Reflective cloud coverage diminishing, intensifying climate crisis
Scientists have spotted a steady drop in cloud cover near the poles over the past 24 years, with clouds shrinking by between 1.5% and 3% per decade.
Fewer clouds mean more sunlight gets through, so Earth is soaking up extra heat—helping explain why recent years have been record-breakers for global temperatures.
How are things changing?
The main culprits? Winds are moving closer to the poles and carbon dioxide from fossil fuels keeps climbing.
These changes squeeze the clouds together.
Researchers say it's mostly these wind and CO2 shifts creating a feedback loop: less cloud, more warming.
Losing clouds makes climate patterns trickier to predict
Losing clouds makes climate patterns even trickier to predict, especially as other factors like volcanic steam or fewer aerosols mix in.
Scientists stress that keeping satellites watching is crucial—but funding cuts could make tracking these changes harder just when we need it most.