Can We Cool The Earth With Snow Cover?

Written By Teacher: Elizabeth Ward

My name is Elizabeth Ward. I am a former Early Childhood, Elementary, and English as a Foreign Language educator. I have taught third grade Science and Social Studies as well as Kindergarten in both urban and rural Oklahoma public schools. I taught online EFL to students of all ages in China for four years. I also have experience in curriculum development and content design for teachers in the physical and digital classroom. As a former teacher I have a passion for supporting teachers and making their jobs easier. I currently live in the greater Houston area with my husband and four dogs. 

Teaching about geoengineering is important because it helps students understand potential solutions to climate change and the risks that come with them. As temperatures rise, some people are looking at geoengineering as a way to reduce the impact of climate change, but it’s not without controversy. Discussing this topic in the classroom gives students a chance to think critically about new technologies and their possible side effects. It’s also a great way to connect real-world issues to science lessons and encourage students to consider how we can address big challenges. For more information, check out these resources on geoengineering and climate change: CFR Education: Solar Geoengineering Simulation and Geoengineering and Climate Change.

Written By: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

The MIT Climate Change Engagement Program, a part of MIT Climate HQ, provides the public with nonpartisan, easy-to-understand, and scientifically-grounded information on climate change and its solutions.

If you’ve ever been sunburned on a ski trip, then you’ve experienced firsthand snow’s talent for reflecting sunlight. Snow and ice are so good at reflecting light, in fact, that they play an important role in regulating the Earth’s climate by bouncing some of the sun’s rays back out into space. The loss of snow and ice cover caused by climate change is a troubling trend because it reduces the planet’s ability to reflect sunlight.

But what if humanity tried to turn the tide of snow cover? After all, ski resorts cover their slopes in fake snow when Mother Nature doesn’t provide enough of the white stuff. So, perhaps, countries could decide to cover more of the Earth’s surface in artificial snow, reflecting more light back into space, thereby cooling the planet.

Visiting climatologist at MIT Judah Cohen says the idea has promise—in theory. But in practice, creating enough snow to cool the planet may be impossible. And like other kinds of geoengineering (which is a term for altering the climate via large-scale engineering projects), it could spark a series of unintended consequences for our weather and climate.