Global Dimming
According to a BBC science show, less and less sunlight has been reaching the surface of the Earth in the past years due to particulates in the atmosphere. Air pollution reflects sunlight back into space and seed clouds causing them to form more water droplets, which reflects more sunlight into space as well. Less sunlight reaching the planet's surface disrupts the global rainfall pattern. The BBC report mentions that the droughts in Africa 30 years ago that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives may have been a result of global dimming, and that may again be happening now in Asia.
The reduction of sunlight could mean that we have been underestimating the threat of global warming. Global warming, caused by CO2 in the atmosphere, causes global temperature to rise -- but the rise has been estimated only at 0.6°C. Global dimming has been cooling the planet. Global dimming and global warming effects may have been canceling each other out -- which means that the impact of global warming is probably higher than we had previously thought. While it is projected the CO2 levels will be increasing in the coming years, particle pollution will be declining. A global temperature rise of 10°C may be in our future by 2100. That would leave most of the planet bone dry.
For related information, see the following:
The reduction of sunlight could mean that we have been underestimating the threat of global warming. Global warming, caused by CO2 in the atmosphere, causes global temperature to rise -- but the rise has been estimated only at 0.6°C. Global dimming has been cooling the planet. Global dimming and global warming effects may have been canceling each other out -- which means that the impact of global warming is probably higher than we had previously thought. While it is projected the CO2 levels will be increasing in the coming years, particle pollution will be declining. A global temperature rise of 10°C may be in our future by 2100. That would leave most of the planet bone dry.
For related information, see the following:
Observed reductions of surface solar radiation at Sites in the United States and worldwide from 1961 to 1990 [PDF] African Climate Change: 1900-2100 [PDF]
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