Conflict-induced ship traffic disruptions constrain cloud sensitivity to stricter marine pollution regulations

Diamond, Michael S.; Boss, Lili F.

doi:10.5194/acp-25-16401-2025

Articles | Volume 25, issue 22

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-16401-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-16401-2025

© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 25, issue 22

ACP Letters

| Highlight paper

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21 Nov 2025

ACP Letters | Highlight paper |

| 21 Nov 2025

Conflict-induced ship traffic disruptions constrain cloud sensitivity to stricter marine pollution regulations

Michael S. Diamond and Lili F. Boss

Data sets

Data for Diamond & Boss, "Conflict-induced ship traffic disruptions constrain cloud sensitivity to stricter marine pollution regulations" Michael S. Diamond and Lili F. Boss https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15738910

CLDPROP_M3_VIIRS_NOAA20 NASA VIIRS Atmosphere SIPS https://doi.org/10.5067/VIIRS/CLDPROP_M3_VIIRS_NOAA20.011

CLDPROP_M3_MODIS_AQUA NASA LAADS DAAC https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/CLDPROP_M3_MODIS_Aqua.011

Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research European Commission, Joint Research Centre https://doi.org/10.2904/JRC_DATASET_EDGAR

NOAA Extended Reconstructed SST V5 Boyin Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5T72FNM

Datetimes and Locations of ship-tracks Hua Song https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/JII4DN

CERES SSF1deg NOAA-20 NASA/LARC/SD/ASDC https://doi.org/10.5067/NOAA20/CERES/SSF1DEGMONTH_L3.001B

Interactive computing environment

michael-s-diamond/ConflictClouds Michael S. Diamond https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16637710

Executive editor

Aerosol particles emitted by ships substantially influence the microphysical properties of marine clouds. In 2020, regulatory changes led to a marked reduction in sulphur emissions, resulting in measurable decreases in cloud droplet concentrations. This study exploits a unique “accidental experiment” triggered by military conflict, which caused a rerouting of shipping traffic in the Red Sea. The authors use this event to robustly quantify how cloud droplet concentrations responded to changes in aerosol emissions associated with the changes in regulations.