There's hope for the fantastic Barrier Reef yet: New 'cloud brightening' project aims to save lots of vulnerable coral
19 April, 2020
One silver lining we've seen result from social distancing measures taken through the outbreak of Covid-19 has been the positive effect on the environment. A reduction in pollution levels and thriving wildlife are simply two examples which may have been noted within the UAE.
However the damage already done to the planet is widespread. The devastating impacts of global warming are particularly clear in Australia, where in fact the Great Barrier Reef, the Earth's greatest coral reef system and among the seven natural wonders of the world, is highly vulnerable.
During the past few decades, the reef has lost more than half of its coral cover, pollution has caused deadly starfish outbreaks and it's really endured mass coral bleaching, based on the World Wildlife Fund.
Now, a small band of scientists desire to save it from the brink of extinction, with an ambitious new "cloud brightening" project they hope could turn into a futuristic method of protecting coral from the consequences of global warming.
What's 'cloud brightening'?
The theory is to cool the waters around the reef by making clouds reflect more sunlight. Researchers used a fan, that was mounted on a boat, to shoot salt crystals in to the air.
The project's lead scientist, Daniel Harrison, from Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia, told AFP the results from the original early-stage trial were "really, really encouraging".
If we keep going on business-as-usual-type emission scenarios, then for the most part this technology can just buy a couple of extra decades
Daniel Harrison, scientist, Southern Cross University
"All of the research is theoretical ... which means this a complete world first to venture out and actually try to take seawater and turn it into these cloud condensation nuclei."
As the experiment was successful, Harrison also emphasised that at least four more years of research would be needed as a way to prove the idea. Then, to possess a significant impact, an experiment that is 10 times larger would have to be undertaken.
"If it works aswell as we hope then maybe we're able to reduce the bleaching stress by about 70 % ... potentially nearly each of the mortality," Harrison added.
Yet, as oceans warm further, Harrison also said the cloud-brightening technique could become less effective.
"If we continue on business-as-usual-type emission scenarios, then for the most part this technology can just buy a couple of extra decades before we see the complete lack of the reef."
The experiment was a collaboration between your university and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science. It occurred in late March, just as a survey found the reef had suffered its most widespread coral bleaching on record.
It was the third mass bleaching event during the past five years and raised fears that much of the coral could possibly be permanently damaged.
Is cloud brightening similar to cloud seeding?
Here in the UAE, we use a way called cloud seeding, which artificially encourages a cloud to create rain.
Could it be similar to cloud brightening? Yes and no.
Cloud seeding planes are fitted with special flares that contain salt crystals and fired into convective, or warm, clouds that have an updraft - or rising current of air.
The updraft then sucks up the salt crystals in to the cloud, and they attract tiny particles of water that collide, becoming heavier and then falling as rain.
Last year, the UAE conducted 242 missions, which was up from 177 in 2016.
So the method is similar, however the outcome and aims are completely different.
Source: www.thenational.ae