Reducing Polar Ambient Temperatures by Implementing Orbital Solar Shielding

The aim of this study is to develop an engineering method to reduce the amount of solar radiation received at the poles, hence providing a mechanism to slow the rate of warming. There is an unprecedented continual rise in global sea-levels attributed to human-caused global warming (NASA 2021). The rise is caused by both melting ice-sheets and glaciers, and the sea?water expansion as it warms up. Polar icecaps are melting around 13% per decade. At this rate, the Arctic will be ice-free by 2040 (Worldwildlife 2022) and a minimum of 410 million people will be affected by sea-level flooding by 2100 (Hooijer et al. 2021). Potential methods of reducing sea-level rise have been proposed including placing in space a massive shield of 2,000 km span costing around $10 trillion to manufacture (Early 1989). In contrast, this research proposes a sustainable method of orbital solar radiation management, utilising cost-effective small “nanosatellites” and solar sailing techniques. The aim is to produce a network in polar orbit of solar powered satellites, each containing a reflective solar shield/sail. The satellite swarm would have the appearance of a large shield of which each satellite is one pixel in the whole system. Such a network is easier and more cost effective to launch, moderate, control and maintain. It can be extended by adding satellites when costs permit; it operates even if there is a faulty satellite (which can be replaced); and each small sail is individually angled to moderate the Solar radiation shielding and its re-direction. Calculations are presented of local Polar surface temperature affected by varying altitude, orientation and light scattering efficiency. The performance of a shield deployment method is tested to indicate the key challenges and advantages of the design. Future developments such as storing solar energy or power beaming are identified.