037 | 100 Daniel Harrison: Shielding the reef

The Cloud Brightening project is trying to buy time for the Great Barrier Reef, hopeful that carbon emissions will be slashed in the future. By spraying microscopic sea particles above the reef, oceanographer Daniel Harrison and his team aim to thicken the clouds to provide shade for the endangered ecosystem.

See Daniel Harrison in conversation with journalist Craig Reucassel, recorded live at the Powerhouse as part of 100 Climate Conversations. Entry is free, but bookings are essential as places are limited. Doors open at 9.15am for a 9.30am start. No late admittance.

100 Climate Conversations is a two-year survey of visionary Australians who are accelerating the net zero carbon revolution. To find out more and subscribe to the podcast visit 100climateconversations.com.

Dr Daniel Harrison began as a civil engineer before pursuing his passion to become an oceanographer. This dual expertise combines in his experimental cloud-brightening machine, a tool aimed at cooling the Great Barrier Reef. The technique uses a device, similar to a snow cannon, to shoot microscopic droplets of seawater into the air. The process sends hundreds of trillions of salt crystals into the sky to mix with low clouds and bolster their reflectivity. Harrison is based at the National Marine Science Centre of Southern Cross University. His team hope to quickly scale-up their experiments given the urgent threat of more coral bleaching amid warming oceans.

Craig Reucassel is a writer, broadcaster and comedian who is best known for his work with The Chaser and on ABC TV sustainability and climate series War on Waste, Big Weather (and how to survive it) and Fight for Planet A. His recent work in environment and sustainability inspires positive action on climate change by offering practical day-to-day changes to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Alongside a group of friends, Reucassel founded The Chaser newspaper, which led to several ABC TV programs including The Election Chaser, CNNNN, The Chaser’s War on Everything, Yes We Canberra and The Hamster Wheel.