Another Super El Niño is brewing. Scientists are looking at a controversial solution to squash them
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography explored using solar geoengineering, specifically marine cloud brightening, to reduce the severe impacts of intense El Niño events by reflecting sunlight away from Earth and cooling the Pacific Ocean.
- Their climate model simulations suggest that targeted marine cloud brightening could weaken El Niño’s effects and enhance La Niña-like cooling and drying by up to 40%, especially if deployed early in the event.
- The study is a proof of concept and does not advocate immediate deployment, emphasizing the need for further research due to the complexity of El Niño, potential regional trade-offs, and risks of unintended consequences.
- Experts highlight significant technical challenges in implementing marine cloud brightening at scale, as well as ethical concerns regarding governance, decision-making, and the potential distraction from reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- While the approach could offer a temporary tool to mitigate extreme weather from super El Niños, scientists caution that much more understanding is needed before considering real-world application.
