Study Proposes Marine Cloud Brightening to Mitigate El Niño Effects

A new study suggests that spraying reflective particles into marine clouds could reduce El Niño intensity, though researchers caution it is not a permanent climate fix.

• Researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography published a study in Science Advances proposing marine cloud brightening to mitigate El Niño.
• The technique, as described by the researchers, involves spraying fine reflective particles into clouds over oceans to increase solar reflection and cool sea surface temperatures.
• The researchers cited the 2019–2020 Australian wildfires as a natural experiment where smoke particles altered cloud properties and triggered La Niña-like cooling.
• Climate simulations indicated timely deployment could enhance the cooling effects of La Niña by up to 40%, but researchers warned of potential side effects and uncertain impacts.