As Earth continues to move toward a warmer climate, scientists are working to develop strategies to artificially cool the planet in the case that the situation becomes truly dire.

But, many of these geoengineering tactics come with their own set of consequences, including changes in precipitation that could trigger droughts in some parts of the world.

In a new assessment of three commonly discussed geoengineering techniques, researchers have found that a method known as ‘cloud thinning’ could be our best bet.

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In the study, the researchers say it could be possible to cool the planet without triggering significant precipitation changes, using a method known as cloud thinning, which targets cirrus clouds. File photo

By reducing the coverage of wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds, researchers at Zhejiang University in China say it could be possible to hit the brakes on global warming.

This could be done by spraying powder over the clouds, which would prompt ice crystals to form around the individual grains and ultimately drop down due to their weight, according to New Scientist.

In the study, the researchers say ‘the intentional reduction of the coverage and optical thickness of high-level cirrus cloud could potentially reduce global warming by modifying the longwave radiative effect of cirrus clouds.’

These clouds sit high in the sky, and could help to slash rising temperatures without having dramatic effects on precipitation.

The team also examined the idea of injecting aerosols into the stratosphere to ‘deflect more sunlight back to space,’ and seeding marine stratocumulus clouds in a strategy known as ‘cloud brightening,’ causing them to reflect more sunlight.

The findings are published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres.

By reducing the coverage of wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds, researchers at Zhejiang University in China say it could be possible to hit the brakes on global warming. File photo

In the study, the researchers found that all three of these geoengineering strategies altered average global precipitation in their simulations.

And, these levels never returned to normal, according to New Scientist.

For cloud thinning, however, the side effects appeared much smaller.

According to the researchers, ‘for the same amount of cooling achieved, cirrus cloud thinning produces a much smaller reduction in precipitation than does stratospheric aerosol injection or marine cloud brightening.’

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF GEOENGINEERING STRATEGIES? Scientists have proposed all sorts of solutions to fight climate change, including a number of controversial geoengineering strategies. Among the many include: Afforestation: This technique would irrigate deserts, such as those in Australia and North Africa, to plant millions of trees that could absorb carbon dioxide. Drawback: This vegetation would also draw in sunlight that the deserts currently reflect back into space, and so contribute to global warming. Scientists have proposed all sorts of solutions to fight climate change. File photo Artificial ocean upwelling: Engineers would use long pipes to pump cold, nutrient-rich water upward to cool ocean-surface waters. Drawback: If this process ever stopped it could cause oceans to rebalance their heat levels and rapidly change the climate. Ocean alkalinisation: This involves heaping lime into the ocean to chemically increase the absorption of carbon dioxide. Drawback: Study suggests it will have of little use in reducing global temperatures. Ocean iron fertilisation: The method involves dumping iron into the oceans to improve the growth of photosynthetic organisms that can absorb carbon dioxide. Drawback: Study suggests it will have of little use in reducing global temperatures. Solar radiation management: This would reduce the amount of sunlight Earth receives, by shooting reflective sulphate-based aerosols into the atmosphere. Drawback: Carbon dioxide would still build up in the atmosphere. Advertisement

There are, however, still a lot of uncertainties about the feasibility of the plan. Cloud thinning was only first proposed in 2009, according to New Scientist.

But, compared to the other options, the researchers say it could be promising.

‘Broadly speaking, I think cirrus cloud thinning, if it works in reality, would be preferable to stratospheric aerosol injections,’ Long Cao of Zhejiang University told New Scientist.

‘It seems the known side-effects of cirrus cloud thinning are less than stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening.’