A UK start-up, Real Ice, is conducting a controversial geo-engineering project in the Canadian Arctic to thicken sea ice by pumping seawater onto the surface to freeze. The initiative aims to cover over 386,000 square miles to combat summer ice loss and address climate change. While some experts criticize the method as unproven and risky, Real Ice argues it mimics natural processes and offers a crucial opportunity to protect the Arctic ecosystem amid insufficient global climate action.
Scientists are proposing the construction of a 100km-long underwater curtain in front of Antarctic glaciers to protect them from warm sea water erosion, as the melting of these glaciers could lead to catastrophic flooding and displacement of millions of people. The curtain, if implemented, would be one of the largest geo-engineering projects ever undertaken and aims to slow down the undermining of glaciers by restricting the inflow of warm water. The project is in its early stages, with research underway to determine the best materials and methods for construction, and initial tests scheduled to be carried out later this year.
Scientists have discovered that the reduction in ship tracks, caused by a global standard requiring a decrease in fuel sulfur content, has inadvertently exacerbated global warming. Ship tracks, which are lines of aerosol clouds produced by cargo ships, have a cooling effect on the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into the atmosphere. The reduction in ship tracks due to the sulfur regulation has resulted in a warming effect on the planet. However, this unintended consequence may provide insights for future geo-engineering efforts to combat climate change, such as marine cloud brightening.
