O'Loughlin, Ryan and Visioni, Daniele (2026) When Are Small-Scale Field Experiments in Solar Geoengineering Worth Pursuing? [Preprint]

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Abstract

We propose a set of heuristics—scientific rigor, safety, usefulness, engagement, and transparency—for assessing the pursuitworthiness of small-scale field experiments in solar geoengineering research. Rather than offering a fixed logic of pursuit, we emphasize that these heuristics should operate as part of a dynamic and iterative evaluative process within the solar geoengineering research community, responsive to changing modeling priorities, new data, and shifting ethical and political landscapes. We argue that such experiments must be understood within the broader context of climate modeling research, where their primary role is to improve model components and identify further uncertainties. Our analysis assumes, rather than argues for, the pursuitworthiness of solar geoengineering research as a whole. However, we conclude this work by revisiting the overarching question of whether solar geoengineering research itself is worth pursuing; we argue that accounts that focus on how research governance can reduce bias and build stable scientific norms offer a more promising route than appeals to urgency or “moonshot” missions. Overall, we provide a structured framework, situated within scientific practice, that can help determine which field experiments are worth undertaking and why.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID O'Loughlin, Ryan roloughlin@qc.cuny.edu 0000-0002-9106-1460 Visioni, Daniele dv224@cornell.edu 0000-0002-7342-2189
Additional Information:	This manuscript has been accepted for publication in the European Journal for Philosophy of Science. It has been sent to production and has not yet been assigned a DOI.
Keywords:	pursuitworthiness; heuristics; solar geoengineering; climate modeling; fast science
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Climate Science and Meteorology General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Science and Policy General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User:	Dr. Ryan O'Loughlin
Date Deposited:	13 Jun 2026 12:44
Last Modified:	13 Jun 2026 12:44
Item ID:	30099
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Climate Science and Meteorology General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Science and Policy General Issues > Values In Science
Date:	12 June 2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/30099

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• When Are Small-Scale Field Experiments in Solar Geoengineering Worth Pursuing? (deposited 28 Jun 2025 15:18)
  • When Are Small-Scale Field Experiments in Solar Geoengineering Worth Pursuing? (deposited 13 Jun 2026 12:44) [Currently Displayed]

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