Does the Asian Brown Cloud also cause extra rainfall?
Particles play a role in cloud formation and therefore in rainfall. There are indications the Asian Brown Cloud does contribute to changes in regional rainfall patterns, as does climate change. But it is not clear how these changes will work out exactly. We are quite confident about global predictions of climate change, but when it comes to smaller regions, in many regions one model can say it is becoming wetter while the other says that it is becoming drier. We need to improve our understanding of these regional phenomena. The Asian Brown Cloud and more generally air pollution often have the same origin as CO2, namely the burning of fossil fuels in power plants and automobiles. So reducing CO2 emissions by moving to cleaner energy sources can also reduce air pollution. That’s why it is wise to address air pollution and climate change simultaneously. Q: Which are the most important mitigation measures? A: You can’t say that any measure is more important than the other; there is no silv
