Fixing the Arctic? The Unintended Consequences of Geoengineering Proposals

As global climate warming intensifies, various geoengineering strategies have been proposed to restore Arctic sea ice. Two prominent approaches—seawater flooding in winter to thicken sea ice and spreading artificial snow made of reflective glass microspheres—have gained attention for their potential to enhance surface albedo and slow sea-ice melt.

However, the effectiveness of these interventions is increasingly questioned, with recent studies highlighting possible unintended consequences. Both techniques are predicted to alter light transmission and gas fluxes, and disrupt algal phenology, potentially leading to mismatches in zooplankton feeding and affecting the broader Arctic food web. Additionally, the silica content in glass beads has the potential for fertilization effects on marine algal blooms, favouring diatoms and disrupting natural algal succession.

Given the large-scale infrastructure and invasive nature of these methods, there is an urgent need for comprehensive numerical studies to assess their long-term impacts on Arctic biogeochemistry and ecosystems. Even small-scale field tests should be approached cautiously and should include rigorous biogeochemical studies to evaluate unintended consequences on local and larger scales. In addition to environmental impacts, these strategies raise significant ethical, legal, and political challenges that must also be considered.

This abstract is submitted by Biogeochemical Exchanges Processes at Sea Ice Interfaces (BEPSII working group)

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