Scientists Explore Solar Dimming to Mitigate Super El Niño Effects

WHO:

CNN - Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography conducted the study.

CNN - Kate Ricke, a climate scientist at Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, is a study author.

CNN - James Haywood, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Exeter, commented on the research.

CNN - David Keith, a geophysical sciences professor at the University of Chicago, also provided insights on the study.

WHAT:

CNN - The study concluded that the earlier marine cloud brightening is deployed during an El Niño event, the more effective it would be in weakening its impacts.

CNN - A new study investigates the use of solar geoengineering to mitigate the impacts of a brewing Super El Niño.

CNN - The study found that targeted marine cloud brightening could weaken El Niño’s impacts and increase the cooling and drying effects associated with La Niña by 40%.

CNN - The researchers used climate models to simulate the effects of marine cloud brightening before two historically strong El Niño events in 1997 and 2015.

WHERE:

CNN - The study references Australia, specifically the "Black Summer" bushfires that occurred in 2019 and 2020.

CNN - The research also discusses the Pacific Ocean, where the effects of marine cloud brightening would be observed.

WHEN:

CNN - The study was published on a Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.

CNN - The Australian bushfires occurred in 2019 and 2020.

WHY:

CNN - The researchers noted that while El Niño causes trillions in global economic losses, not every region is negatively impacted; some regions, like California, benefit from the heavy rain typically associated with El Niño.

CNN - The study aims to address the severe impacts of El Niño, which is being exacerbated by human-driven climate change.

CNN - The researchers acknowledge that El Niño causes trillions in global economic losses, affecting various regions differently.

HOW:

CNN - The study utilized climate models to simulate the effects of marine cloud brightening before two historically strong El Niño events, specifically the ones that started in 1997 and 2015.

CNN - The method investigated is called "marine cloud brightening," which involves spraying particles into ocean clouds to reflect sunlight away from the Earth.

CNN - The researchers isolated the cloud brightening impacts of the Australian fires and used climate models to simulate potential outcomes.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 23:20 UTC)

A new study has found that deploying marine cloud brightening earlier during an El Niño event could significantly reduce its negative impacts. Researchers pointed out that while El Niño can lead to trillions in economic losses globally, some areas, such as California, actually benefit from the increased rainfall it brings. To reach these conclusions, the study used climate models to simulate the effects of marine cloud brightening before the strong El Niño events of 1997 and 2015.

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(UPDATED July 8, 2026 22:26 UTC)

Scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have conducted a study examining the potential of solar geoengineering to mitigate the impacts of an emerging Super El Niño, with findings suggesting that targeted marine cloud brightening could reduce El Niño's effects and enhance La Niña's cooling by 40%. The research utilized climate models to simulate the effects of marine cloud brightening before two significant El Niño events in 1997 and 2015, while also referencing the devastating "Black Summer" bushfires in Australia from 2019 to 2020. This innovative method involves spraying particles into ocean clouds to reflect sunlight away from the Earth, aiming to address the severe economic losses associated with El Niño, which are exacerbated by human-driven climate change.