Glaciars painted to reflect sunlight

In the spring of 2010, four men used buckets to pour a mixture of lime, industrial egg white, and water over the dark rocks of the Chalon Sombrero glacier in the Ayacucho region, at an altitude of approximately 4,750 meters. The goal was to increase the surface albedo, making the rocks more reflective to solar radiation in an effort to cool the mountain and encourage the return of ice.

Project aimed to cover 70 hectares

The initiative, known as "Increasing Superficial Albedo," targeted 70 hectares spread over three peaks in the Ayacucho region. However, by September 2010, only approximately 3 hectares had been whitened, far from the intended goal. The project was led by Eduardo Gold, an inventor with no formal scientific training, through the non-governmental organization Glaciares Perú.

Funding delayed and results limited

Gold admitted that the next heavy rain could erase the painted surface, and the project's funding was delayed, with the subsidy letter only signed on October 4, 2010, after the initial work had begun. By the end of 2011, Gold estimated that only 1.5 hectares remained painted.

Skeptics question the project's value

The Peruvian Minister of the Environment expressed skepticism about the project, suggesting that the funds might be better spent elsewhere. Critics noted that while the white rock might cool its immediate surroundings, it would not necessarily lead to the return of ice, as snowfall and other conditions are also necessary for glacier formation.

Long-term effectiveness remains unclear

No return of ice has been measured, and the effectiveness of the project remains uncertain. Monitoring painted areas compared to unpainted ones, along with tracking surface temperature and snow depth over time, would be necessary to assess the project's impact, though such long-term data has not been provided.