Richard Spinrad, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has stressed the urgent need for scientific research into climate geoengineering techniques.
He believes these methods may become necessary to address global warming and related issues, such as ocean acidification.
NOAA is currently evaluating various geoengineering strategies, including ocean-based methods like iron seeding to enhance carbon dioxide absorption and spraying seawater into clouds to reflect sunlight.
Spinrad emphasized the importance of understanding these techniques’ potential impacts on marine ecosystems and the need for reliable predictive models to aid decision-making.
One key area of focus is marine carbon dioxide removal, where NOAA is investigating the oceans’ capacity to sequester CO2.
NOAA focuses on ocean-based methods and long-term monitoring of climate systems.The agency is also collaborating with UK scientists to study the Gulf Stream’s stability. Recent evidence suggests that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) might be weakening faster than anticipated, which could have severe consequences for Europe and other regions.
Spinrad highlighted the importance of long-term monitoring of such systems, noting that while AMOC is not expected to shut down immediately, its fluctuations need careful observation over several years to identify significant trends.
Despite concerns in Congress about potential budget cuts to NOAA’s $6 billion funding under the Inflation Reduction Act, Spinrad defended the agency’s work. He argued that strong climate science is essential for national security and that climate issues affect various aspects of life, including food, energy, water, and economic security.
Spinrad noted that Americans are increasingly aware of the climate crisis’s impact, citing the record number of billion-dollar disasters last year as evidence of the growing public concern.