A group of researchers has concluded that the Earth is becoming "darker" due to rising ocean temperatures, which have led to the formation of fewer bright clouds. This results in less sunlight being reflected back, contributing to a further increase in the planet's temperature. The researchers stated in a research paper reported by "Science Alert" that the Earth now reflects about half a watt of light per square meter compared to 1998, equivalent to a 0.5% decrease in Earth's reflectivity. Overall, the Earth reflects about 30% of the sunlight that reaches it.
The brightness of the Earth depends on the amount of sunlight it receives and its reflectivity. Satellite measurements considered by the research team indicate that the decline of bright, reflective, low clouds over the eastern Pacific Ocean has been a major contributor to the reduction in the Earth’s brightness. This phenomenon is likely linked to climate change, as surface ocean temperatures rise in the same areas where bright clouds are decreasing.
Clouds, water, ice, forests, deserts, and various other land types reflect sunlight differently, which is why researchers are now calling for more comprehensive measurements in the coming years. Concerning the impact of climate change on oceans, the American newspaper "The Washington Post" published a study indicating that ocean waters have not mixed as usual due to climate change, resulting in disparities in the mixing of water layers.
The study showed that this could lead to an increase in global temperatures in the coming decades based on indicators showing the accumulation of warm water near the surface and decreased circulation and mixing of cold, deep water. The study published in the journal "Nature Climate Change" suggests that the implications could exceed merely accelerating global warming, potentially raising hurricane and storm intensity, reducing essential nutrients for fish in the upper ocean layers, and diminishing the oceans' capacity to store carbon.
