1. Ice caps melting? Have you tried re-freezing them?

Climate change is causing sea levels to rise between 1 to 6.6 feet by 2100. We might even see an Arctic Ocean without ice during the late summer months by the middle of this century. But there are some startups with plans to simply re-freeze the Arctic. A British company called “Real Ice” wants to restore arctic ice back to 1980s levels - from about four million square kilometers to seven million square kilometers of dense ice. By using drones to drill into the ice, sucking water from underneath, and mixing that water with snow to spray onto the surface, new layers of ice can form on the arctic surface. They are backed by the United Nations but have yet to receive funding. 

2. Ocean full of trash? Just fish it out!

An unfortunate reality about our oceans is that they are absolutely filled with trash - microplastics and fishing line are some of the biggest offenders. Much of this trash forms patches in the ocean. The largest one spans 620,000 square miles, known as the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. On top of this, researchers have recently discovered that almost 70 percent of marine debris is likely on the ocean floor. 

The Ocean Cleanup was founded in 2013 with the goal to extract all this junk from our oceans. Over the past decade, the organization has tested various designs to collect ocean debris: first with conveyor belts, and finally opting for a floating barrier with a net. The latest design, System 03, also uses a screen to catch debris and funnel it into a retention zone. Cameras aid to distinguish if any marine animals are trapped, and a safety hatch exists to give them an escape. While some speculation exists on the effectiveness of this method, the project has already removed 10 million pounds of plastic from the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch as of April 2024.

3. Too much sun? Just block it out!

The Paris Agreement in 2016 established an international goal to keep the planet’s average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above what it was at the start of the Industrial Revolution. To do this, emissions need to be cut by half by 2030 and likely need to be closer to zero by the mid-century. According to a study based on probabilistic models published in 2021, researchers estimated that the likelihood of warming staying below 2°C is about 5 percent. This estimate could be closer to 26 percent if emission limitation goals set for 2030 were actually achieved. 

Some researchers have debated the idea of using aerosols to potentially block out enough solar radiation to reduce melting in the arctic and antarctic regions.

In a study published in 2022, researchers concluded that sulfur in the form of an aerosol used in large quantities could provide a shield against solar radiation at the Arctic and Antarctic poles, allowing for these areas to stay cool. The sulfur would cause the atmosphere to become slightly more reflective, deterring some solar radiation and potentially reducing pole temperatures by 2 degrees. This method has received some criticism considering Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) is still in early development.

4. Too much carbon in the air? This powder can capture it.

Carbon in our atmosphere causes extra heating due to carbon’s ability to absorb and radiate heat. We now have about double the amount of carbon dioxide in the air - at about 420 parts per million (ppm) compared to 280 ppm at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Fortunately, some methods of Direct Air Capture (DAC) are showing promise in reducing carbon dioxide levels. 

COF-999, a newly invented substance, could be used to capture CO₂ from the atmosphere. A small dose has the potential to suck up as much CO₂ as a tree does in an entire year. Developed by a chemistry team at the University of California Berkeley under Professor Omar Yaghi, COF-999 has a porous structure, allowing for strong covalent bonds to be formed. The substance simply needs to be introduced into the air. Once exposed, the carbon becomes latched to the substance. It could then be stored somewhere else, keeping it out of our atmosphere. The means for effectively using the powder in practice are still in development.

5. Coral reefs disappearing? Let’s make some new ones!

On a recent episode of AMOS, we discussed a new type of artificial reef that can prevent damage caused by wave disruption. This method is one of many in an attempt to preserve coral reefs. Coral reefs provide a home to 25 percent of marine life despite only making up 0.1 percent of the ocean. Many artificial reefs exist in the form of repurposed sunken ships. In fact, the SS United States is intended to be sunk for this purpose, and doing so would make it the largest artificial reef in the world. Artificial reefs like these can provide surfaces for algae and corals to colonize. Fish are attracted to reefs as they can provide places for them to hide. That being said, it isn’t enough to simply sink empty ships. Active restoration including transplanting coral can make the artificial reef more effective at restoring an ecosystem. 

In Conclusion

While it may seem that little is being done to prevent climate change, in reality, scientists are making progress on technological solutions that seem to do the impossible. What we really need to do is make sure they get the funding. 

If you enjoyed this blog, be sure to check out A Moment of Science. With thousands of episodes, there are so many bite-sized learning moments to explore.

Keep learning about climate change solutions with A Moment of Science:

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• An Accidental Molecule: A global warming solution?
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