American researchers funded by NASA have developed a new strategy to combat global warming. The next concept consists in changing the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, that is, reducing the concentration of water vapor at a certain altitude. Moreover, scientists plan to do this by “pumping” these layers of the atmosphere with water, or more precisely, water ice.

Water vapor is considered the most effective greenhouse gas at trapping heat (infrared radiation) in the Earth’s atmosphere. In this respect, it contributes much more to the greenhouse effect than the sum of carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and other gases. Therefore, the fight against the main ally of projected global warming is, on the one hand, logical and justified, but on the other hand, extremely difficult and dangerous. Especially considering how important water, including water vapor in the atmosphere, is to all life on Earth.

But researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA decided to introduce a new climate response strategy aimed at reducing stratospheric water vapor concentration. The target of such an intervention, the tropical tropopause (the layer of the atmosphere at an altitude of 16-18 kilometers), was not chosen by chance.

The fact is that most of the water vapor enters the stratosphere precisely through this layer. After that, air saturated with water vapor can travel to the poles for four years before returning to the troposphere and falling as precipitation.

In their new study, researchers from the USA proposed using ice, or rather using special aircraft, to throw small (tens to hundreds of nanometers) particles of water ice into the tropical tropopause zone at an altitude of about 17 kilometers. .

These particles will act as ice nuclei and condense water vapor, preventing it from rising further into the stratosphere. Details of the concept are outlined in an article published in the journal. Science Developments.

According to researchers, giving two tons of ice per week would be enough to notice the effect. However, the authors of the article emphasize that this strategy of “deliberate stratospheric dehydration” is not intended to solve the problem of projected global warming. On the contrary, by acting with these measures on different time scales, it can make a limited contribution to the fight against measures that will reduce carbon dioxide and methane production and increase its absorption.

However, like any geoengineering idea, the scientists’ proposal is not without its problems and possible negative side effects. Intentionally changing the Earth’s atmosphere to address climate change could create new problems and irreversible consequences. Therefore, “dehydration of the stratosphere” will lead to the formation of additional clouds, changes in the global circulation of air masses and possibly other unforeseen consequences.