Читать книгу Climate Change For Dummies - Elizabeth May - Страница 67

Scientists have known for a long time that climate affects rainfall. NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States) has shown that the relationship may work in reverse, however — that the changing rain patterns might, in turn, indirectly affect global warming. Rainfall patterns correspond to cloud cover. Depending on their thickness and shape, clouds can reflect light during the day and hold in surface heat overnight (see Figure 3-1). The amount of water vapor in the air has continued to increase (which we talk about in Chapter 2), which means more clouds, which means more rainfall. Perhaps this increase in cloud cover can explain why nighttime temperatures are rising more than daytime temperatures in global warming trends. It gives a whole new meaning to having a hot night!

Ultimately, however, increased cloud cover seems to be a result, not a cause, of climate change. But, like the increased water vapor, it may further contribute to global warming.

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FIGURE 3-1: Clouds reflect light during the day and hold in surface heat overnight.