ARIA-funded Outdoor Experiments
The United Kingdom’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) recently announced around $60M of funding for 21 solar geoengineering research projects. Five of those projects will include an outdoor experiment. Our infographics provide an overview of what is planned.
Re-Thickening Arctic Sea Ice (RASi)
This project aims to assess the feasibility and impacts of sea-ice thickening by pumping seawater onto a small patch of sea ice.
Researchers will pump seawater from beneath existing ice which will then spread across the surface. They hope to learn whether this could help thicken the sea-ice and slow its melt.
Ice
Seawater
A strainer prevents fish from entering the pump.
Sea depth of at least 10m
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Shaun Fitzgerald, Centre for Climate Repair
Researchers will pump seawater from beneath existing ice which will then spread across the surface. They hope to learn whether this could help thicken the sea-ice and slow its melt.
Ice
At least a kilometer from the shore
A strainer prevents fish from entering the pump.
Seawater
Sea depth of at least 10m
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Shaun Fitzgerald, Centre for Climate Repair
The REFLECT lab and outdoor experiments
This project aims to develop and test seawater spray technologies for marine cloud brightening. The team will test how the plume of particles produced by their sprayers would evolve in the environment.
The engineering challenge
To develop energy-efficient sea water spray systems that can produce enough particles of the right size.
First, research will be conducted in the Manchester Ice Cloud Chamber.
The atmospheric science challenge
To improve our computer models so they accurately reflect the real-world behaviour of the sea spray plume and how they influence clouds.
If approved, small-scale outdoor experiments with the seawater sprayers will be conducted.
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Hugh Coe, University of Manchester
The engineering challenge
To develop energy-efficient sea water spray systems that can produce enough particles of the right size.
The atmospheric science challenge
To improve our computer models so they accurately reflect the real-world behaviour of the sea spray plume and how they influence clouds.
First, research will be conducted in the Manchester Ice Cloud Chamber.
Later, if approved, small-scale outdoor experiments with the seawater sprayers will be conducted.
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Hugh Coe, University of Manchester
BrightSpark
Researchers based at Reading University will test whether electric charges can change the properties of cloud droplets as a means to brighten clouds. The team plans to use a small drone aircraft to release electrically charged ions into fog, which will then be monitored for changes, including in how sunlight passes through it.
By carefully controlling the release of ions, the team hopes to learn whether they can increase the number of smaller droplets and increase cloud reflectivity.
Cloud droplets
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Giles Harrison, University of Reading
By carefully controlling the release of ions, the team hopes to learn whether they can increase the number of smaller droplets and increase cloud reflectivity.
Cloud droplets
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Giles Harrison, University of Reading
Marine Cloud Brightening in a Complex World
The team aims to use seawater sprayers to test whether they can brighten clouds over parts of the Great Barrier Reef.
Two to three ships will spray seawater up towards clouds in areas up to 10 km by 10 km. The response of the clouds will be measured by drones, aircraft, ground-based sensors, and satellites.
An aircraft observes undisturbed clouds first
Satellites
Aircraft
Drone
Sampling vessel
Wind direction
Spraying vessels
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Daniel Harrison, Southern Cross University
Two to three ships will spray seawater up towards clouds in areas up to 10 km by 10 km. The response of the clouds will be measured by drones, aircraft, ground-based sensors, and satellites.
Satellites
Wind direction
Aircraft
Drone
Sampling vessel
Spraying vessels
An aircraft observes undisturbed clouds first
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Daniel Harrison, Southern Cross University
Natural Materials for Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
The team will study how stratospheric conditions affect natural materials that might be used to reflect light and cool the planet. These materials might offer a safer alternative to sulphur-based SAI, but their effects on the stratosphere are uncertain.
Tiny amounts of naturally occurring mineral dust will be secured below a modified weather balloon sent up to the stratosphere.
The balloon will rise to about 15–22km
Material samples
The box will open and expose the materials to stratospheric conditions for up to a few weeks.
The materials will not be dispersed – they will remain secured in the box to be returned for laboratory analysis.
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Hugh Hunt, University of Cambridge
Tiny amounts of naturally occurring mineral dust will be secured below a modified weather balloon sent up to the stratosphere.
22km
Material samples
15km
The materials will not be dispersed – they will remain secured in the box to be returned for laboratory analysis.
The balloon will rise to about 15–22km
The box will open and expose the materials to stratospheric conditions for up to a few weeks.
Note: The outdoor experiments funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will only go ahead after environmental impact assessments and public consultations, and with independent oversight.
Sources: ARIA; Hugh Hunt, University of Cambridge