Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB)

Condensation nuclei for clouds which form over the ocean are provided by salt crystals emanating from evaporated droplets of sea spray; when the wind blows over the ocean it generates sea spray, and once these droplets evaporate, they are carried upwards naturally by convection currents. CCR is researching ways to generate more sea spray, and where and when this activity should take place.

The project also seeks to increase the amount of the incoming radiation from the sun which is reflected back into space from clouds in the marine boundary layer (up to ~1km from the sea surface). Concentrating cloud moisture into a large number of smaller droplets “whitens” cloud cover to reflect more sunlight. Research and deployment will determine the provision of cloud condensation nuclei of the right size in order to make the clouds which form brighter.