The Cloud Brightening Edition
On man-made clouds, climate engineering, and not-so-fringe ideas.
Chris Papasadero is a Green Beret, entrepreneur, and writer based in NYC.
Chris here. As climate change concerns intensify, scientists are exploring an audacious idea to cool the planet: making clouds brighter. This technique, known as marine cloud brightening (MCB), aims to reflect more sunlight back into space by seeding low-lying clouds over the oceans with tiny salt particles.
First proposed in 1990 by atmospheric physicist John Latham, MCB is today gaining traction as a potential stopgap. After years of theoretical work, researchers are now preparing for real-world tests that could prove pivotal in determining whether MCB is a viable tool in our climate crisis toolkit.
Why is this interesting?
The science behind MCB is straightforward. By spraying a fine mist of seawater into the air, researchers hope to increase the number of water droplets in clouds, making them more reflective. This enhanced albedo effect could, in theory, offset a significant portion of human-caused global warming. Computer models suggest that a large-scale MCB effort could potentially counteract the warming from rising carbon dioxide levels.
What's particularly intriguing about MCB is how it might be implemented using existing infrastructure. One possibility is retrofitting commercial cargo ships with cloud-seeding equipment; with thousands of vessels already crisscrossing the world's oceans, this approach could provide extensive coverage without the need for a dedicated fleet. Imagine container ships not just transporting goods – shipping accounts for about 3 percent of all carbon emissions – but also helping to cool the planet as they go about their regular routes.
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Another idea is to utilize offshore wind farms as stationary seeding platforms. As these structures become more common in coastal waters, they could serve a dual purpose: generating clean electricity while also brightening nearby clouds.
For more targeted applications, such as protecting vulnerable coral reefs, researchers are exploring the use of autonomous drone ships. These unmanned vessels could be deployed to specific areas and programmed to seed clouds when conditions are optimal. Picture a fleet of robotic ships patrolling the Great Barrier Reef, creating a protective sunshade of brighter clouds during heatwaves.
Despite its potential, MCB faces significant technical and ethical challenges. Creating a consistent spray of nano-sized salt particles is no small feat, especially in the harsh marine environment. There are also concerns about unintended consequences, such as altering regional rainfall patterns or disrupting marine ecosystems. Moreover, the very idea of intentionally modifying the climate on a global scale raises thorny governance issues.
As field trials begin, the debate over MCB is likely to intensify. The results of these experiments will be crucial in determining whether this sci-fi-sounding idea could become a real-world climate solution or remain a pipe dream. One thing is clear: as the climate crisis deepens, once-fringe ideas like brightening clouds are moving into the mainstream. (CP)
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Thanks for reading,
Noah (NRB) & Colin (CJN) & Chris (CP)
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Why is this interesting? is a daily email from Noah Brier & Colin Nagy (and friends!) with editing help from Louis Cheslaw about interesting things. If you’ve enjoyed this edition, please consider forwarding it to a friend. If you’re reading it for the first time, consider subscribing.
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