Arctic Ice Project has made the difficult decision to conclude our research and begin the process of winding down operations. Learn more about our recent scientific findings and what this means for our future.

Arctic Ice Project Publishes Research Challenging Claims on Hollow Glass Microspheres and Arctic Cooling

March 18, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Redwood City, CA — Arctic Ice Project is pleased to announce the publication of a paper in Earth’s Future on March 12, 2025, addressing claims made by Drs. Melinda Webster and Stephen Warren in their 2022 AGU paper, that was further referenced in your publication. Webster and Warren’s analysis suggested that the use of Hollow Glass Microspheres (HGMs), or “tiny glass bubbles,” could potentially warm the Arctic. To the contrary, however, the research published in our commentary supports the hypothesis that HGMs can significantly enhance the reflectivity of sea ice, potentially cooling the region and delaying ice melt.

Addressing Criticism with Scientific Evidence

Arctic Ice Project (AIP) is a non-profit research organization dedicated to studying the climate impacts of Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) and developing safe, effective methods to enhance Arctic sea ice albedo. In their 2022 publication, Webster and Warren claimed that AIP’s proposed use of HGMs for SAM could result in warming rather than cooling the Arctic. This conclusion was based on significantly overestimated absorption coefficients of HGMs derived from early laboratory measurements. They further concluded that “for melting sea ice with no snow cover, and for refrozen melt ponds, spreading HGMs onto their surfaces causes a negligible [amount of cooling].” In essence, their argument posited that HGMs would darken most Arctic ice, accelerating melting.

However, these conclusions conflict with the experimental results of multiple field tests and studies, which consistently demonstrate that applying HGMs to pond ice increases albedo and delays ice melt. Moreover, when accurate measurements are applied, the modeling approach utilized by Webster and Warren suggests that HGMs could brighten the Arctic, extend the life of sea ice, and potentially contribute to regional cooling.

The Urgency of Arctic Climate Solutions

Addressing climate change requires scientific integrity and a commitment to transparency. Effective solutions must be grounded in rigorous, peer-reviewed research, ensuring that proposed interventions are both viable and safe. The dissemination of reliable scientific information is essential for informing public discourse, guiding policy decisions, and advancing responsible climate interventions. Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) has been explored as a potential means to slow Arctic ice loss, yet its feasibility, risks, and benefits require ongoing, meticulous study to ensure it remains a scientifically sound approach.

For over a decade, Arctic Ice Project has been at the forefront of research into Arctic ice preservation. Our climate impact simulations have demonstrated promising results—with new scientific papers forthcoming—yet laboratory tests indicate that further investigation is necessary to reach definitive conclusions. As the urgency of climate change intensifies, ensuring that accurate, high-quality scientific data remains accessible is more crucial than ever.

Continuing the Legacy of Scientific Discovery

While Arctic Ice Project will not undertake new research moving forward, as a nonprofit, our responsibility has always been to maximize the public benefit of our research. We remain committed to ensuring that our findings contribute to the broader scientific community and inform future climate intervention strategies. The need for innovative approaches to protect and restore Arctic sea ice remains as urgent as ever.

We intend for our work to serve as a foundation for future scientific breakthroughs, inspiring new research and collaborative efforts to combat climate change. By making our research widely available, we aim to empower other scientists, policymakers, and organizations to build upon our efforts, advancing critical solutions to preserve the Arctic and stabilize the global climate.

For more information, please contact mediarelations@arcticiceproject.org. or www.arcticiceproject.org.

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