UK startup’s controversial plan to refreeze Arctic sea ice

CNN reports that a UK-based startup, Real Ice, is developing a groundbreaking but controversial technology to refreeze Arctic sea ice, aiming to combat the escalating impacts of climate change. The Arctic, warming four times faster than the global average, is losing ice at an alarming rate, with devastating consequences for rising sea levels, disrupted weather systems, and endangered ecosystems. Real Ice proposes to thicken sea ice artificially, a concept that has sparked both excitement and debate among scientists and environmentalists.

• Real Ice’s plan involves deploying automated underwater vehicles powered by green hydrogen to pump seawater onto the surface of existing ice. The water would then freeze upon exposure to Arctic temperatures, increasing the ice layer’s thickness.
• Initial tests conducted in Alaska demonstrated that this method effectively thickens ice, validating the technology as a possible intervention to address rapid ice loss.
• While proponents argue that the technology could stabilize the Arctic ecosystem and mitigate global warming’s effects, critics warn of potential unintended consequences. Some scientists caution that interfering with natural processes on such a large scale could have unpredictable environmental impacts.
• Real Ice plans to test underwater prototypes in 2024 and conduct full-scale re-icing trials in an Arctic bay by 2027, further fueling discussions about the feasibility and risks of geoengineering.