A new study suggests Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) as a regional geoengineering strategy to mitigate the severity of El Niño events by reducing solar radiation reaching the Pacific surface

Why in news

A new study suggests Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) as a regional geoengineering strategy to mitigate the severity of El Niño events by reducing solar radiation reaching the Pacific surface.

Background

The study utilized a model based on the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires, which released massive smoke into the stratosphere and triggered a rare La Niña event. Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) involves spraying seawater into marine clouds to increase their reflectivity and reflect more sunlight back into space.

Facts for Prelims

• S&TMarine Cloud Brightening (MCB): A geoengineering technique that involves spraying seawater into clouds to increase reflectivity.
• FactThe 2019-2020 Australian bushfires released massive amounts of smoke into the stratosphere, influencing global climate patterns.
• S&TEl Niño: A climate pattern characterized by the warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

For Mains

Q. Critically analyze the potential of regional geoengineering techniques like Marine Cloud Brightening in mitigating extreme climate phenomena while addressing the risks of unintended ecological consequences.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

• Ecological risk: Potential for disrupted precipitation patterns and unintended atmospheric feedback loops in neighboring regions
• Governance dilemma: Lack of a multilateral legal framework to regulate regional geoengineering and prevent 'climate weaponization'
• Technical uncertainty: Difficulty in accurately modeling localized atmospheric responses to seawater aerosol injection

Keywords: Geoengineering · Marine Cloud Brightening · El Niño · Climate Mitigation · Atmospheric Feedback

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