Measurement of the Effect of Amazon Smoke on Inhibition of Cloud Formation
Goddard Space Flight Center · National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine · +2 more institutions
Abstract
Urban air pollution and smoke from fires have been modeled to reduce cloud formation by absorbing sunlight, thereby cooling the surface and heating the atmosphere. Satellite data over the Amazon region during the biomass burning season showed that scattered cumulus cloud cover was reduced from 38%in clean conditions to 0%for heavy smoke (optical depth of 1.3). This response to the smoke radiative effect reverses the regional smoke instantaneous forcing of climate from -28 watts per square meter in cloud-free conditions to +8 watts per square meter once the reduction of cloud cover is accounted for.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 39.42
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 27
Authors
4- IKIlan KorenCorresponding
Goddard Space Flight Center, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, National Health Council, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- YJYoram J. Kaufman
Goddard Space Flight Center, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, National Health Council, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- LAL. A. Remer
Goddard Space Flight Center, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, National Health Council, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- JVJ. Vanderlei Martins
Goddard Space Flight Center, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, National Health Council, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Topics & keywords
- Smoke
- Cloud cover
- Environmental science
- Amazon rainforest
- Atmospheric sciences
- Atmosphere (unit)
- Forcing (mathematics)
- Meteorology
- Sustainable cities and communities