Within days, oceanographer Daniel Harrison will become a father for the first time. Worried that his son may never experience the kaleidoscopic marvels of the Great Barrier Reef, he has devised an ingenious plan to help save it.

Dr Harrison is developing a technology known as “cloud brightening” – encouraging clouds over the reef to deflect more of the sun’s rays back into space, which would hopefully curb rising sea temperatures that cause coral bleaching.

The reality is dawning that even swift global action on climate change is unlikely to save the Great Barrier Reef, because several decades of elevated global temperatures are already locked in.

Scientists fear swift action on climate change will not be enough to save the reef and are looking for short term ways to restore it. Credit:Tourism and Events Queensland

Scientific solutions are needed to buy the reef time and prevent catastrophic damage in the near future. Experts from Australia and around the world will meet at a symposium in Cairns this week to discuss the most promising and cost-effective techniques for intervention.