Scripps Study Says Cloud Brightening Could Cut Super El Niño Damage, Boosting La Niña Effects 40%
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jul 8
Scripps Study Says Cloud Brightening Could Cut Super El Niño Damage, Boosting La Niña Effects 40%
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jul 8
Summary
Science Advances published a Scripps-led study finding marine cloud brightening could weaken a brewing Super El Niño by increasing associated La Niña cooling and drying effects by 40%.
Researchers used smoke from Australia’s 2019-2020 Black Summer fires as a natural experiment, then modeled similar cloud-brightening conditions ahead of the 1997 and 2015 El Niño events; earlier deployment produced stronger effects.
Kate Ricke said the paper is only a proof of concept for temporary, event-specific geoengineering, not an endorsement of real-world deployment, and warned trade-offs would vary by region because some areas benefit from El Niño rains.
Outside experts said the idea remains far from practical: marine cloud brightening sprayers are at least 100 times too small for real use, and overcooling could trigger an unusually strong La Niña with its own floods, droughts and governance risks.
If we can weaken El Niño, who decides which nations face the unintended consequences of our climate meddling?
With a super El Niño hitting now, is dimming the sun a desperate solution or a cure worse than the disease?
Battling the 2026 Super El Niño: The Potential and Pitfalls of Marine Cloud Brightening
Overview
In July 2026, a rapidly intensifying super El Niño is causing global concern due to its potential for record-breaking extreme weather, including severe droughts, heatwaves, floods, and storms. This urgent situation has prompted scientists at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography to publish a timely study exploring marine cloud brightening (MCB) as a rapid-response solution. MCB aims to cool specific regions by increasing cloud reflectivity, offering a novel way to help mitigate the immediate threats posed by the super El Niño. The report highlights both the promise and the need for careful research before deploying such innovative climate interventions.