Marine Cloud Brightening Could Disrupt ENSO | Science News

Science News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 4, 2026 · 1m

Scientists warn that spraying sea salt to cool clouds—known as marine cloud brightening—could dangerously disrupt the El Niño Southern Oscillation, a global weather driver, potentially slashing its power by 61%. While this geoengineering tactic might seem like a simple fix, it risks triggering unpredictable climate chaos by altering ocean temperatures and rainfall. Unlike stratospheric aerosol injection, which showed minimal ENSO impact, marine cloud brightening’s localized effects make it far more disruptive. The lesson? Climate fixes can’t be judged by cooling alone—they must consider…