Cooling the Earth with $CO_2$ filled containers in space

TL;DR

This paper proposes using CO2-filled reflective containers in geostationary orbit as a novel method to selectively cool Earth's surface and discusses related ideas like space-based CO2 removal and infrared filtering.

Contribution

It introduces a new concept of space-based CO2 containers for targeted cooling and explores their potential for greenhouse gas management and solar radiation filtering.

Findings

CO2-filled containers could be used as space-based shading devices

Potential for producing propellants from greenhouse gases in GEO

Infrared filtering with CO2 vessels is less effective

Abstract

We argue that geostationary (GEO) reflective containers filled with $CO_2$ could be used as shading devices to selectively cool areas on Earth's surface. This proposal would be an interesting addition to the recently discussed suggestion of dumping $CO_2$ to space through the well of a space lift \cite{OB2023}. We also explore the possibility of producing propellants in GEO out of greenhouse gases expelled from the space lift. Finally, we discuss the much less effective idea of filtering the most prominent infrared bands of the incoming solar radiation using the $CO_2$ wrapped in transparent vessels.