Science1 day ago· 1 min read
Scientists Discover Strange Way CO2 Cools Part of Earth's Atmosphere
Researchers at Columbia University finally solved a major climate mystery: while Earth's surface heats up from global warming, the upper atmosphere is actually cooling. Scientists discovered that carbon dioxide has an unexpected cooling effect in the stratosphere.
Climate Change's Strangest Fingerprint
Scientists have finally cracked the mystery behind one of climate change's strangest fingerprints: while Earth's surface heats up, the upper atmosphere is rapidly cooling.
The Discovery
Researchers at Columbia University discovered that carbon dioxide acts to cool the upper atmosphere, a counterintuitive finding that helps explain unusual climate patterns.
Atmospheric Layers
This research reveals the complex interplay between:
- Surface warming
- Stratospheric cooling
- Carbon dioxide behavior at different altitudes