Diminishing Clouds Linked to Record Global Heat Surge
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Earth.com
A new study by the Alfred Wegener Institute suggests that changes in Earth's cloud cover, particularly a decline in low-altitude clouds, may explain a recent unexplained 0.2°C surge in global warming. This decline reduces Earth's albedo, meaning less sunlight is reflected back into space, contributing to higher global temperatures. The study highlights the critical role of clouds in climate regulation and suggests that this feedback loop between warming and cloud loss could accelerate global warming, potentially crossing the 1.5°C threshold sooner than expected.