Researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute have concluded that a sharp increase in global average temperature in 2023 may be associated with a decrease in planetary albedo, which is the Earth's ability to reflect solar radiation.
A new record was set in 2023: the average global temperature rose 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The Earth's albedo has been declining since the 1970s, partly due to melting snow and sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic. However, these factors explain only 15% of the overall drop. The main reason was the decrease in low clouds, especially in the northern latitudes and tropics. Clouds at low altitudes perform a key cooling function by reflecting solar radiation. A decrease in their number leads to increased warming, since the upper clouds, on the contrary, create a greenhouse effect, trapping heat in the atmosphere.
A particularly striking example was the North Atlantic, where a record decrease in low clouds was observed in 2023. This region has also proved to be one of the main sources of global temperature increase.
The decrease in albedo means that global temperatures may exceed the 1.5°C threshold faster than expected. This requires a review of carbon budgets and accelerated measures to adapt to extreme climate events, ecosphere.press notes.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
