Cloud Model Could Help With Climate Research

Typography

When clouds meet clear skies, cloud droplets evaporate as they mix with dry air. 

When clouds meet clear skies, cloud droplets evaporate as they mix with dry air. A new study involving researchers from the University of Gothenburg has succeeded in capturing what happens in a model. Ultimately, this could lead to more accurate climate modeling in the future.

The clouds in the sky have a significant impact on our climate. Not only do they produce precipitation and provide shade from the sun, they also act as large reflectors that prevent the radiation of heat from the Earth – commonly known as the greenhouse effect.

“Although clouds have been studied for a long time, they are one of the biggest sources of uncertainty in climate models,” explains Bernhard Mehlig, Professor of Complex Systems at the University of Gothenburg. “This is because there are so many factors that determine how the clouds affect radiation. And the turbulence in the atmosphere means that everything is in constant motion. This makes things even more complicated.”

Read more at University of Gothenburg

Photo Credit: ELG21 via Pixabay