Researchers in Morocco, Jordan, Cabo Verde and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) have launched their countries’ first solar radiation modification (SRM) modelling studies.
The four teams have been awarded Degrees Modelling Fund grants to model how the physical impacts of SRM could affect their local climate.
Their projects bring the total number of countries that have been funded by Degrees to undertake SRM modelling and socio-political studies to 27. In almost all cases, Degrees funding enabled the first such research for a country.
The new teams will research the potential impact of SRM and climate change on extreme weather, crop productivity, rain-fed agriculture and coastal ecosystems. They will officially start their projects in January 2026.
They were funded following a special application process that specifically sought to fund teams in countries without previous SRM research. To apply, they were also sponsored by a Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator of an existing Degrees Modelling Fund team.
The projects
Cabo Verde
Principal Investigator: Dr Patrik Pina da Silva, University of Cabo Verde
Project title: ‘Assessing the Influence of Solar Radiation Modification on Precipitation and Temperature Extremes in Santiago Island, Cape Verde’
Sponsor: Dr Abdoulaye Ballo, from the Mali team
Climate change is significantly impacting small island nations like Cabo Verde, leading to rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increased drought frequency. This study will examine how SRM could influence extreme weather events, specifically precipitation and temperature extremes, on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde. The island’s climate is shaped by the West African Monsoon and dust from the Sahara, making it highly sensitive to atmospheric changes. While SRM is expected to lower overall temperatures, it may also disrupt rainfall patterns, potentially exacerbating water shortages in an already drought-prone region.
Patrik said:
“In small developing countries, small shifts in precipitation and temperature may cause huge impacts on our economy. We have to have this knowledge [about SRM], because with knowledge we can act much better.”
Jordan
Principal Investigator: Prof. Jawad Al-Bakri, the University of Jordan
Project title: ‘Exploring Solar Radiation Modification Impacts on Crop Productivity in Water-Scarce Arid Regions: A Case Study of Jordan’
Sponsor: Prof. Mou Leong Tan, PI of the Malaysia team
While preliminary evidence suggests that SRM may positively influence global crop yields, significant knowledge gaps persist, particularly regarding its impacts in arid, water-scarce regions. Countries like Jordan, which face severe water scarcity, rely on adaptive agricultural water management strategies, such as deficit irrigation and drought-tolerant crop varieties. However, the potential interactions between SRM and such adaptive strategies remain poorly understood. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the interactions between SRM scenarios and adaptive agricultural water management strategies under arid conditions, using Jordan as a case study.
Jawad said:
“It is important for us to do this research because in order to have solid figures on the impacts of climate on food production or water, then you need to have a full image of all of the climatic factors.”
Morocco
Principal Investigator: Dr Victor Ongoma, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
Project title: ‘Investigation of impacts of Solar Radiation Modification on Rainfall and Temperature Extremes over North Africa’
Sponsor: Dr Thierry Fotso-Nguemo, PI of the Cameroon team
Over the past few decades, mean and seasonal temperatures have increased at twice the global rate over most regions in North Africa due to human-induced climate change. This is particularly important for populations in arid and semi-arid areas that rely heavily on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture for their livelihoods. SRM could help minimise the risks associated with rising temperatures, but the impact of SRM on rainfall and temperature extremes remains unquantified. This research will investigate how SRM is likely to affect temperature and rainfall extremes over North Africa, in the context of global warming.
Victor said:
“Climate adaptation has limits, forcing us to look into mitigation. That’s why in this research I’ve decided to investigate how impactful [SRM] will be on Africa; for now looking at Northern Africa and then working with other researchers looking at Africa at large.”
Republic of the Congo
Principal Investigator: Roy Dorgeless Ngakala, Institut National de Recherche en Sciences Exactes et Naturelles (IRSEN)
Project title: ‘The Congolese Upwelling System Responses to Greenhouse Warming and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection’
Sponsor: Prof. Yelognisse Casimir Da-Allada, Co-principal Investigator of a Benin team
‘Upwelling’ systems in the ocean deliver nutrients to surface waters, and coastal upwelling systems are particularly important for local fisheries. The Congolese Upwelling System is relatively understudied but is likely to be affected by global warming in similar ways to other more well-known systems: becoming weaker and delivering fewer nutrients to coastal ecosystems. This study will investigate the influence of greenhouse warming and SRM on Congolese upwelling efficiency and the impact on local fisheries, with knock-on impacts on food security and climate resilience in the southern Gulf of Guinea region.
Roy said:
“We engage with SRM in order to learn more and inform both scientists and policymakers about climate change, and in particular how solar geoengineering could affect the coastal Congolese upwelling and consequently, the fisheries in the region.”
