Solar geoengineering using inexpensive balloons - an engineering analysis

Abstract:

Solar geoengineering using inexpensive, widely-available meteorological balloons has been proposed. However, doing this reliably, precisely, and safely is not trivial. We conduct a practical engineering analysis, presenting designs and protocols for loading, launching, tracking, and emptying - including successful, failed, and aborted launches. We suggest that the designs presented may be verified by practical ground and flight experimentation, and subsequently considered for deployment.