Top entities: Jessica Wan, Australia, East Africa, Europe, Asia.

What category does this event fall under?

Tech — classified as scientific study.

What is the sentiment of coverage?

Aggregate sentiment score: 10 on a -100 to +100 scale (negative = critical coverage, positive = favorable coverage).

Is this event still developing?

This is an active story, last updated Jul 13, 2026. Coverage continues to evolve.

Tech scientific study

Cloud brightening could tame El Nino

Q: When did this event occur?

First reported Jul 08, 2026; last updated Jul 13, 2026.

Q: What is the market impact?

General. If viable, this technology could reduce economic losses from El Nino, which have reached trillions of dollars.

Analysis based on 9 articles · First reported Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 13, 2026

Sentiment

Attention

Articles

Market Impact

General

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Market Impact

If viable, this technology could reduce economic losses from El Nino, which have reached trillions of dollars. However, the study is preliminary, and significant engineering and ethical hurdles remain, limiting immediate market impact.

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Event Summary

A study published in Science Advances on July 8, 2026, proposes using artificial marine cloud brightening over the equatorial Pacific to neutralize El Nino events. Lead author Jessica Wan of the University of Chicago used computer models to show that spraying sea salt into clouds could reverse temperature and precipitation effects of El Nino, potentially mitigating heat waves, floods, and drought. However, the technology is not yet ready, requiring about 2,400 ships, and the models showed unintended warming over Europe and Asia. Long-term impacts are unknown, and geoengineering remains controversial.

Key Actions

80 Jessica Wan published study

Entities Involved

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Jessica Wan

Jessica Wan is the lead author of the study, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago, and the primary spokesperson for the research.

Importance 90.0 Sentiment 10.0

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Australia

Australia could benefit from reduced drought risk if El Nino is suppressed, as El Nino typically brings drier conditions to the country.

Importance 60.0 Sentiment 20.0

loc

East Africa

East Africa could see reduced flood risk from El Nino, as the phenomenon typically brings wetter winters to the region.

Importance 50.0 Sentiment 20.0

loc

Europe

The models showed unintended warming over Europe as a side effect of cloud brightening, which could be detrimental.

Importance 40.0 Sentiment -10.0

loc

Asia

The models showed unintended warming over Asia as a side effect of cloud brightening, which could be detrimental.

Importance 40.0 Sentiment -10.0

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