Aerosol–cloud interactions are the largest uncertainty in radiative forcing. We combined machine learning and long-term satellite observations to quantify aerosol fingerprints on tropical marine clouds, using degassing volcanic events in Hawaii as natural experiences, and found that cloud cover increased relatively by 50% in humid and stable atmosphere, leading to strong cooling radiative forcing.
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References
Chen, Y. et al. Machine learning reveals climate forcing from aerosols is dominated by increased cloud cover. Nat. Geosci. 15, 609–614 (2022). A research article that pioneered the machine-learning approach for disentangling the fingerprints of aerosols on clouds.
Ghan, S. et al. Challenges in constraining anthropogenic aerosol effects on cloud radiative forcing using present-day spatiotemporal variability. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 113, 5804–5811 (2016). A research article that summarizes the challenges in constraining aerosol–cloud interactions in global climate models using traditional observational evidence.
Andreae, M. O., Jones, C. D. & Cox, P. M. Strong present-day aerosol cooling implies a hot future. Nature 435, 1187–1190 (2005). A research article that highlights the importance of aerosol cooling in climate sensitivity and future warming.
Hansen, J. E. et al. Global warming in the pipeline. Oxford Open Climate Change 3, kgad008 (2023). A review article that stresses the high possiblity of high climate sensitivity and the importance of aerosols in climate change.
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This is a summary of: Chen, Y. et al. Substantial cooling effect from aerosol-induced increase in tropical marine cloud cover. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01427-z (2024).
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Evidence of strong aerosol cooling implies great efficacy of marine cloud brightening. Nat. Geosci. 17, 375–376 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01428-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01428-y