A new study suggests global warming effect is underestimated, but climate scientists say more research is needed.
The most up-to-date computer simulations suggest that greenhouse gases emitted by human activity will leave the planet hotter than previously thought, researchers have found.
A study that combines the outputs of nearly 30 new computer models that simulate the Earth’s climate suggests that, if the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere doubles, then the average global temperature should increase by 3.9°C. This figure is around 0.6°C more than previous simulations predicted.
New information about clouds - which act as a “sunscreen” for the planet – is assumed to be behind the change.
Reflecting the findings of recent research, newer simulations assume that cold clouds thin out more as the atmosphere becomes warmer. Thinner clouds reflect less of the sun’s energy back to space – meaning more warming on the Earth’s surface. Over the whole planet, this effect could be amplifying global warming.
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