Geoengineering techniques aimed at mitigating the severe effects of global warming have gained more and more attention in recent years. One such method is marine cloud brightening (MCB), in which sea salt particles are injected into the lower atmosphere to create brighter clouds, thus reflecting more sunlight from the Earth’s surface.
Small-scale MCB experiments have already been conducted in Australia and California, and proponents of the project hope the method could reduce the severity of extreme heat waves.
new Stady However, the consequences may be more far-reaching than previously thought.
“This is what Santo Martin, a senior analyst at the Macronum Institute, told our paper. In this study, Kathryn Rickey of the University of California, San Diego, and her colleagues modeled how the MCB would cool the western United States under current climate conditions and 2050 climate conditions,” she said.
The research team found that under current climate conditions, MCB would reduce the risk of dangerous summer heat in the western United States by 55 percent, while significantly reducing rainfall in both the United States and other regions, such as the Sahel region of Africa.
Simulations show that Europe will also cool due to clouds coming from the North Pacific.
The real hell will arrive in 2050.
But by 2050, the situation will change. In a scenario where global warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial average temperatures,
The MCB program would be ineffective and would cause most of Europe to overheat significantly.
– The analyst highlights that the greatest temperature rise is expected in Scandinavia and Central and Eastern Europe.
They experiment without limits.
Targeted interventions may have temporary benefits for some population groups, but must be contrasted with negative effects in other parts of the world.
The study authors say the findings are troubling because there is little regulation worldwide for the regional use of marine cloud lightening.
Santo Martin pointed out. The analyst stressed that the lack of control means that there is nothing to stop some countries, cities, companies or even wealthy individuals from trying to modify their local climate, even if it is at the expense of people living elsewhere.
Taboos are turned upside down in the experience.
Rising global temperatures have encouraged some research institutes and private organizations to engage in geoengineering research that was previously considered taboo.
Scientists in Australia have been experimenting with marine cloud seeding strategies for at least four years to try to cool the Great Barrier Reef and slow its bleaching process.
– Santo gave an example. He added that some experts say MCB experiments so far in Australia and California have not been large enough to produce detectable climate effects, but they suggest that regional geoengineering may be closer to reality than previously thought.
More studies are needed to determine unintended side effects, says Jessica Wan, a member of the research team at the University of California, San Diego. Another problem, says Kathryn Rickey of the University of California, San Diego, cited at the beginning of this article, is that if countries start adopting these methods while they are still effective, it could hinder action to reduce carbon emissions. And then, when geoengineering no longer has the expected effect, our world will be headed down a more dangerous path.
According to Daniel Harrison of Southern Cross University in Australia, the scenarios drawn up in the new study are unrealistic and extreme.
This is a major shock to the global climate system, so of course there will be consequences.
– added the expert, whose research will cover a small part of the area designed by Ricky's team.
John Moore of the University of Lapland in Finland urges more research into solar geoengineering to better explore the potential consequences, including the impacts on low-income countries and indigenous peoples in the Arctic.
(Cover image: Our image is an illustration! Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
