An international study led by the University of Eastern Finland and the Finnish Meteorological Institute highlights the crucial role of long-term ground-based measurements in understanding how atmospheric aerosols affect clouds and climate. By analyzing extensive time series data from long-term observation sites in Finland (Kuopio’s Puijo Tower and Pallas) and Svalbard, researchers found the sensitivity of the low-level clouds to changes in aerosol concentrations are in the higher end of previous estimates. These findings suggest that the cooling effect of human-made fine particles through cloud modification is likely at the higher end of earlier estimates.
The study also assessed how well current climate models represent aerosol–cloud interactions. The comparison revealed notable shortcomings in many models and significant variation in their predictions. The results provide valuable insights for improving climate models, which are vital tools for forecasting future climate change and evaluating the effects of different emission scenarios.
Published in Nature Geoscience, the study was a collaborative effort involving several leading European research institutions and universities.
Further information
(in English) https://www.uef.fi/en/article/long-term-measurements-reveal-cloud-sensitivity-to-changes-in-atmospheric-aerosol-concentrations;
(in Finnish) https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/pitkaaikaismittaukset-paljastavat-pilvien-herkkyyden-ilmakehan-aerosolipitoisuuksien-muutoksille and https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/uutinen/PXry5CXglp3BboKYnHVhk.