Marine Solar Radiation Management Permitting
Efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change are gaining interest both in the United States and internationally. Ocean-based climate mitigation techniques, which include marine solar radiation management (mSRM) techniques, may have the potential to alleviate certain impacts of climate change.
As a relatively new field of research, there is uncertainty about the efficacy and potential environmental impacts of mSRM techniques. Proposed mSRM activities should be carefully evaluated to avoid unintended and significant adverse impacts to human health or the marine environment.
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What is mSRM?
Marine solar radiation management (mSRM) is an ocean-based process or technique designed to limit the warming of Earth's surface. Proposed mSRM techniques involve adding materials to ocean waters, sea ice or the lower atmosphere to increase the amount of solar radiation (e.g., heat) reflected from the ocean's surface to limit surface warming or sea ice melt.
mSRM techniques being explored include:
- Marine Surface Albedo Enhancement: Introducing reflective materials (e.g., engineered particles, reflective bubbles, or foams) to sea ice or the ocean surface to increase the amount of sunlight reflected from the ocean's surface and/or limit sea ice melt.
- Marine Cloud Brightening: Adding particles, such as sea salt spray, to the lower marine atmosphere to increase cloud density. These higher density clouds would appear brighter and reflect more solar radiation.
Potential marine environmental impacts of these approaches include:
- Toxicity of introduced materials to marine organisms.
- Decreased ecosystem productivity due to decreased sunlight (i.e., energy) reaching the environment.
- Other impacts depending on the specific materials or methods used and the scale of the activities, including impacts that may occur outside of the immediate geographic area where the activities are conducted.
Permitting of mSRM
Proposed mSRM activities (including field research) that involve the disposition of material into or onto ocean waters or sea ice may need a permit under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA).
For further information or questions about permitting of mSRM, please contact the EPA headquarters point of contact for MPRSA permitting for mSRM by emailing [email protected].
The EPA may issue special permits, research permits, emergency permits and general permits for ocean dumping. For additional information about MPRSA permits, please visit our MPRSA Permits webpage.