How Would SRM Affect Sea-Level Rise?

Climate change is pushing sea levels around the world higher, which is already causing increased flooding, more devastating storm surges, damage to water supplies and agriculture, and other risks for hundreds of millions of people. The future of sea-level rise is uncertain – what impact might solar geoengineering, or sunlight reflection methods (SRM), have on sea levels if ever deployed?

Key takeaways

• Global sea levels are rising due to climate change, as warming ocean water expands and melting land ice adds water to the oceans.
• Future sea-level rise will depend on how much the planet warms among other factors, though complicated ice sheet dynamics make it difficult to predict.
• SRM could likely slow, but not halt, global sea-level rise, though its impact on ice sheets in particular remains highly uncertain.