Proposed geoengineering spray could create sulphuric acid clouds that threaten commercial flights

A new proposal to mitigate global warming by dispersing sun‑reflecting particles in the upper atmosphere near the poles has raised safety concerns for commercial aviation. The technique, a form of solar geoengineering that would release sulphur compounds to form reflective sulphuric‑acid aerosols, aims to increase the Earth’s albedo and reduce temperature rise, but experts warn that the resulting cloud layers could intersect major trans‑polar flight routes.

Aviation authorities and researchers note that aircraft flying through these artificially induced aerosol clouds would encounter sulphuric‑acid droplets, which could corrode airframe components, impair sensor function and pose health risks to passengers and crew. The potential hazards have prompted calls for comprehensive impact assessments and regulatory review before any field trials proceed, underscoring the need to balance climate‑intervention ambitions with aviation safety.