From Dimming to Brightening: Decadal Changes in Solar Radiation at Earth's Surface
Bureau of Meteorology · Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service · +4 more institutions
Abstract
Variations in solar radiation incident at Earth's surface profoundly affect the human and terrestrial environment. A decline in solar radiation at land surfaces has become apparent in many observational records up to 1990, a phenomenon known as global dimming. Newly available surface observations from 1990 to the present, primarily from the Northern Hemisphere, show that the dimming did not persist into the 1990s. Instead, a widespread brightening has been observed since the late 1980s. This reversal is reconcilable with changes in cloudiness and atmospheric transmission and may substantially affect surface climate, the hydrological cycle, glaciers, and ecosystems.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 55.11
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 19
Authors
10- MWMartin WildCorresponding
Bureau of Meteorology, Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Engineering
- HGHans Gilgen
Bureau of Meteorology, Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Engineering
- ARAndreas Roesch
Bureau of Meteorology, Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Engineering
- AOAtsumu Ohmura
Bureau of Meteorology, Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Engineering
- CLCharles Long
Bureau of Meteorology, Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Engineering
Topics & keywords
- Northern Hemisphere
- Environmental science
- Climatology
- Atmospheric sciences
- Climate change
- Cloud cover
- Geology
- Oceanography