Published in ERW, 19 Jun 2015
An Australian study has suggested that models of future precipitation and sea-surface temperature in the tropics are sensitive to assumptions about aerosol emissions. A simulation including indirect effects of aerosols projected greater climate change than one including only direct effects, bolstering the view of aerosols being the “biggest uncertainty in climate science”, the researchers said.
Aerosols are fine solid or liquid particles that linger in the atmosphere. They can be generated by natural sources, such as volcanoes, or man-made sources like cars and factories. Once in the atmosphere, the particles can either absorb or reflect sunlight, directly altering the amount that is trapped by Earth as heat. They can also have indirect effects on the climate through their action on clouds, either making them brighter by boosting their reflectivity or increasing their longevity. […]
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