Cloud Machines

Villain: Scientists that specializes in geo-engineering

Plot: A proposal to inject a fine spray of sea salt from the ocean surface into the clouds; to artificially increase the number of drops, reduce their size and increase the reflectance of the clouds, making them whiter. Results from climate models show that a modest increase of nuclei in marine stratocumulus clouds could produce the desired cooling, to protect the planet from further global warming. Further research is required, but preliminary results suggest this could compensate for up to a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide from pre-industrial levels. Initial results suggest that the biggest cooling would occur in the polar regions, which is consistent with theory, and is exactly the place where cooling is most needed. The big advantages of this scheme are that it uses sea water spray, a naturally occurring substance, and that it can be turned off immediately if there are any undesirable consequences. One scientist has even suggested a design for a fleet of about 2000 of wind-powered yachts, which incorporate a sophisticated spray mechanism that is now being developed.

Location: Somewhere in the ocean in the Polar regions

Program: Laboratory, and housing

Majority of the above text and image were taken from this news article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8214045.stm