Cloud clearing stations could save the reefs

Australian researchers have devised a brilliant idea to turn clouds into giant sunshades to protect the Great Barrier from climate change.

It may seem far-fetched, but scientists are refining a technique that could make clouds more reflective.

Dr. Daniel Harrison, a researcher at the University of Sydney, admits that it's an "out of the ordinary" idea, but if it works, there might be a day-long network of "stations". "Thinning clouds" around the world. Great Barrier Reef

The technique would see tiny molecules of sea salt, harvested in seawater, sprayed in the air.

Air currents sweep particles into low-level clouds, increasing the amount of sunlight Back to the sun

"A cloud-lit station blew billions of these Nano-sized salt crystals, so small that you could not even see them, and the atmospheric mix will bring them up pretty quickly until you reach the level of the clouds that you want to influence, "Dr. Harrison said at the AAP on Tuesday.

"It's one of the few options that is scalable up to the entire reef, and can buy us some time."

Researchers Present Their Idea to Cairns symposium on ways to help preserve one of Australia's iconic attractions

Nozzles capable of dispersing sea salt molecules are already being developed, alongside a study to test the feasibility of the concept. It takes a wide range of tools to save reef ecosystems, but it is paramount to take action to combat climate change.

"We can help buy the reef time, but it obviously deals with the symptoms, not the cause or the problem. 19659006] The idea of ​​clearing up clouds is one of the many innovative approaches presented at the symposium.

Another team is investigating whether an ultra-thin and biodegradable film, made of light-reflecting materials already found in the marine environment, can be applied to lie on the surface of the sea to shade corals and limit bleaching [19659016] Advertisement

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