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Seattle, November 16, 2023 – Tiny droplets in low-lying marine clouds play a surprisingly large role in regulating Earth’s temperature, and new, high-resolution computer simulations suggest these clouds are even more sensitive to air pollution than previously thought. This means efforts to clean up the air could have a bigger impact on climate change than some models currently predict.
Cloud Sensitivity: A New look at aerosols
Researchers are refining our understanding of how pollution impacts cloud formation and, ultimately, global temperatures.
- High-resolution simulations reveal a stronger link between aerosol particles and low marine cloud properties.
- These clouds, common over oceans, substantially influence how much sunlight earth reflects back into space.
- Reducing aerosol pollution could potentially increase cloud reflectivity and help cool the planet.
- The study highlights the need for more accurate climate models that account for these complex interactions.
What impact do aerosols have on marine clouds? Aerosols-tiny particles suspended in the air-act as seeds for cloud droplets to form. More aerosols generally mean more, but smaller, cloud droplets, which can make clouds brighter and more reflective, bouncing more sunlight back into space.
The research, published in ESS Open Archive, used cloud-resolving simulations to examine how low marine clouds respond to changes in aerosol concentrations. These simulations, run at a very high level of detail, allowed scientists to observe the complex interactions between aerosols and clouds in a way that wasn’t possible before.The team focused on stratocumulus clouds, which are widespread over the oceans and play a crucial role in Earth’s energy balance.
The findings have important implications for climate modeling. Current models frequently enough struggle to accurately represent the complex interactions between aerosols, clouds, and climate. The researchers suggest that improving the portrayal of these interactions in climate models could lead to more accurate predictions of future climate change.
The researchers emphasize the need for further research to better understand the complex interplay between aerosols, clouds, and climate. Future studies could focus on investigating the effects of different types of aerosols on cloud properties, as well as the role of clouds in regulating regional climate patterns.
The study’s results highlight the potential for geoengineering strategies that aim to enhance cloud reflectivity as a way to cool the planet. However, the researchers caution that such strategies could have unintended consequences and should be carefully evaluated before being implemented.
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