Earth System Dynamics
Earth System Dynamics
ESD
Articles | Volume 13, issue 1
Articles | Volume 13, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-219-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-219-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 13, issue 1
Research article
 | 
31 Jan 2022
Research article |  | 31 Jan 2022

Exploration of a novel geoengineering solution: lighting up tropical forests at night

Xueyuan Gao, Shunlin Liang, Dongdong Wang, Yan Li, Bin He, and Aolin Jia

Viewed

Total article views: 6,483 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
4,442 1,905 136 6,483 435 133 154
  • HTML: 4,442
  • PDF: 1,905
  • XML: 136
  • Total: 6,483
  • Supplement: 435
  • BibTeX: 133
  • EndNote: 154
Views and downloads (calculated since 04 Nov 2021)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 04 Nov 2021)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 6,483 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 6,219 with geography defined and 264 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Saved (final revised paper)

Latest update: 03 Aug 2026
Download
Short summary
Numerical experiments with a coupled Earth system model show that large-scale nighttime artificial lighting in tropical forests will significantly increase carbon sink, local temperature, and precipitation, and it requires less energy than direct air carbon capture for capturing 1 t of carbon, suggesting that it could be a powerful climate mitigation option. Side effects include CO2 outgassing after the termination of the nighttime lighting and impacts on local wildlife.
Read more
Share
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint