Summary:
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Increased Sunlight Absorption
In 2023, Earth began absorbing more sunlight, setting a record for the energy imbalance in the planet’s ocean/atmosphere system, as reported by German scientists. -
Cloud Cover Reduction
The primary factor identified is a significant reduction in low-level clouds, particularly over the Atlantic Ocean, contributing to less sunlight being reflected away from Earth. -
Potential Causes
Researchers suggest three possible reasons for the decrease in clouds: natural climate variability, reduced aerosols due to pollution control, and a concerning feedback loop where warming reduces cloud formation, further increasing temperatures. -
Implications for Climate Predictions
This change could mean that lower estimates of future warming might need to be revised upwards, indicating a potentially more severe impact of global warming than previously expected. -
Long-term Concerns
If the trend of reduced reflectivity continues beyond typical year-to-year variability, the increased heat absorption may become a permanent feature of Earth’s climate system.
Read more at: Ars Technica
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