A team of researchers at Indiana University have looked at how climate engineering could be leveraged to protect Antarctica from melting and reduce the risk of catastrophic sea-level rise.

The study focused on stratospheric aerosol injection, a form of engineering in which large amounts of tiny sulfur droplets are released into the stratosphere by a fleet of aeroplanes. The method has been proposed as a potential strategy to keep global warming at bay.

“Even if the world meets the ambitious target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – which we are not on track to do – we are going to see significant sea-level rise,” said Paul Goddard, an assistant research scientist and co-author of the study.

“Exploring ways to reflect sunlight into space before it is absorbed into the Earth’s climate system could help buy us more time to address climate change and avoid or delay climate tipping points, such as the West Antarctic Ice Sheet...