Over the past 10 years, the height of the cloud layer has decreased by 1%

According to NASA satellites skies became even closer to Earth. Over the past decade, the height of the cloud layer has decreased by 1 percent, or, in other words, on 30-40 meters.

Scientists from the University of Auckland in New Zealand analyzed the height of the cloud base around the world, from 2000 to 2010, based on data collected multiangular videospektroradiometrom Terra satellite. It turned out that the global average cloud height declined by one percent, and this decrease is mainly due to the fact that fewer clouds began to form at high altitudes.

"While we do not know exactly what caused the decrease in the height of the clouds," - explained researcher Professor Roger Davies (Roger Davies). "But maybe that was due to changes in the circulation, which leads to the formation of clouds at high altitude».

If the clouds will continue to fall, it could have an important impact on global climate change. But do not panic. Most likely, the lower layer of cloud mozhetpomoch Earth to cool and slow down global warming. But he, too, can be a negative feedback effect, that is, the change caused by global warming.

Scientists for the first time able to accurately measure changes in global terms, and the height of the clouds, perhaps, these findings indicate that something very important is happening to our Earth.

However, while scientists can not give an answer to that, is it possible to say something about the future of our climate, based on cloud data.

via factroom.ru