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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Researchers Warn of Climate Engineering Dangers

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Recent research warns that climate engineering technologies could disrupt Earth's climate systems if implemented without adequate understanding of their impacts.
  • A University of California study simulated two methods, Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), finding MCB could significantly weaken the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
  • Researchers caution against applying MCB over the eastern Pacific due to potential strong chain reactions, while SAI showed less impact on ENSO.

Climate engineering, a growing option to mitigate global warming, carries significant risks, according to new research from the University of California. A study published in "Earth's Future" highlights that each method of geoengineering has distinct consequences, with some approaches potentially causing major regional climate shifts.

We must be cautious when implementing climate engineering proposals before we fully understand what is happening.

— Chen XingLead author of the study, emphasizing the need for caution with climate engineering technologies.

"We must be cautious when implementing climate engineering proposals before we fully understand what is happening," stated lead author Chen Xing. Xing and colleague Cali Pfleger focused on the impact of geoengineering on marine ecosystems, specifically the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. They simulated two techniques aimed at reflecting sunlight back into space: Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) and Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI).

The simulations revealed that applying MCB in the eastern Pacific Ocean could reduce ENSO's strength by up to 61 percent. Researchers attribute this change to cooling sea surface temperatures and reduced rainfall, which alter atmospheric circulation and strengthen equatorial winds. This process enhances cold water upwelling, ultimately weakening ENSO.

It is very difficult for ENSO to change that much in such a short time.

— Samantha StevensonAssociate Professor at the University of California, commenting on the simulated impact of MCB on ENSO.

"It is very difficult for ENSO to change that much in such a short time," noted Associate Professor Samantha Stevenson. Xing warned that MCB over the eastern Pacific could trigger a powerful chain reaction due to the loss of ENSO. In contrast, SAI, which disperses sulfate particles more evenly in the atmosphere, showed no significant impact on ENSO, avoiding drastic regional climate imbalances.

Don't do MCB over the eastern Pacific Ocean because it can trigger a very strong chain reaction due to the loss of ENSO.

— Chen XingWarning about the potential consequences of applying Marine Cloud Brightening in a specific region.

Stevenson clarified that these findings do not necessitate abandoning all MCB approaches. "We are not saying that all MCB will kill ENSO. We are just saying that this happened," she said, emphasizing the need for thorough understanding before widespread implementation.

We are not saying that all MCB will kill ENSO. We are just saying that this happened.

— Samantha StevensonClarifying the scope of the research findings regarding MCB and ENSO.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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