Another ‘Super El Niño’ is brewing. Scientists are looking at a controversial solution to squash them

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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists are investigating whether a controversial solar geoengineering technique could temporarily reduce the impacts of extreme El Niño events
• A new study from researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography examined marine cloud brightening, which aims to reflect sunlight away from Earth by increasing the reflectivity of ocean clouds

🔭 The context: A potentially powerful El Niño is developing in the Pacific, raising concerns about intensified heat, droughts, floods and economic disruption worldwide
• Researchers used the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires as a “natural experiment”, finding that smoke particles may have increased cloud reflectivity and contributed to subsequent Pacific cooling

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The study highlights both the potential and risks of using Earth system interventions to influence climate patterns
• While marine cloud brightening could theoretically reduce extreme warming temporarily, unintended impacts on rainfall patterns, ecosystems and future climate cycles remain significant uncertainties

⏭️ What’s next: Scientists stress that the findings are only a proof of concept and that major technical, governance and ethical challenges remain
• Further climate modelling will be needed before assessing whether such approaches could ever be considered alongside emissions reductions

💬 One quote: “This is just a proof of concept … the only thing we’ve shown is that it’s worth further study.” – Kate Ricke, climate scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and UC San Diego

📈 One stat: The study found targeted marine cloud brightening could potentially weaken El Niño impacts and increase La Niña-associated cooling effects by 40% in climate model simulations

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