British experiments to reflect sunlight and curb global warming could take place within five years

• EXPLORE FURTHER: Chart uncovers sites of contentious trials aimed at modifying weather patterns

As part of the fight against climate change, contentious trials will be conducted in Britain over the coming half-decade.

The UK government 'S Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) has committed £57 million to what are known as 'geoengineering' initiatives designed to mitigate global warming.

Outdoor tests anticipated to begin as early as 2027 will involve 'whitening clouds' with the aim of reflecting solar radiation back into space.

Marine Cloud Brightening involves ships spraying saltwater into the sky to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds.

The salt causes water droplets in the clouds to merge or 'coalesce,' making them more reflective and preventing as much sunlight from reaching Earth.

'The impact might not be visible from the ground, but with specialized instruments aboard an aircraft flying within the cloud, it can certainly be detected,' explained Professor Mark Symes, who leads the ARIA program.

Researchers will construct the necessary spraying equipment and conduct indoor testing prior to initiating any outdoor experiments at unspecified sites across the UK during the winter period from 2027 to 2028.

At first, the saltwater mist will blanket an area 330 feet wide; however, the field tests might expand to cover several miles by the end of the decade.

As stated by Professor Symes, this outdoor test will be crucial for assessing the general viability of Marine Cloud Brightening.

"Modelling and indoor studies are crucial, providing valuable insights, yet they cannot answer all our questions regarding the viability or effects of these methods," he stated.

'Actually, to bridge that gap, one needs to conduct real-world experiments and gather actual field data, implying tests that take place outside.'

However, Some researchers worry that costly projects might not succeed and could potentially have adverse effects, leading to harmful climate changes and exacerbating problems. climate change worse.

Mike Hulme, who is a professor specializing in human geography at the University of Cambridge cautioned that Aria is steering the world towards a 'risky path'.

‘£57 million is a substantial sum of taxpayers’ money to be allocated for this collection of unproven climate manipulation technologies,’ he stated. Telegraph .

Simply because something 'works' in a theoretical model or functions properly under microscopic conditions in a laboratory setting doesn’t guarantee that it will effectively reduce global temperatures without causing unintended consequences when applied in actual practice.

'Hence, there is absolutely no possibility for this study to prove that these technologies are safe, effective, or reversible.'

'The UK Government is leading the world down what academic analysts call "the slippery slope" towards eventual dangerous large-scale deployment of solar geoengineering technologies.'

Meanwhile, Dr Naomi Vaughan, professor of climate change at the University of East Anglia UEA, said sunlight reflecting methods could create a 'new risk' to society.

What is geoengineering?

Geoengineering is the large-scale manipulation of environmental processes that affect Earth's climate, in an attempt to halt global warming.

Globally, projects include injecting chemical aerosols into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight and absorbing CO2 dissolved in seawater.

But critics have concerns that expensive geoengineering endeavors will backfire, causing destructive weather patterns and making climate change worse.

'Scientists are cautious about solar radiation management research because of how it could be used or misused in the future,' she said.

Overall, £57 million has been designated by ARIA for 21 geoengineering initiatives, including five field tests, according to The Telegraph.

A different initiative led by the University of Cambridge, which is also receiving some of this funding, aims at preliminarily investigating the possibilities of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI).

This would entail researching the process by which minuscule amounts of mineral dust particles change over time within the stratosphere when enclosed inside an airborne balloon.

In this regulated trial, none of these substances will be discharged into the atmosphere; instead, all materials will be retrieved from the ground for examination and analysis by researchers, according to ARIA.

Researchers from Yale University in Connecticut have it has been suggested to use Stratospheric Aerosol Injection at both the North and South Poles to counteract the melting of ice .

Generally, Stratospheric Aerosol Injection entails dispersing minute sulfur dioxide (SO2) particles into the stratosphere via aircraft with the aim of deflecting solar radiation.

In March 2023, it was revealed scientists had conducted two open-air experiments to test solar radiation management – reflecting sunlight away from the Earth.

The initiative, which did not receive funding from ARIA, sent a high-altitude weather balloon into the stratosphere—the second layer of Earth’s atmosphere—where it released sulfur dioxide.

After being introduced into the stratosphere, sulfur dioxide creates reflective sulfate particles known for their ability to cool the planet, an effect comparable to that of a large-scale volcanic event.

Nevertheless, at high concentrations, sulfur dioxide can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and corrosive harm to the airways and lungs.

Globally, other geoengineering projects include sucking carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the air with giant fans.

There's also 'ocean fertilization' (adding nutrients to the upper ocean to stimulate plant growth) and 'afforestation' (planting trees in areas where there was previously no forest).

But there's concerns countries will pursue poorly-regulated geoengineering projects in secret – especially sun-blocking which could have 'unintended consequences'.

These could include regional droughts, crop failures and shifts to the Atlantic jet stream, which could drag hurricanes and tropical diseases north.

A Bill Gates-backed project has already launched balloons over Baja, Mexico deploying sunlight-reflecting aerosols into the Earth's stratosphere.

ARIA stated that every funded experiment must undergo "an environmental impact evaluation and a legal review, with the findings disclosed to the public prior to any outdoor testing."

'They will be developed by engaging and consulting with local communities and adhering to local regulations and requirements.'

'They will have restrictions regarding their size, scope, and duration, ensuring that their impacts fade away within 24 hours or can be completely reversed.'

Read more