Global dimming is the effect caused by natural ( volcanism ) and technogenic pollution of the atmosphere by dust and other particles, as a result of which the amount of solar radiation falling on the Earth's surface is reduced. The effect is highly dependent on geographic location, but in general it is about 5% over the Earth in 1960-1990. Global dimming causes surface cooling, that is, partially compensates for global warming caused by the greenhouse effect .
It is believed that global dimming is caused primarily by the formation of cloud droplets around particles that serve as condensation centers.
Consequences
- General cooling of the planet
- Evaporation reduction
- Redistribution of heat on the planet
- Increased global warming shortly after a significant portion of anthropogenic blackout emissions cease. Moreover, such an increase can probably trigger more powerful processes that increase global warming: spontaneous release of tens of billions of tons of methane from the shallow waters of the Arctic and permafrost.