Climate scientists are sounding the alarm over the dangers of solar geoengineering, as new studies suggest that attempts to dim the sun could unleash global chaos and unpredictable climate disruptions. Two major studies published this week highlight growing concerns that desperate efforts to cool the planet by blocking sunlight could be far more dangerous than previously believed, reports Science Daily.

A study by Columbia University warns that stratospheric aerosol injection—the leading method proposed to reflect sunlight away from Earth—would be “far more unpredictable and risky than models suggest.” The research demonstrates how real-world engineering, political, and economic constraints could make solar geoengineering catastrophically unstable, with potential consequences ranging from monsoon disruptions to material shortages that could derail cooling efforts.

“Even though modeling stratospheric aerosol injection in climate simulations is sophisticated, it will inevitably remain idealized,” said V. Faye McNeill, an atmospheric chemist at Columbia Climate School. “The range of possible outcomes is much broader than anyone has assumed so far.”

Scientists Expect Deployment Despite the Risks

The warnings come amid an exclusive survey of leading climate scientists showing that about two-thirds of experts expect risky atmospheric modification methods to be deployed by 2100. The New Scientist poll of 120 scientists who contributed to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report found that 52 percent believe such interventions could be initiated by a “lone actor” — a private organization, wealthy individual, or state acting unilaterally.

“The prospect of solar geoengineering greatly concerns me. I see it becoming increasingly appealing as the world fails to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said James Renwick, a climate scientist at Victoria University of Wellington who participated in the survey.

The survey also found that 68 percent of respondents believe the likelihood of such measures being implemented has increased due to the failure to curb global emissions over the past decade. However, 81 percent said a new international treaty is needed to govern decisions related to large-scale deployment.