Published on May 13, 2024
Researchers had been testing a sprayer that could one day be used to push a salty mist skyward, cooling the Earth. Officials stopped the work, citing health questions.
Written by Christopher Flavelle for The New York Times.
Officials in Alameda, Calif., have told scientists to stop testing a device that might one day be used to artificially cool the planet by making clouds brighter, reflecting planet-warming sunlight back into space.
The experiment, conducted by researchers from the University of Washington, involved spraying tiny sea-salt particles across the flight deck of a decommissioned aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Hornet, docked in Alameda in San Francisco Bay. Versions of that device could eventually be used to spray the material skyward, making clouds brighter and fighting global warming by bouncing away more sunlight.
The experiment, which began on April 2, marked the first time in the United States that researchers had tested such a device outdoors. But on May 4, the City of Alameda wrote on its Facebook page that it had instructed the researchers to stop, citing possible health concerns.
On Monday, the University of Washington Marine Cloud Brightening Research Program, which is conducting the experiment, released a statement saying that the salt particles being emitted “operate well below established thresholds for environmental or human health impact for emissions.”
The statement said that Alameda officials were informed of the study before that work began, and requested a more detailed review only after the study began attracting media attention. “We are happy to support their review and it has been a highly constructive process so far,” the statement said. “We appreciate the care taken by the City of Alameda on this effort and support their approach fully.”
“There were no requirements for things to do that we didn’t do ahead of time,” said Sarah Doherty, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington and the manager of its marine cloud brightening program.
Continue reading at The New York Times.
Researchers from the University of Washington had been testing a sprayer that could one day be used to push a salty mist skyward, cooling the Earth. Officials stopped the work, citing health questions.