Bay Area city presses pause on controversial sea-spray climate project

The East Bay Area city of Alameda, California, is launching a boat-based climate research project as local officials work to determine whether airborne spraying of sea salt particles poses an environmental or health risk to the public. was temporarily suspended.

The University of Washington’s efforts are Ocean cloud brightening programinvestigates how aerosol particles, both from natural sources and human activities, contribute to cooling Earth’s climate by brightening clouds and reflecting more sunlight into space. I am.

To assess these effects, an interdisciplinary team of researchers has sprayed sea salt particles from an ocean-going ship onto low-altitude clouds, specifically the USS Hornet in San Francisco Bay.

However, after word spread about the project in local media, the city of Alameda, home to the USS Hornet and the Sea, Air, and Space Museum, decided to put the plan on hold.

“Upon learning of the spraying experiment, the city directed the aircraft carrier Hornet and the University of Washington to halt the experiment on the grounds that it violated the city’s lease agreement with the aircraft carrier Hornet.” recent statements This is what Alameda told me.

City officials described the equipment on the deck as a “machine resembling a snowplow” and said the spraying “was taking place on the deck of the USS Hornet without the city’s knowledge.”

In conjunction with the launch of this spring project, press release A report published by the Marine Cloud Brightening Program touted the new facility’s ability to generate small sea salt plumes. However, the scientists stressed that these plumes are “not large enough to affect local weather conditions” and that natural spray from crashing waves will disperse more sea salt chunks into the air.

After halting these activities, Alameda leaders said they were working with biological and hazardous materials consultants to assess health and environmental safety issues related to the experiments.

“Specifically, the city is evaluating the chemicals contained in the spray to determine whether it poses a risk to humans or animals, either by inhalation in the form of an aerosol or by landing on the ground or in the bay.” the city statement added.

Officials noted that the findings will be made public and shared for City Council deliberation in June, adding that at this point, there is no evidence that droplets from the previous test posed a threat to human health or the environment. There is no sign that this is the case,” he said.

address Alameda facebook post Regarding this, USS Hornet responded in the comments below the post, thanking the city for writing about the project.

“At the outset, we believed existing permits and leases covered these activities,” the museum said, acknowledging an apparent “communication gap” regarding the scope of the project. “We are committed to working with the city to meet all of its needs regarding this initiative.”

In response to Alameda’s order, program leaders Rob Wood and Sarah Doherty issued a statement Monday saying the study “was not intended to change clouds or any aspect of local weather or climate. No,” he emphasized. Rather, they explained, the study is part of a larger effort to understand how cloud-aerosol interactions may limit warming.

“The study involves short-term releases of salt water that develop into plumes of small salt particles whose number, size, and path are measured by instruments installed along the Hornet’s flight deck. , the researchers said, noting that this “occurs well below established thresholds for human health or environmental impact.”

They also noted that the USS Hornet welcomed the program as part of its STEM education curriculum, and the scientists said city officials were aware of the plan but ultimately became more aware of it after news stories surfaced. He emphasized that he had decided to conduct a detailed investigation.

Wood and Doherty praised the city’s “very constructive” actions to date, but considered the review an “essential part” of involving the public in the scientific process. said.

“We continue to appreciate community engagement regarding the nature of this type of research that is not intended to impact clouds, the environment, or climate,” they added.