Super-reflective clouds could shelter coral from scorching sunlight. But environmentalists are concerned that such plans could prolong our addiction to fossil fuels.
Clouds bring more than just rain or snow. During the day, like massive parasols, clouds reflect some of the sunlight away from the Earth and back into space. Marine stratocumulus clouds are particularly important: they lie at low altitudes, are thick and cover about 20 percent of the tropical ocean area, cooling the water beneath. This is why scientists are exploring whether their physical properties could be altered to block even more sunlight.
Cloud brightening can offer some support for the reefs and their residents. To achieve that, engineering oceanographer Daniel Harrison from Southern Cross University and his team fitted a research vessel with a turbine to pump water out of the ocean. The turbine, which resembles a snow cannon, refines water and, through its 320 nozzles, sprays trillions of tiny droplets high into the air.
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