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

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Latest update: 18 Sep 2025
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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.
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