How does haze in the air affect global temperatures?
Haze is caused by fine pollutant particles and droplets suspended in air. The best known impact of these particles, called aerosols, is the white haze of pollution visible over heavily industrialised areas of the northern hemisphere, and to a lesser extent over Melbourne and Sydney on high pollution days. This haze reflects some sunlight back to space, and can have a small, cooling effect on climate. Aerosols can also make clouds brighter and last longer, causing them to be more reflective than normal. This is also likely to cool the planet in some regions. However, the cooling effect of aerosols is largely restricted to the more polluted regions, whereas greenhouse gases are well mixed throughout the entire atmosphere.
Haze is caused by fine pollutant particles and droplets suspended in air. The best known impact of these particles, called aerosols, is the white haze of pollution visible over heavily industrialised areas of the northern hemisphere, and to a lesser extent over Melbourne and Sydney on high pollution days. This haze reflects some sunlight back to space, and can have a small, but significant, cooling effect on climate. Aerosols can also make clouds brighter and last longer, causing them to be more reflective than normal. This is also likely to cool the planet in some regions. However, the cooling effect of aerosols is largely restricted to the more polluted regions, whereas greenhouse gases are well mixed throughout the entire atmosphere.
Haze is caused by fine pollutant particles and droplets suspended in air. The best known impact of these particles, called aerosols, is the white haze of pollution visible over heavily industrialised areas of the northern hemisphere, and to a lesser extent over Melbourne and Sydney on high pollution days. This haze reflects some sunlight back to space, and can have a small, cooling effect on climate.
