Air Pollutants and Cloud Coverage

Scientists are looking into a possible link between cloud coverage and greenhouse gases. Researchers believe that aerosols, tiny airborne pollutants, may increase cloud coverage and possibly intensify winter storms. The problem arose as fierce thunderstorms were linked with increase in smoke from pollution and fires in the Amazon forests. Aerosols seem to promote water accumulation and condensation increasing the formation of clouds as well as affecting the type, length, and quantity of precipitation. In East Asia economies are expanding revealing dramatic increases in aerosol accumulation, rising approximately thirty-five percent per decade. Reports also revealed a corresponding 20-50% increase in cloud cover between 1984 to 1994 and 1994 to 2005. Although many scientists believe aerosols increase cloud coverage, they are skeptical that aerosols intensify storms. Nonetheless, the correlation between storm activity and air pollutants should be considered as storms in the Pacific have certainly strengthened in the last ten years.