Planet’s reflective cloud coverage is shrinking - and amplifying the climate crisis, research finds
The GuardianThursday, June 19, 2025 at 6:41:36 AM
A new study by NASA and Australian researchers reveals that the Earth's cloud cover, especially at the poles, has been shrinking over the last 24 years. This reduction in reflective clouds means more sunlight is hitting the planet's surface, which could be accelerating global warming. Oddly, though, the study doesn't fully explain why 2023 saw such a dramatic spike in temperatures—so there's still some mystery left to solve.
Editor’s Note: Clouds act like a giant sunshade for the planet, bouncing sunlight back into space. Fewer clouds mean more heat gets trapped, making climate change worse. This research adds another worrying piece to the puzzle of why global warming seems to be speeding up—even if it doesn’t yet explain everything. If this trend keeps up, we could be in for even hotter, more unpredictable weather ahead.
— Curated via WP Now’s
