The role of clouds in climate change has been up in the air for years.
I'm sorry. This is very serious, so let's abandon the bad puns.
Climate change deniers have tried to paint cloud cover as a "negative" feedback, helping to control climate warming. The theory is that warm sea surfaces produce more water vapor, hence more cloud cover, hence more albedo (that is, reflectivity), hence less sunlight warming the ocean. It's a nice theory.
But according to a team of American oceanographers, it's not quite correct. In a Science article published today, they describe what really happens: A warm sea surface warms the air above, so increased water vapor has to rise much higher before it condenses into clouds. By the time it does condense -- if it ever does -- the vapor has drifted downwind from the hot spot, and possibly dispersed. The result: Warm water often means clear skies, so that hot water grows hotter still.
Watch for argument. Your take?
Seth Masia
Liz Merry
