Cloud Albedo, Greenhouse Effects, Atmospheric Chemistry, and Climate Change

Abstract

Changes in global atmospheric chemistry and climate are taking place as a result of observed trends in long-lived species such as CO2, CH4, N2O, and the CFCs. The continuation of these trends is expected to eventually lead to a major atmospheric warming that might profoundly affect the society we live in. Trends in short-lived species such as NOx and SOx are also suspected. These trends are not as well established, because the shorter-lived species vary spatially and temporally. Trends in NOx would be expected to lead to increases in tropospheric ozone that would add to the warming created by the other greenhouse gases. Trends in NOx could also alter tropospheric OH concentrations that could lead to changes in CH4 and some of the CFCs. On the other hand, increases in sulfur emissions may alter cloud optical properties. The changes in cloud optical properties could possibly offset the warming expected from increases in greenhouse gases, depending on the role of natural oceanic sulfur emissions. This paper summarizes recent research in these areas and the interactions of climate and atmospheric chemistry.