Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 18, 2026
10:28
Investigating the Relationship between Sea Surface Chlorophyll and Major Features of the South China Sea with Satellite Information
Published on: June 13, 2020
6.4K
Evidence for climate change in the satellite cloud record
Nature
|July 12, 2016
Summary
Cloud changes significantly impact Earth's energy budget and are a major climate change uncertainty. Satellite data confirm that observed cloud patterns align with climate model predictions, driven by greenhouse gases and volcanic cooling.
Area of Science:
- Earth Science
- Atmospheric Science
- Climate Science
Background:
- Clouds play a critical role in Earth's energy budget by influencing solar and thermal radiation.
- Cloud changes represent a significant uncertainty in climate change projections due to model and data discrepancies.
- Long-term, stable observational data are crucial for detecting reliable cloud change trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate observed cloud changes over recent decades using corrected satellite data.
- To compare observed cloud changes with patterns predicted by climate models.
- To identify the primary drivers of observed cloud pattern shifts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized several independent, empirically corrected satellite records of cloud properties.
- Analyzed cloud changes between the 1980s and 2000s.
- Compared observed cloud change patterns with climate model simulations incorporating historical radiative forcing.
Main Results:
- Observed large-scale cloud change patterns between the 1980s and 2000s showed significant similarities to climate model simulations.
- Consistent patterns included poleward retreat of mid-latitude storm tracks and expansion of subtropical dry zones.
- Increasing cloud top heights were observed across all latitudes.
Conclusions:
- Observed cloud changes are consistent with climate model predictions, suggesting these models capture key climate dynamics.
- Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and recovery from volcanic cooling are identified as primary drivers of observed cloud shifts.
- The findings indicate that predicted cloud changes are actively occurring in the Earth system.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Global Climate Change
29.6K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
29.6K
01:16What is Climate?
21.3K
Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.
21.3K
01:17Precipitation and Co-precipitation
5.4K
Precipitation and coprecipitation methods can be used to separate a mixture of ions in a solution. In qualitative inorganic analysis, ions that form sparingly soluble precipitates with the same reagent are separated based on the differences in solubility products. For example, consider the separation of Cu(II) and Fe(II) ions by precipitation as insoluble sulfides. First, copper(II) sulfide is precipitated by the addition of acidic H2S, where the dissociation of H2S is suppressed. Adding H2S...
5.4K
01:12Precipitation Processes
6.5K
The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...
6.5K
01:03Precipitation Gravimetry
16.0K
Precipitation gravimetry is based on converting an analyte into a sparingly soluble precipitate, which is separated by filtration and weighed. An ideal precipitate should be pure, insoluble, of known composition, and easily filtered from the reaction mixture.
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
16.0K
01:07What is Weather?
20.6K
Overview
20.6K