How marine cloud brightening could also affect stratospheric ozone

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu4038

Authors

Ewa M. Bednarz, James M. Haywood, Daniele Visioni, Amy H. Butler, and Andy Jones 

14 May 2025

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adu4038

Abstract

Stratospheric ozone plays a crucial role in life and ecosystems on Earth, with a vast amount of research focused on the effects of human activities on ozone. Yet, impacts of tropospheric climate intervention methods like marine cloud brightening (MCB) have not previously been considered to reach the stratosphere. In this study, we demonstrate that MCB can also have a significant impact on both stratospheric and tropospheric ozone, and discuss the processes via which such an influence could occur. Our results demonstrate the inherent coupling between the troposphere and the stratosphere and underscore the need to assess not just the potential surface climate impacts of MCB, or any other climate intervention, but also their holistic interaction with the whole Earth system, including the middle atmosphere.

Source: Science Advances