Sea ice is rapidly dwindling as Arctic temperatures skyrocket, with enormous consequences for local ecosystems, Indigenous communities and the world’s climate system.
But some scientists say it’s possible to blunt or reverse the damage — and funders are listening. The Virginia-based conservation group Ocean Visions announced monetary awards Thursday for six research projects that will investigate interventions that could cool the Arctic or preserve its fragile sea ice.
Four projects involve clouds. Research suggests that spraying certain types of aerosols into the atmosphere could cause clouds to grow thinner or thicker, depending on the substance. Thinning certain types of clouds can reduce the amount of heat they trap, while thickening others can help them reflect sunlight away from the planet.
Both strategies could, in theory, help to artificially lower the Arctic’s temperatures.
