
4. With no further human influence, natural processes would begin to slowly remove the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and global temperatures would gradually begin to decline.
5. Alternative methods to slow or reduce global warming have been proposed that are, collectively, known as "climate engineering" or "geoengineering."
6. Some geoengineering proposals involve cooling Earth's surface by injecting reflective particles into the upper atmosphere to scatter and reflect sunlight back to space.